Continuation and end of the quarter-finals of theIn-season tournamentwith this tempting Los Angeles/Phoenix for a place at Final Four from Las Vegas. This place goes to the “Purple & Gold” who, led by the inevitable LeBron James (31 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 5 assists), managed to master Kevin Durant (31 points, 7 rebounds) and others on the wire (106-103).
Helped by Anthony Davis (27 points, 15 rebounds) and Austin Reaves (20 points, 6 rebounds), the “King” was particularly decisive in the fourth quarter, where he scored 15 of his 31 points. Without failing to create for his teammates or contribute in defense, while the Suns appeared threatening, with Devin Booker (21 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists) or Grayson Allen (21 points), after erasing a 15-point deficit.
In pain, after a finishing contentious and a final “airball” from Kevin Durant, the Lakers have therefore validated their ticket for the last four of this In-season tournament and the Pelicans will now face them.
TO REMEMBER
– Los Angeles plots its course. Like the Pacers, the Lakers are undefeated since the start of the In-season tournament and they are therefore qualified for the semi-finals where they will cross paths with the Pelicans in Las Vegas. A success that the “Purple & Gold” went for with forceps, they who led by around ten points in the first half, before letting themselves be caught up by the Suns after the break, then resisting the comeback of the latter. Without panicking too much, thanks to a gala LeBron James.
– Phoenix can regret his mistakes. By granting no less than 21 offensive rebounds to the Lakers, while committing 22 turnovers, the Suns clearly did not make their task easy in this game, even though they shot 49% on the field and 48% on 3 -points while limiting Los Angeles to 37% shooting and 30% 3-point shooting. In a match that was played in one possession, such errors are paid for in cash and this is what ultimately harmed Frank Vogel's men.
TOP/FLOP
✅ LeBron James. If Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves were solid lieutenants, it is impossible not to highlight the contribution of the “King”. He, as usual, darkened the stats sheet and, as a bonus, allowed himself to play the hero in the fourth quarter, with (almost) half of his points recorded over the period. The boss of the Lakers obviously really wanted to be part of the game in Las Vegas and he did not fail to prove it, by taking the game into his own hands when necessary and therefore assuming his responsibilities.
⛔️ Jusuf Nurkic. Facing Anthony Davis, the Bosnian's contribution in the paint was insufficient (3 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in 29 minutes), especially since he is the one responsible for controlling the rebound for the Suns and he didn't make it last night. Tasteless minutes from the pivot of this Phoenix team, who lacks variety in his game, clearly focused towards the outside. On defense, he never knew how to cover LeBron James, and he got eaten up in the last quarter.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
