Suns win in return to playoffs, beating Lakers 99-90
PHOENIX - - All-Star guard Chris Paul was groaning with pain at the start of the fourth quarter, essentially playing with a shoulder. Cameron Payne was recently ejected. The players had to fall apart and the emotions heated up.
Phoenix coach Monty Williams warned his young Sons that moments like this would come in the NBA playoffs, especially against defending champions Los Angeles Lakers.
It is safe to say that he passed the first test.
Devin Booker scored 34 points, Deandre Ayton had 21 points and 16 rebounds & the Suns won their first playoff game in 11 years, beating the Lakers 99-90 on Sunday. For Booker, his long-awaited appearance in the latter part of the season remained publicity.
"The intensity is different, the physicality is different," Booker said. "& it's only a game."
It was the first playoff appearance for many Suns players, including Booker, Ayton or Mikael Bridges, but they did not look like post-season cheaters against LeBron James & the Lakers. He helped Phoenix compensate for a tough game for Paul, who did not look healthy after a right shoulder injury in the second quarter.
The Suns led 86–70 at the start of the fourth, but the Lakers quickly cut it to 86–77, with 9:02 left.
It was at a time when things got a little rowdy. LA's Alex Caruso or Payne got into a brawl near the shore when Payne dropped Caruso to the ground. LA's Montrezal Harrell jumped into the fray & the 2 teams had to split up. Caruso and Harrell were each given a technical dishonesty, or Payne was given two technicals and kicked out.
"It's something we're talking about as a team & an employee," Williams said. "There is going to be a moment in the game where you have to control your emotions."
Added bridge: "Time gets harder, we do not separate. We are going to fight together through this."
Sun did it. Booker continued to make shots & Ayton was a force on the glass, finishing with eight offense rebounds and shooting 10 of 11 from the field. The Lakers never got within striking distance in the final min.
"(Booker) is a scoring machine, putting a lot of pressure on our defense to cover him in many ways," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. "When we double his team, he gets the ottons there. We did not do a good enough job, but if we keep this team to 99 points in Game 2, I am good about my chances. looks like. "
James finished with 18 points, 10 assists & seven rebounds. Anthony Davis scored just 5 out of 16 from the field or had 13 points. The Lakers shot 7 of 26 (27%) from 3-point range.
"I missed a ton of shots. We missed a ton of shots as a team," Davis said. "There's no way we are winning a game, skip a series with the way I played . it's up to me."
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Phoenix. The Lakers have also been in this spot before - they lost Game 1 in the 1st 2 series of last season before rallying to win or eventually becoming NBA champions.
It was an eventful 1st half that saw the Suns take a 53–45 lead.
Phoenix took a 32-25 lead after the 1st. But the festive atmosphere in Phoenix changed to a stunned silence at the start of the second quarter when Paul collided with teammate Cameron Johnson and fell to the floor in apparent pain while clutching his right shoulder. He was down for a few minutes - surrounded by players from both teams - before slowly walking off the floor with a towel over his head.
The 36-year-old star returned to the massive roar from the crowd after a few minutes, but did not feel right. He was mostly dribbling with his left hand or missed the only shot he took before halftime.
Booker had 17 points before the break on 14 of 8 shooting & Ayton added 14 points.
The Lakers had to defeat Golden State in the play-in tournament on Wednesday to earn the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. But according to FanDuel, he still came in the series as the second-seeded Sun.
Paul's shoulder
Paul said he "heard the sound of a crack" when he suffered a shoulder injury but is confident that he will be good for Game 2.
Williams said he talked with Paul about his shoulder for a minute after the game. The coach said that the point guard assured him that he would go ahead & recover.
"He was fine & he would recover later, but when he came back he was very sad. His playing today gave us a lot of juice, a lot of energy. It was inspiring," Williams said.
Waxing
Vogel said his team hopes to reach the 85% COVID-19 vaccination limit on Monday. He said he did not expect to change much other than expanding the team's restaurant options.
LOTS OF FOLKS
The Sun announced a capacity of 11,000 for Sunday's game, but it felt that there were more in the region with a little over 18,000. It was the first time that more than 10,000 were allowed in the newly-renovated area.
"I was like 'holy smoking'. It's great," Williams said. "I had to keep myself emotionally in control."
Tip-ins
Lakers: The Lakers shot 19 free throws before the Suns made their first shot. The Lakers scored just 17 of 28 on free throws. ... Vogel confirmed that guard Ben McLemore was in a recent car accident, but was not injured and was available to play on Sunday.
Suns: The Suns were essentially healthy for Game 1. Forward Abdel Nadar (knee) was the only player unavailable, but he has been out for the last few months.