The Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Lakers 125-108 Monday night. After an 11-point first quarter, Devin Booker was ruled out with a groin injury, but the Suns did not let that stop them. After the score was tied at the end of the first quarter, Phoenix dominated the game with Dillon Brooks’ offensive explosion, a fast tempo and a willingness to dive for loose balls. The Suns had 16 steals while the Lakers had one.
Despite being the under dogs and losing their best player, Phoenix picked up one of their best victories of the season, moving to 13-9 on the season and starting December 1-0.
Whenever the Lakers tried to cut into the Suns’ second half lead, they’d respond quickly. The Lakers were playing this game on the second night of a back-to-back and the Suns took advantage of it, pushing the pace throughout the game. Dillon Brooks had his second-highest scoring game as a Sun, going for 33, Collin Gillespie set his career-high with 28, and Royce O’Neale tied his career-high with 11 assists.
The Suns were without Booker for most of the game and Grayson Allen was ruled out before the contest due to an illness, but it did not stop them. There is still no further update on Booker.
First Half
The game started at a frenetic pace. Both squads were flying up and down the court and not wasting too much time getting shots off. Even with the pace, neither team was turning the ball over much. In the first five minutes, both teams had just one turnover.
Luka Dončić got off to a strong start to the contest, unsurprising considering the season he’s having and his history playing against the Suns. In the first quarter, he had 20 points. Devin Booker conversely, was the Suns’ offensive engine in the first. He 11 points in the first quarter. Looks like he was getting out of his slump.
Thanks to his hot shooting, Booker’s scored his 17,00th career point in the frame, becoming part of a special list of players to accomplish the fete in the amount of games he did so.
In his first game back from missing over a week, Ryan Dunn came back and brought energy out the gate. Peacock’s broadcasters praised his effort and he threw down an emphatic putback slam.
At the end of one, the Suns and Lakers were knotted at 31.
With Devin Booker not on the bench or on the court in the second, Dillon Brooks managed the offensive load for Phoenix, taking initiative with playmaking and helping the Suns go on a 7-0 lead to help them retake the lead and forcing J.J. Redick to call a timeout.
Brooks continued to lead Phoenix after the timeout. He had double digits in the frame, scoring from different spots on the court and was apart of leading the Suns’ fast tempo with Booker’s presence still unknown.
In the final minutes of the quarter, the Suns were able to stretch their lead to double digits, leading by 14 at half. The Suns went on a 31-11 run to end the first half. Brooks’ 23 points were the second most he’s scored in a half as a Sun.
Right before half, Peacock announced that Booker would miss the rest of the game with a groin injury.
Second Half
With Jordan Goodwin starting in place of Booker, Phoenix started the third quarter where they ended the second, playing with high energy and cohesion. They forced Los Angeles into a 24-second violation which lead to a Mark Williams slam on the other end.
The Suns effort kept their lead strong in the third quarter, not just because of Brooks’ shot making. All their players were willing what it would take to win, even if it meant them getting dirty. Their intensity helped lead to Dončić‘s nine turnover game.
It also helped the Suns that Dillon Brooks remained unconscious.
Through three, Phoenix led Los Angeles 96-77.
Phoenix’s offense stayed strong to start the fourth, the ball movement led to Royce O’Neale tying his career high with assists in a game with 11 early in the quarter. Just like they did in the third quarter, the Suns matched the Lakers attempts at comebacks with deep triples and driving to the rim. Phoenix got their lead into the 20s for a lot of the beginning part of the fourth.
About halfway through the fourth, the Lakers put in the reserves and the Suns followed through a few minutes later.
The Suns will have a big break between games. Their next contest comes on Friday against the Houston Rockets in their first game against Kevin Durant since he was traded this offseason