PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 30 points after two quiet
games and the Phoenix Suns sent LeBron James to the locker room
early, dismantling the Los Angeles Lakers 115-85 Tuesday night to
take a 3-2 first-round series lead.
The Suns won in Los Angeles on Sunday to tie the series and went
right at the Anthony Davis-less Lakers in front of a revved-up
crowd in Game 5.
Davis was out after suffering a groin injury in Game 4 and the
Suns took advantage by attacking every chance they had. The Lakers
put up little resistance, allowing Phoenix to score nearly at will
while building a 30-point halftime lead — Los Angeles' largest
halftime deficit in 25 years.
The Suns made 14 3-pointers and had just four turnovers against
the NBA's regular-season defensive efficiency leader.
The only bad news: point guard Chris Paul took a shot to his
injured right shoulder in the third quarter and did not return.
James scored 17 of his 24 points in the third quarter, but
couldn't rally the listless Lakers. The four-time league MVP sat at
the end of the bench by himself in the fourth quarter before
heading to the locker room with about five minutes left.
Game 6 is Thursday in Los Angeles.
The series between one-time rivals has been shaped by
injuries.
The Suns won the first game in the desert despite Paul injuring
his shoulder. Los Angeles won the next two with Paul ailing, then
Phoenix took Game 4 102-94 in Los Angeles after Davis went down
with a groin injury.
The Suns took advantage of Davis' absence early in Game 5,
repeatedly getting into the lane for shots or kickouts for open
looks.
Booker was the biggest beneficiary.
He had been relatively quite the previous two games — at least
for one of the league's top scorers — scoring a combined 36 points
on 11-of-24 shooting. Phoenix's young All-Star came out firing in
the pivotal game of the series, scoring 18 points in the first
quarter and hitting a corner jumper to put the Suns up 18 early in
the second.
Booker wasn't the only one dropping shots.
The Suns had their way against Los Angeles' reach-and-swipe
defense, leaving the Lakers flat footed with their quickness and
rapid ball movement.
Phoenix made eight 3-pointers, 26 of 48 shots and had one
turnover to lead 66-36 at halftime. It was the Lakers' largest
halftime deficit since trailing Utah by 26 in 1998, according to
SportRadar.
The Suns kept on the gas even as James became more aggressive in
the third quarter, maintaining a 29-point lead heading into the
final 12 minutes.
PAUL GOES DOWN
Paul reinjured his shoulder midway through the third quarter
when he got tangled with Lakers guard Wesley Matthews while
fighting for a rebound and hit the floor. Paul pointed toward
Matthews as he went off the floor and was immediately attended to
by Phoenix's trainers.
Paul got up after a minute or so and walked around, setting off
a round of MVP! chants from the crowd. He returned to the game to
hit two free throws and received a loud ovation before heading to
the locker room for treatment.
Paul finished with nine points and six assists.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Kyle Kuzma was the only other Los Angeles player to
score in double figures with 15 points. ... Markieff Morris, who
started in place of Davis, had four points on 1-of-2 shooting.
Suns: Cam Payne gave Phoenix a nice lift, particularly after
Paul went out. The backup point guard finished with 16 points on
7-of-11 shooting. ... Mikal Bridges had a solid all-around game
with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. ... Booker shot 13
of 23 from the floor.
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