Grayson Allen leads balanced effort for Suns, who pull away late for 123-113 win over Lakers
PHOENIX (AP) It's no surprise that the Phoenix Suns were led by a Big Three on Sunday.
The twist is that those three players were Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and Jusuf Nurkic.
Allen scored 24 points, Kevin Durant added 22 and the Suns pulled away late in the fourth quarter to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-113.
Allen and O’Neale hit crucial 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to put the Suns up 116-104 with three minutes left. Nurkic added one of the best all-around games of his career with 18 points, 22 rebounds and seven assists.
“Those three guys were the stars of the game tonight,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said.
The Suns have built their roster around the so-called Big Three of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal - a group that's made a combined 21 All-Star teams. As expected, they've done a lot of the heavy lifting this season, but the emergence of role players such as Allen, O'Neale and Nurkic has made the Suns a much deeper team.
Allen said he's learned to pick his scoring spots when playing with the Suns' stars. Sunday was one of them.
“It's a little bit of a feel, but a lot of it is that I understand our team goes where (Booker, Durant and Beal) go,” Allen said. “They're going to lead us on both ends of the floor. So offensively, whatever shot-making I'm doing has to help the offense as a whole.”
Said Durant: “He's been making the right plays all season.”
The Lakers trailed by 20 points late in the first quarter, but slowly cut the deficit to 92-90 by late in the third. Phoenix responded with the next six points and didn't trail in the fourth, snapping a two-game skid.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting and also had 12 assists. Anthony Davis had 22 points and 14 rebounds.
Four Phoenix starters scored at least 20 points and the Suns had a 51-34 rebounding advantage. Booker scored 21 and O'Neale added 20 on 6-of-10 shooting on 3s. Bol Bol had 11 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
The Suns took a 38-18 lead late in the first quarter before settling for a 45-28 advantage going into the second. The 45 points were the most Phoenix has scored in a quarter this season. The Lakers cut into that advantage in the second but still trailed 72-63 at the break.
“Super slow start for us, offensively and defensively,” James said. “We give up 45 points in a quarter and it's an uphill battle. From that point on, we played some really good basketball, but their role players did a good job shooting the ball.”
D'Angelo Russell led Los Angeles with 18 points in the first half while Booker had 13 for the Suns.
Beal missed his fourth straight game because of a tight left hamstring. He's played just 30 of the team's 58 games this season because of various injuries. Key backup Eric Gordon was also out with left groin soreness.
Phoenix and Los Angeles are in a similar position roughly two-thirds of the way through the regular season. Both teams have star-laden rosters, but are struggling to avoid the play-in tournament in the Western Conference.
The Suns entered the game as the West’s No. 8 seed while the Lakers were No. 9. The top six teams in each conference avoid the play-in tournament and advance to the first best-of-seven round.
UP NEXT
Lakers: At the Clippers on Wednesday.
Suns: Host the Rockets on Thursday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Anthony Davis vs. Jusuf Nurkic (Devin Booker gains possession) | |||
11:45 | +2 | Grayson Allen makes two point driving layup (Devin Booker assists) | 0-2 | |
11:20 | Grayson Allen blocks Rui Hachimura's two point driving layup | |||
11:17 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
11:06 | Devin Booker misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
11:03 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
10:54 | +3 | Rui Hachimura makes three point jump shot (Austin Reaves assists) | 3-2 | |
10:35 | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point floating jump shot | |||
10:33 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |||
10:23 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 5-2 | |
10:13 | LeBron James blocks Devin Booker's two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:10 | Devin Booker offensive rebound | |||
10:09 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point bank jump shot | 5-4 | |
9:58 | Rui Hachimura misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:54 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
9:48 | Rui Hachimura shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
9:48 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-5 | |
9:48 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-6 | |
9:33 | LeBron James turnover (bad pass) (Devin Booker steals) | |||
9:28 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point running finger roll layup (Devin Booker assists) | 5-8 | |
9:20 | Austin Reaves misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:18 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
9:09 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point driving layup (Devin Booker assists) | 5-10 | |
9:02 | +2 | D'Angelo Russell makes two point cutting finger roll layup (LeBron James assists) | 7-10 | |
9:02 | Royce O'Neale shooting foul (D'Angelo Russell draws the foul) | |||
9:02 | D'Angelo Russell misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:59 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
8:46 | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point jump shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 7-13 | |
8:34 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving dunk | 9-13 | |
8:22 | Kevin Durant misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:20 | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | |||
8:10 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving layup | 11-13 | |
7:56 | Devin Booker misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
7:52 | Grayson Allen offensive rebound | |||
7:46 | Kevin Durant turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
7:32 | D'Angelo Russell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:29 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
7:13 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point driving hook shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 11-15 | |
7:13 | Anthony Davis shooting foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
7:13 | Jusuf Nurkic misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
7:10 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
7:02 | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point driving finger roll layup (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 13-15 | |
6:52 | +3 | Devin Booker makes three point pullup jump shot | 13-18 | |
6:36 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point jump shot (Austin Reaves assists) | 15-18 | |
6:28 | Anthony Davis blocks Devin Booker's two point driving layup | |||
6:25 | D'Angelo Russell defensive rebound | |||
6:20 | Anthony Davis turnover (lost ball) (Grayson Allen steals) | |||
6:07 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point cutting layup (Kevin Durant assists) | 15-20 | |
5:54 | Kevin Durant shooting foul (Austin Reaves draws the foul) | |||
5:54 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
5:54 | +1 | Austin Reaves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-20 | |
5:54 | +1 | Austin Reaves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-20 | |
5:38 | Kevin Durant misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:36 | Jusuf Nurkic offensive rebound | |||
5:36 | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point tip layup | |||
5:35 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |||
5:27 | LeBron James turnover (bad pass) (Jusuf Nurkic steals) | |||
5:21 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 17-22 | |
5:21 | Anthony Davis shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
5:21 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 17-23 | |
5:05 | Anthony Davis misses two point layup | |||
5:04 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
5:04 | Jusuf Nurkic turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
5:01 | Austin Reaves turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
4:54 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point running layup (Bol Bol assists) | 17-25 | |
4:40 | Jusuf Nurkic shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||
4:40 | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-25 | |
4:40 | LeBron James misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:36 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
4:29 | +3 | Bol Bol makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 18-28 | |
4:17 | LeBron James misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:15 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
4:06 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 18-30 | |
4:06 | Lakers 60 second timeout | |||
3:49 | Bol Bol blocks Jaxson Hayes's two point layup | |||
3:46 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
3:42 | Royce O'Neale misses three point running jump shot | |||
3:40 | Bol Bol offensive rebound | |||
3:30 | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 18-33 | |
3:15 | Taurean Prince misses three point jump shot | |||
3:12 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
3:06 | Spencer Dinwiddie personal foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
2:55 | Jaxson Hayes shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
2:55 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 18-34 | |
2:55 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 18-35 | |
2:55 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 18-36 | |
2:42 | D'Angelo Russell turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
2:19 | +2 | Bol Bol makes two point driving floating jump shot (Saben Lee assists) | 18-38 | |
2:06 | +2 | Taurean Prince makes two point driving layup (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 20-38 | |
1:56 | Devin Booker turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
1:43 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point pullup jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 22-38 | |
1:32 | Rui Hachimura shooting foul (Saben Lee draws the foul) | |||
1:32 | +1 | Saben Lee makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-39 | |
1:32 | +1 | Saben Lee makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-40 | |
1:16 | Drew Eubanks blocks Rui Hachimura's two point driving dunk | |||
1:13 | Saben Lee defensive rebound | |||
1:08 | Grayson Allen misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:08 | Drew Eubanks offensive rebound | |||
0:58 | Saben Lee misses three point jump shot | |||
0:56 | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | |||
0:50 | +3 | D'Angelo Russell makes three point running pullup jump shot | 25-40 | |
0:38 | Taurean Prince kicked ball violation | |||
0:30 | Grayson Allen misses three point jump shot | |||
0:26 | Saben Lee offensive rebound | |||
0:20 | +2 | Bol Bol makes two point driving dunk (Drew Eubanks assists) | 25-42 | |
0:04 | +3 | Rui Hachimura makes three point jump shot (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 28-42 | |
0:00 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point pullup jump shot | 28-45 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | Drew Eubanks personal foul (Taurean Prince draws the foul) | |||
11:37 | Taurean Prince misses two point cutting layup | |||
11:37 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
11:37 | Josh Okogie personal foul (Loose ball) (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | |||
11:30 | +2 | D'Angelo Russell makes two point driving layup | 30-45 | |
11:02 | Kevin Durant misses two point driving layup | |||
11:00 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
10:55 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point running layup | 32-45 | |
10:32 | Kevin Durant misses three point jump shot | |||
10:30 | Suns offensive rebound | |||
10:30 | Suns turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
10:17 | +3 | D'Angelo Russell makes three point jump shot (LeBron James assists) | 35-45 | |
10:15 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
10:05 | Kevin Durant misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
10:02 | Jusuf Nurkic offensive rebound | |||
10:00 | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point jump shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 35-48 | |
9:44 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving dunk | 37-48 | |
9:33 | Kevin Durant misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:28 | Royce O'Neale offensive rebound | |||
9:24 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point jump shot (Josh Okogie assists) | 37-51 | |
9:08 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:05 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
8:49 | Anthony Davis blocks Grayson Allen's two point driving finger roll layup | |||
8:46 | D'Angelo Russell defensive rebound | |||
8:38 | Taurean Prince misses three point jump shot | |||
8:35 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
8:32 | Spencer Dinwiddie shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
8:32 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-52 | |
8:32 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-53 | |
8:26 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point alley-oop dunk (LeBron James assists) | 39-53 | |
7:56 | Suns turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
7:46 | Kevin Durant shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||
7:46 | LeBron James misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:46 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
7:46 | LeBron James misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:41 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
7:31 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 39-56 | |
7:11 | +3 | Taurean Prince makes three point jump shot (LeBron James assists) | 42-56 | |
6:57 | Josh Okogie turnover (traveling) | |||
6:40 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving layup | 44-56 | |
6:24 | Grayson Allen turnover (bad pass) (Austin Reaves steals) | |||
6:19 | +3 | Taurean Prince makes three point running jump shot (Austin Reaves assists) | 47-56 | |
6:18 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
6:03 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point cutting dunk (Kevin Durant assists) | 47-58 | |
5:43 | Austin Reaves misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
5:40 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
5:30 | Devin Booker misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:27 | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | |||
5:24 | Devin Booker personal foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||