The Los Angeles Lakers overcame a 22-point second quarter deficit to defeat the Phoenix Suns 123-116 on Friday evening.
Anthony Davis led L.A. with 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting (13-of-17 from free throw line), eight rebounds and two blocks. Austin Reaves added 26 points, eight assists and three steals. LeBron James posted 21 points and eight dimes.
L.A. shot 14-of-27 from three-point range, with Reaves making 5-of-7 from deep.
The Lakers trailed 48-26 early in the second quarter but kept chipping away and saw themselves down by just nine (61-52) going into the third. L.A. caught fire in that frame, scoring 35 points to take a two-point lead (87-85) into the fourth.
The Lakers soon went on a 20-10 run and held Phoenix at arm’s length for the remainder of the game.
Davis also scored nine points in the final 5:22, including this fast-break dunk after a James dish for a 113-102 lead with 2:59 remaining in regulation.
Dwight is LOVING IT! pic.twitter.com/z5Qta8jiXZ
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 26, 2024
For the Suns, Kevin Durant led the way with 30 points, while Devin Booker added 23. But the host Lakers were too strong in the second half and gave first-year head coach JJ Redick a 2-0 start.
Davis was the superstar here three nights after he dropped 36 points and 16 rebounds in a season-opening 110-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Anthony Davis is the first Laker to have back-to-back 35-point games to start a season since Jerry West in 1969. pic.twitter.com/YNrsovPpTE
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) October 26, 2024
He got his well-deserved praise.
STOP DISRESPECTING ANTHONY DAVIS pic.twitter.com/Pzpa3fTbkL
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) October 26, 2024