Chris Paul became the first NBA player to reach 20,000 points and 10,000 assists on Friday, leading his team to win 115-105.
Chris Paul became the first NBA player to reach 20,000 points and 10,000 assists and his team, the Phoenix Suns, passed over the Los Angeles Lakers (105-115), who have started the season with bad feelings and two defeats in a row.
The final result was misleading since the Lakers, pulling with pride, ‘made up’ the closing in the last quarter after crashing in a third quarter in which they were losing by 32 points (57-89 with 2.04 remaining).
On the day of his historical record, Paul led his team with 23 points, 14 assists and 5 rebounds. in a display of intelligence, know-how and experience on the pitch.
Next to him, the Suns gave a recital at the Staples Center in Los Angeles thanks to Devin Booker (22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists), Mikal Bridges (21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists) and Deandre Ayton (8 points and 15 rebounds).
For the Lakers it was an evening of impotence, lack of direction in the team, numerous errors and gigantic anger with the referees, whom they blamed for many of their misfortunes.
LeBron James got 25 points (5 of 9 in triples), Anthony Davis had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Russell Westbrook touched the triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists, and Carmelo Anthony had 16 points.
The Lakers, who were eliminated by the Suns in the first round of the last playoffs, were shipwrecked in the shot (39% against 49% of their rivals).
After losing their six preseason games, the Lakers have started their risky and very veteran project with 0-2 since they also lost in their debut last Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors (114-121).
Start mirage
Russell Westbrook did not have a dream premiere on Tuesday with the Angelina franchise so today he came out to bite.
The point guard claimed 8 points in the first quarter -the same ones he scored in his debut-, forced two fouls from Devin Booker and with his characteristic fast-paced style -for good and bad- he channeled the energy of his team in the first quarter. room.
No news from Chris Paul and Devin Booker, Jae Crowder took the reins of the visitors to keep the match level (26-23) despite the bad percentage from the perimeter of the Phoenix (2 of 9).
LeBron James started the season with a great success from the triple, but in the second minute of the third quarter he added his third flagrant foul on Crowder.
From there, the Lakers’ frustration with the referees began. So much so that Los Angeles coach Frank Vogel jumped onto the court to claim a play and ended up taking a technique.
Regardless of the fairness or not of their complaints, the Lakers could argue that by then they had 12 fouls against against only 5 for the Suns.
In the choppy waters of the choppy game, the constant stops and the slow pace, the Suns, with Chris Paul as admiral, navigated with absolute ease.
The point guard began to supply his own, who not only got ahead but opened a gap (38-49 with 4.18 to be disputed).
For the Lakers, who had lost the north, the bad news was piling up, as Westbrook also added his third foul before the break.
Two triples by Rajon Rondo woke up the locals, but the Suns were able to calmly face the second quarter, which they won 18-34, and took advantage of the despair of the Lakers with the refereeing to go to the locker room with a solid advantage (44 -57).
Local subsidence
The second quarter had been very weak for the Lakers, but the third was even worse.
Without a plan neither in attack nor in defense, the Angelenos could only walk the corridor and contemplate how their opponents became the masters and lords of the duel.
The Suns were burning stages without rest: with 7.11 to be played they were placed 20 points ahead (50-70), and with 4.22 on the clock they were already winning by 25 (55-80).
Paul kept showing off and Booker became a torment for a gripped and unanswered Lakers.
The difference of +32 culminated the stampede of some absolutely brilliant and plethora of Suns in the third quarter (23-37) and that they left the game seen for sentence before the last quarter (67-94).
The Lakers only had their hearts and rage left in their bags and they resorted to that in the denouement.
Between James, Davis, Anthony and Westbrook they managed to close the gap and the Lakers, who at least saw good minutes from the young Austin Reaves, were only 9 points with 1.21 remaining.
The Suns may have relaxed excessively, but Booker and Paul took it upon themselves to tear apart the chimerical comeback of some Lakers who at least reacted in the fourth quarter (38-21). (D)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
