The Los Angeles Lakers narrowly escaped a disastrous result on Sunday night against the Phoenix Suns. L.A. led by 20 points midway through the fourth quarter, but trailed in the final seconds of the game, before clutch free throws from LeBron James sealed it. It was also a big night for Deandre Ayton, who had an effective 20 points and 13 boards in his return to Phoenix.
Ayton has history with the Suns, as he was drafted No. 1 overall by the team in 2018, the same draft as Luka Doncic. He helped take the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals, ultimately losing to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Less than two years later, though, he was ousted and dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers in what was effectively a salary dump.
He shined in what was a high-tension game on Sunday night, and after the game, he spoke about the feelings of the game and how the Lakers responded to it, via Spectrum SportsNet:
“Honestly, it was an emotional game. We played with a lot of edge. It just carried on over in late stretches of the game. Hats off to officials having patience with us, as well, because it really could’ve gotten a lot uglier. They managed it for us in a way where we could compete at the highest level.”
The Lakers were seemingly able to put aside the emotion for much of the game, but things did spiral in the Suns’ favor over the final seven or so minutes. Ayton discussed what the team was feeling during Phoenix’s late comeback effort.
“We were pretty calm. It was really the arena, they loved it. They were into it down the stretch. Just the excitement and the environment, it wasn’t really us. We weren’t worried about what was going on, we were just locked in and focused.”
Had the Lakers lost, it would have been arguably their worst loss of the season, as they led 99-79 with under eight minutes to go in the game. But they held on for the win and got some promising performances from role players like Ayton, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes and Jake LaRavia.
And Ayton got to show his best stuff in front of the team that essentially gave up on him after taking him first in the NBA Draft.
Marcus Smart takes responsibility for Lakers blowing lead
The Lakers looked, for a moment, like they were going to cruise to victory against the Suns.
The Lakers had a chance to extend their 20-point lead even further when Smart received a perfect outlet pass on a fastbreak from LeBron James. He was one-on-none with the rim in front of him and a chance to go up 101-79. Instead, he threw an errant behind-the-head pass directly into the hands of Grayson Allen. The Suns would hit a three on their next possession and begin a rapid comeback effort. Phoenix went on a 35-14 run from that moment on and took a 114-113 lead.
Then, in the final minute, Smart attempted a layup that got blocked early in the shot clock instead of running more time and getting fouled.
Clutch free throws from LeBron ended the game with the Lakers on top, but it was very close to being a disastrous loss from the Lakers. And Smart recognized that his mistake was the start of the collapse.
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