The Los Angeles Lakers, led by All-NBA big man Anthony Davis, completed a 22-point comeback to defeat the Phoenix Suns 123-116 on Friday.
Davis scored a game-high 35 points with eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal on 11-of-18 shooting.
Anthony Davis followed up 36 on opening night with 35 tonight 🔥🔥
STRONG start for AD and the 2-0 @Lakers! pic.twitter.com/VMyTqYQo6y
— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2024
Aside from being outscored 38-23 in the first quarter, the Lakers outscored the Suns 100-77 for the remainder of the game. Austin Reaves added 26 points, eight assists, four boards and three steals on 8 of 12 from the field and 5 of 7 from 3-point range.
Phoenix’s biggest lead at 48-26 came with 9:43 left in the second quarter. Los Angeles cut its deficit to nine by halftime and went on to outscore the Suns 71-55 throughout the final 24 minutes. Phoenix superstar Kevin Durant paced the Suns with 30 points, six assists and four rebounds on 11-of-17 shooting.
Devin Booker chipped in 23 points, four assists and three rebounds on 9-of-21 shooting for the Suns, who moved to 1-1 with Friday’s loss.
First-year Lakers coach JJ Redick became the first coach in franchise history to start the season 2-0 since Phil Jackson did so with the team in the 2010-11 season. Los Angeles finished 57-25 that season but were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals.
Anthony Davis has another strong performance
After a 35-point performance against the Suns, Davis has scored 35-plus points in back-to-back games, joining franchise legends Jerry West and Elgin Baylor as the only Lakers players to begin a season that way.
Through two games, Davis is averaging 35.5 points, 12 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 2 1/2 blocks.
“I feel like he’s the best player on our team and we play through him,” Reaves said. “I expect him to go out every night and be dominant.”
Redick said entering the season that he would make Davis the hub of the offense, and thus far it’s been reflected in his usage, field-goal attempts and scoring. Redick added postgame that the Lakers are playing with “intentionality” offensively and trying to ensure that Davis touches the ball as much as possible.
It’s early, of course, but everything the Lakers have done since training camp has started indicates Davis has passed LeBron James as the team’s No. 1 option. Whether that will sustain remains to be seen, but it’s been an encouraging start for Davis. — Jovan Buha, Lakers beat writer
LeBron makes big statement postgame
Following the Lakers’ win, LeBron James said he plans on playing in all 82 games this season.
When asked if he’s going to play in the Lakers’ first back-to-back games of the season Saturday against the Sacramento Kings, James said, “Yeah. I plan on playing every game. We’ll see what happens. You never know.”
James scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half of L.A.’s comeback victory.
The 39-year-old is coming off playing 71 games last season, the most since he played 82 games during the 2017-18 season in Cleveland. It marked the only season in James’ 22-year NBA career where he played every game.
Redick said at Thursday’s practice that the Lakers will approach back-to-back games with their players “in real time.”
“How do they feel when they get up Saturday morning?” Redick said, referencing the Kings game. — Buha
(Photo: Jonathan Hui / Imagn Images)
