In an impressive display of skill, Bradley Beal scored a season-high 37 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 127-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. Alongside Beal, Devin Booker contributed significantly with 31 points, helping the Suns triumph over the Lakers for the first time this season after three prior attempts.
The game, which saw the Suns establish dominance early on, also featured Kevin Durant scoring 18 points, while Jusuf Nurkic added nine points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Beal’s remarkable accuracy from beyond the arc, going 8 of 10 in three-point attempts and 14 of 21 overall, was pivotal in the Suns’ victory. He scored 26 of his total points in the second half, marking the team’s sixth win in their last nine games.
The Lakers, who struggled to find their rhythm, saw D’Angelo Russell top-scoring with 19 points and rookie Max Christie adding 14. Despite recent wins, the Lakers have now lost five of their last seven games. Both Anthony Davis and LeBron James were limited to 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The Suns showed their intent right from the start, opening the game with a six-point lead and extending it to a 24-14 advantage in just over six minutes. By halftime, the Suns had built a solid 66-52 lead, thanks in large part to Booker’s 23 points.
The Suns continued to dominate in the second half, stretching their lead to 20 points and using a 14-1 run in the third quarter to further solidify their lead. Going into the final period, the Suns were comfortably ahead with a 105-78 score.
Despite allowing the Lakers to shoot 50 percent from the floor, the Suns’ overall performance marked a significant improvement from their previous game against the Clippers, where they had allowed a 62.4 percent shooting in a 138-111 defeat.
This victory sets the stage for another showdown between the Suns and Lakers, scheduled for February 25 in Phoenix.