Trump's election helping his Criminal Cases

 

The Los Angeles Lakers play the Phoenix Suns on Friday night in their first NBA In-Season Tournament matchup, hoping to win both games and cap off their road trip with a victory. This will be the teams' second meeting. In the first meeting of the season, LeBron James and Anthony Davis helped the Lakers defeat Kevin Durant and the Suns to win their first victory of the year.

Bradley Beal is expected to play after making his season debut on Wednesday night, but Devin Booker will not be available for this game again. As for Phoenix, they were both missing that night. Though he is expected to play, center Jaxson Hayes is sidelined with a sprained ankle, and Davis missed Wednesday's game in Houston due to hip spasms. Davis is the Lakers' biggest injury question. 

 

 With three straight losses and no road victory under their belt, the Lakers are in desperate need of a victory. The Lakers have had problems regardless of who has played for them, and they will stay that way until they are resolved.

The Lakers have a minus-74 record through eight games, making them not just the worst team in the NBA through the first quarter but the worst team ever. They have consistently dug themselves a hole that they then have to attempt to climb out of, trailing by double digits in seven of those competitions. The Lakers have also been consistently dominated on the glass and rank last in the league in second-chance point allowance (19.3). Giving a team with Durant and Beal several chances will only lead to failure.

The Lakers are dead last in 3-point percentage, shooting less than 30%, which indicates that their offensive 3-point shooting, which appeared promising in the preseason, has vanished in the regular season. The persistent assault on the rim is producing open shots, so the shooters need to start taking them out. Teams will eventually just pack the paint, making it harder for players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves to get to the hoop.

Though it hasn't mattered in the past, the Suns' lack of size should prevent the Lakers from controlling the paint or the glass. 

For the Lakers, it takes a cohesive team effort to succeed. To secure a win and kick off this in-season tournament properly, the team as a whole needs to be focused and willing to go above and beyond in all areas, including energy and rebounding. 

PHOENIX (AP) – For a brief moment on Friday night, following his foul call in the opening quarter, LeBron James resembled an aging veteran as he hobbled around the baseline and grabbed at his lower left leg.

It was a short moment.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns 122-119 in the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament, capping a three-game losing run for James with 32 points and D'Angelo Russell with 19.

James remarked that it felt good to have finally overcome the early season setback. We've struggled to take the lead in many of our games and have frequently been playing from behind. It was a satisfying feeling.

Defying age in his 21st season, the 38-year-old put on another historic performance, going 11 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 4 on threes. In 36 minutes, he added six assists, 11 rebounds, and.

Bradley Beal added 24 points, including 20 in the first half, to lead the Suns behind Kevin Durant's 38 points. A strained right calf prevented Devin Booker from playing in his fourth consecutive game.

After leading the Lakers on a 14-0 run with 9:25 left, Austin Reaves made a layup to give the team its first lead of the second half, 97-96. Reaves helped Los Angeles maintain their lead in the fourth quarter with a couple of mid-range jumpers.

With 1:10 remaining, Cam Reddish scored 17 points, including a corner three off a pass from James that gave the Lakers a 118-113 lead. Reddish missed the shot, but Los Angeles had already claimed three offensive rebounds on the spot.

Reddish was started and Reaves came off the bench by Lakers coach Darvin Ham's alteration of the starting lineup. While Reaves played 35 minutes and closed the game, he remained an essential member of the rotation despite their respective strong performances.

According to Ham, the team won well. That has to be our identity, a lot of what we witnessed in the second half. James grabbed at his lower left leg and came up limping after being fouled in the first quarter. After taking a knee to the shin and receiving some medical attention while sitting out, the 19-time All-Star said he felt better at the beginning of the second quarter.

Throughout the remainder of the evening, he appeared fine and contributed to the comeback. In the second half, Los Angeles made 9 of 17 (53%) 3-pointers.

In the third quarter, Durant scored fifteen points, helping the Suns maintain a single-digit lead. Before the fourth quarter, Reddish's three-pointer at the buzzer reduced Phoenix's lead to 96-89.

From there, according to Durant, they sort of controlled the game. As soon as they began making threes, the momentum shifted in their favor.

Anthony Davis of Los Angeles made a comeback after sitting out a game due to a hip injury. He finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Making his Suns debut at home, Beal converted a layup in traffic at the buzzer to give the team a 63-55 lead at the half. They had previously led by as much as 14. In the half, James scored 19 points.

Following the Lakers' 122-119 victory, Austin Reaves was standing in the hallway outside the visiting locker room with his back to the wall when one of the night's stars passed by holding the game ball.

Reaves was unexpectedly replaced in the starting lineup by Cam Reddish, who strode toward the team bus with a beaming smile on his face as cameras followed him.

Hey, who are you? With pride, Reaves questioned the former lottery winner.

I'm the one! A season ago, Reddish responded to one of the Lakers' greatest heroes.

No. No, No, No, No,” retorted Reaves. "My boy, call me by name."

Before the Lakers' opening pool play match in the NBA's in-season tournament, they had lost three straight games, including two crushing losses in Orlando and Houston. They were in desperate need of victory. They had played a clumsy, precise, and fluid style in the first quarters, appearing listless. 

Head coach Darvin Ham thought, We've got to change something up.

The choice appeared to be the right one by the end of the evening. In the first five minutes, Reddish scored five three-pointers and provided the Lakers with the necessary size and defensive length. Additionally, Reaves played with greater aggression and rhythm, finishing the game with five assists in the fourth quarter after missing all four of his shots in the second half.

Laughed heartily, Ham said, "It was a great decision." 

Future Up

Lakers: On Sunday evening, they will host Portland.

Suns: This Sunday night, they host Oklahoma City.