Final score (preseason): Suns drops game to Lakers, 114-113

The Phoenix Suns came out strong once again against the Lakers, leading 22-7 and 38-19 in the first quarter, and held a 13-point lead at halftime. Devin Booker had 20 points at halftime and the Suns made nearly 60% of their shots for a 69-56 lead.

But then LeBron James and Anthony Davis played balls in the third quarter (19 points in the third). Davis made 4/5 3s, and the Lakers overall came back in the game 35-23 with 6/7 3s in the quarter overall. Booker made his fourth foul with four minutes left in the quarter and the Suns struggled to score to close out the game.

Chris Paul and Dario Saric, two crucial playmakers in their own way, missed the game, leaving Devin Booker as the primary playmaker for most of the game. He did very well, but he couldn’t play the whole time, right?

Booker picked up that fifth foul early in the fourth before the Suns fell 100-95 on a Taylor Horton-Tucker 3-pointer (his 17th of the game with 55% shooting from range).

The Lakers couldn’t fail in the fourth either, and the Suns had little response on both ends. Horton-Tucker made some big shots despite Jevon Carter’s great defensive effort. It’s going to be a problem this year. Physically he reminds me a lot of Shannon Brown, but he is much more aggressive and physical than Brown ever was.

In preseason style, the Lakers and Suns cleared their benches with three minutes to go in a three-point game, 106-103 Lakers. At the time, it didn’t even matter who won the game.

But who am I kidding? Of course, it always matters who wins. First Langston Galloway makes a three, then Ty-Shon Alexander makes one and the Suns could win this game after all.

The Suns had the ball, one down, with the Carter-Galloway-Smith-Alexander-Motley lineup and three scoring opportunities, but they couldn’t.

Final score, Lakers 114, Suns 113.

Don’t worry about the Suns 0-4 preseason Suns fans. This team is good.

The regular season begins next week against Dallas at home.

The sand

This is my first time seeing the arena and I must tell you that it feels like a brand new building once you are inside. I’ve been coming here for almost thirty years and it just doesn’t look the same.

Partly it’s the covered seating I guess, but mostly it’s the brand-new feel. New court, new colors (all black off the ground). Huge new big screen. Theater lighting. Love it!

Lineups

Welp, too bad for anyone who wants to see CP3 running the offense again. You are sitting with pain in your ankle.

Jevon Carter steps in as the starting point guard, but that means it’s really Devin Booker running the team, huh? Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton round out the lineup.

For the Lakers, they are LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Marc Gasol, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Dennis Schroder is not listed as injured (no one is), so I assume he will come off the bench along with Wesley Matthews on this one.

Alert

The Suns started hot, with a pair of threes from Booker and Bridges and a steal / touchdown from Carter.

Devin Booker is playing point guard with Carter spotting on the wing. Carter picks up the ball and then quickly passes it to Carter.

I love that the video board plays!

The Suns rose 14-3 before LA called for a timeout. The Suns were ON POINT while the Lakers were still stuck in preseason mode.

The Suns were back up 20-7, just like the other night against the LA starters.

Just as the fun started, Mikal Bridges strangely fell onto a tray, rolled onto his head / neck area, and left for precautionary reasons. I hope it’s okay, but I doubt they’ll risk bringing it back.

The Suns were up 32-16 before most of the Suns starters gave way to the bench. But at least this time the Cams were there. Cameron Johnson and Cam Payne spoke with Langston Galloway, Damian Jones and Jalen Smith.

Mikal ran back a second later to the cheers of his teammates.

Good to have the cameras back! The Suns took him to 39-18, forcing the Lakers to call another timeout. Now THIS looks like Bubble Suns again to me. Energy, taking pictures, focus. Yes i like it.

Mikal re-registered just before the end of the term. Dude is an Iron Man.

Suns 39-21 at the end of one. Got Cam to J at the end of the quarter like three screens, but it didn’t turn off. Devin Booker had 15 points on 5-6 shots. Jevon was effective with 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Deandre Ayton was 3-3 for 6 points, plus 3 rebounds and a block.

The Suns return in the second with two regular starters, Jae and Mikal, with Carter, Galloway and Damian Jones. Galloway on fire again for his second three. Let’s say they didn’t have much chemistry. He got a bit sloppy after that on offense until Ayton came back to get a little attention from Laker D.

Taylor Horton-Tucker is good, but I have to say he looks a lot like Shannon Brown. Maybe it’s just a construction. But I’m having flashbacks … that is, until he gets into Ayton’s gut and finishes a strong tray and now the image of Shannon Brown is a distant memory.

The Suns held their 16-plus point lead during the second quarter, unlike a couple of nights ago when they struggled with the game on the bench. Cam Payne and Jevon Carter were fun to watch on both ends, even as the Lakers went big again to try and counter the Suns’ speed and energy.

But then trying to play in the Lakers’ starting lineup with Damian Jones and Johnathan Motley as their big men might have been too daring. But that’s what happens when your depth is not deep. Ayton can’t play the whole game and Dario Saric is still out with a quadriceps injury. Even CamJ is in a few minutes with a calf pull. Jalen Smith doesn’t seem ready for NBA minutes yet.

LeBron and AD decided Jones / Motley was NOT going to beat them, and took turns going to the basket hard. However, the Suns’ lead was 62-46 with 3:03 left at the half. That’s because Devin Armani Booker has as many as 20 points on 7 field goals and the Suns are shooting 60% from the field almost at halftime.

Did I already say that the court and the video board are beautiful? You should know that I have been coming to this arena for almost 30 years, got to over 35 games in each of the last 10. I HAVE SUFFERED with that horrible old board. I deserve to enjoy this lol.

Cam Johnson wasn’t shooting well from deep (0-4 at half) but he’s always doing good things on the court otherwise. It will be good to see that take return.

The Lakers cut the lead to 69-56 at the half when Cam Payne missed the last shot at the bell. Still, the Suns finished the half shooting 58.7% from the field and looking like that fighting team in the Bubble.

Second half

The Suns opened the second half with a three, but decidedly less energy and saw the lead drop to 9 despite a pair of three from Javon Carter. LeBron and AD made several 3s, and the Suns looked lazy compared to 20 minutes earlier. It takes up to 80-71.

To the Lakers’ credit, they really increased their very good defensive effort and overall energy, reminding us that they themselves are not bad at all. The Lakers are definitely flexing their muscles at this point.

The Suns ‘lead narrowed to 6 in the Lakers’ fifth three of the quarter before Monty brought the Cams. However, Booker received his fourth foul and the Lakers responded with their sixth three of the quarter to reduce the Suns’ lead to four.

It is now a real game. Anthony Davis continued his explosion, making 4 3s in the third quarter alone, 6-7 for the game overall, and the Suns’ lead dropped to 92-91 after three quarters. The Lakers have made 15 of 26 triples in total so far. LBJ and AD are September 11 together.

I can’t say enough about how much of a struggle the Motley / Damian Jones / Jalen Smith backup rotation has had this preseason. Only unpleasant results.