LeBron James had 31 points and dished out eleven assists, while Anthony Davis finished with 27 points and 15 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 106-103 in the NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday night.
James, who also grabbed 8 boards and had five steals, scored 15 of his 31 points in a monster fourth quarter at the Crypto.com Arena to ensure the Lakers held on for the victory despite Phoenix’s third quarter rally and book a spot in the semifinals of the tournament.
Got it done. pic.twitter.com/4PBPb2Q6uF
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 6, 2023
On the excitement of the In-Season Tournament, James who became the first Lakers player since Magic Johnson in 1987 to score 30+ points, 10+ assists, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ steals, said: “You’ve got some of the most alpha male competitors in the world, and if you give us an opportunity to play for something meaningful or an incentive, then you get what you’re getting.
“The In-Season Tournament is what it is, and we have an opportunity to play on a big stage, be on national television, represent our families, our communities, where we come from.”
Booked our ticket to Vegas ✈️ pic.twitter.com/NqwUbUtosc
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 6, 2023
Davis also finished the game with his 10th straight double-double and his 18th of the season, along with a game-high two blocks, while Austin Reaves, who hit a dagger 3-point shot with 15 seconds left in the contest, continues to impress off the bench with 20 points and six rebounds in 27 minutes.
Double-Double in TEN-STRAIGHT games for AD 〰️ pic.twitter.com/JEMSfQ3SW8
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 6, 2023
Kevin Durant had 31 points, 7 rebounds, and shot 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, but he missed a long 3-point attempt at the buzzer for the Suns, who lost for the third time against the Lakers this season.
The returning Devin Booker finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Grayson Allen had 21 points and four made 3s as the Suns dropped to 12-9 for the season.
The Lakers remain unbeaten in the tournament, having gone through the group phase without a defeat. They will face the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinals at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday for a place in the final of the inaugural in-season tournament.
