NBA Game Recap - LA Lakers at Phoenix
Wed Feb 15, 2017 9:00 PM EST

SA
107
ORL
79
F
IND
104
CLE
113
F
CHA
85
TOR
90
F
MIL
129
BKN
125
F
DAL
91
DET
98
F
PHI
108
BOS
116
F
NO
95
MEM
91
F
MIA
117
HOU
109
F
POR
88
UTA
111
F
LAL
101
PHO
137
F
MIN
112
DEN
99
F
NY
105
OKC
116
F
ATL
84
LAC
99
F
SAC
86
GS
109
F

Phoenix 137, LA Lakers 101

Feb 15, 2017, 9:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

3

4

T

LA Lakers

15

33

28

25

101

Phoenix

32

36

34

35

137

Bledsoe's triple-double leads Suns over Lakers, 137-101
Thu Feb 16, 2017 1:01 AM

PHOENIX (AP) The Phoenix Suns went into the NBA All-Star break flying high, soaring for 13 dunks in their most convincing win of the season.

Eric Bledsoe had his third career triple-double, the first for a Phoenix player since November 2015, and Devin Booker scored 23 points to lead the Suns over the Los Angeles Lakers 137-101 on Wednesday night.

Bledsoe got his 10th rebound with 6:06 to go and exited shortly after, finishing with 25 points and a season high-tying 13 assists.

"Great energy," Bledsoe said. "It was fun to play in that game. When you've got horses running like Devin and T.J. (Warren), it racks up tons of assists."

Marquese Chriss added 15 points and eight rebounds for Phoenix, with all four of his baskets on dunks. Alex Len came off the bench to contribute 15 points and nine boards.

"It's a tribute to Bled. He passes the ball when we're open," Chriss said. "The bigs were running the floor and getting in position. We had the easy part, just putting in the ball at the rim."

The Suns led 102-76 after three quarters and coasted to their second victory in seven games and 11th straight over the Lakers at home. Phoenix credited a physical practice on Tuesday for its best offensive performance of the season.

"The guys came in, they always respond. This group, no matter how difficult the challenge is, they come back and want to get better," coach Earl Watson said.

Lou Williams and D'Angelo Russell led Los Angeles with 21 points apiece. The Lakers have lost three of four.

Phoenix set season highs for points, field goal shooting (55.7 percent), assists (32) and fast-break points (41). The 137 points were the most for the Suns since they scored that many against the Lakers on March 22, 2011.

Phoenix made eight of its first 12 shots, two of those on lobs for dunks by Chriss and Booker. Chriss threw down another alley-oop dunk with 5:13 left in the first quarter, giving the Suns a 23-6 lead, and his putback jam off Booker's miss at the 3:25 mark made it 27-8.

Phoenix was up 32-15 at the end of the first quarter, with Los Angeles making just five of 19 shots with eight turnovers.

The Lakers cut the margin to 11 twice in the second quarter, but the Suns built it back to 20. Bledsoe banked in a 41-foot heave at the buzzer, and Phoenix led 68-48 at halftime behind 21 points from Booker and 10 assists from Bledsoe.

Lakers coach Luke Walton said it felt as though some players on his team already had the break on their minds.

"We're going to lose games and I'm OK with that and I know that," Walton said, "but when we give in like that and don't play with a certain competitive level, that's not right for anybody that's involved."

TIP-INS

Lakers: G Jordan Clarkson and F Larry Nance Jr. both played even though each is dealing with a sprained thumb. Russell played on a sore knee. ... Williams has scored at least 20 points 25 times this season, tops among NBA reserves.

Suns: P.J. Tucker left midway through the second quarter when he tumbled over a photographer along the baseline after a missed transition layup. Tucker limped to the locker room with a bruised lower back but returned in the third quarter. ... The 15 points allowed in the first quarter were a season low for the Suns. Their 68 points in the first half were a season high. ... Bledsoe's previous triple-double came against Dallas on Dec. 23, 2014.

HUSTLE PLAY

With the Suns up big late in the third quarter, Booker caught up to Clarkson on a fast break and blocked his layup attempt off the backboard. The play got Booker's teammates and fans on their feet with cheers.

WORLD SERIES CHAMP

Chicago Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo sat courtside. Rizzo and the Cubs just started spring training in nearby Mesa.

WEEKENDERS

Four players in the game will play for the U.S. team in Friday's NBA Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star weekend in New Orleans. Booker and Chriss will represent the Suns, while the Lakers will send Russell and Brandon Ingram. Also, Derrick Jones Jr. of the Suns, who had three dunks late in the fourth quarter, will compete in the Slam Dunk Contest, and the Lakers' Nick Young will take part in the Skills Challenge, both on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Lakers: Return to regular-season action Feb. 24 at Oklahoma City.

Suns: Start a three-game road trip Feb. 24 at Chicago.

Leaders

LA Lakers PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
D. Russell 21 -32 4 4 1 1
L. Williams 21 1 3 2 3 0
Phoenix PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
E. Bledsoe 25 31 13 10 2 0
D. Booker 23 29 1 4 0 1

Team Comparison

LAL PHO
Points For 101 137
Field Goals 35/93-38% 49/88-56%
Three Pointers 9/26-35% 10/24-42%
Free Throws 22/28-79% 29/34-85%
Offensive Rebounds 7 12
Defensive Rebounds 29 47
Rebounds 42 66
Blocks 3 10
Steals 9 7
Turnovers 12 15
Points Scored Off Turnovers 17 16
Points in the Paint 34 60
Fast Break Points 16 41
Personal Fouls 27 20
Technical Fouls 0 0
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2016-17 Reg Season - PHO Leads Series 2-1

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Sun Nov 6 PHO 108 @ LAL 119 D. Booker 39 N. Young 22
Fri Dec 9 PHO 119 @ LAL 115 E. Bledsoe 30 L. Williams 35
Wed Feb 15 LAL 101 @ PHO 137 D. Russell 21 E. Bledsoe 25

Game Information

Stadium: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 18,055
Game Time: 2:9