In a thrilling NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals, the Los Angeles Lakers emerged victorious over the Phoenix Suns with a score of 106-103. The game, which was available for streaming on Max with the B/R Sports Add-On and televised on TNT, saw the Lakers secure the last semifinal spot in the tournament.
The Lakers, who had a perfect record in the tournament so far, were led to victory by LeBron James. James scored 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and also contributed 11 assists, eight rebounds, and five steals. Anthony Davis added 27 points and 15 rebounds, while Austin Reaves scored 20, including a decisive three-pointer.
The Suns, who had bounced back after an initial loss to the Lakers in the tournament, were led by Kevin Durant who scored 31 points but missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. Despite the Suns' rebounding advantage, the Lakers' shooting advantage proved decisive.
The game was closely contested, with both teams having similar scoring averages. The Lakers, who perform better at home, were slight favorites according to the betting odds. The Suns, who score more points at home but also allow more points, were favored by some sports analysts due to the return of Devin Booker.
The Lakers will now face the New Orleans Pelicans in the next round of the NBA In-Season Tournament. The box scores for the game can be found on the NBA website.