Lakers struggle mightily minus Davis in Game 5 vs Suns

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JUNE 01: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers watches from the bench during the first half in Game Five of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on June 01, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The Los Angeles Lakers played minus Anthony Davis in Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns and the defending champions missed every bit of their star forward on Wednesday (Manila time).

With Davis sidelined due to a groin strain he suffered in the second quarter of Game 4, the Lakers failed to get going and were blown out by the Suns, 115-85.

Davis delivered a pair of 34-point games for the Lakers in Games 2 and 3 before the injury. Markieff Morris started in place of Davis.

Devin Booker had a game-high 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the No. 2 Suns, who look to close out the seventh-seeded Lakers at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday.

Phoenix, which led by as many as 36 points, committed only four turnovers and had 29 assists. The Suns also drew 23 points off the Lakers’ 16 turnovers.

LeBron James scored a team-high 24 points with five rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers, who trailed, 36-66, at the half.