Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reaches for a inbound pass intended for Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — When Kevin Durant scored in the final minutes, LeBron James answered. These two generational basketball greats put on a scintillating duel in their first NBA head-to-head matchup in nearly five years.
Although Durant was better in the first three quarters, he eventually had to concede he couldn’t do it alone.
LeBron didn’t have to.
Anthony Davis had 30 points and 13 rebounds, James scored 10 of his 21 points while playing the entire fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers blew past Phoenix in the final minutes for a 100-95 victory over the short-handed Suns on Thursday night.
LeBron made the tiebreaking layup with 1:11 to play for the Lakers, who rallied from a 12-point deficit entering the fourth to get their first victory of the new season in the home opener of James’ 21st NBA campaign.
LEBRON JAMES. YEAR 21.
GET TO TNT FOR THE END! pic.twitter.com/DQnxUMdxcU
— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2023
Durant finished with 39 points and 11 rebounds while carrying the Suns on his shoulders with no help from injured Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but James seized the game with back-to-back layups in the final 90 seconds.
“There were a few moments where you just appreciate what the fans are watching,” said Phoenix coach Frank Vogel, who has coached both superstars. “Two of the game’s greats just going head to head. Some collisions out there. The level of competition for Game 2 of the NBA season was super-high. Felt like a playoff game out there. A boxing match. A slugfest. … To see those two guys out there fighting for it was pretty special.”
Durant and LeBron have been friends since Durant’s senior year of high school 17 years ago, but they improbably hadn’t faced each other on an NBA court since Christmas 2018. Injuries, load management and health and safety protocols prevented them from playing in the previous 13 meetings between James’ Lakers and Durant’s Warriors, Nets and Suns.
“Someone you just compare yourself to,” Durant said. “If you could accomplish and achieve some of the stuff that he’s done, you’re doing pretty solid for yourself. It’s just a baseline for yourself as a player to see how great you can be.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, shoots as Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant defends during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in Thousand Palms, California. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
While James was good, he wasn’t totally responsible for how the Suns flailed down the stretch without Booker or Beal to take the focus off Durant. Phoenix led 84-72 entering the fourth, but missed 13 of its next 14 shots and committed 10 turnovers in the next 10 minutes.
Durant still tied it at 91 with 1:28 to play by scoring on two straight possessions. With his final bucket, he passed Hakeem Olajuwon for 12th place on the NBA career scoring list topped by James.
But James replied with two clutch baskets sandwiching a missed 3-pointer by Durant. Austin Reaves and Davis hit free throws in the final seconds to ice it for LA.
“It’s hard to maneuver when everybody is just watching me at all times,” Durant said. “Especially late in the clock, it’s tough to find a good shot with that type of defense.”
LeBron and the Lakers acknowledged plans to limit his minutes this season, but the plan wasn’t followed while James stayed on the court throughout the fourth to sweat out this win.
James is entering his third NBA decade with the Lakers determined to limit his minutes for health optimization, yet Los Angeles struggled mightily whenever James was off the court in the first half.
“It was tough,” Durant said. “He was pretty much coaching the team on how to guard certain actions. That’s what he’s been doing his whole career. … It’s always a battle playing against high-IQ players like that.”
Eric Gordon added 15 points in Suns coach Vogel’s first trip back to face the Lakers, who fired him 18 months ago after three seasons and one NBA title.
The Lakers honored Vogel with a tribute video in the first timeout. Vogel led the Lakers to the franchise’s 17th championship three years ago this month in the Florida bubble, but they dismissed him exactly 18 months later when his injury-plagued team missed the playoffs.
Booker sat out with left foot soreness after tweaking his foot late in his 28-point performance against Golden State on Tuesday. Beal still hasn’t made his Suns debut due to lower back tightness.
UP NEXT
Suns: Host Utah on Saturday.
Lakers: At Sacramento on Sunday.