LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts a layup against Yuta Watanabe #18 of the Phoenix Suns and Jordan Goodwin #0 during the first half of the NBA In-Season Tournament game at Footprint Center on November 10, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Chris Coduto/Getty Images/AFP
PHOENIX — LeBron James scored 32 points, D’Angelo Russell had 19 and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak, beating the Phoenix Suns 122-119 on Friday night in the NBA In-Season Tournament.
James had a stellar performance, once again defying age in his 21st season, shooting 11 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3s. He added 11 rebounds and six assists in 36 minutes.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 38 points and Bradley Beal added 24 — 20 in the first half. Devin Booker missed his fourth straight game because of a strained right calf.
Two of the NBA's all-time best put on a SHOW in West Group A play!
LeBron: 32 PTS (11/17 FGM), 10 REB, 6 AST
KD: 38 PTS (4/6 3PM), 9 REB, 4 AST pic.twitter.com/QYEXgOZUpI— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2023
Austin Reaves made a layup with 9:25 remaining — part of a 14-0 run — to give the Lakers their first lead of the second half at 97-96. Reaves added a couple mid-range jumpers in the fourth to help Los Angeles stay ahead.
Cam Reddish had 17 points, including a corner 3 on a pass from James that put the Lakers up 118-113 with 1:10 remaining. Los Angeles grabbed three offensive rebounds on the position before Reddish made the shot.
James came up limping after getting fouled in the first quarter, grabbing at his lower left leg. The 38-year-old star got some medical treatment on the bench before returning for the start of the second quarter.
He looked fine the rest of the evening, helping orchestrate the Lakers’ comeback.
Durant scored 15 points in the third quarter as the Suns nursed a single-digit lead. Reddish hit a 3 at the buzzer to cut the Phoenix advantage to 96-89 heading to the fourth.
L.A.’s Anthony Davis returned after missing one game with a hip injury and had 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
Beal — who was making his home debut with the Suns — made a layup in traffic at the halftime buzzer to give the Suns a 63-55 lead after they led by as many as 14. James had 19 points in the half.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Host Portland on Sunday night.
Suns: Host Oklahoma City on Sunday night.