Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers overcame a 22-point second quarter deficit to defeat the Phoenix Suns 123-116 on Friday evening.
Anthony Davis led L.A. with 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting (13-of-17 from free throw line), eight rebounds and two blocks. Austin Reaves added 26 points, eight assists and three steals. LeBron James posted 21 points and eight dimes.
L.A. shot 14-of-27 from three-point range, with Reaves making 5-of-7 from deep.
The Lakers trailed 48-26 early in the second quarter but kept chipping away and saw themselves down by just nine (61-52) going into the third. L.A. caught fire in that frame, scoring 35 points to take a two-point lead (87-85) into the fourth.
The Lakers soon went on a 20-10 run and held Phoenix at arm’s length for the remainder of the game.
Davis also scored nine points in the final 5:22, including this fast-break dunk after a James dish for a 113-102 lead with 2:59 remaining in regulation.
For the Suns, Kevin Durant led the way with 30 points, while Devin Booker added 23. But the host Lakers were too strong in the second half and gave first-year head coach JJ Redick a 2-0 start.
Davis was the superstar here three nights after he dropped 36 points and 16 rebounds in a season-opening 110-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
StatMamba @StatMamba
Anthony Davis is the first Laker to have back-to-back 35-point games to start a season since Jerry West in 1969. pic.twitter.com/YNrsovPpTE
He got his well-deserved praise.
Richard Staple, BSN, RN🇯🇲 @RichStapless
Anthony Davis:
35 points
8 rebounds
4 assists
1 steal
2 blocks
First Laker since 2005 to start a season with two straight 30+ games.
First Laker since Elgin Baylor to start a season with two straight 35+ games.
It’s Hub AD SZN and y’all gonna live in it whether or you like it… pic.twitter.com/QI9ygibESA
Fight On ✌️ @B1G10Trojan
Anthony Davis is going to be playing at an MVP player level caliber all year. He’s my favorite to win the MVP if the Lakers can solidify a top 6 seed in the Western
Conference. #LakeShow
BKS @BKSecretsports
Anthony Davis is here for it all, this is a warning RUN! Coming off an efficient off-season winning a Gold Medal terrorizing Olympic teams on both ends of the floor. He starts the 2024-2025 season with back-to-back 35 PT games.
Anything & everything is being ran through him,… pic.twitter.com/JBLeWPXEQ0
The Lakers will stay home Saturday when they host the Sacramento Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET.
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