The Los Angeles Lakers (5-11) lost ground in the standings after losing to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, but they may have built chemistry in the locker room. Anthony Davis, meanwhile, continues to dominate.
Midway through the fourth quarter of the Suns' 115-105 win, Devin Booker hard-fouled Austin Reaves. Booker then stood over Reaves. Deandre Ayton promptly followed suit.
Patrick Beverley took exception to this. He rushed into the fray, lowered his shoulder, and checked the 7'1 Suns center. Ayton hit the deck, while Beverley received a flagrant-2 foul and was ejected. Booker was called for a flagrant-1 upon review.
Devin Booker received a flagrant 1 after this foul on Austin Reaves.pic.twitter.com/3hyJG0JJ4F
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) November 23, 2022
Patrick Beverley was having none of Ayton and Devin Booker’s taunting 👀
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) November 23, 2022
Despite Davis' historic effort — becoming the first(!) player in NBA history to post 35+ points, 20+ rebounds, 5+ steals, and 5+ blocks in a game — the Lakers, without LeBron James for a fifth-straight outing, were unable to stick with the superior Suns, thus ending a three-game winning streak.
Yet, the Lakers were not dispirited postgame, largely due to their appreciation for Beverley's actions. (Booker disagrees.)
Davis said Ayton “started talking” toward the end of the game, primarily toward Beverley, though some of it got redirected at Davis. When Ayton stood over Reaves, Beverley “did what he should do,” per AD.
“We got each other's back,” AD said. “Pat is known for that: having his teammate's back. … We're never going to let anyone stand over our team — make them feel like they're not a man … That's disrespectful.”
Anthony Davis on the altercation between Pat Bev and Deandre Ayton:
"We got each other back. Pat is known for that… He did what he should do is having his teammate's back. We never gonna let anyone stand over our teammate."#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/yunCZhyR4y
— 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐍𝐁𝐀 (@_Talkin_NBA) November 23, 2022
“I love it, personally,” said Russell Westbrook. “Protecting and understanding we have each other’s back is the most important thing as a team.”
“It’s an emotional sport,” added Darvin Ham. “I’m not mad at him. He’s protecting his teammate. … Teams have to know they can’t just push us around.”
After a reporter asked about the thin line between standing up for a teammate and going over the line, Darvin Ham offered up this summation on the scuffle that broke out in the fourth quarter, asking rhetorically what it would have meant if the Lakers let Austin get pushed: pic.twitter.com/jKG3zR31Qh
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) November 23, 2022
“Got a person on the ground, two people looking over mean-mugging and puffing their chest out and referees don’t get into it to kind of separate it, control the game — so I’m going to stand up for my teammate,” Beverley explained later.
“If it was him, we would've done the same thing for him,” said Reaves, who told Beverley “four or fives times” that he appreciated the gesture.
Austin Reaves on how his face feels after the flagrant: “I’ve been hit in the face a lot so I’m good.”
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) November 23, 2022
Besides three-point shooting (LA: 4-of-22, PHX: 16-of-34), the Lakers — who have not exactly resembled the Bad Boy Pistons (in terms of toughness) nor the 2015 Warriors (in terms of cohesion) over the past couple of seasons — were clearly invigorated by Beverley's fire. The veteran guard has started every game he's played this season despite struggling mightily on offense, but he's found ways to make an impact in the film room, on the defensive end, and by (loudly) providing grit, energy, and leadership.
A moral victory? Meh. A positive moment of team-building? Sure, why not.
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