The Phoenix Suns know that LeBron James and Anthony Davis are playing in their second NBA postseason as teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers. They have played well over a hundred games together in the regular season and the postseason combined, which translates to well over 400 quarters in which they have shared the floor for the Purple and Gold.
Believe it or not, LeBron and AD had never previously achieved a tag-team feat as substantial as what they forged in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series versus the Suns.
Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined to score 28 points in the 3rd quarter, their most points in any quarter since becoming teammates (reg. season and playoffs) pic.twitter.com/5AXxxhmCVq
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 28, 2021
At the time this story was published, the Lakers had a fat lead of more than 10 points late in the fourth quarter inside the Staples Center. They are headed for a 2-1 series lead over the Suns, a sharp turnaround from a ragged and inconsistent Game 1 performance this past weekend.
The Lakers have all the momentum in this series, and they owe most of their success to their two best players, the men who were always going to be at the heart of another push toward a championship for this storied franchise.
The 28 points in the third quarter accounted for nearly all of the Lakers' third-quarter points. the Lakers scored 33 points in the third to build a 76-63 lead over the Suns heading into the fourth. Los Angeles built on that lead in the early minutes of the fourth quarter to take command in Game 3.
Anthony Davis was seen grabbing his left hamstring at times in this game, also his knee, but he played through the discomfort to give the Lakers what they needed. LeBron — who is slowly easing his way back into a good playing rhythm after the injury which sidelined him for several weeks — imposed his game and his physical presence on the Suns in the second half. He dunked home a basket at the start of the second half and led a quick 6-0 run to establish a nine-point (49-40) lead and control of the game flow. The Suns never had an answer.
Lakers
One more interesting note about LeBron and AD combining for 28 points: That was the total number of points scored by both teams in the second quarter (Lakers 16, Suns 12). That was the lowest combined number of points in one quarter of an NBA playoff game since Game 2 of the 2015 East finals between LeBron's Cleveland Cavaliers and coach Mike Budenholzer's Atlanta Hawks (26 total points).
The bottom line: LeBron and AD gave the Lakers a “high point” moment in Game 3, while pushing the Suns to their lowest point in the series… and into a virtual must-win situation in Game 4 on the coming weekend.
Follow Us
Subscribe