Remember when LeBron James and Anthony Davis played poorly in Game 1 against the Phoenix Suns? Yeah, that feels like a glaring aberration now. Their Game 1 loss was the equivalent of a boxer feeling out his opponent in the opening round.
LeBron and Davis stepped it up in Game 2 and upped the ante even more in Game 3 on Thursday as the Los Angeles Lakers clobbered the Suns to take a 2-1 lead in their first round series.
LBJ and AD were locked in all game long and showed why they're one of the most unstoppable duos in the NBA. In the third quarter, they combined for 28 points, their most since becoming teammates, according to ESPN Statistics and Information.
Their milestone couldn't come at a worse time for the Suns, who failed to find an antidote against LeBron and Davis in the third frame. The two All-Stars flexed their might with an array of shots, including some and-1 plays against the hapless Suns defenders. Only five of the Lakers' 33 points in the quarter weren't from LeBron and AD.
The Lakers erected a huge double-digit lead in the third period, giving them enough cushion to stave off the Suns, who staged a late surge in the final quarter. LeBron and Davis didn't play much together in the regular season due to a rash of injuries. But it's clear in their last two outings that their chemistry is still there. It's like riding a bike, but with grown men with huge biceps.
In the end, LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 55 points, 17 rebounds, and nine assists to tow the Lakers to a second straight win.