PHOENIX — Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant each scored 23 points and the Phoenix Suns celebrated the healthy return of both players with a 127-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Devin Booker led the way with 26 points and 10 assists as the Suns ended a five-game losing streak.
Beal had missed the last five games while Durant had missed seven in a row – both players sidelined with left calf strain.
Beal made 10 of 15 shots, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range.
The Lakers were led by Anthony Davis, who scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. LeBron James added 18 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists. Los Angeles has lost three games in a row.
The Suns outscored the Lakers 36-18 in the third quarter, turning a close game into a 98-78 advantage. Booker had 11 points during the race while Jusuf Nurkic had 10.
Takeaways
Lakers: Los Angeles held strong throughout the first half, but cooled off after the break. The Lakers made just 8 of 34 (23.5%) from beyond the 3-point arc. D’Angelo Russell scored 16 points while Austin Reaves had 15.
Suns: Phoenix looked more like itself with Durant and Beal back on the court. Nurkic bounced back from a rough start and finish with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Grayson Allen added 10 points coming off the bench while Royce O’Neale added nine on three 3-pointers as the Suns built their lead in the second half.
Key moment
Booker made three straight shots during the Suns’ 14-2 run midway through the third quarter, helping extend the lead to 86-72.
Key statistic
The Suns are 9-1 when Durant is in the lineup and 1-6 when he is not.
Following
The Suns host the Nets on Wednesday night. The Lakers are on the road against the Spurs on Wednesday night.
