LeBron James has lost consecutive 1st round games for the first time in his career. You would be a fool to doubt James at this point, but the situation is quickly becoming dire. Playing just 31 minutes due to the blowout nature of the game, James finished with a team-high 24 points, five rebounds and seven assists.Īlong with the absence of Davis, James is also recovering from his own high ankle sprain that kept him out prior to the playoffs. Trailing by 30 points at the half, it was the biggest halftime deficit in his 265 playoff games, with the situation now simple: win or go home. James finds himself in this position on the back of a truly unfamiliar circumstance. In his 15th postseason run, LeBron James is on the brink of first-round elimination for the first time. Like most of the Lakers, Morris was a non-factor, finishing with four points in 10 minutes of play. If AD is ruled out of Game 6, it's hard to see the Lakers extending the series to seven games. While the Suns fret on Paul, the Lakers have a disaster of their own on their hands, with Anthony Davis missing Game 5 with a groin issue he suffered in Game 4.ĭavis was said to be a game-time decision in the lead-up but was ultimately ruled out, with Markieff Morris taking his place in the starting lineup. Booker's final point tally sat at 30, while he also added seven rebounds and five assists.Īveraging 26.2 points per game across his first five postseason appearances, it's been an impressive start to the playoff career for Booker.īook things #RallyTheValley /AZMRLqOxJS- Phoenix Suns June 2, 2021 He did cool off after the hot start, with the game well in hand and his teammates joining in the fun. The catalyst for the first half explosion was all-star guard Devin Booker, who poured in 18 points on 10 shots during a torried first quarter.īooker was scorching the nets from all angles in the period, helping Phoenix run up a 34-26 lead after the first.

Paul finished the night with nine points, four rebounds and six assists in 22 minutes. He would stay in the game after the incident, knocking down two free-throws before subbing out of the game and heading to the locker room. Paul would lay on the ground for several minutes holding his should as the Phoenix medical staff attended to him. The play would be reviewed to see if there was a potential flagrant on the play but that was ruled out quickly. The eyes of Phoenix fans remain on the right shoulder of Chris Paul with the veteran guard still carrying an injury that is visibly causing him pain.Ī scare was sent through the Suns' camp in the third quarter, when Lakers' guard Wesley Matthews plowed into the back of Paul when boxing out for a rebound.

Sheesh 🥵 /v8gR0qOJaB- Phoenix Suns June 2, 2021 LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers in scoring with seven points, with James shooting just 3-for-10 from the floor.ĭennis Schroder, who loomed as a key piece in the absence of Anthony Davis was scoreless in 13 minutes, missing all five of his attempts. It was utter domination from Phoenix on both ends, as a rattled Lakers outfit were immediately forced to contemplate a 3-2 deficit in the series before they even got warm.Īs dominant as the Suns were on offence, they were just as impactful on the other end as the Lakers missed shot after shot. With a vocal home crowd behind them, the Suns put this game away in the first 24 minutes, taking an incredible 66-36 lead into the half. Let's jump to the storylines from a brilliant Phoenix performance. In a series that has already had many twists and turns, the pressure now mounts on LeBron James and the Lakers, with the defending champions overwhelmed in this one.

A first half obliteration of the Los Angeles Lakers occured in Phoenix, with the Suns using the onslaught to run away with a 115-85 win in Game 5.

Kyle kuzma stats playoffs 2021