Phoenix Suns stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker powered their team to a 109-105 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, handing them their first loss of the NBA season. Booker led with 33 points, while Durant added 30, as the Suns held off the Lakers in a high-stakes game at Phoenix’s Footprint Center.
For the Lakers, LeBron James had a subdued performance with just 11 points, while Anthony Davis led his team with 29 points, followed by Austin Reaves, who contributed 23. Despite a hot start under new head coach JJ Redick, which saw the Lakers jump to a 26-8 lead thanks to Davis’s 16-point first quarter, the Suns battled back to take a narrow 50-48 lead at halftime. The Lakers then surged ahead in the third with a 35-point quarter, but Phoenix controlled the fourth, outscoring the Lakers 33-22 to secure the win.
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer praised his team’s “toughness” on defense, especially after weathering the Lakers’ early momentum.
In another standout performance, Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic made history, becoming the first Magic player in two decades to score 50 points in a game as they edged out the Indiana Pacers 119-115. Banchero dominated the first half with 37 points, tying the franchise record for points in a half, and finished with a career-high 50 points, the most by a Magic player since Tracy McGrady’s 62-point game in 2004. Banchero also contributed 13 rebounds and nine assists, with teammate Jalen Suggs adding 25 points.
Reflecting on his achievement, Banchero said, “It was like being in the zone, almost like I was in an open gym just working on my game. Every shot felt perfect—it’s a special feeling on a day like that.”
SOURCE: BBC
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