The Los Angeles Lakers won their first play-off game at home in eight seasons to take a 2-1 series lead with a 109-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Anthony Davis again led the way for the Lakers with 34 points and 11 rebounds in the first round of the best-of-seven Western Conference play-offs.
LeBron James scored 21 points as nearly 7,500 fans watched the first play-off game at the Staples Centre since 2013.
The Lakers won last year’s NBA title in a bio-secure bubble on neutral ground.
Worth the wait. #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/zrlSXlKC3q
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 28, 2021
Davies became the first Lakers player since four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal to score more than 30 points and come up with more than 10 rebounds in successive play-off games.
Lakers legends Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant are the only other players to also manage the feat for the club.
The Suns led 28-27 after the first quarter, but the Lakers led 43-40 lead at half-time and then went on a 16-6 run at the start of the second half to take control of the game.
Mood. #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/hgMMUFrVIx
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 28, 2021
A reverse lay-in by James, which brought huge applause from the home crowd, put Los Angeles 21 points up in the fourth quarter and on their way to victory.
The Suns – led by Deandre Ayton with 22 points and 11 rebounds – cut LA’s advantage to eight points with just under three minutes left as Jae Crowder landed a three-pointer. However, that was as close as they would get.
Game four is in Los Angeles on Sunday.
