On Tuesday night, Mikal Bridges and Devin Booker each delivered 25 points to help the Phoenix Suns defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 115-105.
The Lakers lost to Phoenix, and Patrick Beverley was tossed late in the fourth quarter. He may now face a ban for totally flooring Deandre Ayton.
The Suns have defeated the Lakers five times in a row during regular season play and eight times if you consider the final three games of their playoff series in 2020–21; this is despite Chris Paul being sidelined for the eighth straight game.
During the fourth quarter, things became tense. With 3:55 remaining in the contest, Patrick Beverley of the Lakers was dismissed for pushing Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton following a foul on Booker against Austin Reaves that was later reviewed and determined to be a flagrant-1. Later, Booker was fouled out.
Beverley seemed to dislike the 7-foot Ayton standing over Reaves, who had been brought down by Devin Booker’s flagrant foul (contact to the face).
There is no shove there. That is a shoulder-leading level, running-start duty. It will be stunning if Beverley isn’t suspended for at least one game, if not more, for that behavior. You can see why Beverley doesn’t like Ayton after he appeared to be mocking a colleague on the ground, but that behavior was inappropriate.
After the game, Devin Booker commented on Beverley’s hit, “[Patrick] should stop pushing players in the back.” All I can say is, “Push them in the chest.”
Beverley may have gotten away with that in the old NBA. Not today, though. Despite Anthony Davis’ outstanding effort (37 points, 21 rebounds, five blocks, and five steals), the Lakers were defeated 115-105, dropping their record to 5-11 overall.
For the Lakers, who had just won their third straight game, Anthony Davis scored 37 points and 21 rebounds. Los Angeles has lost five consecutive games without LeBron James, who was out with a left tendinous issue.
Davis made 15 of 16 free throws, giving Los Angeles a significant (29-3) point advantage. However, Phoenix made 16 of its 31 3-point tries, including five from Bridges. From beyond the arc, the Lakers made just 4 of 22 shots.