In a heated opening match that saw tensions spill over in the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers dropped Game 1 against the Phoenix Suns, 99-90.
With home-court advantage as the second seed, the Suns’ crowd brought the energy that hasn’t been felt since before the coronavirus pandemic. Phoenix seemed to use that energy to boost their play, as they forced the Lakers into tough looks right out of the gate while scoring efficiently on the other end.
Devin Booker, primarily, gave the Lakers fits all game long, leading all scorers with 34 points. Even when Chris Paul went down with a shoulder injury, Booker carried the burden with poise.
Los Angeles, on the other hand, looked lethargic for much of the game. Their play was reminiscent of the first half against the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament, but this time, their fortune didn’t change.
Here are three takeaways from the Lakers’ loss:
