The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns never fails to deliver basketball at its finest, and their February 25, 2024 encounter proved no exception. With the Suns emerging victorious 123-113, this Western Conference clash showcased everything fans crave: elite scoring, defensive intensity, and individual brilliance that nearly overshadowed team execution. What made this particular game so compelling wasn’t just the final score, but how the statistical breakdown revealed the subtle differences between winning and losing at the highest level.
Anyone who watched this game understood immediately that star power alone wouldn’t determine the outcome. Sure, LeBron James put up numbers that would make most players’ careers, but basketball has always been about more than individual heroics. The Suns demonstrated something crucial that night—they played as a cohesive unit while the Lakers leaned heavily on their two superstars, and that distinction became glaringly obvious as the second half unfolded.
LeBron James Delivers Another Masterclass Performance
At 39 years old, LeBron James continues defying Father Time with performances that seem almost scientifically impossible. His 33-point outburst against Phoenix included 9 rebounds and 7 assists, numbers that most players half his age would struggle to achieve consistently. What separates LeBron from other aging stars isn’t just his statistical output—it’s his ability to impact winning even when his team falls short.
Throughout the first half, LeBron controlled the game’s tempo with an efficiency that reminded everyone why he’s considered one of the greatest floor generals in NBA history. His drives to the basket created opportunities for teammates, his court vision led to easy buckets, and his defensive awareness kept the Lakers competitive during stretches where Phoenix threatened to pull away. The problem wasn’t LeBron’s effort or execution; it was the lack of consistent support around him when the game reached its critical juncture.
His shooting splits told an interesting story too. LeBron connected on 13 of 25 field goal attempts, which works out to 52% shooting—a respectable number that actually exceeded the team’s overall field goal percentage. From beyond the arc, he managed 3 of 8 attempts, not spectacular but adequate given the defensive attention Phoenix devoted to limiting his three-point opportunities. What really stood out was his ability to get to the free throw line, where he converted 4 of 5 attempts in crucial moments.
Anthony Davis Commands the Paint Despite the Loss
Anthony Davis entered this matchup knowing he’d face one of the league’s more physical centers in Deandre Ayton, and the battle between these two big men became a fascinating subplot. Davis finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds, securing his double-double while adding 3 blocks that altered several additional Suns shot attempts. His defensive presence in the paint forced Phoenix to adjust their offensive approach multiple times throughout the game.
What’s remarkable about Davis’s performance is how he managed to score efficiently despite constant double teams. He shot 10 of 18 from the field, a 55.6% clip that actually surpassed his season average at that point. His mid-range game looked particularly sharp, with several turnaround jumpers over Ayton that showcased the skill development he’s added to his already impressive athletic toolkit. The Lakers ran numerous pick-and-roll sequences designed to get Davis rolling toward the basket, and more often than not, those plays generated quality looks.
But here’s where the statistical breakdown gets interesting. Despite Davis’s strong rebounding numbers, the Suns actually won the overall rebounding battle 48-42. This discrepancy mattered enormously in a game decided by ten points, as Phoenix’s ability to secure offensive rebounds led to second-chance points that eventually provided their winning margin. Davis grabbed 4 offensive boards himself, but when your team gets outrebounded by six, those individual efforts don’t translate into team success.
D’Angelo Russell Provides Secondary Scoring
D’Angelo Russell’s 18 points and 6 assists represented exactly the kind of tertiary production the Lakers needed, yet it still wasn’t quite enough against Phoenix’s balanced attack. Russell’s three-point shooting kept the Suns honest defensively, as he connected on 4 of 9 attempts from downtown—a 44.4% conversion rate that exceeded the team average and provided crucial spacing for LeBron and Davis to operate.
The playmaking aspect of Russell’s game deserves more attention than it typically receives. His 6 assists came with only 2 turnovers, demonstrating the kind of ball security that’s essential in tight games. Several of his dimes led directly to easy Lakers buckets, including a beautiful alley-oop to Davis in the third quarter that momentarily cut Phoenix’s lead to just four points. Russell’s ability to create offense when the primary stars faced double teams gave Los Angeles a fighting chance throughout.
However, Russell’s defensive limitations became apparent during critical possessions. Devin Booker targeted him repeatedly in the fourth quarter, using screens to create mismatches that Phoenix exploited mercilessly. This isn’t entirely Russell’s fault—Booker is an elite scorer who can punish most defenders—but the Lakers needed more resistance at that crucial position to have any real chance of mounting a comeback.
Kevin Durant Proves Unstoppable in Leading Phoenix
Kevin Durant’s 35-point performance reminded everyone why he remains one of the most unguardable players in basketball history. Standing 6’11” with a shooting stroke that looks effortless from any distance, Durant picked apart the Lakers defense with surgical precision. He shot 13 of 22 from the field, including 4 of 7 from three-point range, numbers that tell only part of the story.
What made Durant so effective wasn’t just his scoring volume but his shot selection and timing. He waited for Lakers defensive rotations to break down, then exploited those momentary gaps with mid-range jumpers that went in with such consistency that Los Angeles couldn’t devise an effective counter-strategy. His 8 rebounds and 5 assists showed his all-around impact, as he facilitated for teammates when the defense collapsed on him.
The Lakers tried everything defensively. They put LeBron on him for stretches, switched Davis onto him in certain situations, and even attempted some zone looks to confuse Phoenix’s offensive rhythm. Nothing worked consistently. Durant’s ability to shoot over smaller defenders and drive past bigger ones created an impossible dilemma that Frank Vogel’s defensive schemes couldn’t solve.
Perhaps most impressively, Durant delivered his biggest shots when Phoenix needed them most. With the game still competitive in the fourth quarter, he hit back-to-back jumpers that pushed the Suns’ lead from 6 to 10, effectively crushing the Lakers’ hopes of a late comeback. Those types of dagger shots separate good players from transcendent ones, and Durant has been hitting them his entire career.
Devin Booker’s All-Around Excellence
Devin Booker’s 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists represented the kind of complete performance that defines elite two-way guards. Booker has evolved from a pure scorer into a genuine playmaker, and this game showcased that development beautifully. His three-point shooting went 5 of 11, a 45.5% clip that kept the Lakers defense stretched thin throughout the evening.
What separates Booker from other volume scorers is his willingness to make the right play rather than forcing difficult shots. On several possessions, he drove into the lane, drew multiple defenders, then kicked out to open teammates for quality looks. This unselfishness, combined with his ability to score 29 points, makes him incredibly difficult to game plan against. Do you sell out to stop his scoring and risk giving up open shots elsewhere? Or do you play straight up and watch him torch you for 30-plus?
His chemistry with Durant has become one of the league’s most dangerous offensive partnerships. They take turns creating, rarely getting in each other’s way, and both possess the basketball IQ to exploit defensive weaknesses in real time. Against the Lakers, they combined for 64 points on efficient shooting, and their ability to alternate as primary and secondary options kept Los Angeles constantly scrambling defensively.
Booker’s defensive effort also deserves recognition. He grabbed 7 rebounds, impressive for a shooting guard, and his on-ball defense against Russell and other Lakers perimeter players showed real commitment. While defense isn’t his calling card, his willingness to compete on that end makes Phoenix much tougher to score against.
Deandre Ayton’s Interior Dominance
Deandre Ayton’s double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds might not jump off the stat sheet compared to Durant and Booker’s performances, but his impact was enormous. Ayton controlled the paint defensively, altering shots and securing rebounds that ended Lakers possessions. His physical presence forced Los Angeles to adjust their interior scoring attempts constantly.
On offense, Ayton’s efficiency stood out. He shot 7 of 11 from the field, a 63.6% conversion rate that came mostly on dunks, layups, and short hook shots. Phoenix’s offense thrives when Ayton establishes position near the basket, as his gravity creates driving lanes for Booker and Durant. Several times during this game, Ayton’s defender left him to help on drives, only to watch helplessly as Ayton finished easy alley-oops or putbacks.
The rebounding battle between Ayton and Davis was intriguing to watch. While Davis grabbed 11 boards to Ayton’s 10, the overall team rebounding advantage went to Phoenix largely because of Ayton’s positioning and box-out technique. He may not always grab the rebound himself, but he seals off defenders effectively, allowing teammates to secure loose balls.
Statistical Breakdown: Why Phoenix Won
The numbers reveal several key factors that determined this game’s outcome. Phoenix shot 52.2% from the field compared to the Lakers’ 47%, a five-percentage-point gap that translated to approximately 10 additional made field goals for the Suns. That difference alone accounts for 20 points in a game decided by just ten.
Three-point shooting provided another crucial advantage for Phoenix. The Suns connected on 15 of 35 attempts (42.9%) while the Lakers managed only 11 of 31 (35.5%). That seven-percentage-point difference meant Phoenix made four more threes, worth 12 additional points. When you combine superior field goal percentage with better three-point shooting, the math becomes almost insurmountable.
Free throw accuracy told a similar story. Phoenix converted 18 of 21 free throws (85.7%) while Los Angeles struggled at 16 of 23 (69.6%). In close games, these seemingly small efficiency gaps compound into decisive advantages. The Suns didn’t just outscore the Lakers—they did so more efficiently across every major shooting category.
Rebounding numbers favored Phoenix 48-42, providing them with additional possessions that directly translated into points. Offensive rebounds particularly hurt the Lakers, as Phoenix grabbed 11 compared to Los Angeles’s 8. Those extra possessions in a game where every point mattered gave the Suns multiple second-chance opportunities that they converted into crucial baskets.
Assists revealed another interesting distinction. Phoenix recorded 27 assists on 47 made field goals, meaning 57.4% of their baskets came via assists. The Lakers managed 24 assists on 42 made field goals, a 57.1% rate that was nearly identical. This similarity suggests both teams moved the ball reasonably well, but Phoenix’s superior shooting efficiency made their ball movement more productive.
Second Half Adjustments Decided the Game
The first half ended with Phoenix leading just 62-58, a four-point margin that suggested a competitive finish. But the Suns outscored the Lakers 61-55 in the second half, gradually extending their lead as Los Angeles struggled to generate consistent stops defensively. Phoenix’s third quarter performance was particularly dominant, as they outscored the Lakers 33-27 during that critical period.
What changed after halftime? Phoenix’s offensive execution sharpened considerably, with Durant and Booker finding better rhythm in their shot selection. The Suns also tightened their defensive rotations, limiting the Lakers’ ability to generate easy looks in transition. Los Angeles managed just 4 fast-break points in the second half after scoring 8 in the first half, a telling statistic that revealed Phoenix’s improved transition defense.
The Lakers’ bench production—or lack thereof—became increasingly problematic as the game progressed. Phoenix’s reserves contributed 22 points compared to just 12 from the Lakers bench. In a ten-point game, that ten-point disadvantage from non-starters proved decisive. The Lakers needed more from their role players, but aside from Russell’s contributions, the supporting cast couldn’t deliver consistent offense.
Turnovers also plagued Los Angeles in crucial moments. The Lakers committed 14 turnovers leading to 18 Phoenix points, while the Suns turned the ball over just 10 times, resulting in only 12 Lakers points. That six-point swing from turnovers, combined with the rebounding deficit and shooting efficiency gaps, created a mathematical challenge that even LeBron’s brilliance couldn’t overcome.
Looking Ahead: Implications for Both Teams
This victory reinforced Phoenix’s status as a legitimate Western Conference contender. With Durant and Booker forming one of the league’s most potent scoring duos, and Ayton providing interior stability, the Suns possess the pieces necessary for a deep playoff run. Their balanced scoring attack makes them difficult to defend, as opponents can’t simply focus on stopping one or two players.
For the Lakers, this loss highlighted their dependence on LeBron and Davis. While having two superstars of that caliber gives you a chance against anyone, modern NBA basketball demands depth and role player production. The Lakers needed more from their bench and secondary scorers if they hoped to compete with elite teams like Phoenix. D’Angelo Russell’s 18 points helped, but it wasn’t nearly enough supplemental scoring.
The defensive issues that plagued Los Angeles throughout this game represented a concerning trend. Allowing 123 points to a talented offensive team isn’t necessarily alarming, but the way Phoenix carved up the Lakers defense with simple pick-and-rolls and isolation plays suggested systemic problems rather than individual breakdowns. Improvement on that end would need to come quickly if the Lakers wanted to make noise in the playoffs.
Phoenix’s ability to control the pace and execute in clutch moments demonstrated championship-level composure. They didn’t panic when the Lakers made runs, instead trusting their offensive system and individual talent to regain control. That kind of poise comes from experience and chemistry, two things the Suns clearly possessed in abundance.
The next meeting between these teams promised to be equally compelling. Would the Lakers make adjustments to slow down Durant and Booker? Could Phoenix maintain their shooting efficiency against improved Lakers defense? These questions would only be answered when these Western Conference powers met again, but one thing seemed certain—fans would be treated to more high-level basketball between two teams with legitimate championship aspirations.
