Oct 21, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Wesley Johnson (11) shoots over Phoenix Suns forward Shavlik Randolph (43) and Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) in overtime at Honda Center. Phoenix Suns defeated Los Angeles Lakers 114-108 in OT. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Wesley Johnson (11) shoots over Phoenix Suns forward Shavlik Randolph (43) and Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) in overtime at Honda Center. Phoenix Suns defeated Los Angeles Lakers 114-108 in OT. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers returned to the Honda Center in Anaheim for the second time this preseason to take on the athletic Phoenix Suns. After a pitched battle that the Lakers could have won, the Suns pulled away in overtime to win 114-108.
In the first the Suns consistently penetrated the Lakers’ interior defense as Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe were able to get in the paint. Dragic scored 9 points on an assortment of dribble drives. Bledsoe chipped in 3 assists as the Suns pulled out to a 19-11 lead with 2:56 remaining in the period. Jordan Hill paced the Lakers with 6 points.
The 2nd quarter was nip and tuck and eventually the Lakers were able to take the lead 36-34 with 3:56 remaining. Jeremy Lin and Ed Davis continued to develop their burgeoning chemistry on the pick and roll. Jeremy Lin helped balance the Lakers offense with his penetration and passing, he had 4 points and 3 assists. Jordan Hill was active offensively as well, hitting his trademark set shot with consistency. At the Half, however, Phoenix led the Lakers by 3, 50-47. Gerald Green scored 11 points in the quarter.
The second half began with a dominant outburst by the Suns’ Bledsoe who was relentless, scoring 10 points with 3 assists but was matched by Kobe Bryant who got on track after a quiet 1st half. Bryant scored 10 points in the quarter, but has increasingly relied on familiar isolations from the high post, instead of from movement in the Princeton offense. The Suns began sending hard doubles and traps at Bryant, whom was unable to find open shots for teammates elsewhere on the court. The Suns ended the period with a 6 point lead 77-71.
The story of game ultimately was the Phoenix bench. In the 4th, Isaiah Thomas, Gerald Green, Shavlik Handrick proved a handful for the Lakers’ defensive rotations. Jeremy Lin lead a furious comeback in the beginning of the 4th, scoring 12 points and chipping in 2 assists as the Lakers went on a 17-9 run to tie the game at 88 with 2:05 in regulation. From that point, Kobe Bryant took over in vintage fashion, scoring 8 consecutive points, leading the Suns 94-91. Wesley Johnson, as a part of his wildly uneven game, missed two free throws with :09 seconds remaining that would have secured the win for Los Angeles. Isaiah Thomas made a baseline jumper as time expired to send the game into overtime with the score 94 apiece.
Jeremy Lin fouled out near the end of regulation and Kobe Bryant was removed after making two jump shots and retaking the lead 98-98 with 3:23 left in overtime. Gerald Green took over scoring 10 points. Wesley Johnson made two late 3 pointers but the game slipped away with Phoenix winning 114-108.
Bryant scored 27 points on 50 percent shooting, but had 2 assists and 5 turnovers. Jeremy Lin had 15 points with 5 assists and 0 turnovers. He took 10 free throw attempts. Wesley Johnson had 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, and 8 turnovers. Julius Randle was quiet with just 3 points, on 1-5 shooting, in 18 minutes.
While a loss, the Lakers showed cohesion defensively for long stretches holding Phoenix to 41% shooting on the night. They were also able to share the ball successfully with 31 assists on the night. They shot 50% from the field, but was sloppy with the ball having 19 turnovers.
Isaiah Thomas had 26 points and Gerald Green scored 21 to lead the Suns.
The Lakers play the Portland Trailblazers tomorrow in Ontario, CA.