Game Grades: Lakers rally falls short, Suns take season series
By Jacob Rude
115. 66. 100. 20. Final
MVP: Back-to-back MVP performances from Nick Young, who scored 16 straight points for the Lakers in the fourth quarter to pull LA back within six points in a game that seemed like gone earlier in the quarter. Swaggy P is officially out of his slump.
LVP: We have co-LVPs tonight as anyone who played or defended Isaiah Thomas, Eric Bledsoe, and Goran Dragic loses. The trio combined for 65 points on 25 for 38 shooting. Pathetic.
Stat of the Night: 65 points on 25 for 38 shooting. Seriously. What the hell, guys. Were you trying on defense?
The Starters
WAYNE ELLINGTON. B+. <strong>22 min, 3-7 FG, 1-2 3P, 2-2 FT, 9 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>The stats don’t show quite the impact <strong><a href=. SG. Los Angeles Lakers
B. <strong> 27 min, 5-11 FG, 2-3 FT, 12 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 6 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers. JORDAN HILL
<strong>31 min, 4-9 FG, 1-2 3P, 1-2 FT, 10 PTS, 3 REB, 10 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO</strong><p>With another chance to distance himself from <strong><a href=. PG. Los Angeles Lakers. JEREMY LIN. B-
Los Angeles Lakers. WESLEY JOHNSON. C. <strong>30 min, 5-10 FG, 1-3 3P, 1-1 FT, 12 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. SF
PF. Los Angeles Lakers. ED DAVIS. B+. <strong>22 min, 2-7 FG, 4-6 FT, 8 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p>One game after saying he regressed, Davis nearly had a double-double while inexplicably given only 22 minutes of action.</p>
The Bench
A+. <strong>26 min, 7-12 FG, 4-7 3P, 6-7 FT, 24 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p>Swaggy tied his season high by dishing out three assists tonight.</p>. SG. Los Angeles Lakers. NICK YOUNG
B. <strong> 21 min, 2-3 FG, 2-4 FT, 6 PTS, 3 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>The biggest story line of <strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers. TARIK BLACK
C+. <strong>17 min, 2-7 FG, 0-2 3P, 2-2 FT, 6 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. PG. Los Angeles Lakers. JORDAN CLARKSON
CARLOS BOOZER. C+. <strong>26 min, 3-6 FG, 1-4 FT, 7 PTS, 7 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers
C+. <strong>18 min, 1-3 FG, 1-1 3P, 3-4 FT, 6 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. PF. Los Angeles Lakers. RYAN KELLY