The Phoenix Suns knock out the Los Angeles Lakers, third quarter
Third quarter starts with a Schroder layup and a Gasol foul on Deandre Ayton, who hits a pair of free throws.
CP3 may not be able to shoot, but he can pass… lob jam Ayton.
LeBron hits a layup… muscling position inside — like he could do all game long if he wasn’t sulking.
Later, LeBron, called a “hypocritical little b—-” by some in the social media space, cheap-shots Ayton, who asks for a review.
Nothing comes of it, but if you saw it, the “bump” was a cheap shot.
Timeout.
After Booker rescues the Suns on a couple of possessions, Markieff Morris bricks a 3 and the Suns lead by 17, 77-60 with under six minutes left in the third.
And now, LeBron, somehow (hahaha) fighting that horrific ankle sprain, drives the lane and converts a layup to cut the lead to 13. Lakers fans wonder, “Well, if he can do that now, why hasn’t he done that all night?”
Timeout Suns.
Cam Payne two free throws, a (non-call) travel on Matthews followed by a Matthews 3. Then a pair of Payne free throws make it 81-67 with 3:26 left in the third.
LeBron is now trying. Is it too late?
Markieff cheap shots Cameron Johnson. Big decision here. Flagrant.
Then, the great Talen Horton-Tucker hits a bucket and then kills his team with a technical foul on a yapping cheap shot against Cam Johnson.
LeBron is trying again. Goes into the paint and scores. And, of course, screams for a foul that simply did not exist.
Torrey Craig offensive foul.
LeBron decides to play hard again. (Where was that when he was so addled with the “high ankle sprain” in the first half?)
Booker TRIPLE is very, very large, but Lakers cut it to 13.
Payne misses, LeBron misses a 3 at the third-quarter horn.
Suns 89-76.