Phoenix -- -- Anthony Davis had a few words to say about the Los Angeles Lakers' playoff loss to the Phoenix Suns last season before the teams played Sunday night.
Surya got the last word.
Devin Booker scored 30 points, Deandre Ayton scored 23 points and 16 rebounds in just 27 minutes, and the NBA-led Suns beat the Lakers 140–111.
Booker also had 10 assists and four steals. Michal Bridges added 18 points to help Phoenix lead 40 games from .500 to 54-14. 140 points were a season high for the Suns.
Davis told reporters before the game that the Lakers would have defeated the Suns in their post-season series last year if he had not been sidelined by a groin injury.
"We know that. They know this. They got away with one," Davis said.
Booker said the Sons heard of Davis' comments before the teams went to court on Sunday.
"Instead of taking the high (road), you make comments like that," Booker said.
LeBron James leads the Lakers, who have lost 10 straight road games with 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He did not play in the fourth quarter.
James reached a milestone with his 10,000th career assist in the second quarter on a 3-pointer from Carmelo Anthony. James is the only player in NBA history to have at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists.
"I'm at a loss for words whenever this happens to me," James said. “I automatically start thinking about my hometown of Akron and my upbringing where I come from. It was my dream to be at the highest level in this league and now sit alone in a statistical category in this league. I model my game after being able to score, rebound and assist. And to sit alone in one stage, I would say is good, but it doesn't make sense to me at all. ,
Ayton's double-double came after a text exchange with coach Monty Williams following the Suns' loss to Toronto on Friday night. Ayton had 16 points and seven rebounds in the loss and told Williams in text that he could take advantage of the Lakers' smaller lineup, with James at center.
"It wasn't selfish, like I don't want any more points," Williams said. "(It was) 'I can get over them. I think we need to see more of me.' ... DA doesn't make statements like that, so he can score more and get those points. He's like, 'I can work there.' I've been around long enough to know his intentions and he supported it."
Ayton said he felt "humiliated" when the team used a smaller lineup against him.
"It's just my point," he said. "I'm punishing teams like this."
The Sons broke it in the first five minutes. They went on to 14-0 - punctuated by back-to-back 27-foot 3-pointers by Booker - to take a 16-6 lead, and continued to pour.
The Phoenix led 48–22 after the first quarter, the Sun's highest production in a quarter this season and the most Lakers lost in a quarter in the shot-clock era.
Phoenix had 14 assists in the quarter with no turnover and 7 out of 12 from 3-point range. The Lakers had seven turnovers and were 1 in 10 on 3-point attempts.
Phoenix had a season-high 79 points for a 23-point lead.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said, 'We played poorly. "How we started, really the whole night, was unacceptable... It's a tough matchup to play against the short ball but we definitely have to be better than we are tonight."
Tip-ins
Lakers: F Davies, who has been sidelined since February 16 due to a leg sprain, will resume on-court work and spot shooting from Monday. It is uncertain when Davis will ramp up his activity. Vogel called his return this season "100% probably".
Suns: F Cam Johnson misses his fifth straight game with right quad contusion... Danish guard Gabriel Lundberg, signed to a two-way contract, will not report to Suns for two weeks due to visa issues... Phoenix beaten This has happened to every NBA team at least once this season, the first time since 2006–07.
This is lebron
Before the game Williams was asked if he was surprised that at age 37, James had scored 50 points or more in two of the last three Lakers games.
"It's hard to get 25 points in an NBA game. Ask anyone who hasn't done that," Williams said. Thinks. He doesn't look like he's approaching 40. He just looks like LeBron James."
Next
Lakers: Host Toronto on Monday night.
The Sun: Tuesday night in New Orleans.