The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MATCHED up against the “small ball” lineup of the Los Angeles Lakers, Deandre Ayton asserted his dominance with one of his best all around games of the season and led his Phoenix Suns to their second win in three games.

Ayton finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds in a 118-109 win over the Lakers Saturday night at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. He shot 8-11 from the field, 10-14 from the free throw line and added three assists, one block and two steals in 34 minutes.

Defended by LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma for much of the night, the Suns ran the offence through Ayton. The rookie centre had just 10 free throw attempts over the course of the last five games and had just 10 games this season with five or more free throw attempts. His previous career high was just eight free throw attempts.

A LeBron James dunk cut a once 20-point lead to three, but Ayton would make a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession to retain a two possession lead. Los Angeles would not score again.

Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov said Ayton’s play against James and the Lakers frontcourt was key to the win.

“I think it was great Deandre accepted the challenge, understanding that it’s a key matchup,” he said. “Building the wall, so we don’t have to deal with his post-up isolations. Overall, I think it was a big part of the defensive kind of strategy of the game plan, and he executed pretty well.”

James finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and 16 assists.

Ayton told Arizona Sports 98.7 that he looks up to James, highlighting his leadership and ability to make the players around him better. “It was fun, it was competitive. I wouldn’t say LeBron was really going at me he was just really … I don’t think he was really going at me. I think he could have done a lot more consistently,” Ayton said. “LeBron is everywhere and I was just really happy,”

The Lakers fell to 30-33 and are now 4.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. “Obviously we needed this game. We wanted to play well. At times we played well,” James said.

“It’s just unfortunate, with the opportunity that we’ve had, we haven’t been able to seize that opportunity.”

The Suns, an NBA’s worst 13-51 had previously set a franchise record with their 16th consecutive loss. Following that game, Ayton was vocal on his intention to finish the season.

“I gave them enough time to let them run what they got to run,” Ayton said. “Now I’m about to just take over now. It’s about that time to take over and not really look back.”