Sunday 3 March 2019 07:31, UK
DeAndre Ayton had 26 points and 10 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns defied their league-worst record to further dent the Los Angeles Lakers' playoff hopes with a 118-109 victory on Saturday night.
The Suns avoided their first season sweep in 19 years against the visiting Lakers, who lost for the fourth time in their last five games to fall four-and-a-half games back from the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
LeBron James had 27 points, nine rebounds and 16 assists for the Lakers, but was unable to overcome Devin Booker, who scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half and Josh Jackson, who scored 16 off the bench for Phoenix, who have won two of three after losing 17 straight.
Brandon Ingram scored 25 points and JaVale McGee went 10 of 10 from the field in adding 21 points off the bench for Los Angeles, whose win-loss record now stands at 30-33.
The Suns led by as many as 19 points early in the fourth quarter before the Lakers cut the deficit to five on a three-pointer by Ingram with 3:50 left. James missed two free throws that would have narrowed the deficit to three with 47.4 seconds left.
Lakers coach Luke Walton went with a bigger lineup in the second half and started the seven-foot McGee over shooting guard Reggie Bullock.
Los Angeles pulled within five with 7:30 left in the third, but the Suns quickly went back up by double figures and took a 95-78 lead into the fourth quarter, their biggest of the game.
James made 10 field goals to give him 11,726 for his career, moving him past former Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (11,719) for fifth all-time in the NBA.
Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo had four assists to give him (6,822) for his NBA career and move past Deron Williams (6,819) for 20th all-time.
