The Phoenix Suns duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker combined to send the Los Angeles Lakers to their first NBA loss of the season.
Booker scored 33 points and Durant 30 to give the Suns a thrilling 109-105 victory at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Lakers star LeBron James had a quiet game and recorded only 11 points, while his teammate Anthony Davis was the leading scorer with 29, while Austin Reaves added 23.
The Lakers had come into the game off an impressive 3-0 start to the season under new head coach JJ Redick and were off to an excellent start to the game.
Davis scored 16 points in the first quarter to give the Lakers a 26-8 lead.
Phoenix responded to take a 50-48 lead before the Lakers responded with a 35-point third quarter to regain the lead.
However, the Suns dominated the quarter, outscoring the Lakers 33-22 to seal a hard-fought victory.
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer praised the “toughness” of his team’s defense after taking “a hit like that in the first quarter” as a crucial factor in the victory.
On the other hand, Paolo Banchero became the first Orlando Magic player with a 50-point game in 20 years by beating the Indiana Pacers 119-115.
Banchero tied the franchise record for points in a half, scoring 37 in the first two quarters against the Indiana Pacers.
He added 13 rebounds and nine assists, while Jalen Suggs provided offensive support with 25 points.
Banchero finished with a career-high 50 points, matching the club’s fifth-highest scoring effort and best return since Tracy McGrady’s record-breaking 62 points in March 2004.
“It was just being in the zone. I felt like I was in an open gym, at home, just working on my game,” Banchero said.
“Every shot felt like it was going in and it’s a good feeling when you have a day like that.”
