Ayton, Suns send Lakers to 4th loss in 5 games

Deandre Ayton had 26 points and 10 rebounds and the Phoenix Suns avoided their first season sweep in 19 years against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers with a 118-109 victory on Saturday night. Devin Booker scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half and Josh Jackson scored 16 off the bench for Phoenix, which has won two of three after losing 17 straight.

LeBron James had 27 points, nine rebounds and 16 assists for the Lakers, who have lost four of five to drop 4 1/2 games back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. 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.

The Suns led by as many as 19 points early in the fourth quarter before the Lakers cut the deficit to five on a 3-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 7-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. The Suns led 55-41 with 5:21 left in the first half before the Lakers cut the deficit to three for the third time in the second quarter. Phoenix scored the final four points to take a 66-59 lead into the break.

The Suns used an 11-2 run to break a 15-15 tie and take a 26-17 lead with 3:23 left in the first quarter. Phoenix led by as many as 10 before the Lakers trimmed the deficit to 33-26 entering the second quarter. 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. --Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)