Devin Booker scored 34 points, Deandre Ayton had 21 points and 16 rebounds and the Phoenix Suns won their first playoff game in 11 years, beating the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers 99-90 on Sunday.
It was the first playoff game for several Suns players, including Booker, Ayton and Mikal Bridges, but they didn’t look like post-season rookies against LeBron James and the Lakers. They helped Phoenix offset a tough game for Chris Paul, the All-Star point guard who didn’t look healthy after a right shoulder injury in the second quarter.
The Suns led 86-70 early in the fourth, but the Lakers cut it to 86-77 with 9:02 left.
That’s about the time things got rowdy. LA’s Alex Caruso and Phoenix’s Cameron Payne got into an altercation near the sideline after Payne knocked Caruso to the ground. LA’s Montrezl Harrell jumped into the fray and both teams had to be separated.
Caruso and Harrell were each given a technical foul, and Payne was given two and ejected.
But Booker kept making shots and Ayton was a force on the glass, finishing with eight offense rebounds and shooting 10 of 11 from the field.
James had 18 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Anthony Davis shot just 5 of 16 from the field and had 13 points. The Lakers shot 7 of 26 (27%) from 3-point range.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Phoenix.