Lakers Overcome Free-Throw Disparity To Outlast Phoenix Suns
The Lakers beat the Suns 122-111 in an intense match on Wednesday night, but the game’s large free-throw disparity is what everyone is talking about. The Lakers shot a whopping 46 free throws while the Suns only managed to shoot 20, leading to a 21-point difference at the line.
Lakers Outshoot Suns At The Line, Sparking Controversy
Suns coach Monty Williams was furious and criticized the game officials for what he perceives as a pattern of unfair officiating against his team in recent games. In his postgame news conference, Williams described how the Suns are not getting the same calls as other teams, and he's tired of it.
"I’m over it. Been talking about the same thing for a while. Doesn’t matter what team it is," Williams said.
The Suns, who have been called for 31 personal fouls in each of their last two games, saw a 46-20 free-throw disparity in the Lakers game, with Devin Booker only managing to get 12 free throws, and the Suns bench not getting any. Chris Paul commented on the strange box score, saying that he watches a lot of basketball and that it's crazy how some of the officials can't even communicate.
Despite Booker scoring 33 points, with 25 of them coming in the second half, the Suns lost their fifth game in six games. Kevin Durant missed his seventh straight game for Phoenix with an ankle injury, and Deandre Ayton also didn’t make the trip to Los Angeles due to a hip injury.
The Lakers, who improved to 7-5 in LeBron James’ latest injury absence, were led by Anthony Davis, who scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds. D’Angelo Russell added 26 points, and Austin Reaves had a career-high 25 points and 11 assists after moving into the starting lineup.
The Lakers had lost to Houston and Dallas last week, endangering their playoff hopes, but with consecutive victories, they have surged back into a tie for ninth place in the Western Conference postseason picture.
The Suns will play the Sacramento Kings on Friday, while the Lakers will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on the same day. It remains to be seen if the game officials will be under scrutiny following the controversial calls during the Suns-Lakers game.
Conclusion:
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns 122-111 in a game that was marred by controversy over the large free-throw disparity favoring the Lakers. Suns coach Monty Williams expressed his frustration over what he sees as a pattern of unfair officiating against his team, citing the 46 free throws awarded to the Lakers compared to their own 20. Despite the controversy, the Lakers were able to pull away in the second half with strong performances from Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, and Austin Reaves, who scored a career-high 25 points and 11 assists. The Suns were without Kevin Durant and Deandre Ayton due to injuries, while the Lakers are still missing LeBron James due to a foot injury. The Suns will look to bounce back against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, while the Lakers will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on the same day.
