Bledsoe's Triple-Double Leads Suns Over Lakers, 137-101
PHOENIX (AP) — Eric Bledsoe had his third career triple-double, the first for a Phoenix player since November 2015, and Devin Booker scored 23 points to lead the Suns over the Los Angeles Lakers 137-101 on Wednesday night.
Bledsoe got his 10th rebound with 6:06 to go and exited shortly after, finishing with 25 points and a season high-tying 13 assists.
Marquese Chriss added 15 points and eight rebounds for Phoenix, with all four of his baskets on dunks. Alex Len came off the bench to contribute 15 points and nine boards.
The Suns led 102-76 after three quarters and coasted to their second victory in seven games and 11th straight over the Lakers at home.
Lou Williams and D'Angelo Russell led Los Angeles with 21 points apiece. The Lakers have lost three of four.
The Suns set season highs for points and field goal shooting (55.7 percent).
Phoenix made eight of its first 12 shots, two of those on lobs for dunks by Chriss and Booker. Chriss threw down another alley-oop dunk with 5:13 left in the first quarter, giving the Suns a 23-6 lead, and his putback jam off Booker's miss at the 3:25 mark made it 27-8.
Phoenix was up 32-15 at the end of the first quarter after leading by as many as 22 points, with Los Angeles making just five of 19 shots with eight turnovers.
The Lakers cut the margin to 11 twice in the second quarter, but the Suns built it back to 20. Bledsoe banked in a 41-foot heave at the buzzer, and Phoenix led 68-48 at halftime behind 21 points from Booker and 10 assists from Bledsoe.
TIP-INS
Lakers: G Jordan Clarkson and F Larry Nance Jr. played despite both dealing with a sprained thumb. Russell played on a sore knee. ... Williams has scored at least 20 points 25 times this season, tops among NBA reserves.
Suns: P.J. Tucker left midway through the second quarter when he tumbled over a photographer along the baseline after a missed transition layup. Tucker limped back to the locker room with a bruised lower back but returned in the third quarter. ... The 15 points allowed in the first quarter were a season low for the Suns. Their 68 points in the first half were a season high.
HUSTLE PLAY
With the Suns up big late in the third quarter, Booker caught up to Clarkson on a fast break and blocked his layup attempt off the backboard. The play got Booker's teammates and fans on their feet with cheers.
WORLD CHAMP
Chicago Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo sat courtside. Rizzo and the Cubs just started spring training in nearby Mesa.
WEEKENDERS
Four players in the game will play for the U.S. team in Friday's NBA Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star weekend in New Orleans. Booker and Chriss will represent the Suns, while the Lakers will send Russell and Brandon Ingram. Also, Derrick Jones Jr. of the Suns will compete in the Slam Dunk Contest, and the Lakers' Nick Young will take part in the Skills Challenge, both on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Return to regular-season action Feb. 24 at Oklahoma City.
Suns: Start a three-game road trip Feb. 24 at Chicago.
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