Davis, Lakers surge ahead of Suns
Los Angeles wins first home playoff game since 2013
LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis had 34 points and 11 rebounds, Lebron James added 21 points and nine assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers celebrated their first home playoff game in more than eight years with a 109-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday in Game 3.
Dennis Schroder added 20 points as the seventh-seeded defending NBA champions took a 2-1 lead with their second straight victory in the first-round series.
Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the second-seeded Suns, who are in an early hole in their first postseason series in 11 years. Phoenix also came unglued in the final minute when Devin Booker and Jae Crowder were sent to the locker room early.
Booker scored 19 points on 6-for-19 shooting, and the star guard was ejected with 35.4 seconds to play after committing a flagrant foul against Schroder. Moments later, Crowder got a technical foul, following Booker off the court after trying to confront Schroder.
Phoenix also got another quiet game from Chris Paul, who played just 2½ minutes in the fourth quarter even though coach Monty Williams said the star point guard’s shoulder had healed. Paul had seven points and six assists.
■ Nuggets 120, Trail Blazers 115: At Portland, Ore., Nikoa Jokic had 36 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for Denver, which made 20 of 38 3-point tries and took a 2-1 series lead.
Austin Rivers hit four straight 3s during a key fourth-quarter stretch and totaled 21 points for the Nuggets, who led 84-79 entering the final period.
Damian Lillard scored 37 points for Portland, which missed 31 of 45 3-point tries. The Blazers tied the score at 91 on a 3 by Carmelo Anthony with seven minutes left, before Rivers’ late splurge.
■ Bucks 113, Heat 84: At Miami, Khris Middleton had 22 points and Jrue Holiday 19 points and 12 assists for Milwaukee, which led by as many as 32 points while taking a 3-0 series lead over the reigning East champion.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Bucks, who held a 56-41 edge in rebounds, limited Miami to 38 percent shooting and became the first team to beat the Heat by at least 29 points twice in the same playoff series.