Suns knocked out of In-Season Tourney, Lakers advance to semifinals

The Los Angeles Lakers (13-9) edged the Phoenix Suns 106-103 in the knockout quarterfinal round of the In-Season Tournament Tuesday in L.A.

The Lakers advance to the semifinals on Thursday against New Orleans in Las Vegas. This was the third victory this season for L.A. over Phoenix (12-9).

L.A.'s LeBron James tied Phoenix's Kevin Durant for the game-high 31 points, including 15 in the fourth. James added 11 assists, eight rebounds, and five steals. Anthony Davis had 27 and 15 rebounds for L.A. Devin Booker and Grayson Allen each scored 21 for Phoenix.

The final period's margin was tight the entire way, as Phoenix's biggest lead was one and L.A.'s was five.

After Booker went to the bench with five fouls at 9:37, L.A. went on a 7-2 run from LeBron’s three field goals over the next two minutes. That pushed their momentum, which Phoenix matched until the final two minutes.

L.A. started to pull away on Austin Reaves' 3 to extend the lead to four with 15 seconds to go. Durant scored a layup at 11 seconds to go. Then Davis missed the second of two foul shots, which Durant rebounded. He got off a final 3-point shot, which air-balled as time expired.

The Suns will next host the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. on Friday at Footprint Center. The Kings lost their quarterfinal game to the Pelicans on Monday. Friday's game goes toward filling each team's regular 82-game schedule.

Suns rise on huge run to take 3rd quarter lead

The Lakers were still ahead 83-82 entering the fourth, but Phoenix surged on a 14-0 run to begin the second half taking back the lead at 61-59.

Grayson Allen had 21 points and caught fire in that run -- hitting three of his four 3s. Durant exploded for 12 of his 21 points, including four 3s and a mammoth dunk on the break during that opening run.

Booker has 14 points, a game-high 10 rebounds, five assists, one steal and a block.

LeBron, Davis dominate for L.A. in 2nd quarter

The Suns are down 59-47 to L.A. at the break.

The Suns looked outmatched inside and out in the second quarter. They gave up 16 points off 14 turnovers. L.A. has been taking care of the ball better (four turnovers) and has been dominating the inside 36-22 on scoring in the paint.

Davis has 20 points and six rebounds, including two dunks. James has 13 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.

Phoenix went on a 12-1 run that began at the nine-minute mark. James and Davis ended that run with L.A.'s last five field goals.

Booker scored four of his eight points and Durant now has nine points, and Grayson Allen has the team's most 10.

Lakers take advantage, Suns offense struggles in 1st quarter

Phoenix trailed L.A. 33-23 to end the opening period.

Davis had 14 points on a 5-of-9 shooting start. James had five points, five assists and three steals.

His takeaways have been from Phoenix's carelessness in its possessions. Phoenix committed 10 turnovers in the first, mainly from bad passes, and some were unforced errors. Booker (four points, four rebounds, two assists) made four turnovers.

Durant had four points and Grayson Allen had the team-high eight points for Phoenix.

L.A. ended the first quarter on an 8-0 run.

Starting lineups

The Suns are starting Devin Booker and Grayson Allen in the backcourt, Eric Gordon and Kevin Durant at the three and four spots, and Jusuf Nurkic in the middle for his 21st straight start.

L.A. will open the game with D'Angelo Russell running the point, Cam Reddish at the two, LeBron James and Taurean Prince at forward, and Anthony Davis at center.

Update: Gordon returning tonight for Phoenix

Suns coach Frank Vogel said that Eric Gordon (knee) will play against the Lakers. The combo guard was listed as questionable on Phoenix's Monday injury report, and missed Saturday's win over Memphis.

Gordon's started in 14 of his 18 appearances this season.

Suns' Gordon questionable to play in L.A.

Eric Gordon could miss his second straight game for Phoenix. He suffered a right knee contusion against the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Gordon made his 14th start of this season in that loss. He had 16 points, shot well on 6-for-11 including 4-of-7 from the perimeter, grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists, picked up one steal and recorded a block.

The veteran Gordon is Phoenix's fourth-best scorer, averaging 14.7 points per game this season behind their three stars Kevin Durant (31.0), Booker (27.9), and Bradley Beal (17.3 in just three games played).

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns knocked out of In-Season Tourney, Lakers advance to semifinals