OVERVIEW:
The Phoenix Suns’ starters had long checked out of the game, but the sold-out crowd of more than 16,000 at Phoenix Suns Arena wanted to keep partying. Those fans erupted when E’Twaun Moore put a move on Alfonzo McKinnie for a score, and when rookie Jalen Smith and Dario Šariu0107 each drained 3-pointers.
The Suns thoroughly dominated the Lakers 115-85 in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead and set up an opportunity to eliminate the defending champions Thursday night in Los Angeles.
Devin Booker spearheaded the Suns’ onslaught by scoring 18 of his 30 points in the first quarter, mixing silky jumpers with crafty and-1 scores though contact and finishes in the paint.