The Phoenix Suns edged out a thrilling victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, even without their star players Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, who were sidelined with injuries. The Suns managed to overcome the Lakers' formidable trio of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.
Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen stepped up in a big way, combining for 49 points and sinking 12 three-pointers. Their sharpshooting performance kept the Suns competitive throughout the game.
However, it was Royce O'Neale who stole the spotlight, hitting a clutch go-ahead three-pointer with just 0.9 seconds left on the clock. This dramatic finish snapped the Suns' two-game losing streak and boosted their home record to an impressive 20-12.
This win places the Suns in the seventh spot in the Western Conference standings, just a game behind the Lakers. Grayson Allen expressed the significance of this victory in the heated playoff race, saying, “It was great to get a win and against a good team, against a team that we're chasing down in the standings.”
Looking ahead, the Suns have some positive injury updates. NBA insider John Gambadoro reports that Devin Booker might return to action as early as their next game against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. If not, he's expected to be ready for Thursday’s clash with the Bulls.
With 22 games left in the season and Brooks still recovering from a broken hand, the Suns are eager to have Booker back. His return will be crucial as he looks to build chemistry with Jalen Green, who has missed 48 games this season due to injury.