The Los Angeles Lakers were known to be in danger in a first round against a confident Phoenix team, as the leaders of the defending champions grapple with injuries in recent weeks. Now they can feel the cold of the ax on their neck.
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Game 5, Tuesday night in Arizona, looked bad for the Angelinos after the confirmation of the withdrawal of Anthony Davis, who still suffers from his groin injury. And the men in yellow have completely sunk (115-85). “We got kicked in the ass, it’s that easy, summed up LeBron James crudely. They did whatever they wanted. “
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0/9 shooting for Schröder
On Tuesday, his team dove to rare depths: 34.5% shooting success, 14 cumulative assists against 29, 17 stray balls against 4 … Dennis Schröder, who is supposed to be the Lakers’ third weapon, finished with a zero point in 26 minutes, 0/9 shooting!
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At halftime, Phoenix was already thirty lengths ahead (66-36) in front of 16,000 ecstatic spectators, a deficit that the Lakers had not known for nearly a quarter of a century.
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Taking advantage of the void left by Davis in the racket, Devin Booker was hovering (30 points including 22 in the first two quarters, 7 rebounds, 5 assists). James, who had claimed to be ready to take up the challenge in the absence of his sidekick, was bread-and-butter: barely 7 points scored.
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The Lakers superstar rectified a little after the break (24 pts in total) but could not prevent the gap from swelling to 36 lengths in the third quarter (78-42). During the fourth, he sat on the bench, a towel over his head, before slipping into the locker room with five minutes left, thinking of Game 6 at Staples Center on Thursday. He now risks the very first elimination of his career in the first round of the play-offs.
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Chris Paul hit again in the right shoulder
While a Davis ‘return for Game 6 remains highly uncertain, the main silver lining for LA players has come from another medical statement: Chris Paul, the soul of the Suns’ rebirth this season, has again was hit in the right shoulder, which has bothered him for several matches.
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After signing 9 points, 6 assists and 1 interception, the All-Star point guard left the floor during the third quarter following a clash with Wesley Matthews, to be examined in the locker room. He returned to the bench, but his withdrawal for the end of the match was formalized at the start of the fourth.
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” I was afraid. It was just a very uncomfortable feeling ”, confessed Paul, who assures however that he will be fine for the future. His team appears in any case in great shape, like the beautiful exit from the bench of Cameron Payne (16 pts in 19 min). “No one is afraid of this moment, Booker launched. We are a trusted team. “
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