LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to referee Natalie Sago #9 after a foul call during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Centre on February 25, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns beat the Lakers with a score of 123-113.

Grayson Allen tallied 24 points, Kevin Durant contributed 22, and the Phoenix Suns secured a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers with a score of 123-113 on Sunday, pulling ahead in the final quarter.

Allen and Royce O’Neale made important 3-point shots consecutively, giving the Suns a 116-104 lead with three minutes remaining. Jusuf Nurkic contributed 18 points, 22 rebounds, and seven assists.

The Lakers were behind by 20 points towards the end of the first quarter, but gradually reduced the gap to 92-90 by the end of the third quarter. Phoenix scored the following six points and did not fall behind in the fourth quarter.

LeBron James scored 28 points for the Lakers, making 12 out of 19 shots, and also provided 12 assists. Anthony Davis scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

Four Phoenix starters scored 20 points or more, and the Suns outrebounded their opponents 51-34. Devin Booker scored 21 points and O’Neale contributed 20 points. Bol Bol scored 11 points in 24 minutes as a substitute player.

The Suns had a 38-18 lead at the end of the first quarter, which they maintained as a 45-28 advantage moving into the second quarter. Phoenix’s highest scoring quarter this season was 45 points. The Lakers reduced the lead in the second quarter but were still behind 72-63 at halftime.

D’Angelo Russell scored 18 points for Los Angeles in the first half, while Booker contributed 13 points for the Suns.

Bradley Beal, a three-time All-Star with the Suns, was absent from his fourth consecutive game due to a strained left hamstring. Beal has only participated in 30 out of the team’s 58 games this season due to many ailments.

Phoenix and Los Angeles are in a comparable situation at around two-thirds of the way into the regular season. Both teams possess rosters filled with elite players, although they are facing challenges in order to prevent being placed in the play-in tournament in the Western Conference.

The Suns were the 8th seed in the Western Conference, while the Lakers had the 9th spot. The top six teams in each conference bypass the play-in round and progress to the initial best-of-seven round.