PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Phoenix Suns shakes hands with Bol Bol #11 during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center on January 01, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
At Footprint Center on Sunday, the Phoenix Suns outscored the Los Angeles Lakers by a season-high 45 points in the first quarter and went on to win 123-113.
With 20 seconds left, reserve center Bol Bol of Phoenix (34–24) put an emphasis on the early outburst, slamming a dunk past Lakers (31-28) forward Rui Hachimura’s outstretched arms. Bol was the first player off the bench in the first quarter after going 25 points in the game against the Houston Rockets on Friday. He scored seven points on 3-for-3 shooting in less than six minutes Hachimura responded with a triple, leaving the Suns 4.2 seconds to work with.
Devin Booker gave up the ball to the open Grayson Allen, who took it down court and pulled up from the top of the key. He splashed the jumper after releasing the ball with less than a second on the clock to give the Suns a 45-28 advantage early. Sunday marked the 11th time in franchise history Phoenix scored 45-plus points in the first quarter of a game, last doing so in March 2022 against the Lakers.
The Lakers made runs at Phoenix, but the Suns closed out Los Angeles in the fourth quarter after clutch triples from Allen and Royce O’Neale. The duo combined to hit a dozen 3-pointers on 22 shots. Allen led Phoenix with 24 points, but four players eclipsed 20 and all five starters scored at least 18. Jusuf Nurkic scored 18 points with 22 boards.
The Suns responded admirably to Phoenix’s two losses following the All-Star break in the first quarter, particularly in a game that had significant implications for the Western Conference. The Suns had a 2.5-game lead over the Lakers for the eighth seed going into Sunday.
