The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns are having a competitive clash, their second of the 2024-25 season already. During the first quarter, Kevin Durant took a three-point shot which missed the rim, with the referee giving the Lakers the ensuing out-of-bounds play. This incensed Durant, who told the referee that he wouldn’t airball like that and that Anthony Davis had blocked the shot.
“Yo, AD (Anthony Davis) tipped the ball, I’m not airballing like that!”
Kevin Durant couldn't believe the refs didn't call that 🤣🤣🤣https://t.co/nlyeucugVc
— HoopSauce (@HoopSauce101) October 29, 2024
Durant did not seem amused while making that statement, he was genuinely upset that the referee thought he airballed a shot that badly. When you look at the footage closely, you can see that Davis got his fingers on the shot there, so Durant was correct in pointing out he got blocked.
His frustration is fair given the Suns didn’t get the ball like they should’ve and that his miss would be registered as an airball.
The Suns overcame an 18-point deficit to take a two-point lead at halftime, with the score sitting 50-48 in their favor. Devin Booker has led them in scoring with 18 points while Durant has 12 points and two blocks.
The Lakers are being catapulted by a monster Anthony Davis game, with the center putting up 16 points in the first quarter and entering the half with 20 points and five rebounds. Rui Hachimura is the only other double-digit scorer with 10 points, while LeBron James has had a slow 1-6 start to put up three points, three rebounds, and four assists.
The Lakers went just 19-38 from the field in the first half, showing the team’s concerns about converting offensive opportunities still live strong. Head coach JJ Redick still has them playing with a lot of movement around the perimeter, so it’s a question of hoping the shots will fall. Regardless, having an inside presence like Davis provide offensive balance is a huge asset for the Lakers.
The Suns overpowered the Lakers for most of the first half with their creative shotmaking, with the improved defense stifling the Lakers on many possessions. There are still issues to work out about the team’s offensive flow, as their stars are being relegated to the corner to play a more coherent style of basketball, but if it works, there’s no point in complaining.
A win here would make the Lakers the third team this season to start the season 4-0, while the Suns are looking to improve to a 3-1 record.
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