The Phoenix Suns eliminated the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers 113-100 in Game 6 on Thursday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Suns won their first NBA playoff series since 2010, eliminating the Lakers 4 games to 2.
Lakers forward LeBron James (#23) finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, 7 assists, two blocked shots and 1 steal in a losing effort.
James was eliminated in the first round for the first time ever in his 18-year career, which includes 4 championships.
The Lakers didn’t have their eight-time All-star center Anthony Davis (#3) who suffered a groin injury in Game 4 and missed all of Game 5 of the series.
The team doctor gave Davis the OK to return to the starting lineup in Game 6. However, Davis was in obvious pain and struggled in the opening minutes. He headed to the locker room after playing less than 5 1/2 minutes of the 1st quarter.
The Suns’ star guard Devin Booker (#1) led all scorers with a playoffs career-high 47 points, 11 rebounds and eight 3-pointers. He made all six 3-point attempts in the 1st quarter.
That man is cold ?
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) June 4, 2021
Booker goin’ off!
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) June 4, 2021
SIX for SIX from 3 in the FIRST quarter?!
?????@DevinBook
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) June 4, 2021
“I’ve been working my whole life for this moment… so it wasn’t time to shy away from it,” Booker told reporters after the game.
Booker and teammate Jae Crowder were ejected from the game in the final minute for a flagrant foul and a technical respectively.
Chris Paul scored 8 points and had 12 assists for the Suns.
Fans were angry that LeBron James walked off the court without shaking hands with the Western Conference champs after the game.
He made up for his unsportsmanlike conduct by gifting a signed jersey to Booker, who sought him out in the arena tunnel after the game.
The Suns next face Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in game 1 of the second round on Monday, June 7, in Phoenix.
The Nuggets eliminated Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers 126-115 to clinch game 6 in Portland on Thursday night.
LeFlop finally makes the playoffs in a legitimate conference, doesn’t have a superteam or a Mickey Mouse bubble and loses in the first round. LeFraud has been exposed! LeCryBaby is not my GOAT! LeMickey will never be better than Jordan!
— Xavier (@xavierBrandao2) June 4, 2021
Hats off to the Suns man. Overall the better team this series. Lakers meanwhile didn’t realize they should play hard tonight until the second half lol
— ???? (@koushikhathwar) June 4, 2021
Lefraud losing in the first round yet again
— Arctica (professor of chewy Gatorade) #VB77 (@InTheArctica) June 4, 2021
Lakers were still drunk from last year. They did not seem to care at all until it got too late. Well they got their ring already time for someone else ?????
— ???? ?????? (@mrmo190) June 4, 2021
I don’t like that he doesn’t stay out on the court and congratulate everyone on the other team when he loses. It’s a bad look imo, poor sportsmanship.
— Kim Hammond (@azkimhamm) June 4, 2021
First time in 20 years it will not be the Spurs mavs warriors or lakers
— Dixie (@whobody55) June 4, 2021
Why this hate on LeBron? He is one of the goats and so competitive. you wish he played 1 minute on your team.
— John Mcclane (@johnmcclane1234) June 4, 2021
Devin Booker to LeBron after eliminating the Lakers in game six ? pic.twitter.com/L0YPGD2YLa
— br_betting (@br_betting) June 4, 2021
Warner Brother's executives wondering why they picked LeBron over Devin Booker for Space Jam 2 pic.twitter.com/hUmWAk4LTa
— Barstool Brick (@BarstoolBrick) June 4, 2021
