Booker, Suns top Lakers in Game 1, Paul suffers shoulder injury

LeBron James started hot from 3, but Phoenix wasn’t going anywhere .

Chris Paul went down with a right shoulder contusion, but the Suns kept rolling.

Someone forgot to tell them they hadn’t been to the playoffs in 11 years.

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Devin Booker erupted for 34 points in his first playoff game in leading Phoenix to a 99-90 victory in Game 1 over the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in this best-of-7 first round series before a roaring sellout crowd of 11,824 Sunday at Phoenix Suns Arena amid COVID-19 restrictions.

© Ross D. Franklin, AP Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives past Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges, left, during the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin).

Deandre Ayton added a double-double of 21 points and 16 rebounds in his first playoff game as Phoenix won despite Paul finishing with just seven points and suffering a shoulder injury with 9:19 left in the first half.

© Patrick Breen/The Republic May 23, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Lakers Dennis Schroder (17) draws a foul on Suns’ Deandre Ayton (22) during the first quarter of game 1 against the Lakers at Phoenix Rising Stadium. Patrick Breen-Arizona Republic

The 16-year veteran returned to action later in the second quarter, wasn’t himself, but two more first-time playoff participants, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, each scored 10 as Johnson returned after missing final six games of regular season with right wrist sprain.

James started 2-of-2 from 3, but finished 3-of-7 as the Lakers shot 6-of-25 from deep for the game.

Game 2 Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Phoenix.

James led the Lakers with 18 points, Dennis Schroder went for 14 while Anthony Davis went for just 13 on 5-of-16 shooting. 

Along with Paul’s shoulder injury, there was another game-stopping moment when Cameron Payne, Montrezl Harrell and Alex Caruso had a skirmish in the second half that led to Payne 

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Booker, Suns top Lakers in Game 1, Paul suffers shoulder injury