Defending Champs Lakers Eliminated By Suns In First Round of NBA Playoffs

The Los Angeles Lakers have been eliminated from the 2021 NBA Playoffs after losing to the Phoenix Suns 113-100 at the Staples Center Thursday night.

The culmination of three consecutive losses (two consecutive double-digit losses) to the Suns and an injured Anthony Davis took a toll on the team momentum, as Davis was taken off the court Thursday night.

Phoenix Suns Shooting Guard Devin Booker put on a show in game six by dropping 47 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists — which was highlighted by a stunning 80% three-point percentage and a dunk. By the end of the first quarter, Booker was already six-for-six from beyond the arc.

With this series loss, the Lakers became the first defending champs since 1984 to be eliminated in the first round and on their home court (the last team being the Philadelphia 76ers — who won the NBA Finals in 1983, but lost in the first round to the New Jersey Nets in 1984), according to the Los Angeles Times.