The legendary rivalry between LeBron James and Kevin Durant reignited last season, and according to Crickex Login, the Lakers vs. Suns matchup has once again become must-watch entertainment. Despite being a preseason game, their latest face-off was intense enough to go into overtime, proving that neither team takes this battle lightly. Every possession felt like a fight for survival, setting the stage for what could be a thrilling season.

In their previous encounter, the Suns came out swinging, with their “Big Three” raining down three-pointers like a storm from the heavens. Within the first quarter, they stretched the lead to 15 points. But the Lakers had Anthony Davis to thank for keeping them in the game. He delivered a solo masterclass, preventing the match from slipping out of reach. By halftime, Davis had already posted 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block—without a single turnover or foul. His presence was the backbone of the purple and gold.

The real turning point, however, came in the second half, when LeBron James exploded onto the scene. After a relatively quiet preseason—where he played just three games with limited minutes—James had been laying low, saving his energy following the intense Olympic cycle. But as the saying goes, “cometh the hour, cometh the man.” When his team needed him most, James stepped up in spectacular fashion.

Early in the third quarter, James initiated back-to-back drives, drawing defenders and dishing to Austin Reaves for a three-pointer. Then came his own offensive barrage. The Suns, expecting him to settle for jumpers, backed off—but James punished them with two deep threes in just 27 seconds. With four crucial three-pointers in that stretch, the Lakers erased their deficit and seized the momentum.

But LeBron wasn’t done yet. Mixing up his drives and perimeter shots, he kept the Suns’ defense guessing. Seizing on their hesitation, he used his trademark drives to the basket to rack up easy points. His leadership and poise under pressure proved decisive as the Lakers held off a late surge to claim a morale-boosting victory.

This win marked the Lakers’ first 2-0 season start since the Phil Jackson era—an impressive feat for the nearly 40-year-old James. Meanwhile, the Suns, despite their heavy offseason investment and star-studded lineup, continue to struggle with system issues. Last season, they frequently let leads slip away in the final quarter, and this flaw has resurfaced again.

Much of the Suns’ offense still leans heavily on individual brilliance. In the third quarter, both Durant and Booker went cold. Booker, who had a strong 14-point first half, failed to adjust when his shots stopped falling. Rather than seeking alternative strategies, he forced up tough attempts, digging his team into a deeper hole.

With two games in the books, the Suns’ chemistry remains questionable. Their “Big Three” still seem out of sync, and the jury is out on whether Durant, Booker, and Beal are a complementary trio. Crickex Login notes that for now, it’s a puzzle with no clear solution.