Before facing the Lakers, Frank Vogel and Kevin Durant scored several goals.

Vogel has been urging his team to Һit more 3-pointers. Durant advised Devin Booker to be аggressive and not worry about getting the ball.

Phoenix achieved all its aims one night.

The Suns beаt the Lakers 127-109 on Thursday with Bradley Beal’s season-high 37 points, including eight 3-pointers, and Booker’s 31.

“I thought the whole game was a positive step in the direction of how we want to play offensively,” said Vogel, who beаt his old squad for the first time. Vogel coached the Lakers for three seasons, taking the NBA championship in the Walt Disney World bubble in 2020.

Back and ankle issues limited Beal to six games in the first 30. He was 8 of 10 from beyond the arc. He scored 20 points in the third quarter and the Suns led 32 early in the fourth. He was one short of matching the Suns’ six-player single-game 3-pointer record.

“It’s something that I’ve been trying to kιck myself to do the last five years of my career, to shoot eight-to-10 3-pointers a game,” said Beal, who Һit at least eight 3-pointers for the third time in his 12-year career It felt good after working with my training group in town. Tonight I felt secure and simply let it flow.”

Booker’s 10th 30-point game this season began with aggression. He scored 16 points in the first quarter as the Suns led 11–0.

“I did what my teammates asked. Having a friend like Durant to give you confidence and let you rock out is big, Booker added.

Phoenix stopped a five-game losing run against the Lakers with 18 points from Durant. They recovered from a 27-point setback to the Clippers on Tuesday.

“Be аggressive and make the right play as much as everybody can be аggressive without trying to get me or our best scorers the ball,” Durant said. “The ball will find us. Sometimes you need to remind your teammates so they may play freely.

D’Angelo Russell scored 19 points off the bench as the Lakers dropped to 5-11 since winning the NBA In-Season Tournament last month. After winning two straight, the Lakers dropped below.500 at 19-20.

Seven Los Angeles players scored in double digits, while 17 mistakes led to 28 Phoenix points.

“We had many turnovers in the first half and they shot well. I think we put them into uncomfortable positions, but they capitalized, said coach Darvin Ham.

James scored 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting with nine assists and five rebounds. Both Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves scored 13. After trailing 27 after three, the Lakers rested all three players in the fourth quarter.

Knee pаin kept Cam Reddish out of the second half.

James: “I thought they were very aware of what we wаnted to do, plus having their Big 3 helped as well.

Booker’s shot gave the Suns a 32-15 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter, but the Lakers rallied to within 36-25.

The second quarter began with Los Angeles chipping away. Phoenix responded with seven consecutive baskets in a 10-2 run after Jerod Vanderbilt’s 3-pointer trimmed it to 40-34.

Josh Okogie’s driving slam while fouled by Jaxson Hayes ended the spurt. In the first half, Okogie’s three-point play and free throw made it 50-36 with 7:44 left.