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May 28 (UPI) -- All-Star forward Anthony Davis recorded 34 points and 11 rebounds to carry the Los Angeles Lakers to a second straight win and a series lead over the Phoenix Suns through three games in the Western Conference matchup. LeBron James chipped in 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the 109-95 victory Thursday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Lakers now own a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.
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"We are finding our groove at the right time," Davis told reporters. "[James] set the tone for us. Guys followed his lead and started attacking. ... Guys stayed ready.
"He came out with a mindset to attack the basket and [we] followed suit."
The Suns led the Lakers 28-27 through the first 12 minutes. Both defenses tightened up as the Lakers outscored the Suns 16-12 in the second quarter. The Lakers led 43-40 at halftime, but snatched momentum for good in the third frame.
Davis scored 18 point and James chipped in 10 points in the third quarter. The Lakers outscored the Suns 33-23 in the frame to take a 76-63 edge into the fourth quarter. The Suns chipped away down the stretch, but couldn't cut the deficit to fewer than eight points.
Suns center Deandre Ayton scored 22 points with 11 rebounds and two blocks in the loss. Suns guard Devin Booker scored 19 points and dished out six assists. Cameron Payne scored 15 points off the Suns bench.
Lakers guard Dennis Schroder scored 20 points in the win. The Lakers shot 44.2% from the floor in the victory. They outrebounded the Suns 51-35.
"[Davis] is ultra aggressive and he has been since Game 1," James told reporters. "We are going to need that to continue to happen. It's going to start with him. ... When he's aggressive we are all aggressive."
The Lakers host the Suns in Game 4 at 3:30 p.m. EDT Sunday at Staples Center. That game airs on ABC. The winner of the series battles the Denver Nuggets or Portland Trail Blazers in the second round. Denver leads that series 2-1.
