LeBron carries Lakers offense

LeBron James put the Lakers back in control Friday night, scoring 28 points and handing out 12 assists in a 101-73 win over Phoenix. (espn.com) Los Angeles played without Luka Dončić, who is out at least through the regular season with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and Austin Reaves, who is out for the rest of the regular season with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. (nba.com, nba.com) James did more than score. He shot 10 for 16, hit both of his three-point attempts, grabbed six rebounds, and finished in 32 minutes as the Lakers held Phoenix to 34 percent shooting and 7 for 40 from three-point range. (espn.com) The win moved the Lakers to 52-29 and locked up home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Phoenix fell to 44-37 and stayed seventh in the Western Conference. (nba.com, foxsports.com) That changed the immediate stakes around James. The Lakers had lost Dončić on April 3 and Reaves on April 4, then dropped three straight before beating Houston and Phoenix to steady their position with the regular season almost over. (nba.com, nba.com, foxsports.com) The supporting scoring Friday came from Rui Hachimura with 19 points, Dorian Finney-Smith with 13, and Marcus Smart with 10, while Bronny James added six points and seven assists off the bench. (espn.com) Phoenix was also short-handed. Devin Booker missed the game for right knee injury management, and Grayson Allen left in the first half with a left hamstring injury, according to reports from the game. (dispatch.com) The Lakers’ path is now set by the calendar as much as the standings. The SoFi Play-In Tournament begins April 14, and the National Basketball Association playoffs open April 18. (nba.com) For one night, the Lakers looked like a team that could survive the missing offense by putting the ball back in James’ hands and letting him run nearly every important possession. (espn.com, nba.com)