*THE SUNS OFFENSE HAS BEEN STYMIED BY THE LAKERS #1 RANKED DEFENSE: The Suns managed just 99, 101 and 95 in the first three games. They scored TWELVE points in Thursday second quarter.

        *FOR A SECOND CONSECUTIVE GAME, CHRIS PAUL WAS UNABLE TO FINISH: Paul was effective for the first 18:00, but physically limited the rest of the way. Overall, he made just three of eight shots in 28 minutes. The Suns were minus 20 points with Paul, who did not play in the fourth quarter.

        *THE SUNS LOST THEIR COMPOSURE, CULMINATING WITH DEVIN BOOKER’S TWO-HANDED CHEAP SHOT FLAGRANT FOUL SHOVE OF DENNIS SCHODER: Booker made just six of 19 field goal attempts and the Lakers physical approach took him out of the game mentally. Booker, in the series, has made four of just 14 shots from behind the arc.

        *MIKAL BRIDGES. JAI CROWDER AND CAMERON JOHNSON HAVE BEEN MISSING IN ACTION AT THE OFFENSIVE END: Thru three games, Crowder has a total of 25 points and made two of 20 three-point field goals while Bridges and Johnson each have 22 points.

        *THE BEST REBOUNDING TEAM HAS WON ALL THREE GAMES: The Suns were +14 in Game One, but -8 and -16 in Games Two and Three, respectively.

        *THE SUNS HAVE WON JUST ONE QUARTER OVER THE PAST TWO GAMES: The Suns outscored the Lakers 28-27 in tonight’s first quarter.