Lakers coach Frank Vogel criticized Chris Paul's box-out attempt on LeBron James, calling the fourth-quarter foul "a dangerous play" after Los Angeles' 99-90 loss to the Suns on Sunday.
After James missed a free throw with 9:01 left, Paul crashed the paint from behind the 3-point line, tangling with James and knocking him to the ground. James, who grabbed his left shoulder after the fall, briefly required a trainer's attention.
"My view was a really aggressive box out, a dangerous play where ’Bron was in the air and got uppercut," Vogel said.
Elsewhere, on the same play, Suns guard Cameron Payne collided with Lakers guard Alex Caruso, knocking him to the ground. Caruso got up and took a swipe at the basketball in Payne's hands. Payne responded by throwing the ball at Caruso. Lakers forward/center Montrezl Harrell then knocked Payne down. Officials assessed two technical fouls to Payne, ejecting him from the game, and one each to Caruso and Harrell.
The Suns, who led by as many as 16, went on to win by nine behind Devin Booker, who posted 34 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in his playoff debut. It was Phoenix's first playoff win since 2010.
Paul had his own injury in a physical Game 1, exiting the game twice with a shoulder injury and finishing with seven points, eight assists and one turnover in 36 minutes.
The Suns' point guard went down after challenging for a rebound early in the second quarter and grabbed at his right shoulder. He was down for a few minutes before getting up and heading to the locker room with a towel over his head, but he returned to play a few minutes later, and the Suns officially called the injury a right shoulder contusion. He left the floor again in the third quarter, but managed to return a second time.
Suns coach Monty Williams said Paul's performance was "inspirational." He added the 36-year-old was sore upon his return but said he was fine after the game. Paul said he will "absolutely" play in Game 2 on Tuesday.
When asked after the game about whether or not the play with Paul was dangerous, James, who led the Lakers with 18 points and 10 assists, had one thing to say.
"I'll be ready for Game 2."
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