James and Brooks clash in the Lakers’ win over Phoenix
LeBron James scored 26 points and tangled with Dillon Brooks as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 116-114 on Sunday.
The Lakers led by 20 points in the fourth quarter when the Suns fought back to take a one-point lead with 12 seconds left after a Brooks 3-pointer.
Announcement
In a frantic end to the game in Phoenix, Brooks then bumped into James, earning his second technical foul of the night and an ejection.
James, 40, missed the technical free throw but then was fouled by the Suns’ Devin Booker on a three-point attempt and made two of three free throws with three seconds left to give the Lakers the lead again.
“It’s the NBA, no guys allowed,” James said of his confrontation with Brooks, 29.
“We’re out there competing and we managed to have the last laugh.”
James, the NBA’s record-setting scorer, also had four assists and three rebounds, and blocked Grayson Allen’s potential game-winning 3-pointer for Phoenix late.
Announcement
His Lakers teammate Luka Doncic finished with 29 points, six assists and three rebounds, while Deandre Ayton scored 20 points.
“We got behind the eight ball a lot in the fourth quarter, but I thought for the majority of the game our physicality was good,” James added.
The Lakers are first in the Western Conference Pacific, with the Suns in second place.
