Lakers blow 20-point lead but survive as Dillon Brooks and Suns go supernova
LeBron James missed the first free throw that would have tied the game. Then, saved by a foul with 3.9 seconds left, he missed the second. A long-awaited rustle finally calmed the restless Phoenix crowd.
The Lakers squandered a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter and survived only after the Suns’ Devin Booker fouled James on a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left, resulting in a 116-114 victory Sunday.
Announcement
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 29 points, James added 26 and Deandre Ayton had 20 points and 13 rebounds against his old team. Playing without Austin Reaves (calf strain), the Lakers made 43 free throws in a tough game that featured five technical fouls and a late ejection.
Dillon Brooks hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 12.2 seconds left to complete the Suns’ comeback, but was ejected after colliding chest with James and picking up his second technical foul. Brooks received a technical in the first quarter and James drew a technical in the third after a perceived slight by Brooks, who slapped a loose ball toward James during a lull in the action.
Read more: Lakers’ Austin Reaves will miss at least a week with a calf strain
Brooks had 18 points and missed most of the third quarter after picking up his fifth foul.
Announcement
The Lakers closed that quarter on a 15-0 run, largely thanks to the fast-paced play of Jake LaRavia. The forward, who has averaged 5.1 points in his last 10 games, including two scoreless outings, played more than eight minutes in the first half and had nothing to show for it other than two missed shots and a foul. He took just one shot in the third quarter and watched an easy layup roll around the basket and pop out. But he made an impact on defense with two steals, a block and four rebounds in the quarter.
His defense led to the offensive highlight of the third when he stole a pass and shoveled the ball to Jaxson Hayes in transition. The 7-foot center got the ball up behind his head with a blistering two-handed dunk over Oso Ighodaro and finished the three-point play from the free throw line.
Read more: Jarred Vanderbilt is hoping for an opportunity to help the Lakers on defense
Hayes had 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench. After scoring just seven points off the bench in losing their final game to the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers (18-7) got a 30-point rally from their reserves, including seven from Jarred Vanderbilt, who played his first significant minutes in a month.
Announcement
Vanderbilt had been relegated to the bench since James’ return, but Sunday brought much-needed relief as the team hoped to rediscover its defensive mindset. The forward was active on defense and had seven points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench, also making a 3-pointer.
But the Lakers lost their rhythm when the second unit went to the bench in the fourth quarter. With the starting five in the final three minutes, the Lakers let their 111-97 lead evaporate by missing shots, giving up threes and committing fouls and turnovers.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.
This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.