Lakers blow 20-point 4th-quarter lead vs Suns, still win in chaotic finish that featured Dillon Brooks’ ejection for bumping LeBron James

Somebody had to win this game.

It turned out to be the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most chaotic finishes of this or any other NBA season.

The Lakers held a 20-point lead over the Phoenix Suns Sunday night with less than eight minutes remaining in the game. The Suns then rallied to take their own lead with 12.2 seconds remaining, only to blow it in the final seconds.

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The finish featured a go-ahead 3 from Dillon Brooks, who was then immediately ejected for bumping LeBron James in the aftermath. James missed the ensuing technical free throw, but the Lakers managed to pull out the 116-114 win regardless.

Whew. Here’s how it went down.

Lakers build, then blow 20-point lead

The game was tied at 62-62 early in the third quarter. But the Lakers took control via a 24-0 run that started midway through the third and gave them a 95-77 lead on a 3 by James with 9:30 remaining in the fourth. The Lakers then appeared to be on cruise control when they expanded the lead to 99-79 with 8:40 remaining.

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But the Suns ween’t done. They went on a 35-14 run of their own that concluded with a 3 by Brooks with James’ hand in his face. That bucket gave the Suns a 114-113 lead with 12.2 seconds remaining.

And the Suns should have had the opportunity for more.

Officials miss foul on LeBron, T up Brooks for bump

James clearly bumped Brooks on the follow through and should have been called for an and-1 foul. But officials didn’t blow their whistles.

So Brooks, who has plenty of history with James, got up from the court and walked over to bump James in the chest. Officials definitely noticed this.

And they called Brooks for a technical foul upon replay review for “unsporting contact” and “aggressively approaching James.” The technical was his second of the game, and his night was done. Officials did not address the contact James initially made with Brooks on his shot.

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James went to the line to shoot the technical free throw. But he missed, and the Suns maintained their one-point lead.

James hits his last 2 FTs after critical misses

But James was offered redemption at the line after officials whistled Devin Booker…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/breaking-news/article/lakers-blow-20-point-4th-quarter-lead-vs-suns-still-win-in-chaotic-finish-that-featured-dillon-brooks-ejection-for-bumping-lebron-james-050149722.html

Author : Jason Owens

Publish date : 2025-12-15 05:01:00

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