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LeBron James got the last laugh Sunday night when he sank two free throws in the final 3.9 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Lakers over the Phoenix Suns, 116-114.
James may be in the twilight of his career, but he showed he still had fight. He battled with Suns forward Dillon Brooks all night. The two got into several skirmishes as the intensity was turned up a notch.
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Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks makes a free throw against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. Brooks was ejected from the game after the foul. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
When the game came down to the wire, Brooks hit a clutch 3-pointer to put the Suns up by a point with 12.2 seconds left. James ran through him and knocked him over. Brooks stood up again and stuck out his chest to tap James gently.
A judge came over to prevent the conflict from escalating further. Brooks was ejected from the game.
“I just like to compete,” James said of the matchup against Brooks, via ESPN . “He’s going to compete. I’m going to compete. We’re going to get up in each other’s faces. Try not to go overboard with it. I don’t really take it there. But we just compete and did almost all the way to the end of the game.”
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Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) react after a turnover during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Suns star Devin Booker endorsed Brooks’ intensity.
“Yeah, I mean there’s history there,” he said. “I love watching it. People always say everything is too friendly in the NBA and then Dillon comes around and now it’s too much. So like I said, I’d rather have it the other way around — that it would be too much.”
James scored 26 points on 8-of-17 from the field. Luka Doncic led Los Angeles with 29 points and six assists. The Lakers improved to 18-7 with the win.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to shoot over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, front left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Brooks had 18 points in 25 minutes. Booker led the team with 27 points and was 13-of-16 from the free throw line. Phoenix is 14-12 on the year.
