LeBron James gave Los Angeles the lead on two free throws with three seconds left, then blocked Grayson Allen’s potential game-winning 3-pointer at the other end, and the Lakers survived a wild finish to defeat the host Phoenix Suns 116-114 on Sunday night.
Luka Doncic finished with 29 points, James 26 and Deandre Ayton 20 as part of a double-double with a game-high 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who trailed 77-71 before holding Phoenix scoreless for 8:05 bridging the third and fourth periods, using a 24-0 flurry to vault into a 95-77 lead.
The Suns were able to retake the lead at 114-113 when Dillon Brooks buried the third of his fourth-quarter 3-pointers with 12.2 seconds left. But Brooks, who had drawn an earlier technical foul for jawing with James, got nailed with a second “T” while celebrating his success and was ejected.
James missed the subsequent free throw, but then pulled up from beyond the arc with three seconds left and drew a three-shot foul on Devin Booker. He made the last two of the attempts to retake the lead.
Down one, the Suns got one final shot, but James blocked Allen’s potential game-winning 3-point attempt and Marcus Smart, fouled after snatching the rebound, added a free throw to make it a two-point margin of victory.
The Suns led 77-71 after two free throws by Booker with 5:28 remaining in the third period before not scoring again until the third minute of the final period, falling behind 95-77 in the process. Phoenix missed 14 straight shots and mixed in seven turnovers during its scoreless spell.
Doncic was the game’s leading scorer despite missing 12 of his 14 attempts from behind the 3-point line. The Lakers shot just 7 for 37 from deep.
Jaxson Hayes added 12 points for Los Angeles, which avenged an earlier 125-108 home loss to the Suns.
Booker had 27 points, Mark Williams 20 and Brooks 18 for Phoenix, which lost despite outshooting the Lakers 48.8% to 43.2% overall and 35.1% to 18.9% on 3-pointers.
Allen, who shared game-high assist honors with Booker with seven, chipped in with 13 points for the Suns, while Royce O’Neale went for 12 and Collin Gillespie 10.
–Field Level Media
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