Getty
Lebron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
LeBron James was the hero in more ways than one in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, December 14.
James hit 2-of-3 free throws after taking a foul on a 3-point shot with three seconds left in the fourth quarter and L.A. down by a point. James missed the first, but sunk the next two to put the Lakers up a point. Los Angeles ended up winning the contest by two points after blowing a double-digit lead in the final stanza.
Immediately preceding the game-winning free throws, James drew a second technical foul on Dillon Brooks of the Suns. Brooks, who already had one technical foul, hit a 3-point shot to take the lead then chest-bumped James in an act of taunting. Officials reviewed the play with just over 12 seconds to go and ejected Brooks from the game.
James spoke about the most recent incident in what has been a somewhat one-sided rivalry (in James’ favor) between the Lakers star and Brooks.
“He just likes to compete. He’s gonna compete. I’m gonna compete,” James said. “We’re gonna get up in each other’s face. Try not to go borderline with it. You know, I don’t really take it there. But we just compete, and did that almost all the way to the end of the game.”
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin asked James if he was aware of Brooks’ technical-foul status and if that played into baiting Brooks to earn his second of the night at a crucial moment.
“It didn’t matter if he had one already or not, that’s definitely a tech,” James responded. “If it was a tech on me in the first half, then it was a tech on him right there.”
LeBron James, Dillon Brooks Have Long History of Animosity
GettyDillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns.
James missed the technical free throw following Brooks’ ejection. He then missed a second consecutive free throw on his first of three tries with just three seconds remaining following the foul on the 3-point shot.
However, James’ last two makes put the game away. He finished the night with 26 points, four assists, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals. James was 8-of-17 from the floor, including 1-of-5 from behind the 3-point line. He connected on 9-of-14 free throw attempts and committed eight turnovers.
Brooks finished the game with 18 points, one rebound, one steal and three turnovers.
Lakers Beat Suns Without Injured Austin Reaves
GettyLos Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves.
The Lakers are now 18-7 on the year and sitting at No. 4 in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is 3-3 in its last six games following a seven-game win streak.
The team’s outing in Phoenix was the first on a four-game road stretch that includes a stop in Utah, a jaunt back to L.A. for a showdown with the Clippers and then a return trip to Phoenix before a five-game home stand.
Los Angeles defeated the Suns on Sunday night without the help of breakout guard Austin Reaves, who is sidelined with a calf injury and that will cost him at least a week before team doctors reevaluate his status.
Max Dible covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible
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