PHOENIX — With Austin Reaves sidelined, the Los Angeles Lakers survived one of the wildest and weirdest finishes of the season Sunday night, holding off the Phoenix Suns 116-114 after nearly squandering a 20-point fourth-quarter lead.

The Lakers improved their record to 18-7 and 11-3 on the road, sitting fourth in the West. 

After building a massive cushion behind a dominant defensive stretch, the Lakers watched Phoenix surge back and briefly take the lead in the final seconds before LeBron James sealed the win at the free-throw line.

SUNS-LAKERS ENDING WAS WILD 😳

Dillon Brooks EJECTED after clutch 3, LeBron FOULED on three point attempt, hits free throws to win it for the Lakers pic.twitter.com/ptWQpHyzNL

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 15, 2025

Dillon Brooks, who fueled the Suns’ comeback, was ejected late after picking up a second technical foul following contact with James just after giving the Suns a one-point lead with seconds left. 

The decisive moment came with 3.9 seconds remaining. James was fouled on a three-point attempt and made two of three free throws to put the Lakers back in front. Phoenix’s final possession came up empty at the buzzer.

“Winning ugly is actually really fun, because it means you got in the trenches and you fought, and we did that tonight,” coach JJ Redick said.

The win was a sharp and needed response for a Lakers team coming off an elimination loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals and a recent blowout defeat to the Suns in their first matchup in L.A.

The game turned midway through the third quarter. With the score tied at 62, L.A. unleashed a 24-0 run that spanned nearly seven minutes of perfect basketball, fueled by defense, rebounding and transition play. 

The surge carried into the fourth quarter and pushed the Lakers’ lead to 20.

Jarred Vanderbilt, who has spent recent weeks outside the rotation, played a key role in that stretch with a start to open the second quarter. Inserted by coach Redick to ignite the defense, Vanderbilt delivered multiple stops, securing four of his first five rebounds on the offensive end, finishing the night with seven points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block behind a contagious effort.

But Phoenix refused to go away easily.

The Suns closed the gap behind Brooks, who scored 11 of his 18 points in the final eight minutes, and Colin Gillespie, who knocked down a pair of threes during a 12-0 run. Phoenix eventually pulled ahead on a Brooks three before the late-game chaos unfolded.

Brooks was ejected moments later after making contact with James, and James missed the ensuing technical free throw. He atoned seconds later by drawing a foul on a three-point attempt and converting the final two free throws to seal the win.

The night was physical from the opening tip. James and Brooks exchanged words early, with Brooks picking up a first-quarter technical. James later drew Brooks’ fifth foul on a charge early in the third, as the chippiness escalated throughout the game.

“We were out there competing; we was able to get the last laugh,” James said, who finished with 26 points.

L.A. struggled with ball security for much of the night, committing 13 turnovers in the first half and 22 total for the game, which the Suns scored 36 points off of. James and Luka Dončić combined for 14 of them, including five by James in a rough first quarter. 

Dončić struggled to find his shot to fall throughout the contest, going seven-for-25 from the floor and two-of-14 from 3. He finished with a game-high 29 points despite the shooting woes.

Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes provided huge energy inside as lob threats and paint protectors with 32 points and 22 rebounds between the two. 

“It was an emotional game; we played with a lot of edge,” Ayton said, who finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

The Lakers will now get a brief three-day break before opening a road trip Thursday night against the Utah Jazz.