Key Points
The Lakers narrowly beat the Suns 116-114 in a tense Pacific Division matchup.
Dillon Brooks was ejected after a heated confrontation with LeBron James in the fourth quarter.
Coach Ott praised Brooks’ passion, saying, “We love his emotion, we’re with him.”
The Phoenix Suns gave the Los Angeles Lakers a serious challenge on Sunday. However, their efforts weren’t enough as they suffered a 116-114 loss. It was a gritty game between the two Pacific Division teams, and it also generated heated moments between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks.
The first incident happened when Luka Doncic fouled Brooks in the third quarter. After an official made the call, the Suns forward made unnecessary contact with James. This enraged the four-time champion, and he had to be held back by forward Rui Hachimura.
Late in the fourth quarter, Brooks gave the Suns the lead with his 3-pointer. There was slight contact from James’ contest, but the referees did not make the call. The forward had an animated reaction to the no-call and came chest-to-chest with the Lakers star.
However, the play was reviewed, and his actions towards James resulted in his eventual ejection.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3)
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3)
Following the disheartening loss, head coach Jordan Ott was asked about his thoughts on Brooks’ ejection. Surprisingly, Ott loved what he saw from the Canadian forward.
“We love his emotion, we’re with him,” Ott said. “He’s brought so much to this city and this franchise. His energy, his passion, his hard work, his attitude every single day, we love it.”
Brooks had 18 points in 57.1% shooting from deep, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter. Despite being a vital member of the Suns, he was forced to leave the game during pivotal periods due to foul trouble.
Suns’ Devin Booker returned to action after missing three straight games due to a groin strain. Booker had 27 points and seven assists in his first game back. The next time the Suns will face the Lakers will be on Dec. 23, at the Mortgage Matchup Center.