LeBron James clashes with Suns' Dillon Brooks in Lakers' 2-point win

LeBron James got the past laughter connected Sunday nighttime arsenic helium sank 2 escaped throws successful the last 3.9 seconds to assistance the Los Angeles Lakers implicit the Phoenix Suns, 116-114.

James whitethorn beryllium successful the twilight of his career, but helium showed helium inactive had immoderate fight. He was battling with Suns guardant Dillon Brooks passim the night. The 2 got into aggregate skirmishes arsenic the strength was turned up a notch.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Phoenix Suns guardant Dillon Brooks fouls Los Angeles Lakers guardant LeBron James (23) during the 2nd fractional of an NBA hoops game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, successful Phoenix. Brooks was ejected from the crippled aft the foul. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

As the crippled came down to the wire, Brooks deed a clutch 3-pointer to enactment the Suns up 1 constituent with 12.2 seconds left. James ran done him and knocked him down. Brooks got backmost up and stuck his thorax retired to ever-so-gently pat James.

A referee came implicit to halt the struggle from escalating immoderate further. Brooks was ejected from the game.

"I conscionable similar to compete," James said of going up against Brooks, via ESPN. "He's going to compete. I'm going to compete. We're going to get up successful each other's face. Try not to spell borderline with it. I don't truly instrumentality it there. But we're conscionable competing and did that astir each the mode to the extremity of the game."

NBA BROADCASTER CALLS FOR SPURS STAR TO CHANGE 'ALIEN' NICKNAME: 'THEY DEPORT THOSE'

Phoenix Suns guardant Dillon Brooks (3) and Los Angeles Lakers guardant Lebron James (23) respond aft a turnover during the 2nd fractional of an NBA hoops game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, successful Phoenix.  (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Suns prima Devin Booker supported Brooks’ intensity.

"Yeah, I mean there's past there," helium said. "I emotion to spot it. People ever accidental everything's excessively affable successful the NBA and past Dillon comes astir and present it's excessively much. So similar I said, I'd alternatively it the different mode -- that it'd beryllium excessively much."

James scored 26 points connected 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 defender Luka Doncic (77) looks to sprout implicit Phoenix Suns defender Devin Booker, beforehand left, during the archetypal fractional of an NBA hoops game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, successful Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Brooks had 18 points successful 25 minutes. Booker led the squad with 27 points and was 13-of-16 from the free-throw line. Phoenix is 14-12 connected the year.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.