PHOENIX -- — LeBron James made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left, Luka Doncic scored 29 points and the Los Angeles Lakers recovered from blowing a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter to top the Phoenix Suns 116-114 on Sunday night.

Phoenix trailed 99-79 with 7:48 left, but took a 114-113 lead with 12.2 seconds left on Dillon Brooks' 3-pointer over James, who made contact with Brooks after the shot. Brooks bumped James on the way back down the court, earning his second technical foul and an ejection.

More importantly, it gave the Lakers a free throw, but James missed it.

On the ensuing possession, James was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Devin Booker with 3.9 seconds left. The 40-year-old James — who finished with 26 points — missed the first free throw but made the final two to give the Lakers a 115-114 lead.

Phoenix's Grayson Allen got up an awkward shot at the buzzer, but it was off the mark.

Jaxson Hayes threw down a powerful dunk over Phoenix's Oso Ighodaro to give the Lakers a 79-77 lead with 2:24 left in the third quarter. It was part of a 24-0 run over an eight-minute span in the third and fourth quarters that ended with a 95-77 advantage.

Lakers center Deandre Ayton had 20 points and 13 rebounds against his former team. Ayton played his first five NBA seasons in Phoenix after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018.

Los Angeles had a season-high 24 offensive rebounds, which helped offset a tough shooting night. Doncic was 7 of 25 from the field, including 2 of 14 from 3-point range.

Booker led the Suns with 27 points, returning to the lineup after missing three games with a groin injury. The four-time All-Star made 13 of 16 free throws.

The Suns have lost six of their last nine.

Up next

Lakers: At Utah on Thursday night.

Suns: Host Golden State on Thursday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Deandre Ayton vs. Mark Williams (Collin Gillespie gains possession)	0	0
11:43	Dillon Brooks misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	0	0
11:40	Rui Hachimura defensive rebound	0	0
11:18	Rui Hachimura misses 12-foot pullup jump shot	0	0
11:15	Deandre Ayton offensive rebound	0	0
11:11	Deandre Ayton makes alley oop dunk shot (Marcus Smart assists)	0	2
10:56	Devin Booker bad pass (Marcus Smart steals)	0	2
10:52	Marcus Smart makes two point shot	0	4
10:37	Collin Gillespie makes 10-foot two point shot	2	4
10:36	Dillon Brooks technical foul	2	4
10:36	Luka Doncic makes technical free throw	2	5
10:19	LeBron James makes 11-foot two point shot	2	7
10:08	Devin Booker misses 27-foot three point step back jumpshot	2	7
10:04	Deandre Ayton defensive rebound	2	7
9:56	Deandre Ayton makes 16-foot jumper (Rui Hachimura assists)	2	9
9:41	Grayson Allen misses 24-foot three point jumper	2	9
9:35	Mark Williams offensive rebound	2	9
9:35	Mark Williams makes tip shot	4	9
9:28	Grayson Allen personal foul	4	9
9:22	Luka Doncic misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	4	9
9:16	Grayson Allen defensive rebound	4	9
9:08	Mark Williams makes dunk (Grayson Allen assists)	6	9
8:53	Luka Doncic makes 10-foot pullup jump shot	6	11
8:43	Devin Booker misses 14-foot pullup jump shot	6	11
8:42	Deandre Ayton defensive rebound	6	11
8:40	Deandre Ayton lost ball turnover (Devin Booker steals)	6	11
8:36	Devin Booker misses 23-foot three point jumper	6	11
8:33	Rui Hachimura defensive rebound	6	11
8:24	Collin Gillespie shooting foul	6	11
8:24	Luka Doncic makes free throw 1 of 2	6	12
8:24	Ryan Dunn enters the game for Collin Gillespie	6	12
8:24	Luka Doncic makes free throw 2 of 2	6	13
8:11	Mark Williams lost ball turnover (Deandre Ayton steals)	6	13
8:07	Rui Hachimura misses 24-foot three point shot	6	13
8:06	Lakers offensive team rebound	6	13
8:04	Luka Doncic misses 24-foot three point step back jumpshot	6	13
8:01	Deandre Ayton offensive rebound	6	13
7:49	Luka Doncic misses 10-foot two point shot	6	13
7:46	Ryan Dunn defensive rebound	6	13
7:36	Devin Booker makes 13-foot pullup jump shot (Ryan Dunn assists)	8	13
7:08	Deandre Ayton makes 9-foot two point shot (LeBron James assists)	8	15
6:56	Rui Hachimura shooting foul	8	15
6:56	Suns Full timeout	8	15
6:56	Devin Booker misses free throw 1 of 2	8	15
6:56	Suns offensive team rebound	8	15
6:56	Devin Booker makes free throw 2 of 2	9	15
6:44	LeBron James lost ball turnover (Ryan Dunn steals)	9	15
6:38	Devin Booker makes two point shot (Grayson Allen assists)	11	15
6:26	Marcus Smart makes 23-foot three point jumper (Luka Doncic assists)	11	18
6:13	Deandre Ayton blocks Grayson Allen 's 2-foot driving layup	11	18
6:13	Suns offensive team rebound	11	18
6:13	Jake LaRavia enters the game for LeBron James	11	18
6:10	Grayson Allen makes 27-foot three pointer (Mark Williams assists)	14	18
5:51	Luka Doncic vs. Dillon Brooks (Devin Booker gains possession)	14	18
5:51	Luka Doncic lost ball turnover (Grayson Allen steals)	14	18
5:47	Dillon Brooks misses 26-foot three point jumper	14	18
5:43	Rui Hachimura defensive rebound	14	18
5:26	Deandre Ayton makes alley oop layup (Luka Doncic assists)	14	20
5:11	Deandre Ayton shooting foul	14	20
5:11	Mark Williams makes free throw 1 of 2	15	20
5:11	Collin Gillespie enters the game for Devin Booker	15	20
5:11	Royce O'Neale enters the game for Dillon Brooks	15	20
5:11	Jaxson Hayes enters the game for Deandre Ayton	15	20
5:11	Gabe Vincent enters the game for Marcus Smart	15	20
5:11	Mark Williams makes free throw 2 of 2	16	20
4:57	Luka Doncic misses 28-foot three point step back jumpshot	16	20
4:55	Jaxson Hayes offensive rebound	16	20
4:54	Jaxson Hayes makes dunk	16	22
4:38	Mark Williams makes 1-foot dunk (Grayson Allen assists)	18	22
4:24	Ryan Dunn shooting foul	18	22
4:24	Luka Doncic makes free throw 1 of 2	18	23
4:24	Jordan Goodwin enters the game for Grayson Allen	18	23
4:24	Oso Ighodaro enters the game for Mark Williams	18	23
4:24	Luka Doncic makes free throw 2 of 2	18	24
4:07	Ryan Dunn makes 24-foot three point jumper (Collin Gillespie assists)	21	24
3:52	Jaxson Hayes makes 1-foot dunk (Luka Doncic assists)	21	26
3:43	Collin Gillespie makes 21-foot pullup jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)	23	26
3:35	Jaxson Hayes offensive foul	23	26
3:35	Jaxson Hayes turnover	23	26
3:25	Royce O'Neale makes 24-foot three point jumper (Oso Ighodaro assists)	26	26
3:23	Lakers Full timeout	26	26
3:23	LeBron James enters the game for Rui Hachimura	26	26
3:10	LeBron James misses 22-foot three point jumper	26	26
3:05	Jaxson Hayes offensive rebound	26	26
3:00	Luka Doncic makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot	26	29
2:38	Oso Ighodaro misses 6-foot two point shot	26	29
2:36	Jaxson Hayes defensive rebound	26	29
2:19	LeBron James lost ball turnover (Jordan Goodwin steals)	26	29
2:17	Jordan Goodwin makes dunk	28	29
2:01	Luka Doncic misses 25-foot three point step back jumpshot	28	29
1:56	Collin Gillespie defensive rebound	28	29
1:52	Royce O'Neale makes 22-foot three point shot (Ryan Dunn assists)	31	29
1:41	LeBron James offensive foul	31	29
1:41	LeBron James turnover	31	29
1:41	Marcus Smart enters the game for Luka Doncic	31	29
1:28	Collin Gillespie misses 30-foot three point jumper	31	29
1:24	Jordan Goodwin offensive rebound	31	29
1:24	Ryan Dunn makes 1-foot layup (Jordan Goodwin assists)	33	29
1:11	Oso Ighodaro defensive 3-seconds (technical foul)	33	29
1:11	LeBron James misses technical free throw	33	29
1:11	Lakers offensive team rebound	33	29
1:04	LeBron James lost ball turnover (Jordan Goodwin steals)	33	29
1:02	LeBron James blocks Jordan Goodwin 's 1-foot two point shot	33	29
59.2	Jaxson Hayes defensive rebound	33	29
53.9	LeBron James double dribble turnover	33	29
36.8	Royce O'Neale makes 26-foot three point jumper (Collin Gillespie assists)	36	29
20.0	Ryan Dunn shooting foul	36	29
20.0	LeBron James makes free throw 1 of 3	36	30
20.0	LeBron James makes free throw 2 of 3	36	31
20.0	Devin Booker enters the game for Ryan Dunn	36	31
20.0	LeBron James misses free throw 3 of 3	36	31
18.0	Jordan Goodwin defensive rebound	36	31
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	36	31

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Venue

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Phoenix, AZ

Date & Time

1:00 AM, December 15, 2025

Coverage

Arizona's Family 3TV, Suns Live, Spectrum Sports Net, Spectrum Sports Net +

Attendance

17,071

Referees

Scott Twardoski, Tyler Ford, Jenna Schroeder

2025-26 Pacific Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
LA Lakers	32	19	.627	W3
Phoenix	31	22	.585	L2
Golden State	28	25	.528	L1
LA Clippers	25	27	.481	W2
Sacramento	12	42	.222	L12

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LeBron James hits 2 late free throws, Lakers beat Suns 116-114 after blowing 20-point lead

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