LeBron James scored 26 points and clashed with Dillon Brooks as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 116-114 on Sunday.
The Lakers were 20 points ahead in the fourth quarter when the Suns fought back to take a one-point lead with 12 seconds remaining after a three-pointer by Brooks.
In a frantic end to the game in Phoenix, Brooks then bumped James, drawing his second technical foul of the night and an ejection.
James, 40, missed the technical free throw but was then fouled by Suns’ Devin Booker on a three-point attempt and made two of three free throws with three seconds left to put the Lakers back ahead.
“It’s the NBA, no boys allowed,” James said of his tangle with Brooks, 29.
“We’re out there competing and we were able to get the last laugh.”
James, the NBA’s record scorer, also made four assists and three rebounds, and blocked Grayson Allen’s potential game-winning three-pointer for Phoenix late on.
His Lakers team-mate Luka Doncic finished with 29 points, six assists and three rebounds, while Deandre Ayton scored 20 points.
“We got behind the eight ball a lot in the fourth quarter, but I thought for the majority of the game our physicality was good,” James added.
The Lakers are top of the Western Conference Pacific, with the Suns in second place.
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