LOS ANGELES – After keeping their foot on the gas pedal from the first half, Dillon Brooks and the Phoenix Suns ended up taking over and defeating the Los Angeles Lakers by a score of 125-108 on Monday night.
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Dec 1, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix forward Brooks (3) moves to the basket against Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves (15) forward Dalton Knecht (4) and center Deandre Ayton (5) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Suns came out strong again in the second half with aggressive defense and made the Lakers look disconnected. LeBron James was turning the ball over early, committing offensive fouls early in the third quarter, and was getting frustrated early. Jordan Goodwin and Mark Williams were leading the way for the Suns to begin the third quarter, hitting their open shots. Dillon Brooks was the main catalyst though after Devin Booker exited due to injury, and was dynamite for Phoenix’s offense.
Dec 1, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against Phoenix guard Collin Gillespie (12) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie step up for Suns:
Talk about picking up the slack when they need it most. When Phoenix lost its face of the franchise and star shooting guard Devin Booker, the Suns needed to figure out what to do without the centerpiece of their offense. The decision to make Dillon Brooks the focal point of the offense was a massive one from Phoenix Suns Head Coach Jordan Ott, and paid off big time as Brooks ended his night shooting 15-for-26 with 33 points. Collin Gillespie not only looked strong late, but was shooting lights out as he ended Monday night with 8 three-pointers made and ended his night with 28 points. They dominated Los Angeles and had an answer for everything the Lakers gave them.
Dec 1, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles forward LeBron James (23) moves the ball against Phoenix forward Brooks (3) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Phoenix played with way more energy and aggressiveness than Los Angeles, and even with the return of superstar LeBron James and an early lights-out start from Luka Doncic, the Suns were able to make the necessary adjustments to come out on top over Los Angeles on Monday night. Not only does defeating the Lakers bring a smile to Phoenix fans’ faces, but dominating the second-best team in the Western Conference in their home arena, without their face of the franchise, is a galvanizing win for this locker room.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
