The Lakers beat the Suns in a wild game on Sunday in Phoenix. Not only did the Lakers win in the final seconds after blowing a 20-point lead, but LeBron James and Dillon Brooks got into it on multiple occassions with James showing his frustration on multiple occassions and at one point getting physical with a referee.
Late in the first half James lowered his shoulder and ran into Brooks, who seemed like he was going to flop anyway. James was called for an offensive foul and the play was reviewed, but no further action was taken.
LeBron James responds to Brooks with some physical play back and is called for the offensive foul pic.twitter.com/HsdbiYo7ZW
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) December 15, 2025
During the third quarter, LeBron's emotions boiled over after Brooks slapped a ball at him as they went out of bounds. Referee Tyler Ford ran in to call a technical foul and promptly left the scene of the crime, leaving co-worker Scott Twardoski to try and hold LeBron back with the help of Rui Hachimura. LeBron appeared to be furious and got awfully handsy with Twardoski, but only earned one technical foul for the outburst.
LeBron James gets in Dillon Brooks' face after night of needling, earning a tech for doing so pic.twitter.com/XPolZo6RsY
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) December 15, 2025
James then hit a three-pointer to cap a 24-0 run and was shown screaming at Brooks again. A short time later the Lakers went up 20 and the game seemed over.
LEBRON CAPS A 24-0 RUN FOR THE LAKERS 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) December 15, 2025
LAL leading PHX in the 4Q on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/vIYRuZ8K9B
Not so fast. Phoenix proceeded to go on a 35-14 run of their own to take the lead 114-113 on a Brooks three-pointer with 12.2 seconds remaining. And he immediately earned a technical foul for getting physical with LeBron during a deadball, which earned him an ejection.
Lmao Dillon Brooks man pic.twitter.com/8LAcKTKJSl
— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) December 15, 2025
Amazingly, that didn't really cost the Suns as LeBron shot the technical free throw and missed, but he made up for that by drawing a questionable foul on a last second three-point attempt. LeBron made two of three free throws to put the Lakers back in the lead for good.
Refs say Devin Booker fouled LeBron James
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) December 15, 2025
Lakers win the game pic.twitter.com/qc6pJiplj6
These two teams will meet again, for the third time this month, on Dec. 23. Considering what has now happened in the first two games, who knows what will happen next week.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as LeBron James Got Physical With a Ref While Trying to Go After Dillon Brooks.
