Game ID: 22501228
Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns
Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 36 26 15 37 114LAL 31 31 24 30 116
LAL @ PHX ScoutingLAL @ PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHX availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 11 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Dunn missed 5 since 11/23, returns tonight: 21 min (110% of 19)
BACK Allen back 11/29 after 7, 26 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Bouyea back 11/24 after 2, 13 min since (97% of 13)
BACK Fleming back 11/24 after 2, 6 min since (49% of 12)
PHX availability going into 12/05 · 3 days' restOUT Green missed 12 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/29 after 7, 26 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Dunn back 12/01 after 5, 21 min since (110% of 19)
BACK Bouyea back 11/24 after 2, 15 min since (112% of 13)
BACK Fleming back 11/24 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
PHX availability going into 12/08 · 2 days' restOUT Green missed 13 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/29 after 7, 26 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Dunn back 12/01 after 5, 19 min since (103% of 19)
BACK Fleming back 11/29 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 12)
PHX availability going into 12/10 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Green missed 14 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/29 after 7, 28 min since (99% of 28)
BACK Dunn back 12/01 after 5, 21 min since (112% of 19)
BACK Fleming back 11/29 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 12)
PHX availability going into 12/14 · 3 days' restOUT Booker missed 3 since 12/05, returns tonight: 31 min (93% of 34)
OUT Green missed 15 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/29 after 7, 27 min since (94% of 28)
BACK Dunn back 12/01 after 5, 20 min since (106% of 19)
BACK Fleming back 11/29 after 2, 6 min since (51% of 12)
NEW Bouyea 13 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/18 · 3 days' restOUT Green missed 16 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Booker back 12/14 after 3, 31 min since (93% of 34)
BACK Dunn back 12/01 after 5, 19 min since (102% of 19)
PHX availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 17 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Fleming missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Booker back 12/14 after 3, 32 min since (95% of 34)
PHX availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Allen missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Green missed 18 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Fleming missed 3 since 12/14, returns tonight: 10 min (84% of 12)
BACK Booker back 12/14 after 3, 33 min since (97% of 34)
PHX availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Allen missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Green missed 19 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Booker back 12/14 after 3, 31 min since (93% of 34)
BACK Fleming back 12/23 after 3, 10 min since (84% of 12)
LAL availability going into 12/04 · 2 days' restOUT Smart missed 3 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 6 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/01 after 5, 6 min since (52% of 11)
LAL availability going into 12/05 · back-to-backOUT Smart missed 4 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 7 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/01 after 5, 10 min since (92% of 11)
LAL availability going into 12/07 · 1 day's restOUT Dončić missed 2 since 12/04, returns tonight: 39 min (109% of 36)
OUT Smart missed 5 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 8 since 11/18, returns tonight: 3 min (19% of 17)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/01 after 5, 14 min since (133% of 11)
NEW Vincent 19 to 24 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/10 · 2 days' restOUT Smart missed 6 since 11/28, returns tonight: 28 min (96% of 29)
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 39 min since (109% of 36)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/01 after 5, 14 min since (133% of 11)
LAL availability going into 12/14 · 3 days' restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 40 min since (112% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 28 min since (96% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 3 min since (19% of 17)
LAL availability going into 12/18 · 3 days' restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 12/07, returns tonight: 5 min (49% of 11)
OUT Kleber missed 3 since 12/07, returns tonight: 19 min (184% of 10)
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 39 min since (110% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 30 min since (102% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 9 min since (54% of 17)
LAL availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Reaves missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 39 min since (110% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 29 min since (99% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 14 min since (86% of 17)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 5 min since (49% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 19 min since (184% of 10)
LAL availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Reaves missed 3 since 12/14, returns tonight: 22 min (62% of 35)
OUT Ayton missed 2 since 12/18, returns tonight: 27 min (100% of 27)
OUT Vincent missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 35 min since (99% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 30 min since (100% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 18 min since (105% of 17)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 14 min since (124% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 17 min since (169% of 10)
LAL availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 12/20, returns tonight: 28 min (93% of 30)
OUT Vincent missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 12/23 after 3, 22 min since (62% of 35)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 30 min since (101% of 29)
BACK Ayton back 12/23 after 2, 27 min since (100% of 27)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 18 min since (169% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 15 min since (141% of 10)
NEW Vanderbilt 17 to 22 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brooks at 23 and Gillespie at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Booker (3 straight), Green (15 straight). 3 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and Reaves at 24 a game. 3 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 40 percent from three to Phoenix's 32 and the line, where the Lakers take 24 free throws a game to Phoenix's 18. Call it Phoenix 116, the Lakers 115, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/01 @ LAL 125-108 — PHX notes
PHX won 125-108. PHX shot 57% (52 of 92) to LAL's 51%, 17 of 39 from three, and got to the line 8 times to LAL's 15. PHX turned it over 11 times to LAL's 21. Brooks led with 33 (15 of 26, 2 of 7 from three); Gillespie added 28, Williams 13. The hinge was Q2, 35-21: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 25. Brooks was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/05 @ HOU 98-117 — PHX notes
PHX lost 98-117. PHX took 24 more shots (100 to 76), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to HOU's 59%, 5 of 36 from three. PHX turned it over 13 times to HOU's 21. Brooks led with 23 (10 of 24, 0 of 4 from three); Bouyea added 18, Gillespie 13. Q1 was theirs, 31-24, but the other 3 periods went 93-67 against them. Allen's -29 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 @ MIN 108-105 — PHX notes
PHX won 108-105. PHX shot 46% (41 of 90) to MIN's 47%, 12 of 33 from three. Williams led with 22 (7 of 9, 7 of 9 at the line); Gillespie added 19, Brooks 18. The hinge was Q1, 29-23: from level to 6 ahead. Bouyea was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
12/10 @ OKC 89-138 — PHX notes
PHX lost 89-138. PHX shot 39% (33 of 84) to OKC's 59%, 10 of 31 from three. PHX turned it over 20 times to OKC's 14, and OKC turned those into 14 steals. Brooks led with 16 (4 of 16, 2 of 5 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Goodwin added 15, Bouyea 14. Q2 was theirs, 25-36, but the other 3 periods went 102-64 against them. Brooks's -47 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/14 vs LAL 114-116 — PHX notes
PHX lost 114-116. PHX shot 49% (40 of 82) to LAL's 43%, 13 of 37 from three, and got to the line 25 times to LAL's 43. The glass went 37-54 against them. Booker led with 27 (7 of 17, 0 of 5 from three, 13 of 16 at the line); Williams added 20, Brooks 18. Q4 was theirs, 37-30, the deficit cut from 9 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 86-77 against them. O'Neale's -23 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brooks at 22 and Williams at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Green (16 straight). 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Butler III at 17 and Post at 14 a game. Without Kuminga (3 straight), Horford (4 straight), Richard (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 40 percent from three to Phoenix's 32 and the defense, Golden State allowing 109 a night to Phoenix's 117. Call it Golden State 114, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/20 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ste. Curry at 34 and Butler III at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Horford (5 straight), Richard (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brooks at 20 and Williams at 13 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Green (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 40 percent from three to Phoenix's 29 and the glass, where Golden State has been minus-1 a night and Phoenix minus-7. Call it Golden State 115, Phoenix 109.
12/23 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Brooks at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Allen (2 straight), Green (18 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 28 a game. Without Reaves (3 straight), Ayton (2 straight), Vincent (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-2 a night and Phoenix minus-9 and the line, where the Lakers take 31 free throws a game to Phoenix's 21. Call it Phoenix 115, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/26 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 28 free throws a game; Williamson at 21 and Murphy III at 18 a game. Without Jordan (27 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Brooks at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Allen (3 straight), Green (19 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-2 a night and Phoenix minus-9 and the line, where New Orleans takes 28 free throws a game to Phoenix's 21. Call it New Orleans 118, Phoenix 116, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/04 @ TOR 123-120 — LAL notes
LAL won 123-120. LAL shot 50% (44 of 88) to TOR's 49%, 13 of 31 from three. Reaves led with 44 (13 of 21, 5 of 11 from three, 13 of 15 at the line); Ayton added 17, LaRavia 14. The hinge was Q1, 31-26: from level to 5 ahead. Reaves was the night's best plus/minus at +6.
12/05 @ BOS 105-126 — LAL notes
LAL lost 105-126. LAL shot 43% (33 of 77) to BOS's 55%, 14 of 35 from three, and went to the line 29 times to BOS's 12 — 25 points from the stripe to their 10. Reaves led with 36 (9 of 18, 3 of 8 from three, 15 of 17 at the line); Vincent added 18, Hachimura 13. Q3 was theirs, 36-28, the deficit cut from 23 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 98-69 against them. Vincent's -20 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/07 @ PHI 112-108 — LAL notes
LAL won 112-108. LAL shot 48% (41 of 85) to PHI's 35%, 13 of 36 from three. Dončić led with 31 (9 of 24, 2 of 9 from three, 11 of 14 at the line); James added 29, Hachimura 17. The hinge was Q3, 34-24: LAL came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 3. LAL trailed 53-60 at the half and won the second half 59-48. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/10 vs SAS 119-132 — LAL notes
LAL lost 119-132. LAL shot 49% (43 of 87) to SAS's 50%, 16 of 37 from three, and got to the line 23 times to SAS's 36. Dončić led with 35 (11 of 24, 3 of 8 from three, 10 of 14 at the line); Smart added 26, James 19. Q4 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 17 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 104-87 against them. LaRavia's -25 in 9 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/14 @ PHX 116-114 — LAL notes
LAL won 116-114. LAL shot 43% (38 of 88) to PHX's 49%, 7 of 37 from three, and went to the line 43 times to PHX's 25 — 33 points from the stripe to their 21. The glass went 54-37 for them. Dončić led with 29 (7 of 25, 2 of 14 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); James added 26, Ayton 20. The hinge was Q3, 24-15: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 20.
12/18 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Markkanen at 27 and George at 26 a game. Without Kessler (20 straight), Harkless (11 straight), Tshiebwe (25 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 30 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and Reaves at 26 a game. 3 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 120 a night to Utah's 129 and the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-0 a night and Utah minus-4. Call it the Lakers 121, Utah 120, Utah keeping it close.
12/20 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 0-5 over their last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (14 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 32 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and James at 26 a game. Without Reaves (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 32 free throws a game to the Clippers' 22 and the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to the Lakers' 13. Call it the Lakers 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/23 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Brooks at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Allen (2 straight), Green (18 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 28 a game. Without Reaves (3 straight), Ayton (2 straight), Vincent (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-2 a night and Phoenix minus-9 and the line, where the Lakers take 31 free throws a game to Phoenix's 21. Call it Phoenix 115, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/25 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 26 a game. Without Hachimura (2 straight), Vincent (3 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Finney-Smith (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to the Lakers' 30 and the line, where the Lakers take 31 free throws a game to Houston's 24. Call it Houston 119, the Lakers 118, the Lakers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXCG C. Gillespie
DB D. Booker
DB D. Brooks
GA G. Allen
JB J. Bouyea
JG J. Goodwin
MW M. Williams
NR N. Richards
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
LALDA D. Ayton
DO Doncic
GV G. Vincent
JH J. Hayes
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
MS M. Smart
RH R. Hachimura
PHX/LAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
LeBron James hits 2 late free throws, Lakers beat Suns 116-114 after blowing 20-point lead
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.