Guard Dillon Brooks embraced the role of antagonist Monday night, pouring in 33 points and sparking the Phoenix Suns to a 125-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
Brooks erupted for 23 points before halftime, including 15 in the second quarter, and connected on 15 of 26 attempts overall. At one stretch he hit 10 of 11 shots while jawing with courtside spectators who were heckling him.
“They wanted me to keep shooting, so I kept shooting,” Brooks said after the game. His recent surge has lifted him to a career-best 22.3 points per game this season.
Head coach Jordan Ott noted that returning to Los Angeles carried added weight for the 27-year-old, who struggled in a postseason series at the arena two years ago. “He’s the ultimate competitor,” Ott said. “He’s talked a lot about coming back into this building. This means something different to him.”
The night featured Brooks’ full repertoire of trash talk, gestures and staredowns—especially whenever LeBron James was involved. Late in the fourth quarter, Brooks was called for traveling while trying to post up James. From the bench, the four-time MVP responded with a slow thumbs-down. Afterward, James declined to mention Brooks by name.
Phoenix led wire to wire and never trailed after the opening minutes. The victory moved the Suns to 125-108 on the night, while the Lakers absorbed both the loss and Brooks’ verbal barbs.
Source: Hoops Wire
