Lakers Edge Suns in Emotional Phoenix Homecoming for Deandre Ayton
lakers-edge-suns-emotional-phoenix-homecoming-for-deandre-ayton
The Los Angeles Lakers survived a frantic finish on Sunday night, holding off the Phoenix Suns after nearly surrendering a 20-point fourth-quarter cushion at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
Who & What: LeBron James hit decisive free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory, while center Deandre Ayton delivered 20 points and 13 rebounds in his first appearance in Phoenix since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Suns in 2018.
When & Where: The tense matchup took place Sunday, December 14, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona.
How the Game Unfolded: Los Angeles led 99-79 with just under eight minutes remaining, but Phoenix stormed back with a 35-14 run to claim a 114-113 lead. Moments earlier, guard Marcus Smart mishandled a breakaway opportunity, throwing a behind-the-head pass that landed in Grayson Allen’s hands and ignited the Suns’ rally.
Ayton, facing his former team for the first time as a Laker, called the contest “an emotional game” and credited the officiating crew for managing rising tensions. “Hats off to officials having patience with us … it really could’ve gotten a lot uglier,” he told Spectrum SportsNet.
Locker-Room Reaction: Ayton said the Lakers stayed composed despite the roaring Phoenix crowd during the comeback. “We weren’t worried about what was going on, we were just locked in and focused,” he noted.
Smart shouldered blame for the collapse, acknowledging his turnover as the turning point. His late layup attempt, rejected early in the shot clock, nearly compounded the mistake before James’ free throws steadied the outcome.
Supporting Cast: Forward Jarred Vanderbilt, center Jaxson Hayes and rookie Jake LaRavia also provided key minutes off the bench as Los Angeles avoided what would have been one of its worst losses of the season.
The victory allowed Ayton to showcase his best work against the franchise that traded him less than two years after its 2021 NBA Finals run.
Source: Lakers Nation
