Suns Shine Bright: Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker Fuel 132-108 Rout of Short-Handed Lakers
PHOENIX — In a game that showcased the shifting sands of the Western Conference hierarchy, the Phoenix Suns sent a resounding message to the rest of the league on Tuesday night. Behind a relentless offensive barrage led by Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker, the Suns dismantled the Los Angeles Lakers 132-108 at the Footprint Center.
While the Lakers struggled to find their rhythm without the transcendent talents of Luka Dončić, Phoenix capitalized on every opening, turning a competitive first half into a second-half blowout. The victory serves as a testament to the Suns’ revamped roster and their growing chemistry as the 2025-26 NBA season approaches the turn of the year.
The Brooks Factor: A Career Year Continues
Dillon Brooks has long been known as a defensive specialist and a high-energy “instigator,” but this season in Phoenix has revealed a lethal offensive dimension to his game. Brooks led the way for the Suns with 25 points, shooting an efficient 10-of-15 from the field.
His performance was underscored by a massive third quarter where he scored 12 of his points, effectively slamming the door on any potential Lakers comeback. Entering the game with a career-high average of 21.7 points per game, Brooks proved that his scoring surge is no fluke.
“He’s completely changed the culture here,” one analyst noted earlier this month. “Brooks is the biggest reason why the Suns have had their surprising success so far.”
A Third-Quarter Masterclass
The game was decided in a blistering third-quarter stretch that saw the Suns play near-perfect basketball. Leading 67-57 at the half, Phoenix erupted for 45 points in the third period alone.
Phoenix Suns Third Quarter Shooting Stats:
- Field Goals: 16-of-22
- Field Goal Percentage: 72.7%
- Quarterly Points: 45
By the time the buzzer sounded for the start of the fourth, the Suns held a commanding 112-86 lead. Devin Booker was the orchestrator of this efficiency, finishing the night with 21 points and a game-high 11 assists. His ability to draw double teams and find open teammates like Mark Williams (18 points) and Collin Gillespie (16 points) left the Lakers’ defense in shambles.
Lakers Missing Their North Star
The Los Angeles Lakers entered the contest significantly hampered. The absence of Luka Dončić, who was sidelined with a lower leg contusion, left a massive void in the Lakers’ offensive and playmaking schemes. Dončić, who became the “face of the franchise” earlier in 2025, has been the engine behind the Lakers’ 19-9 start to the season.
Without the Slovenian superstar, the burden fell heavily on LeBron James. The 40-year-old veteran finished with 23 points, 18 of which came in a spirited first-half effort. However, as the Suns’ lead grew in the third, James and the Lakers struggled to find a secondary scoring option to keep pace.
There was a silver lining for Los Angeles: the return of Austin Reaves. After missing three games with a calf strain, Reaves provided a spark off the bench with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Despite his efforts, the Lakers’ defense could not contain a Phoenix team that shot 60% as a unit in the first half.
Roster Shifts and the Road Ahead
The win marks the Suns’ second victory in three meetings against the Lakers this season, a significant stat for tiebreaker purposes later in the year. The roster changes made by Suns owner Mat Ishbia—including the high-profile trade that brought Brooks and Jalen Green to Phoenix while sending Kevin Durant to Houston—seem to be paying dividends in terms of depth and defensive identity.
Notable Performances:
- Dillon Brooks (PHO): 25 PTS, 3-6 3PM
- Devin Booker (PHO): 21 PTS, 11 AST
- Mark Williams (PHO): 18 PTS, 9 REB
- LeBron James (LAL): 23 PTS
- Austin Reaves (LAL): 17 PTS
The Lakers (19-9) will look to snap their two-game losing streak when they host the Houston Rockets on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Suns (16-13) head to New Orleans on Friday, hoping to build on the momentum of this dominant performance.
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