Brooks Ejected, LeBron Lifts Lakers Past Suns

Merlin sees a fresh flare in the Lakers Suns rivalry after a heated finish where Dillon Brooks hit a go ahead three but was ejected for a second technical after squaring up to LeBron with 12.2 seconds left. LeBron made the free throws and Los Angeles won 116 114. He shrugged it off saying "I just like to compete" and backed the call with "That's definitely a tech." Merlin knows Brooks loves the villain role, the same player who once boasted "I poke bears" and called LeBron "old." That posture can spark games and sometimes backfire, as Jarred Vanderbilt said "Tonight, it cost him." Officials will be keyed in the next meetings, and Dec 23 already smells of extra spice.