Dillon Brooks Erupts — Suns Stun Lakers, LeBron Struggles

Merlin sees the Lakers’ seven-game run end in a 125–108 home loss to the Phoenix Suns, a defeat defined by LeBron James’ rare cold night (10 points on 30% shooting, three assists, no rebounds) and Dillon Brooks’ 33-point eruption. Phoenix led 66–52 at halftime and never looked back; the loss drops L.A. to 15–5 while Phoenix improves to 13–9 and jumps into sixth in the West. That matters because the Lakers’ veneer of invincibility relied on balance and steady star play — both cracked here. The supporting cast must supply reliable offense and the defense must close out opponent runs if L.A. wants to stay a top contender. This road trip is a simple test: resilience or reality check.