Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale made a go-ahead three-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 113-110 on Thursday at Footprint Center. The victory came after Phoenix surrendered a 12-point fourth-quarter lead and survived a missed buzzer-beating attempt from Lakers guard Austin Reaves.
The result marks the third consecutive loss for Los Angeles, dropping the team’s record to 34-24. Despite the defeat, Luka Dončić led all scorers with 41 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists while playing through reported eye soreness. Phoenix improved to 34-26 despite the absence of All-Star guard Devin Booker and forward Dillon Brooks.
Grayson Allen provided 28 points for the Suns, including four three-pointers during a third-quarter surge. Reserve guard Collin Gillespie added 21 points, hitting critical shots to maintain the Phoenix lead late in the game. LeBron James tied the score at 110 with a put-back layup with 22.7 seconds left before Allen found O’Neale for the deciding shot.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick credited the Suns’ perimeter execution after Phoenix finished 22-of-50 from beyond the arc. The Lakers had previously erased a double-digit deficit in the final six minutes, capped by a Reaves three-pointer that tied the game at 108. “We fought back to give ourselves a chance,” Redick said during the post-game press conference. “They just executed on that final possession.”
Los Angeles returns home to face the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Phoenix continues its home stand against the Oklahoma City Thunder, with both teams separated by one game in the Pacific Division standings.
