Lakers Survive Suns' Scare As Curry's 48 In Vain On Wild NBA Night

Last Updated:December 15, 2025, 10:51 IST

Los Angeles Lakers edged Phoenix Suns 116-114 as LeBron James scored 26 points. Stephen Curry hit 48 for Golden State but lost to Trail Blazers. Brooklyn Nets dominated Bucks.

LeBron James starred in the Lakers' win. (AFP)

The Los Angeles Lakers established a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter but had to endure a strong comeback from the Phoenix Suns to secure a 116-114 victory in a tough NBA game on Sunday.

Luka Doncic scored 29 points, while LeBron James contributed 26 for the Lakers, who went on a 24-0 scoring spree in the second half and led 99-79 with 8:40 remaining.

The Suns mounted a response and took a 114-113 lead with 12.2 seconds left, thanks to a three-pointer from Dillon Brooks.

Brooks then bumped James, resulting in his second technical foul of the night and an ejection.

James missed the technical free throw but was fouled by Devin Booker on a three-point attempt, making two of three free throws with three seconds left to put the Lakers ahead again.

“We got behind the eight ball a lot in the fourth quarter, but I thought for the majority of the game our physicality was good," James said.

Earlier in the game, James and Brooks had both received technical fouls in separate incidents.

“(It’s) just competing," James said. “It’s the NBA, no boys allowed. We’re out there competing and we was able to get the last laugh."

Golden State’s Stephen Curry made an impressive 12 three-pointers, scoring 48 points, but missed in the final minute as the Warriors lost 136-131 to the Trail Blazers in Portland.

Curry was close to tying Klay Thompson’s record of 14 three-pointers in an NBA game and one shy of his own best of 13.

The 37-year-old surpassed NBA legend Michael Jordan for most 40-point games after the age of 30, with his 45th.

However, it was not enough, as Jerami Grant and Shaedon Sharpe each scored 35 points for Portland.

In another close game, the Atlanta Hawks narrowly defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 120-117.

Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, becoming the 12th NBA player to achieve four consecutive triple-doubles and the second this season alongside Denver’s Nikola Jokic.

Rookie forward Kon Knueppel scored 29 points, and Brandon Miller added 25 points and 13 rebounds, leading the Charlotte Hornets to a 119-111 overtime upset against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Darius Garland led the Cavs with 26 points, but star guard Donovan Mitchell was limited to 17 points and missed a potential game-winner as time expired in regulation. Cleveland failed to score in the extra session, missing all 10 of their attempts.

In Brooklyn, nine Nets players scored in double figures, helping the hosts to a 127-82 blowout of the Milwaukee Bucks, who were without injured two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Rookie Egor Demin scored 17 points, and Noah Clowney added 16 for the Nets, who never trailed and matched the franchise record for margin of victory.

“I thought that was awful — awful all around," Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “Give Brooklyn credit. They played hard as heck … they played right. We didn’t."

(With agency inputs)

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