O’Neale’s Clutch Three-Pointer Lifts Suns Over Lakers in Thriller

Phoenix rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat Los Angeles 113-110 on Thursday night. Royce O'Neale hit the game-winning three-pointer with just 1.7 seconds left on the clock.

With just 1.7 seconds left on the clock, Royce O’Neale drained a crucial three-pointer that sealed a dramatic 113-110 comeback win for the Phoenix Suns against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night at home.

The Suns had battled back from being down 13 points in the second half to pull off the victory. O’Neale had already put Phoenix ahead 110-108 on the previous trip down court, but LeBron James answered with a tip-in basket to even the score at 110-110 with 22.7 seconds showing.

Phoenix decided to use their remaining time for a single scoring attempt. Grayson Allen penetrated toward the basket before passing to Collin Gillespie, who then spotted O’Neale standing alone on the left side for the winning shot.

Allen led all Phoenix scorers with 28 points while connecting on six shots from three-point range. Gillespie contributed 21 points and also knocked down six three-pointers as the Suns managed to overcome a dominant 41-point performance from Luka Doncic. The victory gives Phoenix a 3-1 advantage in the season series, with one final meeting scheduled for April 10 in Los Angeles.

Doncic was nearly unstoppable, hitting six three-pointers while recording eight assists and eight rebounds. He fell just short of recording his seventh triple-double this season, shooting 12-of-21 from the floor and making 11-of-12 attempts from the free-throw line.

O’Neale finished with 13 points and three three-pointers as Phoenix shot an impressive 22-of-50 (44%) from beyond the arc. The offensive explosion was a welcome change after the Suns managed just 77 and 81 points in their two previous contests, both season-low totals.

James contributed 15 points with 10 coming after halftime, while Marcus Smart added 14 points for Los Angeles. The Lakers have now dropped five of their last seven games and hold just a one-game edge over Phoenix for sixth place in the Western Conference standings.

The Suns seized control with a 96-86 advantage and 7:43 remaining after putting together a decisive 13-0 scoring run that featured a unique six-point possession. Gillespie connected on a three-pointer and added a free throw after former Phoenix player Deandre Ayton was whistled for a flagrant foul on a closeout, giving the ball back to the Suns.

Oso Ighodaro capped off that possession with a slam dunk, pushing the Phoenix lead to 101-89 – their biggest margin of the night – before Los Angeles began their comeback attempt.

Doncic’s sixth three-pointer of the evening brought the Lakers within 103-101 with three minutes left, but Gillespie immediately responded with his sixth three-pointer to maintain Phoenix’s cushion.

Jake LaRavia converted two free throws with 1:29 on the clock to trim the gap to 108-105, then Austin Reaves buried a three-pointer to knot the score at 108-108, setting up the dramatic finish.

Los Angeles had taken control earlier by opening the third quarter with 11 straight points, part of a larger 25-4 surge that began midway through the second quarter. Ayton’s dunk – his first points of the game – extended the Lakers’ lead to 60-49 with 8:05 left in the third period.