The NBA’s Last Two Minute (L2M) report from the Lakers-Suns showdown has officially dropped-and if the league was hoping to cool things down, it may have done the opposite.
This was already a game packed with tension, drama, and playoff-style intensity. The Lakers and Suns went toe-to-toe in a tightly contested battle that saw emotions boil over, particularly between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks. The two engaged in a heated back-and-forth throughout the night, and the closing moments only added fuel to the fire.
Now, the L2M report has confirmed what many suspected: the officiating in crunch time was far from perfect. According to the league, two incorrect calls were made in the final stretch-both of which could’ve significantly altered the outcome.
First, with 1:38 left on the clock, Dillon Brooks should’ve been called for an offensive foul after veering into Marcus Smart and cutting him off. That’s a pivotal moment.
If the foul had been called, Brooks would’ve fouled out of the game. That means no go-ahead three-pointer.
No continuation of the LeBron-Brooks saga. It’s the kind of missed call that reshapes the final narrative.
The second missed call involved Luka Doncic-yes, in a game between the Lakers and Suns, Doncic somehow found his way into the L2M report. The league says he should’ve been whistled for an offensive foul due to a leg extension, a move players often use to draw contact on jump shots.
It's a tricky one for officials, especially in high-leverage situations. Players know how to sell it, and refs have to make a split-second judgment call.
This time, they missed it.
But the real flashpoint came in the final sequence involving LeBron and Brooks. After Brooks hit a clutch shot late in the fourth, tensions escalated.
Brooks was ultimately hit with a technical foul and ejected-an outcome that swung momentum back to the Lakers. Many fans and analysts pointed to LeBron’s closeout on the play, which included what some saw as a subtle shot to Brooks’ chest.
But the L2M report ruled that the no-call on LeBron was correct, citing Brooks’ extended legs as the reason for the play not warranting a whistle.
That explanation hasn’t exactly satisfied everyone. The league’s decision to uphold the no-call on LeBron while flagging Brooks for embellishment has only deepened the controversy. And in a game already thick with emotion, the fallout from the L2M report feels like an aftershock.
For the Suns, it’s a tough pill to swallow. One missed offensive foul call on Brooks, and another on Doncic, plus a high-profile no-call involving LeBron-all in the final two minutes-only adds to the frustration. And while the L2M report is designed to promote transparency, in this case, it’s only added more questions.
Ultimately, this game-and the league’s postgame review-highlight just how razor-thin the margins are in the NBA. One whistle here, one non-call there, and the entire outcome shifts. And when stars like LeBron James and Dillon Brooks are involved, the spotlight only gets brighter.
The Lakers came away with the win, but the conversation isn’t over. Not by a long shot.