Given the absurdity of the contest and the number of whistles, it was a given that the Last Two Minute report for Sunday’s Lakers-Suns game would include some errors. It was also a given that it would heavily include Dillon Brooks.
Both turned out to be true.
The league admitted two mistakes in the report, though neither is likely what would be expected, though, again, both involve Brooks.
The first came on a play with just over two minutes remaining. After a turnover from the Lakers, Brooks corrals
a loose ball, hands it to a teammate, then takes out Marcus Smart.
Here is the comment the NBA left on the play in the report:
Brooks (PHX) overtly, and abruptly, veers in Smart (LAL), delivering contact that dislodges him from his position.
At the time, Brooks had five fouls, so this would have resulted in him fouling out. Instead, he ran down the floor, hit a jumper and then would hit the go-ahead shot later. Had this been called correctly — and it’s wild it wasn’t as two officials see it happen — then Brooks would be out of the game for both of those baskets.
The second play also involves Brooks, though he’s on the other side of the coin this time. On the Lakers’ next possession, Luka Dončić shoots an ugly step-back desperation three while kicking his leg out. Brooks and him go down and while nothing was called, the NBA says it should have been an offensive foul on Luka.
Here is the NBA’s comment on this play:
Doncic (LAL) overtly, and abruptly, extends his leg into Brooks (PHX) and initiates more than marginal contact that affects his ability to defend.
I would argue that Luka actually doesn’t make contact with Brooks when he kicks out and simply kicking out your leg is not a foul. I would also argue that Brooks was going to take out Luka whether the leg was kicked out or not.
But that would be me threading a needle that isn’t necessary because Dillon Brooks should not have been in the game.
One play that was not incorrectly called but drew plenty of attention online was the sequence where Brooks hit the go-ahead three, then was ejected after a second technical.
According to the NBA, LeBron should not have been called for a foul on the play as he attempted to avoid contact and only did so because Brooks kicks his leg out.
James (LAL) contests to the side of Brooks (PHX) and would avoid making contact if not for Brooks extending his left leg/knee towards James.
If I were an arguing man, I’d ask how Brooks extending his leg to draw a foul is different from the Luka play, but I’m not an arguing man. In fact, given the benefit of hindsight, I like Brooks crashing out and costing his team the game in the process. It’s a way funnier result.
In total, the Last Two Minute report looked at 25 plays to close the game, a truly hilarious number of plays. Let’s never have a game like that again, please.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
