In the last second, Royce O’Neal beats the Lakers!

The Suns picked up one of their most important wins of the season by defeating the Lakers 113-110 in the end of an absolutely thrilling playoff matchup. Despite the absence of Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin, Phoenix ends a two-game losing streak and moves back to within one win of the Lakers in the race for an outright playoff berth.

In front of the home crowd, Phoenix started strong with a 9-0 start and effective ball circulation. Royce O’Neal gets the ball behind the arc and the Suns quickly take an eight-point lead (17-9). But the Lakers responded with a 14-0 run, led by Luka Doncic, who scored 12 points in the first quarter. Los Angeles ends the period with a score of 27-22.

Grayson Allen kicks off the second period with the game-winning shot. Suns go 10-2 to regain control. Allen and Colin Gillespie orchestrate the attack, while the bench contributes 10 points. The Lakers finished the half better with an 8-0 run, but Allen tied the game on a layup just before the break: 49-49 at halftime.

Returning from the locker room, the Lakers went on an 11-0 run to take a 60-49 lead, including an alley-oop by Deandre Ayton, who moaned about his role on offense. These are his first two points of the match… But it is written that it will be a playoff match, and Grayson Allen is on fire: 16 points in the quarter with four winning shots. The Suns go on a 10-0 run with less than two minutes to go even with the Lakers. 80-80 before the last quarter.

Same scenario as against the Magic

Phoenix extended the momentum and started the final quarter with a 15-5 lead to score 12 points with six minutes left. But the Lakers are not giving up. Doncic (41 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists) brings his team back, makes heavy baskets, and Austin Reeves ties the game at 108-108 a minute after timeout. O’Neale gives the Suns the lead (110-108) after an offensive rebound.

LeBron James then equalized 22.7 seconds from the end (110-110). It’s the same scenario as face or magic… This time it’s not all played under the circle: Grayson Allen goes in, goes out to Gillessie in the corner. This is immediately transferred to Royce O’Neale, himself behind the arc. In an atmosphere of madness, he sets up the “game winner” with 0.9 seconds left.

In the back, Reaves gets an open shot at the buzzer to tie the game, but misses the mark, and the Lakers suffer another loss in the final seconds…

ALL. pic.tvitter.com/4omLnGizAi

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 27, 2026

WHAT TO REMEMBER

Battle for 6th place. With three losses in a row, the Lakers are giving up and now have the Suns in the rearview mirror. With 34 wins and 24 losses, they are two losses behind the Suns, in 7th, and four losses behind the Warriors, in 8th.

Phoenix can count on their shooters. Going a nice 22 of 50 from 3-point range, including O’Neal’s game-winning basket, the Suns have been very poor from distance. After Grayson Allen in the 3rd quarter, Colin Gillespie caught fire in the 4th quarter. But he’s also the one who provides the extra pass for O’Neale’s “game winner.”

Repos. The Suns don’t play until next Tuesday, and that will be against the Kings. This shows that this success against the Lakers will do a lot for morale.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.