Dillon Brooks scores 25, Suns dominate Luka-less Lakers for a 132-108 victory

PHOENIX (AP) — Dillon Brooks scored 25 points, Devin Booker added 21 and the Phoenix Suns pulled away in the second half to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 132-108 on Tuesday night.

The Lakers were playing without five-time All-Star Luka Doncic, who was out with a lower leg contusion. They did welcome the return of Austin Reaves, who missed the past three games with a left calf strain.

Reaves finished with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting off the bench, while LeBron James led the Lakers with 23. Los Angeles has lost two straight.

The Suns — who have won two out of three against the Lakers this season — led by 10 at halftime and quickly pushed that advantage to 99-72 midway through the third. They took a 112-86 lead into the fourth after scoring 45 points in the third on 16-of-22 (72.7%) shooting.

Brooks scored 12 in the decisive third and finished 10 of 15 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. The 29-year-old came into the game averaging 21.7 points, which is easily a career high.

All five Suns starters scored in double figures. Mark Williams had 18 points and nine rebounds, while Collin Gillespie scored 16. Booker added 11 assists.

The Suns have won two of their past three.

Phoenix took a 67-57 lead into halftime. Brooks and Booker both had 13 points for the Suns, who shot 60% from the field before the break. James had 18 for the Lakers.

Lakers: Host Houston on Thursday.

Suns: At New Orleans on Friday.

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James shoots against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives between Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center Mark Williams (15), and forward Royce O'Neale (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) gets fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James squares up to Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) drives past Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

SYDNEY (AP) — A briefing for this year's Sydney to Hobart race began Wednesday with a minute’s silence for the two sailors who died in last year’s event. It ended with hopes that the catastrophic weather conditions will not be repeated in this year's race starting Friday.

The mandatory briefing from the Bureau of Meteorology predicted the scheduled 129 starters in the annual race from Sydney harbor to Hobart on the island state of Tasmania will face strong southerly winds of up to 25 knots (about 46 kilometers per hour, or 28 mph) after leaving Sydney Heads.

Those winds are likely to slacken across the New South Wales state and Tasmanian coasts across the weekend. The fleet has still been warned there is a chance of strong winds on the first night.

“It’s going to be cold, wet and bumpy, people will get seasick,″ said chairman of the race committee Lee Goddard.

But the forecast is much different from last year, when boat-breaking conditions caused two sailors to die on the first night in storms. Nick Smith and Roy Quaden were the two sailors who died in 2024 — the race’s first fatalities since six died in 1998.

CYCA Commodore Sam Haynes said the sailor deaths will not be forgotten.

“This will be something that is very much on our minds, and the families of these two sailors,” said Haynes, who is also the skipper of reigning overall winner on handicap Celestial V70.

Organizers also announced Wednesday that a group of 15 yachts will scatter rose petals off the coast of Bondi Beach in memory of the 15 lives lost during the Bondi terror attack on Dec. 14.

“Going past Bondi, 15 boats will spread some petals into the ocean at the point,” said Haynes.

LawConnect, a 100-foot super maxi skippered by Australian tech millionaire Christian Beck, won line honors in last year's race and returns this year to defend its title. It had an elapsed time of 1 day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds for the 628-nautical mile (722 miles, 1,160 kilometers) race.

The race record set by LDV Comanche — 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds — has stood since 2017 and only appears under threat in very strong downwind conditions, which are not expected this year.

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FILE - Yachts jockey for position during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)