Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick was thrilled with their narrow win over the Phoenix Suns, claiming, "winning ugly is actually really fun".

The Lakers survived a late rally to hold out for a 116-114 win over Phoenix, opening up a four-and-a-half-game lead over them at the top of the Pacific Division.

Los Angeles were led by Luka Doncic's 29 points, with the NBA's all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, also adding 26.

The Lakers went on a 24-0 run that gave them a 95-77 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining, before the Suns roared back to take the lead with 12.2 seconds left.

However, Dillon Brooks, who hit the go-ahead 3-pointer to put the Suns on top, then went chest-to-chest with James, was called with a technical foul and then ejected, before the 40-year-old was given the chance to snatch the win.

But Redick was delighted with the resilience his team showed in order to get the win.

"It's gonna sound sick, but I love winning games like this," Redick said.

"Wish it had not been a one-possession game, not been down with 12 seconds, like all that stuff.

Got it done. pic.twitter.com/6JfYsKW32H

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 15, 2025

"Winning ugly is actually really fun because it means you got in the trenches, and you fought, and we did that.

"We made a lot of mistakes, myself included. "We didn't allow the mistakes to defeat us. It's just what we needed to be."

Overall, James also finished with four assists, two steals, two blocks, and when he was fouled by Devin Booker on a 3-point attempt with 3.9 seconds left, he made two of three free throws.

His rivalry with Brooks, which began back in the 2023 playoffs when the 29-year-old referred to James as “old”, came to a head with the late technical foul.

"I just like to compete," James said of the matchup with Brooks.

"He's going to compete. I'm going to compete. We're going to get up in each other's face. Try not to go borderline with it.

"I don't really take it there. But we're just competing and did that almost all the way to the end of the game."