On Monday, Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks charged the monarch and made no misses.
“Brooks Embraces the Daunting Task of Guarding LeBron James in Houston Showdown, Fueling the Rockets’ Dominant 135-119 Win. In a Bold Move, Brooks Not Only Shut Down the Court but Also Took Shots at the Self-Proclaimed ‘King James’ Off-Court.”
A specific exchange between James James and Brooks went viral on social media. James was defending Brooks on the right wing at the beginning of the third quarter. While dribbling to the baseline, the 28-year-old attempted a shot with James’ palm directly in his face. Brooks, enraged, walked past James, confronted him, and began to glare at the four-time MVP.
Brooks was also penalized for a flagrant foul a few plays later for striking James in the face.
Brooks potentially intended to repay James for the embarrassment he inflicted upon him during a previous encounter this season. The exchange between James and Brooks has persisted throughout the entire season.
Brooks was also involved with Jarred Vanderbilt, a forward for the Lakers. Vanderbilt was tackled by the Rockets wing during a second-quarter drive. A few plays later, the Lakers reserve was ejected for pushing Brooks back.
On 7/12 shooting, Brooks concluded with 17 points and 3 rebounds. James contributed to the lopsided defeat with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Monday’s match between the Lakers and Rockets marked their fourth and final encounter of the season, excluding any postseason contests. Seasonally, the two teams were tied 2-2.
After the defeat, the Lakers reverted to.500 with a 24-24 record. In contrast, the Rockets closed the gap on the Lakers to one game at 22-24.
