Suns escape Warriors despite more Dillon Brooks foolishness

Golden State retained possession after the freebies, which gave Butler (31 points) the chance to sink his lone three-point attempt of the game.

Dillon Brooks finally took accountability after the game

Brooks didn't talk to reporters after his ejection from the Suns' loss to the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday. Thursday, he hung around and admitted to the press that he "had to do some soul searching" about the poor timing of his actions late in games.

While that seemed to show maturity, Brooks was still complaining about LeBron in Sunday's loss as recently as Wednesday, calling him a "social media junkie" and claiming he would have shot an airball had Devin Booker not fouled him late in the game.

Brooks had his own chance at a game-winner late in Thursday's win, and clanked a three-point attempt off the side of the backboard. It was not an air ball, however, and the awkwardness of the shot worked out in the Suns' favor when Jordan Goodwin grabbed the rebound and Moody was whistled for a loose-ball foul with 0.4 seconds left. Goodwin hit a free throw for the winning margin.

Will Brooks do some soul-searching? It's unlikely. He's 29 years old and leading the NBA in technical fouls with nine, after picking one up earlier in Thursday's game — the next closest players have five. That's nine technicals in 21 games, while reaching 16 technicals means an automatic one-game suspension.

Brooks was suspended for one game last year for amassing 16 technicals and for two games in 2022-23 for receiving 18 technicals. He had 15 T's in 2023-24 and only 12 technicals in 2021-22, but he picked up those in only 32 games. For his career, Brooks has committed 94 technical fouls.

The Suns need Brooks on the court, but they don't need him making dumb plays late in games. That's the one upside to the threat of an eventual Brooks suspension. The Suns won't have his defense, but at least Brooks won't be committing dumb fouls in the final minute to lose the team games.