Rasheer Fleming ties career-high 8 points, injects energy for Suns’ thrilling win vs. Lakers

Phoenix Suns rookie forward Rasheer Fleming maximized his 21 minutes off the bench Thursday in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers, collecting a career-high six rebounds and tying a career-high eight points.

The rookie scored eight points for the third time this season (3 for 5 from the field, 2 for 3 from 3-point range) and registered a steal against the Lakers.

His +19 plus-minus for the game was a career-best mark, and it was second on the team to Amir Coffey (+20).

He and second-year forward Ryan Dunn saw extensive time getting the assignment against Luka Doncic, a need for Phoenix with Dillon Brooks out with a broken hand. Fleming also stood out tracking loose 50-50 balls and gaining extra possessions.

If, & I mean IF… there are 2 skills that will help as much as any with defending Luka Doncic, it’s having wingspan & good feet to stay balanced absorbing hits defensively.

Those + knowing his distance of impact are in favor of Rasheer Fleming. pic.twitter.com/7C0sAJLrgt

— Stephen PridGeon-Garner 🏁 (@StephenPG3) February 27, 2026

Appreciate Rasheer Fleming’s *multiple* efforts to gain possessions in this one. pic.twitter.com/UmT7RPPlCI

— Stephen PridGeon-Garner 🏁 (@StephenPG3) February 27, 2026

Rasheer Fleming with a monster offensive rebound, creating an extra possession leading to a Grayson Allen three pic.twitter.com/xeF3g9XgJ7

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) February 27, 2026

Fleming earned a steal less than two minutes into the second quarter but didn’t score his first points until he hit a 3-pointer about halfway through the third quarter.

Collin Gillespie on Rasheer Fleming: “We always tell him he has no idea how good he can be.”

Gillespie said Fleming probably doesn’t know what his ceiling is and then Gillespie himself admitted he doesn’t even know what it is, either.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) February 27, 2026

He followed that up with a bucket about two minutes later before hitting his second 3-pointer with over one minute remaining in the quarter.

Fleming scored all eight points in the third and sparked the Suns’ comeback, which was completed by Royce O’Neale’s game-winning 3 with 0.9 seconds left on the clock.

s] Grayson Allen with a 3 to tie the game, Luka Doncic answers with a 3, and then Amir Coffey and Rasheer Fleming with the 3s to give the Suns the lead pic.twitter.com/bHXqcgbq9h

— r/nba_highlights (@rNBAHighlights) February 27, 2026

With about four minutes gone in the third quarter, coach Jordan Ott pulled his entire starting lineup and substituted the bench in. The Suns had not scored a single point in the quarter.

That’s when Fleming and Grayson Allen (28 points, six assists and one rebound) took over. They led Phoenix’s bench unit to outscore the Lakers 31-0 in the third quarter.

In 34 games, Fleming has averaged 2.8 points and 1.5 rebounds on 35.7% shooting in 8.4 minutes played per game.

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