The jawing continued as Julius Randle and Tyson Chandler ran down the court and established themselves in the post. Once the officials separated the two and reviewed the scuffle, Randle threw his hands up as a sign to encourage the crowd to express themselves. And after the officials looked at the sequence on the television monitors, they issued double technical fouls for each player.

The claps, cheers and jeers began to crescendo. Then the sound peaked after what happened next. Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell inbounded the ball near the top of the key to Randle, setting up a potential play to further antagonize Chandler by going one-on-one.

That left Lakers coach Luke Walton standing near halfcourt, debating to himself on whether he should call a timeout.

Although Walton has preached to Randle to get in “attack mode,” the Lakers’ coach feared that approach would backfire on that specific play. Yet, former Lakers coach Phil Jackson also has become what Walton called “a big influence in the way I try to coach,” including how Jackson had abstained from calling timeouts at critical times in hopes his players would figure it out for themselves.

“Let’s see what happens,” Walton thought to himself. “If it doesn’t work out, it’s a great teaching moment.”

It turns out the decision worked out.

Randle stared at Chandler as if he would charge down the lane at any second. But just as he saw Phoenix guard Devin Booker turn his head toward him, Randle whipped a pass to Jordan Clarkson for an open 3-pointer. Clarkson drained the shot, something that Walton called a “winning play” as part of the Lakers’ 119-108 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday at Staples Center.

“It’s everything we want,” Walton said. “It’s him using his brain, him being competitive and him fighting for the team and making an unselfish play to a teammate who knocks a big-time 3.”

That play did more than just give the Lakers a 107-97 cushion with 1:27 left. It also revealed Randle’s thought process.

“I didn’t get caught up in the emotions of me and him going at it. I just read how they were playing it,” said Randle, who added 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, five rebounds and four assists. “I’m past being caught up in the emotions I want to win.”

Randle is not exaggerating when he said, “I don’t back down from anybody.” When he initially worked out with Metta World Peace in the 2015 offseason, Randle bumped him plenty of times in the post without any worry the former Ron Artest might retaliate. When he drove past Golden State forward Draymond Green during a preseason game last year, Randle mouthed to himself that “he can’t guard me.” When former Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett jawed at Randle in last year’s season opener, Randle jawed right back.

The Lakers liked Randle’s assertiveness. They disliked Randle’s tendency, however, to become frustrated last season with foul calls and double teams. As much as they like his hustle and playmaking, the Lakers also disliked Randle’s tendency to force the issue.

“That’s a learning play for Julius. Last year I think he would have gone one-on-one and feel that joy of scoring on a guy, getting fouled and keeping the trash talking going,” Russell said. “But he made the play. He had joy like he made the shot or like he finished the play. It was big time.”

Randle showed that joy by raising his hands to the crowd once Clarkson made the 3-pointer. Randle did so “to bring energy” and to “psych myself up.”

Meanwhile, Walton became psyched up that his decision not to call timeout yielded both short and long-term growth.

“I’ve gone into the season knowing there’s going to be times you want to take players out and it’s better to leave, especially the younger guys, leave them in and let them make mistakes,” Walton said. “So they can really truly learn, instead of constantly telling them.”

In this case, Walton did not need to tell Randle anything.

“Hopefully in that next situation, he won’t call timeout again and he won’t think about it,” Randle said. “I’m happy coach trusts me.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com