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Antetokounmpo inspires Bucks to NBA Cup final win

Giannis Antetokounmpo claimed a triple-double as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in this season's NBA Cup final.

The mid-season tournament was introduced last year, with the semi-finals and final taking place in Las Vegas, and the Bucks became the second winners with a 97-81 victory at the T-Mobile Arena.

Antetokounmpo registered 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists before being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Damian Lillard added 23 points for the Bucks, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points but shot just eight-for-24 in a poor shooting performance from the Western Conference leaders.

Milwaukee led 51-50 at half-time and 77-64 heading into the fourth period, with Brook Lopez scoring successive three-point jumpers to stretch their lead to 86-66.

"I'm so proud of the group," said Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP. "Everybody was extremely locked in.

"We came in, we were focused, played great basketball, and we were able to win. We had this goal as a team, and we accomplished it."

Former champions continue turnaround

Tuesday's victory meant the Bucks continued their turnaround in form. After starting the season with a 2-8 record, the 2021 NBA champions have won 13 of their past 16 games.

All NBA Cup fixtures are counted as regular-season games except the final, with the Bucks now fifth in the Eastern Conference on 14-11.

"I wouldn't say it completely flushes [the poor start] because we can't get those games back," said Lillard.

"But we've shown the team we started the season as is not the team that we are now, and it was never who we truly were."

Jalen Williams added 18 points for a youthful Thunder team which sits atop the Western Conference (20-5).

"It's rare to have a feeling like this where it feels like the play-offs, and we'll kind of take it and learn from it," he added.

"It's a good opportunity for every team that's in the cup, especially us being as young as we are, to simulate being in a different city for however long and kind of having a play-off feel to it. It's definitely good practice."

BBC
 
LeBron James sets new NBA record in Lakers win

LeBron James broke the record for the most minutes played in NBA history as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings.

The 39-year-old American surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he completed his 57,447th minute on court in the 113-100 victory on Friday.

James, who eclipsed Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA all-time scoring record earlier this year, scored 19 points while team-mate Austin Reaves led with 25 points.

"It's just a commitment to the craft and to the passion and love I have for the game," said James.

"I don't take much time in the off-season, a little bit more time now."

Elsewhere, Brooklyn Nets centre Nic Claxton was ejected from the court for throwing a ball into the crowd during his side's 101-94 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Claxton showed his frustration after being fouled on his way to the basket before being escorted off court by officials after attempting to throw a cushion.

Meanwhile, Zach LaVine scored a season-high 36 points as he guided the Chicago Bulls to a 117-108 win over defending champions the Boston Celtics.

LaVine sunk six three-pointers while adding six rebounds and four assists as the Bulls recorded their third straight victory.

French star Victor Wembanyama scored 42 points to help the San Antonio Spurs to a 133-126 overtime triumph over the Atlanta Hawks, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 35 points led Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-99 win over Orlando Magic.

There were also victories for the Memphis Grizzlies, the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets.

BBC
 
Embiid ejected after confronting referee

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was ejected from his team's 111-106 win against the San Antonio Spurs after confronting a referee.

Embiid was given a third foul against him by referee Jenna Schroeder when he charged Victor Wembanyama, knocking the Frenchman to the floor with two minutes and 59 seconds remaining of the first half.

The 76ers player argued the call with Schroeder and then had to be restrained from the official as he ripped off his protective face mask and continued his protests, leading to two technical fouls and his ejection from the match.

Earlier on, Schroeder's decision to eject Philadelphia's Andre Drummond for two technical fouls following a challenge on Wembanyama had been overturned.

"It was a wild first half," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said.

Tyrese Maxey produced 32 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to inspire Philadelphia to victory, while Wembanyama managed 26 points, nine rebounds and eight blocked shots.

Elsewhere, reigning NBA champions the Boston Celtics, who led by 15 points at half-time, suffered a 108-104 defeat by the Orlando Magic.

Tristan da Silva scored a team-high 18 points for Orlando against a Celtics team missing Jayson Tatum, who was unwell.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander impressed as he scored 41 points to help Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder to a 123-105 win against the Washington Wizards.

BBC
 
Four last-gasp finishes on dramatic night in NBA

The Portland Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson scored the game-winning basket with 0.1 seconds remaining in one of four last-gasp finishes in the NBA on Thursday.

Henderson's step-back jumper gave the Trail Blazers two points and sealed a 122-120 win against the Utah Jazz.

In Miami, Tyler Herro sank a 15-footer with 0.5 seconds to go to complete a 89-88 for the Miami Heat against state rivals the Orlando Magic.

There might have still been time for Orlando to have the last shot but Jalen Suggs' long three-point attempt rimmed out and was ruled to have come after the buzzer.

The most unlikely win came for the Detroit Pistons as Jaden Ivey scored a three-pointer while being fouled, with 3.1 seconds on the clock, and sank the subsequent free throw to complete a 114-113 win against the Sacramento Kings.

The Pistons had trailed by 10 points inside the final three minutes.

And in Washington, Jordan Poole's three-pointer with 8.7 seconds left helped the Washington Wizards beat the Charlotte Hornets.

Poole's basket put the Wizards 112-110 ahead before Charlotte's Brandon Miller missed from distance with six seconds to go, and Washington's Justin Champagnie hit one of two free throws as the Wizards completed a 113-110 victory.

Washington trailed by 21 points in the first half and remain bottom of the Eastern Conference despite a fifth win of the season.

In Thursday's other fixtures, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 120-114 for their ninth straight win.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 45 points for the Western Conference leaders.

The Memphis Grizzlies, currently third behind the Thunder, scored 155 points - the most in their franchise history - in a 155-126 win against the Toronto Raptors.

Jaren Jackson Jr and rookie Zach Edey both notched 21-point double-doubles.

Jalen Johnson scored a career-high 30 points to help the Atlanta Hawks come from behind to beat the Chicago Bulls 141-133, Jalen Green weighed in with 30 points as the Houston Rockets beat the struggling New Orleans Pelicans 128-111 and Cameron Johnson contributed 29 points in the Brooklyn Nets' 111-105 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks.

BBC
 
Brown stars as Boston Celtics end losing run against Indiana

Jaylen Brown scored 44 points as NBA champions the Boston Celtics responded to consecutive defeats with a 142-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Jayson Tatum contributed 22 points and Payton Pritchard added a further 18 as Boston recorded their biggest points total of the season.

The win kept the Celtics in touch with Eastern Conference leaders the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cleveland improved their league-best record to 27 wins in 31 games - four more than the Celtics - with a 149-135 victory over the Denver Nuggets among eight games to take place on Friday.

Donovan Mitchell posted 33 points as six Cavaliers players reached double figures in the team's sixth consecutive victory, achieved despite NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic's triple-double of 27 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists for Denver.

Elsewhere, Anthony Edwards made a three-pointer with 23.2 seconds left to give the Minnesota Timberwolves a 113-112 win over hosts the Houston Rockets, who led by 16 points with less than five minutes to play.

Jalen Brunson scored 26 points as the New York Knicks extended their winning streak to six games with a 108-85 victory over the Magic in Orlando, while Victor Wembanyama produced 19 points and seven rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Brooklyn Nets 96-87 in Brooklyn.

The Los Angeles Clippers won 102-92 against the Golden State Warriors, who were without the injured Stephen Curry.

Kyrie Irving's 20 points helped the Dallas Mavericks beat the Phoenix Suns 98-89, and the Memphis Grizzlies recorded an eighth win in 10 by beating the New Orleans Pelicans 132-124.

Kings sack Brown; Embiid fined

The Sacramento Kings fired coach Mike Brown on Friday, less than halfway into his third season in charge, following Thursday's 114-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

That defeat was Sacramento's fifth-in-a-row - and 18th in 31 games this season - and left the Kings in 12th place in the 15-team Western Conference.

Brown, 54, was voted NBA Coach of the Year after guiding the Kings to the Western Conference play-offs in his first year in 2022-23, and he signed a three-year contract extension worth a reported $30m (£23.8m) in July.

Assistant Doug Christie will take over as interim coach.

Also on Friday, the NBA announced it had fined the Philadelphia 76ers player Joel Embiid $75,000 (£60,000) for making obscene gestures toward the Boston Celtics' home crowd during their game on Christmas Day.

Embiid was ejected from his team's 111-106 win against the San Antonio Spurs after confronting a referee on Tuesday.

BBC
 
Westbrook and Jokic star as Nuggets beat Jazz

Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic both scored triple-doubles in the Denver Nuggets' 132-121 victory against the Utah Jazz.

Westbrook finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists which included no turnovers, while Jokic added 36 points, 22 rebounds and 11 assists.

The Jazz led 66-64 at the break before the Nuggets pulled away in the third quarter, with Jamal Murray also adding 20 points and 10 assists.

Elsewhere, Joel Embiid scored 37 points and added nine rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 125-103.

Tyrese Maxey also had 23 points for the Sixers while Kelly Oubre Jr had 15 points and eight steals.

Josh Hart made his third triple-double of the season to lead the New York Knicks to a 126-106 win over the Washington Wizards.

Hart had 23 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists alongside Karl-Anthony Towns' 32 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Knicks to an eventually comfortable victory after a close first half which resulted in them holding a slender 59-57 lead.

Darius Garland scored 25 points and Donovan Mitchell added 23 as the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their fine run of form with a 113-95 win over the Golden State Warriors.

The Cavaliers are unbeaten in their last seven matches and sit top of the Eastern Conference with a 28-4 record, while the struggling Warriors have lost four of their last five.

James Harden helped the Los Angeles Clippers to a tight win over the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring four free throws in the final 18 seconds to secure a 116-113 victory.

De'Aaron Fox starred with 33 points as the Sacramento Kings beat the Dallas Mavericks 110-100 to recover from a losing streak of six games in a row.

The Mavericks continued to struggle with injury absences, including Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.

The Chicago Bulls edged past the Charlotte Hornets for a 115-108 win in overtime, helped by Coby White scoring 23 points and adding 10 rebounds and nine assists.

BBC
 
Knicks extend winning run with victory over Jazz

The injury-hit New York Knicks extended their winning streak to nine games with a 119-103 victory against the Utah Jazz.

Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns starred for the Knicks, with the latter becoming just the third player in team history to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in three consecutive games.

The Knicks, whose record improved to 24-10, were missing star point guard Jalen Brunson for the first time this season because of a calf issue. Back-up guard Miles McBride sat out with a tight left hamstring.

The Jazz had raced into an 18-8 lead before falling to a fifth straight loss (7-25).

Elsewhere, Nikola Jokic scored 23 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists for his 14th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Atlanta Hawks 139-120.

In Detroit, the Pistons' 105-96 win over the Orlando Magic was overshadowed by a potentially serious leg injury suffered by Jaden Ivey.

The star point guard scored 22 points before injuring his left leg early in the fourth quarter when Orlando's Cole Anthony collided with his leg while diving for a loose ball.

Ivey's team-mates were visibly upset when he left the court on a stretcher.

The Toronto Raptors ended an 11-game losing streak with a 130-113 victory against the Brooklyn Nets, while the New Orleans Pelicans slipped to an 11th consecutive loss in a defeat by the Miami Heat.

The Washington Wizards disposed of the Chicago Bulls 125-107, while the Sacramento Kings overtook the Philadelphia 76ers with a late comeback win in California (113-107).

The Houston Rockets returned to winning ways with a 110-99 victory against the Dallas Mavericks.

BBC
 
Curry makes history as Warriors rout 76ers

Stephen Curry set a new NBA three-pointer record as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 139-105 in San Francisco.

Curry, 36, made all eight of his three-point attempts for the first time in his career as he finished with 30 points and 10 assists.

And it meant the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player became the first person in league history to go at least eight-for-eight on three-pointers and reach double-digit assists in the same game.

The NBA record of nine-for-nine was set in 2003 by Latrell Sprewell, before it was matched by Ben Gordon - both in 2006 and 2012 - and by Jalen Brunson in 2023.

Jonathan Kuminga chipped in 20 points off the bench, while Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Dennis Schroder scored 15 apiece.

Victory improved the Warriors' season record to 17-16 while the 76ers fell to 13-19.

Elsewhere, defending NBA champions the Boston Celtics sneaked past the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 118-115 win.

LeBron James scored 38 points with eight assists and Max Christie added a career-high 28 as the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the Portland Trail Blazers 114-106.

The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their lead at the top of the Western Conference with a 116-98 home victory against the LA Clippers, while the Brooklyn Nets won 113-110 at at the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers triumphed 128-115 at the Miami Heat.

Meanwhile, Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey has had successful surgery on a broken fibula in his left leg.

Ivey, the fifth overall pick in the 2022 draft, suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of the Pistons' 105-96 victory against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

Ivey will be reassessed in four weeks' time, the Pistons said, although he is likely to miss most of the rest of the season.

BBC
 
Antetokounmpo stars as Bucks beat Raptors

Giannis Antetokounmpo registered 11 points, 12 rebounds and a season-high 13 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Toronto Raptors 128-104 in the NBA.

Damian Lillard added 25 points in Toronto for the Bucks, who had lost four of their previous five games, all to teams with losing records.

Antetokounmpo suffered a cut finger in the first half that required stiches, but was able to continue before being rested in the fourth quarter as the Bucks secured a comfortable win.

"He set the whole tone to our team," Bucks coach Doc Rivers said of Antetokounmpo's performance.

"When your best player does that it becomes contagious and the ball just moved."

Zach LaVine notched up 35 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Chicago Bulls fought back from 19 points down in the third quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-110.

Victor Wembanyama starred in a losing cause for the Spurs, with 23 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and eight blocked shots.

The Dallas Mavericks, who were without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, suffered a fifth successive defeat, losing 119-104 to the Memphis Grizzlies.

After winning nine matches in a row, the New York Knicks have now lost their past three after slipping to a 103-94 defeat by the Orlando Magic.

Bradley Beal came off the bench to score 25 points as the Phoenix Suns beat the Philadelphia 76ers 109-99 to end a run of four straight defeats.

The Sacramento Kings needed double overtime to edge the Miami Heat 123-118, while the Detroit Pistons beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-115.

BBC
 
Young's buzzer-beater seals win for Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young scored a dramatic buzzer-beater to earn the Atlanta Hawks a thrilling 124-121 win over the Utah Jazz in the NBA.

The game looked set for overtime when Collin Sexton's three-pointer for the Jazz made it 121-121 with four seconds remaining at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

But Young replied with a stunning effort from the half-court line just before the final buzzer sounded to signal end of play, earning victory for the Hawks.

Young finished with 24 points - including 10 in the fourth quarter - and 20 assists for Atlanta, while Lauri Markkanen matched his season-high 35 points for the Jazz.

In Denver, Jayson Tatum top-scored with 29 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Denver Nuggets 118-106.

Kristaps Porzingis added 25 points for reigning champions Boston, who stay second in the Eastern Conference.

Russell Westbrook scored 26 points and nine rebounds in reply for 2023 NBA Championship winners Denver.

The Dallas Mavericks ended a five-game losing run with a convincing 118-97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Quentin Grimes came off the bench to score 23 points and nine rebounds for Dallas, who were without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving because of injury.

Anthony Davis scored 21 points and LeBron James added 18 for the Lakers, who drop one place to sixth behind the Mavericks in the Western Conference.

Zion Williamson's comeback from injury was not enough for the New Orleans Pelicans, who lost 104-97 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Williamson scored 22 points on his return after missing the previous 27 games with a hamstring injury, but Anthony Edwards' game-high 32 points helped Minnesota to victory.

Elsewhere, the Charlotte Hornets ended a 10-game losing run with a 115-104 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Nikola Jovic top-scored with 20 points as the Miami Heat beat the Golden State Warriors 114-98 in San Francisco, while the Houston Rockets beat the Washington Wizards 135-112.

BBC
 
Lakers and Kings postpone games amid Los Angeles wildfires

The Los Angeles Lakers have postponed Friday's NBA fixture against the Charlotte Hornets amid ongoing wildfires in the region.

NHL side Los Angeles Kings, who also play at the Crypto.com Arena, postponed their meeting with the Calgary Flames which was scheduled for 03:30 GMT on Thursday.

Firefighters in Los Angeles are battling a number of blazes in city suburbs, as nearly 180,000 residents were forced to evacuate.


www.bbc.com

LA wildfires: Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings postpone games in the NBA and NHL

The Los Angeles Lakers postpone Friday's NBA fixture against the Charlotte Hornets amid ongoing wildfires in the region, while Los Angeles Kings do the same for their scheduled NHL game.
www.bbc.com
 
'It was tough' - Lakers & Clippers back in NBA action

Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers players said they found it "tough" as they returned to NBA action with wildfires in the city ongoing.

Two Lakers games and one Clippers match were postponed but Monday's contests went ahead and both teams dedicated the night to the community and emergency services.

The Lakers lost 126-102 to the San Antonio Spurs while the Clippers beat the Miami Heat 109-98.

Fire crews in the Los Angeles area are still battling two large blazes, with fears of new outbreaks as a result of forecasted high winds.

At least 24 people have died in the fires and 23 others are missing. More than 90,000 people remain under evacuation orders while Lakers coach JJ Redick is among those who lost their house in Palisades.

Lakers forward Anthony Davis had mixed emotions after finishing with 30 points and 13 rebounds as his side lost for the third game in a row.

"We were eager to play basketball again in front of our fans. It sucks that we weren't able to get to win," said the 31-year-old.

"I've been thinking about it a lot. We come out and play and whether we win, lose or draw, this game is over and everything's still going on in the world.

"So, [it's] bittersweet in a sense because we still have people who are dealing with real-life situations. And we get to go out and play basketball. So it's tough."

Clippers players wore t-shirts saying 'LA Strong' before their game in Inglewood and LA native James Harden scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half as they came from five down at the break to win.

"We're going through some tough times right now," he said. "Something we've never seen before. So it's very, very powerful for us to stand together. As one we can stand together and get through it."

Team-mate Norman Powell, who finished with 29 points, added: "They are losing everything and you're focused on basketball.

"It's a tough thing to focus on like it's normal. You're in this city where there are tragedies and fires going on. But we've got a job at hand, they cleared us to play, so you've got to focus on that."

Kawhi Leonard returned for the Clippers after missing Wednesday's game against Denver to return to Los Angeles, where his family live in one of the most affected areas, Pacific Palisades.

The 33-year-old said he had tried "to get the family in order, making sure that everybody is settled, and everyone is safe".

BBC
 
Clippers thrash Nets by 59 points in record win

The Los Angeles Clippers thrashed the Brooklyn Nets 126-67 to set a new record for their largest margin of victory.

The 59-point win is the 10th largest in NBA history and surpasses the Clippers' previous highest margin of 50 in a 138-88 success against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2022.

Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 23 points and James Harden added 21 as the Nets slumped to their heaviest defeat in the NBA.

Their previous biggest defeat was by 52 points, a 139-87 reverse against the Houston Rockets in 1978.

The Clippers led by 64 points during the fourth quarter despite coach Tyronn Lue emptying his bench late in the third.

Leonard, who was playing for just the fourth time this season, shot eight of 11 from the field in 24 minutes.

The Clippers' next game is against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.

BBC
 
Gilgeous-Alexander's haul helps Thunder rout Cavs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced a dazzling performance as the Oklahoma City Thunder avenged last week's defeat by the Cleveland Cavaliers with a crushing victory.

The 26-year-old sunk 40 points in 29 minutes to help overwhelm the Cavaliers 134-114 at the Paycom Centre in Oklahoma City.

Canada's Gilgeous-Alexander was helped by Luguentz Dort's 22 points, while Jalen Williams added 19.

The result leaves the teams on identical 34-6 records at the top of their respective conferences.

"It's the cream of the crop and obviously you want to test yourself against the best to find out where you really are," said Gilgeous-Alexander.

"We tested ourselves and I think we passed."

Elsewhere, DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points as the Sacramento Kings halted the Houston Rockets' five-game winning streak with a 132-127 victory.

There were also wins for the Phoenix Suns over the Washington Wizards, the Indiana Pacers beat the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers cruised to victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

BBC
 

Butler returns after suspension but Heat lose​

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler returned from a seven-match suspension as his side lost 133-113 to the Denver Nuggets.

The 35-year-old was sidelined earlier this month by the Heat because of "conduct detrimental to the team" and has requested a trade.

Although the Heat initially said they would not make Butler available for trade, they later said they would listen to offers for the six-time NBA All-Star.

However, Butler remains with the Heat and scored 18 points and played 33 minutes in Friday's defeat in Florida.

Less than two hours before tipoff, Butler said "I'm back" in a statement released on social media by his agent Bernie O. Lee. The statement indicated it was a response to questions about Butler's career plans.

After the game, he answered questions at his locker while wearing a number 45 Chicago Bulls jersey - the number worn by Michael Jordan when he returned from his first retirement.

"There was a lot said by everybody, except for me, to tell you the truth," Butler said about the suspension.

"So, we'll let people keep talking like they know everything and have all the answers. And then, sooner or later, the whole truth will come out.

"But, until then, we'll continue to let people talk. If I'm here, I will get out there and play."

Regarding his team-mates, Butler said: "It felt good to get out there, compete, and actually run around with these guys.

"As much as everybody may think, I don't got a problem with these guys. These guys are cool. They're my friends. My beef is not with them, never will be, and never has been."

Butler, who previously played for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Chicago Bulls, joined the Heat in 2019 and has made 378 NBA appearances for them.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the absence of forward Anthony Davis to edge past the Brooklyn Nets 102-101.

Davis missed his second game of the month with an ongoing foot problem but Austin Reaves scored a career-high 38 points while LeBron James had 29 points and eight assists.

Although the Lakers led 100-92 with three minutes and 45 seconds to go, Brooklyn came back and a three-pointer from Noah Clowney made it a one-point game with 37 seconds to play.

Reaves missed a jump shot before former Laker D'Angelo Russell was off target with a potential game-winning three-point shot with three seconds to go.

Source: BBC
 
Warriors thrashed in worst home defeat under Kerr

The Golden State Warriors suffered their heaviest home defeat under coach Steve Kerr as they were thrashed 125-85 by the Boston Celtics.

Kerr, who won five NBA Championships as a player, has claimed a further four as head coach of the Warriors since taking charge in 2014.

But the Warriors were outclassed by the defending champions, who showed no mercy in a 40-point victory that is the Warriors' biggest home defeat since a 45-point reverse against the Dallas Mavericks in 1985.

Leading by 15 points at half-time, the Celtics hit 43 points in the third quarter alone to underline their dominance.

Jayson Tatum top scored for the Celtics with 22 points, while Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown added 18 points and 17 points respectively.

"We've got to flush this one down the toilet and get ready for Sac," said Kerr, whose side face the Sacramento Kings in their next match.

"We've been very competitive all year. Our guys have fought, but we've had a handful of these where we get blown out. These are demoralising."

The Warriors, who last won the Championship in 2022 by beating the Celtics in the finals, sit a place outside the play-off positions in the Western Conference in 11th spot.

The Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference standings behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.

BBC
 
I'm playing the best basketball of my life – Jokic

Nikola Jokic said he is "playing the best basketball of my life" after helping the Denver Nuggets to a 144-109 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA.

The three-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) hit his fourth successive triple-double - and his 13th of the season - as the Nuggets won a third game in a row.

Jokic scored 27 points and made 13 rebounds and 10 assists before sitting out the fourth quarter at Ball Arena in Denver.

He told TNT: "We're not where we're supposed to be, but we're trying to find the rhythm."

The Nuggets are fourth in the Western Conference and the 76ers 11th in the East.

LeBron James became only the second player aged 40 or older to record a triple-double as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Washington Wizards 111-88.

The 40-year-old finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists at Crypto.com Arena in LA.

Karl Malone is the only other player over 40 to claim a triple-double, for the Lakers in 2003.

The Lakers are sixth in the Western Conference and the Wizards bottom of the East.

BBC
 

Heat suspend Butler for second time in three weeks​

Jimmy Butler has been suspended by the Miami Heat for the second time in three weeks after he missed a team flight to Milwaukee.

The 35-year-old forward was suspended for seven NBA matches by the Heat earlier this month for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team".

Butler returned from that suspension last Friday but missed a team flight on Wednesday, incurring a further two-match ban.

The Heat, who said they would listen to trade offers following Butler's first suspension, said he will miss games against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday and the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.

"We have suspended Jimmy Butler for two games for [a] continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team, including missing today's team flight to Milwaukee," read a Heat statement.

Butler, a six-time NBA All-Star, joined the Heat from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019.

He has made 25 appearances this season, averaging 17 points, 4.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game.

The NBA trade deadline is 6 February.

'It was nothing special'
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a career-high 54 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Utah Jazz 123-114 at home to consolidate their position at the top of the Western Conference.

"It was no different from any other night," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I had a few more points tonight, but it was nothing special."

The Boston Celtics pulled off a 117-113 overtime win at the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jaylen Brown scored 25 points and Jayson Tatum 24 for the Celtics.

The Sacramento Kings overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors 123-117 at home thanks to 32 points from DeMar DeRozan and 26 from Domantas Sabonis.

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost 109-108 at the Houston Rockets, while the Minnesota Timberwolves won 115-144 at the Dallas Mavericks.

Source: BBC
 

Victor Wembanyama scores 30, and Spurs roll past Pacers in Paris 140-110​

PARIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored 30 points in his first NBA game on his native French soil, Devin Vassell added 25 and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Indiana Pacers 140-110 on Thursday night.

Wembanyama finished with 11 rebounds, six assists and five blocks for the Spurs. Harrison Barnes scored 20 for San Antonio, which won for only the second time in its last eight games.

The Spurs had a huge 57-31 edge in rebounding.

Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 24 points. Pascal Siakam added 18, Myles Turner scored 14 and Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin finished with 13 each for the Pacers.

Indiana had won eight of its last nine contests.

apnews.com

Victor Wembanyama scores 30, and Spurs roll past Pacers in Paris 140-110

Victor Wembanyama scored 30 points in his first NBA game on his native French soil, Devin Vassell added 25 and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Indiana Pacers 140-110.
apnews.com apnews.com
 
Jokic makes 66ft three-pointer in Nuggets win

Nikola Jokic netted a three-pointer from 66ft as the Serb recorded his fifth successive triple-double as the Denver Nuggets' saw off the Sacramento Kings 132-123.

The 25-year-old top scored for the Nuggets with 35 points, 22 rebounds and a season-high 17 assists.

Jokic has joined Philadelphia 76ers legend Wilt Chamberlain - a four-time Most Valuable Player - as the second player in NBA history to record 35 points, 20 rebounds and 15 assists in a single game.

But it was Jokic's three-pointer at the end of the third quarter that will be remembered longest.

With 1.7 seconds left on the clock and his side 110-85 ahead, Jokic took possession and let fly from 66ft. He barely celebrated as his team-mates mobbed him when the ball found the bucket.

"When you play, you want to make every shot," said Jokic.

"I took it to make it and I did make it. It's a lucky shot, not really a high-percentage shot, but I took it to make it. It's three points. It's going to help us."

Lakers too good for Celtics

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated defending champions the Boston Celtics in an emphatic 117-96 win.

Anthony Davis top scored for the Lakers with 24 points while LeBron James finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.

The Lakers had a 28-point lead at one point in the fourth quarter but despite easing off, they restricted Jayson Tatum to 16 points.

Mavericks upset Thunder

The Oklahoma Thunder lost for just the third time this season as the Dallas Mavericks caused a 121-115 upset.

The Thunder, who lead the Western Conference, were below their best as Spencer Dinwiddie hit 28 points and Kyrie Irving scored 24.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who hit a career-best 54 points against the Jazz on Thursday, came up with 31 points for the Thunder.

NBA results

Denver Nuggets 132-123 Sacramento Kings

LA Lakers 117-96 Boston Celtics

Toronto Raptors 122-119 Atlanta Hawks

Dallas Mavericks 121-115 Oklahoma Thunder

Miami Heat 96-125 Milwaukee Bucks

Chicago Bulls 106-131 Golden State Warriors

Washington Wizards 93-110 La Clippers

San Antonio Spurs 140-110 Pacers

Portland Trail Blazers 101-79 Orlando Magic

BBC
 
Wembanyama's Spurs beaten by Pacers in Paris

Frenchman Victor Wembanyama could not prevent the San Antonio Spurs from losing 136-98 to the Indiana Pacers in Paris.

Beaten 140-110 by the Spurs on Thursday in the first of two regular-season NBA games in the French capital, the Pacers ran out comfortable winners at Accor Arena.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 28 points and Pascal Siakam 23 for the Pacers.

Wembanyama, who played for Paris-based Metropolitans 92 before being selected by the Spurs as the number one pick in the NBA Draft in 2023, managed 20 points and 12 rebounds. Team-mate Harrison Barnes scored 25 points.

This is the fourth year that the NBA has staged regular-season matches in Paris.

"It's been really fun to be here," said Haliburton. "It's helping grow the game.

"We just wanted to leave the city on a good note. It was a really good showing from us tonight and [we] just want to carry this momentum going forward."

Wembanyama, who was part of the France side beaten by the USA in the Olympic final last summer, scored 30 points in Thursday's win over the Pacers.

The Pacers are fifth in the Eastern Conference and the Spurs fourth bottom of the West.

Celtics beat Mavericks in Finals rematch

Defending champions the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 122-107 in a repeat of last season's NBA Finals.

Jayson Tatum scored 24 points, Derrick White 23 and Jaylen Brown 22 in Dallas as the Celtics recovered from their 21-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

The Houston Rockets won 135-131 at Eastern Conference leaders the Cleveland Cavaliers despite letting slip a 17-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

Cleveland drew level with one minute 51 seconds remaining before Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson scored for Houston.

The Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 118-108 in San Francisco thanks to 36 points and 13 rebounds from Anthony Davis.

BBC
 
Butler suspended again after walking out of practice

Jimmy Butler has been suspended indefinitely by the Miami Heat after a "continued pattern of disregard of team rules".

The six-time NBA All-Star, 35, had already been suspended twice by his team this month for disciplinary issues, ruling him out of nine matches.

The Heat said he walked out of a team practice on Friday and has now been suspended again without pay.

They said the suspension is "indefinite" but will "last no fewer than five games".

"The suspension is due to a continued pattern of disregard of team rules, engaging in conduct detrimental to the team and intentionally withholding services," a statement said.

Soon after the news emerged, Butler posted on Instagram with a clip from American TV show Martin, where the character jokes about being jobless.

Butler was first suspended at the start of January for what the Heat described as "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season".

Afterwards they said they would listen to trade offers for the forward.

He returned on 17 January and featured in matches on 18 and 19 January, only to miss a team flight the following week and be banned again for two matches.

He played 27 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers following his second suspension last week.

The Heat were set to face Orlando Magic on Monday evening (Tuesday, 00:30 GMT).

BBC
 
Anthony Davis in beast mode tonight. What a performance by him in the 1st qrtr. A strong MVP candidate for sure this year.
 
Warriors win despite Gilgeous-Alexander's 52 points

The Golden State Warriors withstood a 52-point haul from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to beat Western Conference leaders Oklahoma Thunder 116-109.

Canada's Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points in the first half as his side led 58-48 at the break but Golden State fought back to pull away for victory.

The home side were led by Andrew Wiggins's 27 points, while Stephen Curry scored 17 of his 21 in the second half.

"We just stayed solid. Just all around effort," said Curry.

"We need every win possible. We haven't really developed anything consistent in terms of the win column. So this is a great test."

Despite defeat, Thunder remain top of the Western Conference while Golden State improve their record to 24-23.

In Wednesday's other matches, the Cleveland Cavaliers maintained their lead over defending champions the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference with victory over the Miami Heat.

The Cavs, who were missing Darius Garland, Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro, were led by 34 points from Donovan Mitchell in a 126-106 win.

The Celtics thumped the Chicago Bulls 122-100 with Kristaps Porzingis sinking eight three-pointers in his score of 34.

Elsewhere, there were wins for the New York Knicks over the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers against the Detroit Pistons, while the Los Angeles Clippers beat the San Antonio Spurs.

Commissioner suggests switch to 10-minute quarters

Meanwhile, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has raised the possibility of switching from 12-minute to 10-minute quarters.

Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, he cited an evolving television audience and the need to align with international rules as reasons for the potential change.

Silver added it is not something the league is actively considering and acknowledged it would need further study to be implemented.

"I'm a fan of four 10-minute quarters. I'm not sure that many others are," he said.

"It's such a dramatic change to the game. I think something like that would have to be talked more about over time."

The NBA has played 48-minute games throughout its history, but Olympic and other international games are 40 minutes long, while US collegiate men's games are played in two 20-minute periods.

Should the NBA make the change, it would likely make some single-game and single-season records impossible to break.

"Because this game is so global, one of the things we'd like to see over time is creating a more consistent set of rules globally around the game," added Silver.

"Putting aside what it would mean for records and things like that, I think that a two-hour format for a game is more consistent for modern television habits."

BBC
 
Crowd chant 'MVP' at Bronny James in Lakers win

Bronny James - son of Los Angeles Lakers legend Lebron - was cheered by the Washington Wizards crowd as he scored a career-high five points against their own side in the NBA.

The home support were chanting the 20-year-old's name before he even entered the game for the fourth quarter at the Capital One Arena.

As well as his five points, James also had two rebounds, two assists and a steal during his late cameo, with the crowd chanting "MVP" (most valuable player) as he rounded off the scoring with two late free throws.

Father Lebron, 40, had left the game late in the third quarter after scoring a game-high 24 points with 11 assists, helping the Lakers to a comfortable 134-96 win.

"He [Bronny] has had eyeballs on him his whole life. He's used to it," said Lakers coach JJ Redick.

"He has handled everything with dignity, grace, class, all that stuff. He'll continue to grow."

The Lakers have won five of their past six games to sit fifth in the Western Conference. The Wizards are bottom in the East after a club record-equalling 16th successive defeat.

Bronny James joined the Lakers as a second-round draft pick from the University of Southern California in June.

He made history in October when he stepped off the bench to join LeBron and become the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA game during the Lakers' season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Elsewhere, Anthony Edwards had 36 points and 11 assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Utah Jazz 138-113 to make it five straight wins.

Two free throws from Jaren Jackson Jr with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter helped the Memphis Grizzlies, third in the Western Conference, edge the second-placed Houston Rockets 120-119.

Darius Garland scored 26 points and Donovan Mitchell added 24 as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks 137-115, while the Portland Trail Blazers enjoyed a 119-90 win over the Orlando Magic.

BBC
 
Report: Lakers land Luka Doncic, trade Anthony Davis to Mavs

The Lakers and Mavericks have sent the NBA world into a frenzy, with ESPN reporting early Sunday morning that the teams had completed a trade that will send Luka Doncic to Los Angeles and Anthony Davis to Dallas.

While the two stars are at the center of the deal, the Lakers will also get Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, while the Mavericks will receive Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick, per the report.

ESPN reported that the Jazz are also involved in the trade and will get Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round draft pick via the Los Angeles Clippers from the Lakers. Dallas is also sending a 2025 second-round selection to Utah.

"I believe that defense wins championships," Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison told ESPN. "I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We're built to win now and in the future."

Dallas came to the Lakers offering Doncic, and Los Angeles reportedly believed that the five-time All-Star has what it takes to someday be the face of the franchise, per ESPN. For now, he will be playing alongside LeBron James, who is in his 22nd NBA season.

James was not informed that such a deal was coming, and Doncic, Davis, and players and a number of coaches on both sides were also left in the dark, according to ESPN. James ended up finding out about the move while out at dinner with his family on Saturday night.

Both Doncic and Davis are currently sidelined due to injuries, as are Kleber and Hood-Schifino. Doncic hasn't played since Christmas Day due to a strained left calf, while Davis just went down on Tuesday with an abdominal muscle strain.

There is no set date for Doncic's return, but when the 25-year-old first hit the shelf, the Mavericks said he would be re-evaluated in about one month. Davis will be re-evaluated sometime next week.

Doncic has always had trouble staying healthy, and ESPN's report noted that Dallas was frustrated with his poor conditioning and diet. Those two factors played a large role in causing Doncic to miss time due to injury, in the organization's eyes, causing the Mavericks to shop him around.

Kleber last played on Jan. 25 and is dealing with a fractured right foot. Hood-Schifino, out with a strained left hamstring, was used sparingly in Los Angeles and hasn't gotten time on the floor since Dec. 1.

Doncic has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 22 games (all starts) this season. He has played only for Dallas in his seven-year NBA career after being selected third overall by the Hawks in the 2018 draft. Atlanta sent his draft rights to the Mavericks in exchange for the draft rights to Trae Young.

The 31-year-old Davis has put up averages of 25.7 points, 11.9 boards, 3.4 assists and 2.1 blocks across 42 games (all starts) during the 2024-25 campaign. He is a 10-time All-Star (including this season), five-time All-NBA selection and five-time All-Defensive Team selection.

Kleber, who turned 33 on Wednesday, is averaging 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists this season. He has appeared in 34 games (four starts).

Morris, 35, has come off the bench in seven games and is posting 1.7 points and 1.1 rebounds per contest.

In just two games, the 21-year-old Hood-Schifino has averaged 2.0 points.

At the conclusion of play Saturday, the Lakers sat fifth in the Western Conference at 28-19. The Mavericks were three spots below them in eighth (26-23).

SOURCE: https://www.reuters.com/sports/report-lakers-land-luka-doncic-trade-anthony-davis-mavs-2025-02-02/
 
BouncerGuy said:
Report: Lakers land Luka Doncic, trade Anthony Davis to Mavs

The Lakers and Mavericks have sent the NBA world into a frenzy, with ESPN reporting early Sunday morning that the teams had completed a trade that will send Luka Doncic to Los Angeles and Anthony Davis to Dallas.

While the two stars are at the center of the deal, the Lakers will also get Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, while the Mavericks will receive Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick, per the report.

ESPN reported that the Jazz are also involved in the trade and will get Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round draft pick via the Los Angeles Clippers from the Lakers. Dallas is also sending a 2025 second-round selection to Utah.

"I believe that defense wins championships," Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison told ESPN. "I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We're built to win now and in the future."

Dallas came to the Lakers offering Doncic, and Los Angeles reportedly believed that the five-time All-Star has what it takes to someday be the face of the franchise, per ESPN. For now, he will be playing alongside LeBron James, who is in his 22nd NBA season.

James was not informed that such a deal was coming, and Doncic, Davis, and players and a number of coaches on both sides were also left in the dark, according to ESPN. James ended up finding out about the move while out at dinner with his family on Saturday night.

Both Doncic and Davis are currently sidelined due to injuries, as are Kleber and Hood-Schifino. Doncic hasn't played since Christmas Day due to a strained left calf, while Davis just went down on Tuesday with an abdominal muscle strain.

There is no set date for Doncic's return, but when the 25-year-old first hit the shelf, the Mavericks said he would be re-evaluated in about one month. Davis will be re-evaluated sometime next week.

Doncic has always had trouble staying healthy, and ESPN's report noted that Dallas was frustrated with his poor conditioning and diet. Those two factors played a large role in causing Doncic to miss time due to injury, in the organization's eyes, causing the Mavericks to shop him around.

Kleber last played on Jan. 25 and is dealing with a fractured right foot. Hood-Schifino, out with a strained left hamstring, was used sparingly in Los Angeles and hasn't gotten time on the floor since Dec. 1.

Doncic has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 22 games (all starts) this season. He has played only for Dallas in his seven-year NBA career after being selected third overall by the Hawks in the 2018 draft. Atlanta sent his draft rights to the Mavericks in exchange for the draft rights to Trae Young.

The 31-year-old Davis has put up averages of 25.7 points, 11.9 boards, 3.4 assists and 2.1 blocks across 42 games (all starts) during the 2024-25 campaign. He is a 10-time All-Star (including this season), five-time All-NBA selection and five-time All-Defensive Team selection.

Kleber, who turned 33 on Wednesday, is averaging 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists this season. He has appeared in 34 games (four starts).

Morris, 35, has come off the bench in seven games and is posting 1.7 points and 1.1 rebounds per contest.

In just two games, the 21-year-old Hood-Schifino has averaged 2.0 points.

At the conclusion of play Saturday, the Lakers sat fifth in the Western Conference at 28-19. The Mavericks were three spots below them in eighth (26-23).

SOURCE: https://www.reuters.com/sports/report-lakers-land-luka-doncic-trade-anthony-davis-mavs-2025-02-02/
Click to expand...

I just woke up to this news. Whoa. This has got to be right up there as the most crazy trade move ever. Nobody ever thought the Mavs would give away Luka amd to a lesser extent for Lakers to break the LeBron-AD duo especially with AD going rather than LeBron who is the older of the two.

Player for player, AD is as good as any player in the NBA. But the look at the age difference. Luka is 25, AD is 31. Lakers pulled off a great move here as they got a global superstar who’s gonna serve them longer and also gonna sell a crazy number of merchandise.

NGL, i always thought at some point LeBron and Luka would team up given Lebron has always been openly an admirer of Luka.

Crazy day!!
 
'The NBA is wild, man' - Lakers confirm Doncic trade

Five-time NBA All-Star Luka Doncic has joined the Los Angeles Lakers in a huge three-way trade deal.

Doncic, who moves from the Dallas Mavericks, was hailed as a "one-of-a-kind, young global superstar" by the Lakers as the move was confirmed on Sunday night.

Anthony Davis, an NBA title winner with the Lakers in 2020, has moved to Dallas as part of the deal, along with guard Max Christie.

The Mavericks also get a 2029 first-round draft pick, while Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris will head to the Lakers.

The three-way trade also includes the Utah Jazz, who get Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a pair of second-round picks in this year's draft.

The deals have left the NBA in shock. with Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant saying: "It's crazy. I would [have] never thought Luka Doncic would get traded. At his age, mid-season.


www.bbc.com

Luka Doncic joins Los Angeles Lakers from Dallas Mavericks in huge NBA trade deal

Five-time NBA All-Star Luka Doncic joins the Los Angeles Lakers in a huge three-way trade deal.
www.bbc.com
 
Booker breaks Suns scoring record in loss to Portland

Devin Booker became the Phoenix Suns' all-time leading points scorer against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday - but it was not enough to earn victory.

Booker topped the game's scoring charts with 34 points to surpass Suns legend Walter Davis' total of 15,666.

However, he missed a free throw at the end of overtime that would have levelled the game, with Portland claiming a narrow 121-119 win.

Booker reached the milestone with a three-pointer in the third quarter, sparking a warm reception from the Portland crowd, before hugging his family on the sidelines at the next timeout.

The four-time All-Star has spent his entire career at the Suns, making 642 appearances since being 13th overall pick in the 2015 draft.

Davis, a six-time All-Star, played in 766 games for Phoenix between 1977 and 1988.

Elsewhere, Jalen Brunson scored 42 points as the New York Knicks overturned an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Houston Rockets 124-118.

The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their lead at the top of the Western Conference with a 125-96 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander top-scored with 34 points for the Thunder, who led by 44 points at one stage in the third quarter.

A depleted Bucks side were without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis.

The second-placed Memphis Grizzlies beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-109, with Jaren Jackson Jr top-scoring with 31 points.

Trae Young scored the game-winning basket with 1.6 seconds left as the Atlanta Hawks won 132-130 at the Detroit Pistons to end their eight-game losing streak.

Nikola Jokic scored 27 points with 14 rebounds and 10 assists as the Denver Nuggets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 125-113, while the Golden State Warriors beat the Orlando Magic 104-99.

BBC
 
Doncic shocked by trade to Lakers but excited for new journey

Luka Doncic said on Tuesday he was as shocked as anyone by the blockbuster trade over the weekend that brought him to the Los Angeles Lakers but is excited to join forces with LeBron James in a move that could shape the franchise for years to come.

The 25-year-old Slovenian guard and perennial MVP contender admitted he figured he would spend his entire NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, which made the news of his trade late on Saturday all the more surprising.

"I was almost asleep when I got the call, I had to check (if) it was April 1st. I didn't really believe it at first. It was a big shock. It was hard a moment for me," said Doncic.

"(Dallas) was home so it was a really hard moment for me, especially the first day, but as I said I get to play in the greatest club in the world and I am excited about this new journey."

Doncic, who has not played since Christmas Day, opens new tab because of a calf strain but is considered close to returning, had been with Dallas ever since a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who took him with the third overall pick in 2018.

Last year, the five-times All-Star reached the NBA Finals for the first time in his career but the Mavericks lost 4-1 to the Boston Celtics in the best-of-seven championship series.

Now Doncic, who was wildly popular in Dallas, will chase a title alongside the NBA's all-time top scorer in James, who he said was quick to reach out when the trade was announced.

"He called me right away," Doncic said of his new teammate. "We didn't talk much because he said I understand what you are feeling, but that was really nice of him just to call me right away and welcome me to LA."

During his press conference, Doncic recounted a memorable encounter he had in 2019 when Lakers great Kobe Bryant, who was sitting courtside with his daughter Gianna for a game in Los Angeles, playfully heckled him in Slovenian.

"Well, first of all, I remember the exact moment that happened. It will always stay, you know, in my mind. It was an amazing moment," said Doncic.

"Just for Kobe to know my name was amazing for me. You know, I just wish Kobe and (his daughter Gianna nicknamed) Gigi were here to see this moment. And, you know, I'm excited about this new journey and happy to be here."

Bryant, an 18-times All Star and five-times NBA champion, died in a January 2020 helicopter crash that also killed his daughter and seven others.

SOURCE: https://www.reuters.com/sports/bask...-trade-lakers-excited-new-journey-2025-02-04/
 
Butler has 'joy back' after trade to Warriors

Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler says he has his "joy back" after completing a trade to the Golden State Warriors from the Miami Heat.

The 35-year-old was suspended three times by the Heat in 2025 for behavioural issues, including "conduct detrimental to the team", missing a flight and walking out of a team practice.

Throughout those suspensions the Heat said they would listen to trade offers for Butler, who has not played since 21 January.

The trade sees the Warriors give the Heat Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a 2025 protected first-round draft pick in return for Butler.

"All of that is behind me, moving forward," said Butler when asked about the speculation that surrounded him over the past month.

"I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to be wanted again. I've got a feeling I'm [going to] be back, in a big way, too. So I'm smiling.

"I've been going at it, I've been training, I've been doing everything I'm supposed to be doing. I know that I have my joy back now. I'm in a different situation, different group of guys."

Butler is yet to win the Championship but has made that a clear aim at the Warriors.

"I would like to say that I am a winner," said Butler. "I haven't won 'it' but I would like to call myself a winner. I do want to win 'it' - it being a championship."

There were reports, external Butler wanted to move to the Phoenix Suns but the deal was eventually done with the Warriors and ESPN has reported, external he has signed a two-year contract worth $111m (£90m).

Butler is hoping to make his debut for the Warriors against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday (Sunday 01:00 GMT).

"He is a big-time pressure player, post-season player," said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. "So that would fit well in our locker room. We've got other guys who have been through the battles, been through the war.

"So I think when you put a group of guys like that together, there's going to be a belief, there's going to be a confidence that comes with that. And so I'm excited to see what that looks like."

Butler's move will see him line up alongside 11-time NBA All-Star and two-time MVP Stephen Curry, who has said he will watch video footage of the Heat to see how Butler's game will suit the Warriors.

Asked about that, Butler said: "We good. Pass the ball to Steph. And get out the way. Easy."

Schroder traded three times in a day

Dennis Schroder was also part of the Butler trade but ended up moving to three different teams on Thursday.

The 31-year-old started the NBA season with the Brooklyn Nets but was traded to the Warriors in December.

However the trade for Butler saw him move to the Miami Heat before he was rerouted to the Utah Jazz then eventually the Detroit Pistons.

Schroder, who has played 814 NBA games in his career, only moved to the Nets last February, meaning he has been traded five times in the past 12 months.

ESPN writer Marc J. Spears posted on X, external that Schroder had warmed up with the Warriors prior to their game against the LA Lakers but was "pulled out of the shower" to be traded again.

On Tuesday, Schroder compared the trade system and deadline in NBA to "modern slavery".

"It's modern slavery at the end of the day," Schroder told NBC Sports, external.

"Everybody can decide where you're going, even if you have a contract.

"Yeah, of course, we make a lot of money and we can feed our families, but at the end of the day if they say, 'you're not coming to work tomorrow, you're going over there', they can decide that. They got to change that a little bit."

James stars in Lakers win over Warriors

Butler was unveiled alongside the Warriors' general Michael Joseph Dunleavy Jr before their game at the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Warriors lost 120-112 as LeBron James scored 42 points to join Michael Jordan as the only 40-year-olds to score more than 40 points in an NBA game.

Jordan scored 43 points for the Washington Wizards against the New Jersey Nets in 2003, four days after his 40th birthday.

James scored a season-best 17 rebounds, alongside eight assists and six three-pointers, as the Lakers won their fourth straight game and 10th in their past 12.

The Lakers are fifth in the Western Conference, with the Warriors in 11th.

Elsewhere, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Boston Celtics 127-120 despite the continued absence of Anthony Davis with an abdominal strain since his trade from LA Lakers that involved Luka Donic.

NBA results

Dallas Mavericks 127-120 Boston Celtics

Houston Rockets 114-127 Minnesota Timberwolves

Orlando Magic 90-112 Denver Nuggets

Sacramento Kings 102-108 Portland Trail Blazers

Golden State Warriors 112-120 LA Lakers

Indiana Pacers 119-112 LA Clippers

BBC
 
Lebron just became only the second player after MJ to drop 40+ at the age 40+. What an absolute freak!
 

Austin Reaves enters hallowed Lakers territory with his 45-point barrage against the Pacers​

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The first five players to put up at least 45 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in one game for the Los Angeles Lakers were Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

The sixth is Austin Reaves, who hit those exact numbers while leading the short-handed Lakers to a 124-117 victory over surging Indiana on Saturday.

Reaves knows what you’re thinking. He feels the same way.

“It looks weird when you see my name up there,” Reaves said with a smile.

It’s getting less weird with each achievement by Reaves, who joined the Lakers undrafted out of Oklahoma 3 1/2 years ago. He has grown into a starter and a key contributor for his favorite team ever since he was a rural Arkansas kid who idolized Kobe Bryant and wouldn’t let anyone dissuade him from his NBA dream.

When Los Angeles had to play without injured LeBron James and Luka Doncic against Indiana, the fourth-place team in the East, Reaves produced the most prolific game of his career to date. He hit 14 of 26 shots, made four 3-pointers and went 13 of 13 from the free-throw line while usually initiating the offense down the stretch.

Throw in those seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals, and Reaves was able to carry the depleted Lakers past a talented Pacers team. No wonder Reaves heard late “M-V-P!” chants from Lakers fans grateful they got to see something amazing even with James and Doncic in street clothes.

James has a sore left ankle, and Doncic wasn’t quite ready for his debut. The Lakers were still in upheaval from losing Anthony Davis, Max Christie, Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish in two deadline trades — and now they’re in even more upheaval after they rescinded their trade of Knecht and Reddish for Charlotte center Mark Williams later Saturday.

What’s more, Reaves has a sore left elbow that easily could have kept him out of his historic game. He only decided to play through the pain moments before the pregame cutoff time — and the Lakers were grateful he did.

“I think he’s been as important as any player on our team,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I felt like he was the best player on the floor tonight, and that says a lot. He showed up in a big-time way.”

Reaves got off to a huge start against Indiana, scoring 11 points in less than six minutes. He finished the first half with 20, and he took charge again in the fourth quarter, starting it off with back-to-back 3-pointers before finishing the final period with 14 points.

It was a remarkable performance by a player who just set his previous career high of 38 against Brooklyn last month — but Reaves is the first to acknowledge his entire NBA career has been one surprise after another. He has filled multiple roles since he unexpectedly played his way into a Lakers roster spot out of training camp in 2021.

“The path that I took is not conventional,” Reaves said. “There’s probably only a handful of people that thought I would be in this position, if any. It wasn’t really the popular thing to do to continue to chase my dream. ... If I can inspire kids that’s in my situation to continue to chase their dreams, whatever it is, just do it.”

apnews.com

Austin Reaves enters hallowed Lakers territory with his 45-point barrage against the Pacers

The first five players to put up at least 45 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in one game for the Los Angeles Lakers were Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
apnews.com apnews.com
 
AR went crazy today and it’s great to see him elevating his level as a scorer. 45 points is phenomenal. Huge young asset for the Lakers moving forward with Luka.

The Mark Will trade got reversed today as he failed the fitness test with Lakers. So Dalton Knecht comes back and the hunt for a big centre continues.
 
'A special moment' - Doncic debuts in Lakers win

Luka Doncic described his Los Angeles Lakers debut as a "special moment" after he helped his new team beat the visiting Utah Jazz 132-113.

The five-time NBA All-Star recovered from a calf injury to play for the Lakers for the first time since a spectacular trade which involved him arriving from the Dallas Mavericks and Anthony Davis going the other way.

Doncic got himself on the board with an early three-pointer, which brought loud cheers from the home crowd, and went on to score 14 points as he registered five rebounds and four assists during his 24 minutes on court.

The Slovenian, 25, left the court in the first quarter for treatment to his left calf and, while he returned to play, he left the game late in the third quarter with the Lakers leading 93-69.

"I heard a lot of noise when I was introduced - it was a special moment," said Doncic after the game.

"The way they received me, it was amazing to see.

"I was a little bit nervous before the game but once I stepped on to the court it was fun. Just being out there again felt amazing."

Lakers star LeBron James combined well with Doncic and scored a game-high 24 points, registering eight assists and seven rebounds.

The win puts the Lakers fourth in the Western Conference, with the Jazz one place off the bottom in 14th.

Elsewhere, Nikola Jokic notched up 40 points, along with eight assists and seven rebounds, as he helped the Denver Nuggets thrash the Portland Trail Blazers 146-117.

Anthony Edwards scored 44 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves but it was in a losing cause, with his side beaten 128-107 by Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland Cavaliers.

Stephen Curry scored a season-high 38 points for the Golden State Warriors as they won 125-111 at the Milwaukee Bucks.

Curry made six three-pointers, while Jimmy Butler, playing his second game for the Warriors following his trade from the Miami Heat, added 20 points.

BBC
 
McClung wins third straight NBA Slam Dunk contest

Mac McClung jumped over a car on his way to winning his third straight NBA Slam Dunk contest at the All Star weekend in San Francisco.

The 26-year-old, who has played five minutes in one game of NBA action this season for the Orlando Magic, received perfect 50-point scores for his four dunks.

In the first round, he jumped over a car that had been parked under the basket with a person holding the ball up through an open sun roof, finishing with a reverse dunk.

His second dunk saw him jump over a standing man and turn in the air.

McClung's third perfect score involved him dunking a ball from a man spinning on a hoverboard, while at the same time dunking a second ball held by a man standing on a ladder.

And the 6ft 2in McClung clinched the title by dunking over 6ft 11in Cleveland Cavaliers player Evan Mobley, who was stood on a small platform.

"Truly, stuff like this doesn't happen without standing on the shoulders of a lot of people," McClung told TNT after beating San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle in the final round.

"I had a lot of help. People were opening gyms to fit a car in. People were allowing me to use their car. I'm just really grateful right now."

McClung plays the majority of his basketball in the G League, the NBA's developmental league, and was last season named its most valuable player.

He has played just five NBA games in his career, for the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers and the Magic.

BBC
 
Curry wins MVP and leads Shaq's OGs to All-Star title

Steph Curry claimed the Kobe Bryant MVP trophy and led Shaq's OGs to the All-Star title at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The NBA rolled out a new format with four teams, each coached by a legend, competing in a single-elimination tournament as two semi-finals and a championship game.

Curry, 36, scored 12 points in the final to seal a 41-25 victory against Chuck's Global Stars.

"I had a lot of fun," Curry said.

"The intensity was definitely different than last year, a step in the right direction. It's something new, everybody is still trying to figure it out."

Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal coached the winning team, with two-time NBA winner Kenny Smith, 11-time All-Star Charles Barkley and three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker in charge of the other three sides.

Curry ended the competition with 20 points in total, having scored eight points in the 42-35 semi-final win against Candace's Rising Stars was named MVP.

The Golden State Warriors point guard is the 15th player in NBA history to win the All-Star MVP on more than one occasion.


www.bbc.com

NBA All-Star: Steph Curry wins MVP and leads Shaq's OGs to All-Star title

Steph Curry claims the Kobe Bryant MVP trophy and leads Shaq's OGs to the All-Star title at Chase Center in San Francisco.
www.bbc.com
 
James and Doncic struggle as Hornets upset Lakers

LaMelo Ball scored 27 points as the Charlotte Hornets upset the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA with a 100-97 victory.

The fixture, which was rearranged following the wildfires in Los Angeles, was the first game since the All-Star break.

But the rest appeared to do the Lakers little good, as LeBron James and Luka Doncic struggled to gel in their third appearance together since the Slovenian's trade from Dallas Mavericks.

Miles Bridges top scored for the Hornets with 29 points but it was Ball that proved decisive, scoring a lay-up and two free throws all within the final 15 seconds of the match.

James, who scored 16 of his 26 points in the final quarter, missed twice from three-point range in a bid to tie the match.

Doncic managed 14 points and 11 assists.

It was just the second win in 11 games for the Hornets, who are 14th in the 15-team eastern conference.

The Lakers are fifth in the western conference, on a two-game losing streak.

BBC
 
Antetokounmpo shines after six-game absence

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 23 points in 24 minutes on his return from injury as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-110 in the NBA.

Antetokounmpo, 30, missed one game through knee pain and a further five games - including the All-Star weekend - with a strained left calf.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player was rested for much of the fourth quarter as his minutes were limited.

Milwaukee were without forward Bobby Portis Jr, who has been suspended for 25 games without pay by the NBA for failing a drugs test.

Brook Lopez scored 22 points, Damian Lillard added 15 and Taurean Prince 14 for the Bucks.

Elsewhere, Nikola Jokic took 29 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Charlotte Hornets 129-115.

Jamal Murray led the scoring with 34 points as Denver secured a ninth straight victory.

Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 28 points and Jayson Tatum recorded a triple-double as the Boston Celtics won 124-104 at the Philadelphia 76ers.

Defending champions Celtics, who are second in the Eastern Conference, have won seven games on the road this season.

LeBron James scored 40 points for the second time since turning 40 in December to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 110-102 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Austin Reaves added 32 points and seven assists as the Lakers returned to winning ways following their disappointing defeat by the Charlotte Hornets.

BBC
 
Great Britain qualify for EuroBasket 2025

Great Britain have qualified for EuroBasket 2025 after beating the Netherlands 73-69 in The Hague.

The visitors led 31-29 at half-time but trailed by one point going into the final quarter.

Britain hit back to open up a six-point lead but fell behind late on, before rallying to secure their third victory of the campaign and qualification with a game to spare.

Gabriel Olaseni led Britain with 18 points, while Amin Adamu added 13.

In the other Group F game on Friday, Greece beat the Czech Republic 93-89 in overtime, with both sides also joining Britain in qualifying.

Britain face the Czech Republich in their final group game on Monday.

EuroBasket 2025 will be hosted by Cyprus, Finland, Poland and Latvia from 27 August to 14 September.


BBC
 
Curry makes history as Warriors beat Kings

Stephen Curry became the first Golden State Warriors player in NBA history to reach 700 20-point career games after helping his side to a 132-108 win against the Sacramento Kings.

Curry was one of four players to get 20 points or more, with Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody combining for 43 while Buddy Hield had 22.

The win moved the Warriors above the Kings in the Western Conference standings into ninth.

Curry's tally of 20 meant he also tied with NBA legend Michael Jordan for the most games with 20 or more points by a guard after turning 35.

Western Conference leaders the Oklahoma City Thunder returned from the All-Star break to beat the Utah Jazz 130-107 in Salt Lake City.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points and Chet Holmgren got 20 as Thunder grabbed their eighth win in nine outings.

Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers claimed a dominant 142-106 victory over the New York Knicks to tighten their grip on the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks have won 46 of their 56 games so far.

The Milwaukee Bucks edged the Washington Wizards 104-101, with Brook Lopez claiming 18 points and nine rebounds.

The Miami Heat won 120-111 at the Toronto Raptors to end a four-game losing streak, the Detroit Pistons beat the San Antonio Spurs 125-110, the Dallas Mavericks saw off the New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 and the Houston Rockets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-115.

BBC
 

Sources: Popovich not expected to return to Spurs this season​

San Antonio Spurs Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich is not expected to return this season, and his NBA future is uncertain as he recovers from a stroke suffered in November, league sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Saturday.

The latest development provides some closure during what has turned into a difficult season for San Antonio, which Thursday announced plans to shut down franchise superstar Victor Wembanyama after he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

Popovich and Wembanyama have been in close contact the past few days, sources told Charania. The coach has been hands-on in communicating and providing guidance in the wake of Wembanyama's diagnosis.

"It is wild to think of the circumstances and the situations that we've been through as a team this year," Spurs point guard Chris Paul said after Wembanyama's latest medical setback, which is a form of blood clot in his shoulder. "But I think you guys know when situations happen in your family that somehow, someway brings you closer."

Popovich is the NBA's winningest coach with 1,390 regular-season victories and another 170 in the postseason to go with five championships. On Nov. 2, he suffered what the team called a "mild stroke" ahead of a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

San Antonio moved assistant Mitch Johnson into the head coaching role on an interim basis, and he has posted a 21-27 record in leading the young Spurs.

Popovich, who has coached the Spurs since the 1996-97 season, turned 76 in January and is the oldest coach in NBA history. In 2020, he passed the previous record held by Hubie Brown, who was 71 when he coached his final game with the Memphis Grizzlies.

When the club first named Johnson acting head coach, it did so with plans for Popovich to eventually return. Popovich released a statement in December thanking the community, the Spurs organization and friends for their outpouring of support.

www.espn.com

Sources: Popovich not expected back this season

Spurs Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich is not expected to return this season, and his NBA future is uncertain as he recovers from a stroke suffered in November, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 

Doncic stars as Lakers end Nuggets' winning run​

Luka Doncic grabbed 32 points as the Los Angeles Lakers ended the Denver Nuggets' nine-game winning run on Saturday with a 123-100 victory in Colorado.

Doncic made just his fourth appearance for the Lakers since his move from Dallas on 2 February and he was in fine form as they produced a statement win over their Western Conference rivals.

Doncic finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while LeBron James was one of four players to get more than 20 points with 25.

"I'm starting to feel a little bit more like myself - that's why I was smiling the whole game," Doncic told ESPN.

"There's still a lot of room for improvement and this is only my fourth game. Chemistry takes time. But you saw today that things are getting better."

Meanwhile, Nic Claxton's offensive rebound at the buzzer ensured the Brooklyn Nets edged past the Philadelphia 76ers.

Tyrese Maxey had tied the game with a three-pointer before Brooklyn's Keon Johnson missed one with two seconds remaining.

However, Claxton caught the rebound and scored as the horn sounded.

The Portland Trail Blazers recorded their biggest winning margin in NBA history as they defeated the Charlotte Hornets 141-88.

Anfernee Simons scored 25 points while Toumani Camara recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Shaedon Sharpe hit 20 points off the bench.

Finally, the Utah Jazz beat the Houston Rockets 124-115 while the Phoenix Suns defeated the Chicago Bulls 121-117.

Source: BBC
 
Doncic helps Lakers beat former team Mavericks

Luka Doncic's triple-double helped the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-99 win over former team the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.

The 25-year-old guard joined the Lakers as part of a three-way trade this month after six seasons at the Mavericks.

Playing against Dallas for the first time since that move, Doncic scored 19 points and made 15 rebounds and 12 assists at Crypto.com Arena.

"In the first quarter, second quarter, I didn't know what was happening. It was just different. I can't even explain how I felt," he told TNT.

"I am just glad we got a win. I can't wait to go to sleep."

LeBron James scored 27 points for the Lakers, who are fourth in the Western Conference after a third straight win, while Kyrie Irving scored 35 for the ninth-placed Mavericks.

The Memphis Grizzlies required overtime to beat the Phoenix Suns 151-148 at home.

The Grizzlies are second in the Western Conference and the Suns 11th.

The Cleveland Cavaliers tightened their grip on top spot in the East with a 122-82 win at the Orlando Magic, their 10th successive victory.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's 27 points could not prevent the Milwaukee Bucks from losing 100-97 at the Houston Rockets.


www.bbc.com

LA Lakers 107-99 Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic records triple-double against former team

Luka Doncic's triple-double helps the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-99 win over the team he left this month.
www.bbc.com
 
Curry hits 12 three-pointers in win against Magic

Stephen Curry hit 12 three-pointers in a game for the third time as the Golden State Warriors beat the Orlando Magic 121-115.

The 36-year-old finish with a season-best 56 points as the Warriors made it five wins in a row.

Curry was in an inspired mood, outscoring the Magic in the third quarter with 22 points to their 21.

The pick of the two-time most valuable player's three-pointers came at the end of the second quarter, when he hit a buzzer-beater from well within his own half.

Curry's haul came from just 25 shots - the second-fewest in NBA history in a match with 55-plus points behind the 24 James Harden needed with the Houston Rockets in 2019.

"I think the fans here tonight, even the Magic fans, they know they're witnessing the greatest shooter ever, and one of the greatest performers ever," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

"It's not just the shots going in, it's just the fluidity, the beauty of his movement and motion and his audacity, the shots that he's willing to take.

"He's an incredible performer and he put on quite a show tonight."

Curry's career-high match total came against the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021, when he netted 62 points.

He has hit 12 or more three-pointers in a single game three times in his career, with his haul of 13 coming against the New Orleans Pelicans in 2016.

BBC
 
Cavs recover from slow start to beat Celtics

Donovan Mitchell scored 41 points, including 26 in the second half, as the Cleveland Cavaliers came from behind to beat reigning NBA champions the Boston Celtics.

In the match between the Eastern Conference's leading teams, Cleveland trailed by 22 points less than five minutes into the game but fought back to win 123-116.

It was the Cavaliers' seventh straight victory on the road and ninth consecutive overall - and they have the NBA's best record (49-10).

Darius Garland added 20 points for Cleveland and Evan Mobley contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds as they held off the Celtics, who were missing starters Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Jrue Holiday (hand).

Boston power forward Jayson Tatum had 46 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists while Jaylen Brown added 37 points.

A Mobley three-pointer gave the Cavs their first lead of the game with eight minutes and 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Brown levelled it up at 114-114 with just over three minutes remaining, but Mitchell responded with a couple of driving baskets and the Cavaliers won to extend their conference advantage over the Celtics (42-18).

The Celtics beat Cleveland in the second round of last season's play-offs and Mitchell hailed the importance of Friday's win.

"It's a measuring stick," he said. "These guys have won a championship and we want to continue to get to where they're at.

"The biggest thing is we fought. The biggest thing is just resiliency."

In Los Angeles, Luka Doncic celebrated his 26th birthday by scoring a game-high 31 points in the Lakers' 106-102 victory over city rivals the Clippers.

LeBron James added 28 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who withstood a late challenge from a Clippers team led by Ivica Zubac's 27 points and 16 rebounds.

Western Conference pacesetters Oklahoma City Thunder eased to a 135-119 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 31 points to help then climb to a 48-11 record.

Nikola Jokic had his 28th triple-double of the season for the Denver Nuggets as they ended the Detroit Pistons' eight-game winning streak.

Jokic, the NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player, scored 23 points with 17 rebounds and 15 assists before sitting out most of the fourth quarter in the Nuggets' 134-119 victory.

Denver guard Jamal Murray led all scorers with 31 points and team-mate Michael Porter Jr had a 28-point haul.

BBC
 
Doncic leads Lakers to sixth straight win

Luka Doncic scored 29 points as the Los Angeles Lakers continued their revival with a 108-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The guard also recorded six rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, who have won their past six matches.

Doncic, who joined the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks as part of a three-way trade last month, has scored at least 20 points in four of the past five games.

LeBron James scored 17 points and provided nine assists and rookie Dalton Knecht added 19 points off the bench for the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.

Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 33 points for the Clippers, who have lost five of their past six games.

The win lifted the Lakers up to second in the Western Conference, while the Clippers stay sixth in the final play-off place.

Three players were ejected after a melee in the third quarter as Western Conference leaders the Oklahoma City Thunder won 146-132 at the San Antonio Spurs.

San Antonio's Julian Champagnie and Thunder's Kenrich Williams and Luguentz Dort were sent off for their involvement in the incident.

Jalen Williams scored a career-high 41 points for the Thunder, who have won three straight games.

De'Andre Hunter scored 32 points, including a three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining in overtime, as Eastern Conference leaders the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 133-129 at home.

Second-placed the Boston Celtics beat the Denver Nuggets 110-103 at home to claim their first win in three games.

BBC
 

LeBron James becomes first to score 50,000 combined points in NBA regular season and playoffs​


LeBron James is well on his way to rewriting every previous definition of basketball longevity, and the 40-year-old star is now racking up numbers the NBA has never seen before.

James became the first player to score 50,000 combined points in the regular season and postseason on Tuesday night, surpassing the mark with a 3-pointer early in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 136-115 win over New Orleans.

James finished with 34 points against the Pelicans after toppling another milestone in his unprecedented career.

“I mean, that’s a lot of points,” James said afterward, rubbing his beard in wonder. “Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is where I’m from. Picking up the game when I was a little kid and having a love for the sport, and hoping that someday I’d be able to play at the highest level. I’ve been able to do that and really enjoy my career. So it’s definitely an honor. It’s pretty cool to see that.”

James already is the top scorer in NBA history in both the regular season and the playoffs. Maintaining a spectacular level of play midway through his record-tying 22nd season, he is pulling away from the other greats of the game: Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played 20 seasons, is a now-distant second with 44,149 combined points.

James got his milestone 3-pointer off an assist by Luka Doncic, a trivia tidbit that pleased both superstars. Doncic’s arrival in last month’s seismic trade with the Dallas Mavericks has invigorated both James and the Lakers, who look like championship contenders with a seven-game winning streak and 17 victories in their last 20 games.

“It’s amazing, watching him do this stuff at this age,” said Doncic, who had 30 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds against New Orleans. “It’s just unbelievable, that 50K points. I can’t even explain how insane that is. He might get to 70K. You never know.”

The Lakers recognized the milestone at the next timeout, with public address announcer Lawrence Tanter saying: “Ladies and gentlemen, we all have just witnessed history.” James acknowledged the standing ovation with several waves from the bench.

James is tied with Vince Carter for the most seasons played in NBA history. But while nearly every other NBA player who lasted to his late 30s finished at a fraction of his peak powers, James’ game shows no signs of decline in his 40s.

He was named the NBA’s Western Conference player of the month earlier Tuesday after he averaged 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.2 steals in February while playing more than 35 minutes per game for the Lakers, who went 9-2 to surge into second place in the West.

With their victory over the Pelicans, the Lakers improved to 11-2 since acquiring Doncic.

James has played in 1,548 regular-season games, trailing only Robert Parish (1,611) and Abdul-Jabbar (1,560). If he stays healthy and elects to return for a record 23rd season, he will likely surpass Parish next winter.

James has also played in 287 postseason games, the most in NBA history. He became the league’s career playoff scoring leader on May 25, 2017, when he surpassed Michael Jordan’s total of 5,987 during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference finals game at Boston.

James then became the top scorer in regular-season history on Feb. 7, 2023, when he topped Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points during the Lakers’ game against Oklahoma City.

James’ prolific scoring is due in large part to his metronomic consistency. With his performance against the Pelicans, he has scored at least 10 points in 1,278 consecutive games since Jan. 6, 2007 — by far the longest such streak in NBA history.

James’ player of the month award for February was his 41st, extending his own league record. He is also the oldest player to win the award, surpassing a 37-year-old Karl Malone in November 2000.

www.nbcnews.com

LeBron James becomes first to score 50,000 combined points in NBA regular season and playoffs

James finished with 34 points against the Pelicans after toppling another milestone in his unprecedented career.
www.nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com
 
Cavaliers book play-off spot with win against Heat

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Miami Heat 112-107 on Wednesday night to become the first side to book a place in the NBA play-offs.

The Heat opened up a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter but the Cavaliers mounted a late comeback to seal their 12th-straight victory.

The win means the Cavaliers, who have lost just 10 of their 62 games this season, have assured their place in the post season despite still having 20 games left to play in the regular season.

"It took a collective effort as a group but we've got to be better," said Donovan Mitchell, who top scored for the Cavaliers with 26 points.

"It's always good to learn through a win though."

The Cavaliers, seeking a second NBA Championship to add to their 2016 triumph, are on course to win this year's Eastern Conference which would give them a top-seed spot in the play-offs.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder are on course to become the first team in the western conference to seal a play-off spot after beating the Memphis Grizzlies 120-103, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starring with 41 points.

BBC
 
Doncic and James power Lakers to another win as Curry shines

Star duo Luka Doncic and LeBron James combined again as the LA Lakers extended their winning streak to eight games by defeating the New York Knicks 113-109 in overtime.

Recent signing Doncic scored 32 points while the NBA's all-time leading scorer James added 31 as the Lakers came from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to win.

Doncic, who also had 12 assists and eight rebounds, scored five points in overtime as the Lakers improved to 9-2 record since he made his debut last month.

The Lakers, who top the Western Conference Pacific, now begin a four-game road trip against current NBA champions the Boston Celtics on Saturday.

'Like watching Cirque du Soleil'

Steph Curry starred again with another basket from near the halfway line as the Golden State Warriors beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-119.

Curry was 38 feet from the basket with 0.3 seconds left in the first half when he turned and scored, on his way to a 40-point haul.

"Most people can make that shot luckily," team-mate Draymond Green said. "We all knew that shot was going in. That's a different thing. It's like watching Cirque du Soleil or something."

"That one, that's not in the practice routine," Curry said.

"It did surprise me, though. That's why I just ran to the locker room."

Meanwhile, there were wins for the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks, the Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets.

BBC
 
Historic triple-double for Jokic in Denver win

Nikola Jokic became the first player in NBA history to register a triple-double of at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists in a game as the Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 149-141 in overtime.

The Serb, 30, scored 31 points, made 21 rebounds and had 22 assists in the match.

Phoenix trailed by 21 points in the third quarter before a stunning fightback, with Kevin Durant - who scored 29 points in total - hitting a three-pointer on the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

However, Denver forged ahead early in the extra period to secure a second successive victory.

Their 41-22 win-loss record means they are third in the Western Conference.

Denver's next opponents on Sunday are leaders the Oklahoma City Thunder, who beat the Portland Trail Blazers 107-89.

In the Eastern Conference, leaders the Cleveland Cavaliers - who have already confirmed their play-off spot - beat the Charlotte Hornets 118-117 for their 13th straight victory.

BBC
 
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