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  • Lakers Expect Luka Dončić, LeBron James Healthy vs Clippers

    The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be fully healthy against their game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 20, the first game after the break

    As the Los Angeles Lakers return from the All-Star break, the team expects to be fully healthy, which hasn’t been the case for most of the season. Guard Luka Dončić, Guard Austin Reaves and forward LeBron James have only played 10 games together this season.

    James missed the start of the season due to sciatica, but has played in most games since he returned Nov. 18, outside of three instances where he sat for the second game of a back-to-back. He is expected to play in the first game after the break.

    Dončić — the NBA’s leading scorer average 32.8 PPH and third-ranked in MVP rankings — has been out with a left hamstring strain since Feb. 5. Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick said he expects Dončić to be available. Dončić played for five minutes for Team World in the NBA All-Star game on Feb. 15.

    “I was on minutes restriction,” Dončić said. “It was definitely good to get up and down a little bit [at practice] after having a week off.”

    Reaves was out for five weeks from Dec. 25 through Feb. 3 with a calf injury. In the five games Reaves has played since being back, he’s been on a minute restriction, but Redick said he will no longer be a restriction after the break.

    Up until Reaves injured his calf, he was the ninth-leading scorer in the NBA average 27.8 PPG.

    “It’s funny, we were talking before the season about building continuity with those three guys, and we’ve had them available together for 10 games,” Redick said. “It’s just the situation we’re in. We’re not the only team that has had a bunch of health issues throughout the season and had to manage that, but my message to the players this morning was that this is going to be a sprint for these last 28 games.”

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    Center Deandre Ayton sat the final two games before the break with right knee soreness, but is expected to be back after the break.

    The Lakers are in fifth place in the Western Conference at 33-21, and their next game is tomorrow against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena.

    “You can tell throughout the season, even with the unfortunate injuries, we’ve done a good job maintaining it,” Reaves said. “We’re on pace for a good record, and getting healthy is going to help that. It’ll be fun to see what that looks like.”

    Tony Gleason

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  • Lakers Get Marcus Smart Back for Critical NBA Cup Quarterfinal

    Back from a lumbar strain, Smart’s return boosts L.A.’s defense heading into a high-stakes matchup with the Spurs

    Guard Marcus Smart returned to full practice Tuesday, ending a six-game absence due to a left lumbar strain, and signaled that he expects to suit up for Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against San Antonio.

    “Back’s feeling good,” Smart said after practice. “Felt good in practice today. So we did some tests, passed the tests. We’re going to give it a shot tomorrow. See how it feels.” (ABC7)

    Smart’s presence could be significant. This season, he has averaged 9.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals — contributions that, when combined with his defensive instincts, can shift momentum in a tight Cup game.

    The Lakers return to action knowing the stakes are high. A win pushes them into the semifinals in Las Vegas and keeps their Cup hopes alive. Tough competition awaits; San Antonio may welcome back star center Victor Wembanyama, a formidable presence when healthy.

    L.A. coach JJ Redick emphasized defense in practice, especially preparation for Wembanyama’s size and skill set. He called the matchup “a challenge” and said the team must “make everything uncomfortable” defensively.

    With Smart back and the defense sharpened, the Lakers aim to reclaim momentum. For Smart, the comeback is about more than just minutes; it’s about setting the tone. For the team, it’s an opportunity to prove they can compete under pressure when it matters most.

    Anthony Gutierrez

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  • LeBron James begins season No. 23, marking longest career in NBA history

    As Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James took to the court at Crypto.com Arena Tuesday night to begin his 23rd season in the NBA, the 40-year-old added yet another record to his illustrious resumé – the longest career in league history.Prior to Tuesday, James shared the accolade with Vince Carter, who played 22 NBA seasons from 1998 to 2020.“It was just fun to be out there with the guys, man. It’s been rough mentally for me,” the four-time NBA champion said after the game, “this is the first time I’ve started a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball, like nine years old, I’ve never missed the beginning of a basketball season.”Sporting his famed No. 23 jersey, James was on the hardwood for the opening tip against the Utah Jazz.The public address announcer in the arena announced James’ achievement to a short ovation from the Lakers’ faithful during the first quarter. The future Hall of Famer acknowledged the crowd with a wave.The Lakers got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 11 points early on. James was held scoreless in the opening quarter of play as the Jazz led 36-27 after 12 minutes.James knocked down a three-pointer from the wing early in the second quarter for the first points of his historic season.As James heated up, so did the Lakers team. Los Angeles closed the gap in the second quarter and pulled away in the second half, winning comfortably, 140-125.James finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and dishing out 12 assists in the game. The 21-time All-Star has now scored in double digits in a mind-boggling 1,293 consecutive games played.Lakers coach JJ Redick said postgame: “Just thought he played with the right spirit. Very unselfish all night. Was a willing passer, didn’t force it, took his drives and his shots when they were there.“The defense is going to pay attention to him, particularly when he has the ball in the post, particularly when he’s putting pressure on the rim, and I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really good to have him back.”The 21-time All-Star played 30 minutes in the game, on par with the rest of the LA’s starters as the Lakers eased him back into action. James had been concerned about his stamina ahead of Tuesday’s season debut.“The pace tested me, but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys. As the game went on, my wind got a lot better. Caught my second wind, caught my third wind,” James said. “Rhythm is still coming back, obviously. First game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was to be expected.”James missed the Lakers’ first 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign due to sciatica – a nerve issue causing pain that originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg.The NBA’s all-time leading scorer returned to Lakers’ practice this week after being absent from the team since the opening of training camp in early October due to what head coach JJ Redick said is a nerve irritation in his glute.Retirement rumors swirled around James over the course of the past year, but in June, the four-time league MVP reportedly picked up his $52.6 million option to return for an eighth season with the Lakers.Last year, playing in his record-tying 22nd season, James continued to display astounding productivity, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists while appearing in 70 games.James had scored a record 42,184 regular-season points and 50,473 with the regular season and playoffs combined ahead of Tuesday night’s debut.The Akron, Ohio, native entered the NBA to much fanfare as an 18-year-old after being selected No. 1 in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He turns 41 in December.CNN’s Jacob Lev contributed to this report.

    As Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James took to the court at Crypto.com Arena Tuesday night to begin his 23rd season in the NBA, the 40-year-old added yet another record to his illustrious resumé – the longest career in league history.

    Prior to Tuesday, James shared the accolade with Vince Carter, who played 22 NBA seasons from 1998 to 2020.

    “It was just fun to be out there with the guys, man. It’s been rough mentally for me,” the four-time NBA champion said after the game, “this is the first time I’ve started a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball, like nine years old, I’ve never missed the beginning of a basketball season.”

    Sporting his famed No. 23 jersey, James was on the hardwood for the opening tip against the Utah Jazz.

    The public address announcer in the arena announced James’ achievement to a short ovation from the Lakers’ faithful during the first quarter. The future Hall of Famer acknowledged the crowd with a wave.

    The Lakers got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 11 points early on. James was held scoreless in the opening quarter of play as the Jazz led 36-27 after 12 minutes.

    James knocked down a three-pointer from the wing early in the second quarter for the first points of his historic season.

    As James heated up, so did the Lakers team. Los Angeles closed the gap in the second quarter and pulled away in the second half, winning comfortably, 140-125.

    James finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and dishing out 12 assists in the game. The 21-time All-Star has now scored in double digits in a mind-boggling 1,293 consecutive games played.

    Lakers coach JJ Redick said postgame: “Just thought he played with the right spirit. Very unselfish all night. Was a willing passer, didn’t force it, took his drives and his shots when they were there.

    “The defense is going to pay attention to him, particularly when he has the ball in the post, particularly when he’s putting pressure on the rim, and I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really good to have him back.”

    The 21-time All-Star played 30 minutes in the game, on par with the rest of the LA’s starters as the Lakers eased him back into action. James had been concerned about his stamina ahead of Tuesday’s season debut.

    “The pace tested me, but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys. As the game went on, my wind got a lot better. Caught my second wind, caught my third wind,” James said. “Rhythm is still coming back, obviously. First game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was to be expected.”

    James missed the Lakers’ first 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign due to sciatica – a nerve issue causing pain that originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg.

    The NBA’s all-time leading scorer returned to Lakers’ practice this week after being absent from the team since the opening of training camp in early October due to what head coach JJ Redick said is a nerve irritation in his glute.

    Retirement rumors swirled around James over the course of the past year, but in June, the four-time league MVP reportedly picked up his $52.6 million option to return for an eighth season with the Lakers.

    Last year, playing in his record-tying 22nd season, James continued to display astounding productivity, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists while appearing in 70 games.

    James had scored a record 42,184 regular-season points and 50,473 with the regular season and playoffs combined ahead of Tuesday night’s debut.

    The Akron, Ohio, native entered the NBA to much fanfare as an 18-year-old after being selected No. 1 in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He turns 41 in December.

    CNN’s Jacob Lev contributed to this report.

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  • LeBron James begins season No. 23, marking longest career in NBA history

    (CNN) — As Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James took to the court at Crypto.com Arena Tuesday night to begin his 23rd season in the NBA, the 40-year-old added yet another record to his illustrious resumé – the longest career in league history.

    Prior to Tuesday, James shared the accolade with Vince Carter, who played 22 NBA seasons from 1998 to 2020.

    “It was just fun to be out there with the guys, man. It’s been rough mentally for me,” the four-time NBA champion said after the game, “this is the first time I’ve started a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball, like nine years old, I’ve never missed the beginning of a basketball season.”

    Sporting his famed No. 23 jersey, James was on the hardwood for the opening tip against the Utah Jazz.

    The public address announcer in the arena announced James’ achievement to a short ovation from the Lakers’ faithful during the first quarter. The future Hall of Famer acknowledged the crowd with a wave.

    The Lakers got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 11 points early on. James was held scoreless in the opening quarter of play as the Jazz led 36-27 after 12 minutes.

    James knocked down a three-pointer from the wing early in the second quarter for the first points of his history-making season.

    As James heated up, so did the Lakers team. Los Angeles closed the gap in the second quarter and pulled away in the second half, winning comfortably, 140-126.

    James finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and dishing out 12 assists in the game. The 21-time All-Star has now scored in double digits in a mind-boggling 1,293 consecutive games played.

    Lakers coach JJ Redick said postgame: “Just thought he played with the right spirit. Very unselfish all night. Was a willing passer, didn’t force it, took his drives and his shots when they were there.

    “The defense is going to pay attention to him, particularly when he has the ball in the post, particularly when he’s putting pressure on the rim, and I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really good to have him back.”

    The 21-time All-Star played 30 minutes in the game, on par with the rest of the LA’s starters as the Lakers eased him back into action. James had been concerned about his stamina ahead of Tuesday’s season debut.

    “The pace tested me, but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys. As the game went on, my wind got a lot better. Caught my second wind, caught my third wind,” James said. “Rhythm is still coming back, obviously. First game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was to be expected.”

    James missed the Lakers’ first 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign due to sciatica – a nerve issue causing pain that originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg.

    The NBA’s all-time leading scorer returned to Lakers’ practice this week after being absent from the team since the opening of training camp in early October due to what head coach JJ Redick said is a nerve irritation in his glute.

    Retirement rumors swirled around James over the course of the past year, but in June, the four-time league MVP reportedly picked up his $52.6 million option to return for an eighth season with the Lakers.

    Last year, playing in his record-tying 22nd season, James continued to display astounding productivity, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists while appearing in 70 games.

    James had scored a record 42,184 regular-season points and 50,473 with the regular season and playoffs combined ahead of Tuesday night’s debut.

    The Akron, Ohio, native entered the NBA to much fanfare as an 18-year-old after being selected No. 1 in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He turns 41 in December.

    CNN’s Jacob Lev contributed to this report.

    Kevin Dotson and CNN

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  • Reaves 51-Point Performance Fuels Lakers Victory – LAmag

    Hachimura and Ayton joined Reaves to help cover the loss of LeBron James

    The Lakers received bad news before the season even started.

    In early October, the Los Angeles team announced that star small forward and future Hall of Famer LeBron James would miss the season opener and the first three to four weeks of the season due to sciatica on his right side.

    When the Lakers’ star player went down, other playmakers had to rise to the occasion.

    And 27-year-old guard Austin Reaves responded emphatically, putting the team on his back Sunday night, scoring a career-high 51 points against the Sacramento Kings in a 127-120 victory at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 

    The 51-point performance gave the Lakers their second consecutive victory – after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves by 18 on Friday, in which Reaves added 25 points and 11 assists – and elevated the Los Angeles side to a 2-1 record.

    James’ absence from the hardwood has meant a heavily increased contribution from Reaves, with the 6-foot-five shooting guard getting ample opportunities with the ball in his hand.

    And the fifth-year player has yet to disappoint, averaging 34 points per game across the first three contests of the season. Reaves has also dipped his foot into other areas of the game outside of scoring. 

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    The shooting guard has fortified the backcourt alongside Luka Dončić, giving the Lakers not only a formidable ball handler but also a guard who can make plays for his teammates.

    Reaves is averaging 9.7 assists across the first three games of the 2025-2026 campaign and has yet to produce fewer than nine assists in a game. 

    “The biggest thing from tonight was our passing,” said Lakers head coach JJ Redick after the Lakers’ last preseason game. “The reality is we should have had about 35 assists, we got to figure out our lobs and we had a couple Harlem Globetrotter plays when the simple play was right there. We had multiple possessions where everyone touched it, we created multiple advantages, got good shots, some of which we didn’t make but I liked our offensive flow and execution for most of the game.”

    The former Oklahoma star’s ability to successfully facilitate the offense has allowed Lakers shooters to combine for an efficient 54.1% shooting percentage from the field. Reaves has also put in work on the offensive and defensive glass, as he is averaging 7.7 boards per game through three contests so far.

    Reaves is not the only contributor to take advantage of James’ absence, either.

    New Lakers center Deandre Ayton has seen his production steadily increase as he finds his footing in a new environment. The Bahamas local is averaging 15.7 points per game and has steadily increased his point total from 10 to 15 to 20 over the first three games of the season. 

    Ayton boasted a season-high 20 points in the Lakers’ most recent victory against the Kings and has excelled in the pick-and-roll game early in the season. 

    “When I’m setting screens it’s not only for the two guys in the screen its more for my shooters to get open,” Ayton said after the Lakers’ preseason game to the Kings. “Once I get those open, they hit one or two of them, my paint start to open up and the defense starts to be a little bit more honest. Me and Luka get pretty free to hit the pocket or finish the rolls.” 

    Ayton’s rebounding efforts have also steadily increased, which has been vital to the Lakers’ success as Ayton was brought to Los Angeles to fortify the Lakers’ front court, as many attributed last season’s struggles to a lack of a true center.

    The center is averaging 9.7 rebounds per game and logged a season high 15 boards against the Kings. Forward Rui Hachimura has also seen his contributions increase. He is currently averaging a career high 16.7 points on a 4.5% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

    The revamped Laker lineup will continue its LeBron-less play Monday night at Crypto.com Arena against the Portland Trailblazers.

    Connor Dullinger

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  • Sixers weekly preview: Three-game West Coast trip on tap

    Sixers weekly preview: Three-game West Coast trip on tap

    For the first time in 2024-25, the Sixers are shifting time zones: they will spend the upcoming week on the West Coast, where they play three games that figure to be competitive. 

    Per the usual, on the morning of each game we will have team-specific previews of each Sixers game. But here is some handy information about the week ahead for the Sixers:

    At Suns (Monday night)

    It remains to be seen if Paul George will make his Sixers regular season debut in Phoenix. If he does, there will likely be no easing in for the nine-time All-Star. Not only are the Suns a formidable opponent, but they have three high-powered perimeter scoring threats — Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal — which means the Sixers will need to start three players they can trust to handle difficult defensive assignments.

    Caleb Martin and Kelly Oubre Jr. are safe bets to take on two of those matchups, which means one more Sixer must prepare for a long night on the defensive end of the floor. In an ideal world, George would be able to guard a low-usage player in his first game back as he tries to find a groove without any stressful matchups. A debut against the Suns might stand in the way of that.

    The city of Phoenix has not been kind to the Sixers in quite some time: the last time they won a game there came on Jan. 2, 2019. The Sixers’ starting five that night was made up of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Furkan Korkmaz (!), Jonah Bolden (!!) and the current head coach of their third and final opponent this week.

    At Clippers (Wednesday night)

    This will be the first meeting between these two teams to take place at the Clippers’ brand new home, the Intuit Dome, but there will be plenty of familiar faces — on both sides. The list of players who could be suiting up against their former teams:

    • Paul George, who spent five years with the Clippers before departing for Philadelphia last summer.

    • KJ Martin, who logged a whole two games as a Clipper in between being traded to Los Angeles and then getting rerouted to the Sixers.

    • Eric Gordon, who spent the first three years of his NBA career — 2008 through 2011 — with the Clippers, and then spent the final months of the 2022-23 season with them as well.

    • Reggie Jackson, who spent parts of four seasons with the Clippers — reviving his career from 2019 through 2023 — before spending a year and change with the Denver Nuggets and eventually heading to the Sixers to team with which he reunited with an old friend in George.

    • James Harden, whose messy departure from Philadelphia was well-documented and has now taken total control of the Clippers’ offense with George gone and Kawhi Leonard sidelined indefinitely.

    • Nic Batum, who also revived his career with the Clippers, spending three full seasons with the team before being traded to the Sixers after three appearances in his fourth season in Los Angeles. Batum finished last season with the Sixers, became a free agent and took a below-market deal to return to the Clippers.

    • Mo Bamba, who made 57 appearances and 17 starts for the Sixers as a third-string center last season. Bamba signed with the Clippers over the summer with a pathway to being their backup center, but has not yet played for the team due to an injury. That has created an opportunity for someone else…

    • Anyone who remembers the Sixers tenure of Kai Jones deserves a prize — and maybe a therapy session, too. Jones, who inked a 10-day contract with the Sixers last season, never appeared in a game for the team. He received a training camp deal with the Clippers and showed enough in preseason to earn a two-way contract. He has been the team’s primary backup center with Bamba sidelined.

    I cannot remember the Sixers facing so many former Sixers at once — let alone also having the same amount of players who used to play for the opposition.

    MORE: Draft picks Sixers acquired from Clips in Harden trade proving valuable

    At Lakers (Friday night)

    Fair or not, Sixers rookie Jared McCain will be compared by many of his skeptics to Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht, who has opened the young season as Redick’s ninth man. The Sixers drafted McCain at No. 16 overall in last June’s NBA Draft despite Knecht’s stunning fall; one pick later the Lakers nabbed him. Knecht was viewed as one of the most NBA-ready prospects in his draft class and boasts similar shooting excellence as McCain. He will be 24 years old by the time the regular season ends, though, and many front offices stray away from such old prospects these days.

    In other news, former Sixers shooting guard JJ Redick is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. What a world! Redick appears to be off to a strong start, as a Lakers team notorious for early-season struggles finally bucked that trend and picked up some early wins. Anthony Davis looks absolutely outstanding right now, and Redick has said the team is being very intentional about giving him every opportunity to assert himself as a dominant force on both ends of the floor.

    MORE: Sixers Ties: Pacific Division

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    Adam Aaronson

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