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The Sixers were far and away the better team for 33 minutes on Thursday night. Then came a 15-minute stretch they would like to forget.
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Adam Aaronson
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Just hours after the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline passes, the Sixers and Lakers will face off in Los Angeles. What is Joel Embiid’s status?
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Adam Aaronson
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After two months of debate, whispers, and will-they-won’t-they about whether the Milwaukee Bucks would trade superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, it feels like we’ve finally reached the boiling point.
Less than a week before the NBA trade deadline, all signs point to the Bucks finally believing it might be best for both parties if they split before the end of the season. The Bucks were expected to try to look for a significant trade deadline acquisition to pair with the Greek centerpiece. Those aspirations have been dashed, however, by Antetokounmpo’s recent calf strain.
At 18-27 and barreling down to the bottom of a soft Eastern Conference, the Bucks are on the verge of a needed rebuild, and they could officially begin it in the next few days if they trade the former MVP.
While the usual suspects that have been linked to Antetokounmpo, like the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors, are all expected to make their best offer, a surprise team from the shadows might have the best offer on the table for the reeling Bucks.
More news: Could the Los Angeles Lakers Trade LeBron James at the Deadline?
More news: Giannis Antetokounmpo Admits Booing Bucks Fans Amid Growing Trade Rumors
NBA insider Chris Haynes, along with other sources, believes that the Atlanta Hawks, who recently traded former face of the franchise Trae Young to Washington, are a team to watch as the Antetokounmpo market develops.
The Hawks have a young, exciting squad, and the addition of a superstar like Antetokounmpo could be the final piece that pushes them from frisky underdog to full-fledged title contender in an open Eastern Conference.
And when it comes to the Bucks looking towards the future, the Hawks might have the greatest asset of all in the trade discussions.
The New Orleans Pelicans traded the Hawks their first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, which, at the moment, gives them the third-best odds in the lottery. Freshman prospects Cameron Boozer (Duke), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), and Darryn Peterson (Kansas) are all looked at as potential generational talents, so getting a top-three selection is paramount for the teams trying to launch their future.
Milluwake, seventh currently in lottery odds, could possibly dream of grabbing two of the “Big 3” freshmen in a world where the team falls even further down the standings without their best player.
Although other teams can offer better current players than the Hawks, that might not matter if the Bucks are enamored of the upcoming prospect class that has turned heads in college basketball.
Flashier franchises are vying for Antetokounmpo. But the Hawks might swoop down from the skies and snatch him right under the noses of the Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Luka Doncic had 46 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers cooled off the Chicago Bulls with a 129-118 victory on Monday night.
LeBron James scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half as Los Angeles improved to 3-1 on an eight-game trip. Rui Hachimura added 23 points on 9-for-11 shooting.
The Lakers were swept by Chicago in their two-game series last season, including a wild 119-117 loss at the United Center on Josh Giddey’s half-court shot at the buzzer.
Coby White scored 23 points for Chicago on Monday night, and Ayo Dosunmu had 20. The Bulls had won four in a row and five of six overall.
Chicago went 18 for 49 from 3-point range. It has made at least 17 3s in its last five games.
Los Angeles led by as many as 20 points, but Chicago closed to 81-80 on Nikola Vucevic’s two foul shots with 6:42 left in the third quarter.
But Marcus Smart responded with a three-point play for the Lakers. Doncic then made two free throws and Hachimura connected from deep to make it 89-80 with 4:38 left.
Doncic made a 3 and another foul shot to lift Los Angeles to a 104-89 lead going into the fourth. Doncic scored 20 points in the third on 6-for-9 shooting.
The Lakers shot 56% (46 for 82) from the field, including a 16-for-33 performance from 3-point range.
The Bulls had six players score in double figures. Vucevic had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Giddey finished with 19 points.
Los Angeles moved in front with a 25-6 run that started late in the first quarter and carried over to the second. James’ fast-break jam made it 51-37 with 7:19 left.
The Bulls closed the first half with a 7-0 spurt, trimming the Lakers’ lead to 69-56. Doncic had 17 points and eight assists in the first half.
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Plus, holiday cocktails at The Spare Room and Bar Etoile Sunday chicken frites dinner
Every Thursday, Los Angeles magazine curates a list of the best events in and around Los Angeles. Craft a great last-minute schedule with our Weekend Guide to L.A., and don’t forget to sign up to have the guide delivered to your inbox every week by clicking HERE.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets — Dec. 25

The basketball hometown heroes throw down on their own turf for a Christmas Day face-off against the Houston Rockets beginning at 5 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans — Dec. 27

Credit: Los Angeles ChargersJustin Herbert and co. also take on Texas for a Saturday afternoon game, bringing game day excitement to the lull between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
Bar Etoile: Special Sunday Service with Chicken Frites a la Bruto — Dec. 28
Scroll to continue reading

Credit: Kort HavensOpening up for a noteworthy afternoon service, Bar Etoile honors Poulet Frites du Dimanche in Paris’s 11th Arrondissement with a family-style menu of roast chicken frites served with a chicory salad and chocolate mousse. Plant-based eaters can opt for the tagliatelle with vegetarian bolognese.
Holiday Cocktails at The Spare Room — Through December


Make a round of bowling festive with a visit to The Spare Room, serving holiday-themed drinks alongside its lineup of games. Menu highlights include the Seas and Greetings with run, cinnamon and dash of mole bitter and the herbal and the tequila-based Pardon My Poinsettia.
Holiday Prix Fixe at Andaz West Hollywood — Through December


Enjoy a $55 prix fixe at Riot House, serving dishes like winter salad, surf and turf with garlic butter shrimp and flat iron steak and cheesecake.
The Shay Food Bank Drive — Through Jan. 16

Credit: Courtesy The ShayThe Shay, a Destination by Hyatt, in Culver City makes giving back throughout the holidays easy with its Westside Food Bank lobby donation bins. Bring by non-perishable food items and canned goods between visits to Butterfly for rooftop cocktails and dinner at Zaytina.
HiHo Cheeseburger Pasadena — Now Open


On Dec. 16, HiHo Cheeseburger brought its cheesy goodness to Pasadena. Stop in to try its signature menu alongside fried chicken dishes made in collaboration with James Beard Award-winning Willie Mae’s Scotch House in New Orleans and house-made desserts like milkshakes and banana cream pie in a to-go cup.
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Haley Bosselman
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Luka Doncic did not return to the court for the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
As the Lakers paid a visit to the Los Angeles Clippers, Doncic reportedly suffered a left leg contusion during the first half of the matchup.
Doncic played in 20 minutes. He shot 4-13 from the field, making just one of his six attempts from beyond the arc. Along with his scoring, Doncic came down with five rebounds and produced two assists. He turned the ball over four times.
When the Lakers took the floor in the third quarter, the team started the second-year guard, Dalton Knecht, in Doncic’s spot for the remainder of the game.
Although Doncic’s absence in the second half of Saturday’s game is concerning, the severity of the setback is unclear. The team’s head coach, JJ Redick, will have to address it with an update following Saturday’s game.
For the time being, the Lakers are looking to climb back against the Clippers. Entering the night, both teams have been in very different positions.
The Clippers have been struggling, posting a 6-21 record through the first few months of action. They have shocked the NBA with how much they’ve struggled so far this year.
As for the Lakers, they have been in the playoff picture with a 19-7 record. Despite dealing with key absences at times, the Lakers have found ways to win more often than not. Earlier this year, they had an opportunity to play without Doncic and have held their own in his absence.
Back in October, Doncic was ruled out for three games in a row. The Lakers went 2-1 during that stretch. He missed his fourth game on November 3. The Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers on the road.
Recently, Doncic was out for two straight games due to personal reasons. The Lakers split those games, with a win over the Toronto Raptors and a loss against the Boston Celtics.
Heading into Saturday’s action, Doncic had 20 appearances under his belt. He averaged 35.2 points, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 32 percent from three.
Along with his scoring, the star guard produced averages of 9.1 assists, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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LeBron James got the last laugh on Sunday night as he sank two free throws in the final 3.9 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Lakers over the Phoenix Suns, 116-114.
James may be in the twilight of his career, but he showed he still had some fight. He was battling with Suns forward Dillon Brooks throughout the night. The two got into multiple skirmishes as the intensity was turned up a notch.
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Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks fouls Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. Brooks was ejected from the game after the foul. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
As the game came down to the wire, Brooks hit a clutch 3-pointer to put the Suns up one point with 12.2 seconds left. James ran through him and knocked him down. Brooks got back up and stuck his chest out to ever-so-gently tap James.
A referee came over to stop the conflict from escalating any further. Brooks was ejected from the game.
“I just like to compete,” James said of going up against Brooks, via ESPN. “He’s going to compete. I’m going to compete. We’re going to get up in each other’s face. Try not to go borderline with it. I don’t really take it there. But we’re just competing and did that almost all the way to the end of the game.”
NBA BROADCASTER CALLS FOR SPURS STAR TO CHANGE ‘ALIEN’ NICKNAME: ‘THEY DEPORT THOSE’

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) react after a turnover during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Suns star Devin Booker supported Brooks’ intensity.
“Yeah, I mean there’s history there,” he said. “I love to see it. People always say everything’s too friendly in the NBA and then Dillon comes around and now it’s too much. So like I said, I’d rather it the other way — that it’d be too much.”
James scored 26 points on 8-of-17 from the field. Luka Doncic led Los Angeles with 29 points and six assists. The Lakers improved to 18-7 with the win.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to shoot over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, front left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Brooks had 18 points in 25 minutes. Booker led the team with 27 points and was 13-of-16 from the free-throw line. Phoenix is 14-12 on the year.
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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.
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Anthony Gutierrez
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The Los Angeles Lakers are off to one of their best starts in recent memory, improving to 14–4 after Saturday night’s win over the Dallas Mavericks to move into sole possession of second place in the Western Conference.
L.A. was powered by a 38-point performance from Austin Reaves, who led all scorers, while Luka Dončić added 35 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds for Dallas. Doncic currently leads the NBA in scoring through 18 games.
Head coach JJ Redick has continued to rely on a tight eight-man rotation, with an occasional ninth or tenth player getting minutes. On Saturday, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero, and Bronny James did not play due to coach’s decisions.
James has logged just one minute over the last two games, and on Saturday, the Lakers made the expected move during their off day before Sunday’s matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans: assigning him to the G League.
More news: Lakers Player’s Viral Remark Has NBA Fans Defending Anthony Davis
More news: Lakers’ LeBron James Gets Honest About Helping Bronny James With the NBA
It’s the perfect time for James to head down to play for the South Bay Lakers, who have a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday night. That schedule should give him plenty of on-court reps, which is valuable for the second-year guard drafted 55th overall out of USC in the 2024 NBA Draft.
He’s seen more NBA action this season than he did as a rookie, but he’s still struggled to carve out a consistent role on a roster that’s among the best in the league.
In the G League, though, James has appeared in two games and is averaging 11.0 points, 8.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
More news: Lakers Get Major Change for NBA Cup Game After Luka Doncic Complaint
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After the future of their franchise spoke out against their NBA Cup court, the Los Angeles Lakers were forced to make a last-minute change Friday.
All 30 NBA teams change their courts to a much more decorative look for NBA Cup contests throughout the regular season, but there have been numerous complaints since it began.
Most recently, it was Luka Doncic who called his Lakers’ court “dangerous.”
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Guard Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a foul call in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
Doncic’s claim was substantial, as the NBA Cup court the Lakers use was deemed unplayable for Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks by technicians, the team said via ESPN. Thus, the game will be played on the Lakers’ normal playing surface.
Doncic had 43 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds as the Lakers took a 135-118 win against the Los Angeles Clippers. But the exotic courts that are meant to distinguish the NBA Cup games from a regular game came under scrutiny from the Slovenian superstar.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic celebrates his three-point basket during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
“Adjust the courts, please,” Doncic said. “It’s just slippery. It’s dangerous…. I slipped a lot of times. You could see a lot of players slipped. That’s dangerous, man.”
The court is expected to be examined and fixed in time for a potential quarterfinal game at Crypto.com Arena.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James high-fives guard Luka Doncic during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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The Lakers have won each of their three NBA Cup games so far and have clinched a spot in the quarterfinal round.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
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Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers face James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and their cross-town rival, the LA Clippers, in this Tuesday night NBA matchup at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers come into this game riding a hot streak. They’ve won their last four games, aligning with the return of LeBron James, and their offense has been clicking, led by Luka Dončić, who’s been putting up elite scoring and assist numbers. Even though center DeAndre Ayton is out with a knee contusion, the Lakers still have the firepower and depth to control tempo and exploit the Clippers’ defensive issues. Their transition game and ball movement could make this a comfortable night for the Purple & Gold if they can jump on the Clippers early.
On the Clippers’ side, injuries continue to limit their upside. Bradley Beal is done for the season, and they could also be without Derrick Jones Jr. and Bogdan Bogdanović in this one. That puts more pressure on James Harden to continue to carry the offense, but luckily, he should have Kawhi Leonard by his side. Leonard has been dealing with an ankle injury, but is expected to be good to go. If the Clippers hope to pull off an upset, they’ll need contributions from their role players and a stronger defensive showing than we’ve seen lately.
This is a great NBA matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joey Buss and Jesse Buss are no longer working in the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office after the franchise’s recent ownership change, a person with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Lakers didn’t publicly announce the firings of the two children of longtime Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who died in 2013. The Lakers are also overhauling the scouting staff that worked with the brothers.
The Buss brothers confirmed their departure in a statement issued to ESPN, although both will retain their inherited minority ownership stakes under new controlling owner Mark Walter.
Jesse Buss was an assistant general manager, while Joey Buss was the Lakers’ alternate governor and vice president of research and development.
“We are extremely honored to have been part of this organization for the last 20 seasons,” Joey and Jesse Buss said in their statement. “Thank you to Laker Nation for embracing our family every step of the way. We wish things could be different with the way our time ended with the team. At times like this, we wish we could ask our Dad what he would think about it all.”
Jerry Buss had at least seven children, and six of them worked for the Lakers at some point during his ownership.
Jeanie Buss became the Lakers’ governor when their father died. Jim Buss was the Lakers’ executive vice president of basketball operations until Jeanie ousted her brother in 2017, also firing general manager Mitch Kupchak and turning over the basketball side of the business to Magic Johnson and current general manager Rob Pelinka.
Walter finalized his purchase of a controlling stake in the Lakers three weeks ago in a sale initially announced in June and conducted with a $10 billion franchise valuation. Jeanie Buss will remain the Lakers’ governor for the foreseeable future, but the Lakers are now primarily owned by Walter, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Joey and Jesse Buss have been involved in the Lakers’ scouting and player development operations for many years, and they’ve been praised for their roles in the Lakers’ successful drafts and free-agent signings.
Perhaps sensing the upcoming changes in the Lakers’ leadership structure following the decision to sell the team, the brothers launched an investment firm in September dubbed Buss Sports Capital.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
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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 is back for the Los Angeles Lakers.
After seeing his 2025-2026 NBA season debut delayed due to a sciatic injury, he spent the entire preseason and the first 14 games of the regular season spectating.
On Monday, the Lakers upgraded LeBron’s status shortly after he participated in a full practice session. By Tuesday night, the NBA superstar was cleared for action and checked in for his official season debut against the Utah Jazz. Just 17 minutes into his shift, LeBron moved up an NBA all-time list after knocking down two shots from beyond the arc.
With 2,561 total threes, LeBron has surpassed the NBA legend, Reggie Miller. Now, he’s chasing Dallas Mavericks guard, Klay Thompson, who is sitting at 2,729 threes and counting. Thompson is chasing Damian Lillard, who is out for the entire 2025-2026 season, but plans to return from an Achilles tear next season.
The retired Ray Allen is sitting third, while the active James Harden and Steph Curry fill up the top two spots. Curry has a clear lead, being the only player with over 4,000 three-pointers made in NBA history.
Heading into halftime of Tuesday’s action, LeBron had attempted just four shots, with all but one of them coming from deep. He made half of his attempts, scoring just seven points. He also produced two rebounds and four assists. The Lakers slightly trailed through the first two quarters, down 71-67 at the intermission.
Being out for so long, James has plenty of conditioning to do as he fires up his eighth Lakers season. The future Hall of Famer is coming off a 70-game run last season, where he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists. While some wondered if LeBron would call it a career at 40, he re-signed with LA to give it another go. It wasn’t the easiest path to open up year 23, but James is off and running against the Jazz.
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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(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.
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Kevin Dotson and CNN
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LeBron James had 11 points and 12 assists in the first game of his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, and Luka Doncic had 37 points and 10 assists in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 140-125 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
The 40-year-old James made his season debut in the Lakers’ starting lineup and played 30 minutes after missing training camp and their first 14 games due to sciatica. Vince Carter is the only other player in NBA history to participate in 22 seasons, but James passed him while opening the next chapter of a pro career that began in 2003.
James didn’t take long to find the flow: He put on a playmaking clinic in the second half, and Doncic scored 17 points in the third quarter while the Lakers pulled away from Utah.
Austin Reaves added 26 points as the Lakers improved to 11-4 with their third straight victory.
Keyonte George, who was born 10 days after James’ NBA debut, matched his season high with 33 points for the Jazz two nights after hitting the winning 3-pointer in a double-overtime thriller against Chicago.
Lauri Markkanen had 31 points for Utah, which has lost five of seven.
James didn’t score in his first 11 minutes on the court, but his two 3-pointers in the first half moved him past Reggie Miller for the sixth-most in NBA history.
James made a driving layup in the third quarter to extend his streak of double-digit scoring performances to a record 1,293 games — every game in which he has played since Jan. 6, 2007. The four-time NBA champion didn’t score again, but the Lakers moved comfortably ahead.
George scored 23 points and Markkanen had 22 in Utah’s 71-point first half. The Lakers took charge after halftime, closing the third on a 21-5 run.
Bronny James played the final 3:33 and hit a 3-pointer.
Jazz: Host Thunder on Friday.
Lakers: At Jazz on Sunday.
Here are five things to know about four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
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Greg Beacham | The Associated Press
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The NBA is reportedly seeking cell phones and other property from multiple teams as part of its investigation into illegal sports gambling.
Los Angeles Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims, who each have close ties to superstar LeBron James, have reportedly already cooperated in handing over their cell phones to the outside law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, which has been contracted by the NBA to help carry out the investigation, The Athletic first reported.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
“The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public,” an NBA spokesman said in a statement to Fox News Digital on Sunday. “As is standard in these kinds of investigations, a number of different individuals and organizations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone has been fully cooperative.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Lakers for comment.
The NBA is in the midst of handling a bombshell scandal that resulted in the federal indictment of Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones for their alleged roles in a criminal gambling scheme, last month.
Congress got involved when the House Committee on Commerce Friday sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver requesting information and a briefing to obtain information related to the scandal. The bipartisan letter was signed by six members of Congress on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
The committee is seeking five key points of information from Silver:
“1. Details about the fraudulent, illegal, and alleged betting practices in connection with NBA players, coaches, and officials, including the actions of NBA players and coaches identified in the recent indictment; as well as prior instances, some of which are identified above,” the letter states.
“2. Actions the NBA intends to take to limit the disclosure of nonpublic information for illegal purposes. 3. Whether the NBA’s Code of Conduct for players and coaches effectively prohibits illegal activity, including the disclosure of non-public information for the purposes of illegal betting schemes. 4. An explanation of the gaps, if any, in existing regulations that allow illegal betting schemes to occur. 5. Whether and how the NBA is reevaluating the terms of its partnerships with sports betting companies.”
The letter also references comments made by Silver during an appearance Tuesday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” where the commissioner expressed support for more federal sports betting regulation.
“I think, probably, there should be more regulation, frankly,” Silver said. “I wish there was federal legislation rather than state by state. I think you’ve got to monitor the amount of promotion, the amount of advertising around it.”
The Department of Justice listed seven NBA games that saw high-stakes wagers after non-public information was disclosed to gamblers.
Rozier’s alleged involvement came in a game March 23, 2023, when he told a childhood friend, Deniro Laster, that he would take himself out of a game early, citing an injury, so Laster could place wagers based on the information. Neither Hornets officials nor betting companies were made aware of Rozier’s plan, according to the indictment, and Rozier was not listed on the team’s injury report.
HEAT’S TERRY ROZIER ARRESTED AS PART OF FBI SPORTS BETTING PROBE
Laster then allegedly sold that information to other co-conspirators, and numerous people placed wagers totaling roughly $200,000 on Rozier’s “under” prop bets to hit in both parlay and straight wagers. After Rozier played just nine minutes and never returned, the bets won. Rozier and Laster counted cash winnings at Rozier’s home in Charlotte roughly a week later, an indictment says.
The DOJ says the player was eventually ruled out with a lower-body injury. LeBron James did not play that night due to an ankle injury that kept him out for two more games. The game in question was played two days after James scored 38 points to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Another game the DOJ mentioned was a Portland Trail Blazers–Chicago Bulls matchup March 24, 2023, the day after Rozier played nine minutes, and a co-conspirator, “an NBA coach at the time,” allegedly told a longtime friend, who is also a defendant in the rigged poker scheme, that the Blazers would be “tanking” that night for a better draft pick and would sit some of the team’s best players. The resting of the players had not yet been public information.
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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Rozier and Jones were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The NBA announced that Rozier and Billups were placed on immediate leave from their teams, “and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities.”
“The integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the NBA said.
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The Los Angeles Lakers (8-4) travel to Smoothie King Center to face the New Orleans Pelicans (2-9) in this Friday night NBA matchup.
Los Angeles is coming off one of their most lopsided losses of the season, a 121-92 defeat at the hands of the defending NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers found themselves down 12 points after the first quarter and 32 at the half, with the entire team struggling, shooting just 34.2% from the field in the first half. Los Angeles would get some consolation, winning the second half by three points. Luka Doncic led the team in scoring with 19, but shot just 7-for-20 and was a minus-31 on the court.
The season couldn’t have started more poorly for the Pelicans, who rank near the bottom of the NBA in points per game (108.8, 28th) and points allowed (121.6, 25th). The Pelicans are missing three of their best players due to injury (Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole, Dejounte Murray) and have had to rely upon others to pick up the scoring slack. A major bright spot has been Derik Queen, who scored 26 points with seven rebounds and four assists in the Pelicans’ last game.
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The Pelicans sit at last place in the Western Conference and the Lakers have lost two of its last three
The Lakers can get back in the win column on Friday.
After losing two out of its last three – despite starting the season 7-2 – the Los Angeles Lakers will face the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the Lakers’ fourth game of their five-game road trip.
The Lake Show is coming off a 29-point defeat to the reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Pelicans are 2-9 on the season and sit in last place in the Western Conference. The New Orleans squad started the season on a six-game losing streak, before winning back-to-back contests, but has since lost three in a row, riding into the affair against the Lakers.
After a series of injuries, the Lakers are almost back to full strength. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are back in the lineup, but Gabe Vincent, Adou Thiero, and LeBron James remain sidelined due to injury.
James has yet to play a game this season as sciatica on the right side has kept him from game action, but his return is on the horizon.
But the Lakers are no the only team without one of its star players. The Pelicans are without three of their top players for Friday’s contest, including two of their top three scorers. Forward – and former No. 1 overall pick – Zion Williamson is out with a hamstring injury but leads the Pelicans in scoring and assists and ties for the team lead in rebounds.
Williamson has only played five games this season but is averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
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Guard Jordan Poole, the team’s third leading scorer, is out with a left quadriceps strain, but was averaging 17.3 points and 3.4 assists per game on a 38.6% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
The last Pelican to miss the Lakers contest is guard Dejounte Murray, who has missed the entirety of the season with an Achilles injury and will not return until at least after New Years.
With the absence of Murray, Williamson, and Poole, forward Trey Murphy III has taken over the bulk of the scoring.
The 2021 First Round pick is averaging 18.1 points and 3.7 assists per game while also tying Williamson for the team lead in rebounds.
Murphy leads a tandem of rookies on the Pelicans’ hardwood. 2025 First Round pick duo guard Jeremiah Fears and center Derik Queen.
Fears has solidified his starting spot in the backcourt and has averaged 14 points per game on a 37% shooting split from beyond the arc. However, Fears has struggled with his overall shooting efficiency, maintaining just a 39.2% field goal percentage.
Similarly, Queen has been a solid replacement with Williamson out with injury, joining center Kevon Looney in the frontcourt. Queen is averaging 10.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest despite playing just 21.5 minutes per game.
The former Maryland star has shown the ability to dominate in the interior with his length, touch and footwork around the rim, and diverse offensive skillset to boast a 52.5% field goal percentage.
Guard Saddiq Bey has stepped in to fill the holes in the Pelicans’ roster with all of the team’s injuries.
Bey – despite being listed as a guard – stands at 6-foot-8 and has been able to play guard, wing, or stretch four in the Pelicans rotation and has started since the departure of Williamson.
Bey is averaging 12.6 points per game on a 40.4% 3-point percentage and has also attacked the boards, grabbing 4.4 rebounds per game.
With all of the injuries on the Pelicans roster, its depth will need to step up against the Lakers in its home game, where tip-off will commence at 5 p.m.
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Connor Dullinger
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DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, an admission nine months later that the widely criticized trade of Luka Doncic backfired on the franchise.
The move came a day after Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont attended a 116-114 loss to the Bucks in which fans again chanted “fire Nico,” a familiar refrain since the blockbuster deal in February that brought Anthony Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers and angered the Dallas fan base.
The Mavericks appointed Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi as co-interim general managers to oversee basketball operations.
Dumont’s hope for goodwill with the fans never came even after Dallas landed No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg with just a 1.8% chance to win the draft lottery.
There have been plenty of empty seats in the upper deck of American Airlines Center this season, something not seen consistently since 2018, when the Mavericks traded up to get Doncic with the third overall pick.
Doncic was a 25-year-old generational point guard in his prime when Harrison unloaded him for the oft-injured Davis, who has missed 30 of 44 regular-season games since his arrival in February.
Harrison was in his fourth season and had engineered three trades that helped the Mavs go on a run to the Western Conference finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals two years later.
The Doncic trade and a slow start to the first full season without the young superstar led to a stunning downfall for Harrison, who declined to comment to The Associated Press. Dallas is 3-8, and Davis has missed six of the 11 games with a calf injury.
“No one associated with the Mavericks organization is happy with the start of what we all believed would be a promising season,” Dumont wrote in a letter to fans. “You have high expectations for the Mavericks, and I share them with you. When the results don’t meet expectations, it’s my responsibility to act.”
While Dumont didn’t directly mention the Doncic trade in the letter, he acknowledged the vitriolic reaction of fans, who protested after the shocking deal. The Las Vegas-based Dumont and Adelson families, who bought the Mavericks from Mark Cuban in late 2023, were targets of the criticism as well.
“I understand the profound impact these difficult last several months have had,” Dumont wrote. “Please know that I’m fully committed to the success of the Mavericks.”
Dumont approved Harrison’s decision to trade Doncic, which kept the Mavericks from having to commit to a $346 million, five-year supermax extension for the Slovenian star.
Harrison tried to defend the deal by repeating a “defense wins championships” line. But with Davis sidelined by a calf injury and star guard Kyrie Irving still out after tearing the ACL in his left knee last March, defense hasn’t mattered much because Dallas has one of the worst offenses in the NBA.
With Davis and Irving playing together for just part of one game last season, the Mavericks missed the playoffs a year after Doncic led them to the NBA Finals.
The slow, injury-plagued start to this season for the Mavericks coincided with Doncic joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only NBA players to open a season with three consecutive games of at least 40 points.
Doncic’s historic run was interrupted by a three-game injury absence, but the Lakers won twice without him and are 8-3.
Harrison had spent 20 years with Nike and had close relationships with several NBA stars, including the late Kobe Bryant, when Cuban hired him in 2021.
The hiring of Harrison was the first step in trying to restore stability after former general manager Donnie Nelson was fired, then Rick Carlisle resigned as coach a day later. Nelson and Carlisle had been together for 13 years.
Harrison hired Jason Kidd as coach, and the Mavericks reached the Western Conference finals their first season together after Harrison’s first blockbuster trade.
He broke up the European pairing of Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis and got Spencer Dinwiddie, who played a key supporting role with Doncic as the Mavericks stunned Phoenix with a Game 7 blowout in the second round before losing to Golden State in five games.
A year later, Dinwiddie was part of the next blockbuster trade, which brought Irving from Brooklyn. The Mavericks faltered the rest of that season largely because of injuries, but they reached their first NBA Finals in 13 years in 2023-24, led by the pair of star guards. Dallas lost to Boston in five games.
That deep playoff run came in the first six months after Cuban sold the team. He said then that he would maintain control of basketball operations, but that didn’t happen.
Dumont quickly put full control of the basketball side in the hands of Harrison, who saw Davis as a championship-caliber player in the mold of Bryant. Davis won a title with LeBron James and the Lakers in 2020.
Cuban criticized the trade of Doncic, saying he never would have approved it and adding that he didn’t think Dallas got enough in return. Months later, though, Cuban credited Harrison for his salary cap management.
Finley, who was Harrison’s top assistant and has been in the Dallas front office for a decade, was a two-time All-Star for the Mavericks in the early 2000s when Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki was coming of age.
Finley had moved on to San Antonio when Nowitzki led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2006. Dallas lost to Miami that year but beat the Heat five years later for the franchise’s only championship.
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AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA
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