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Tag: Russell Westbrook

  • Anything But a Minor League Coach

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    Perhaps with the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics going on, some may have forgotten that the NBA All-Star Game and all of the festivities that go along with it will be held in Los Angeles this weekend.

    For some, All-Star Saturday which includes the league’s 3-point shooting contest as well as the Slam Dunk Contest, is even a bigger highlight than the actual game itself.

    A former Slam Dunk Contest participant now shares his professional basketball experiences with the youth of the Burbank community.

    Greg Minor, who was once a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Clippers and spent five years in the NBA with the Boston Celtics, has created the Minor Sports Academy, which is based out of the gymnasium at St. Finbar Parish School. He also coaches the St. Finbar School’s ‘A’ team. The Minor Sports Academy is held weekdays at St. Finbar from 5 to 9 p.m. and is open to elementary, middle and high school students.

    “It is a year-round training program that I started in September. It is for kids of all ages around the Burbank area. It is for anyone that is willing to train to help their skillset. The classes are not overly big. It’s a more intimate setting. I try to train with a lot of intensity,” said the 6-foot-6 guard.

    Minor, 54, said he first came to the area in 2017 to work with a friend. He then left in 2023 to go back to his native Georgia, but returned a year later.

    “Living in the state of California everything is much more pricey, but the quality of life is also much better,” he said.” I came back to start the Minor Sports Academy and so far it has been pretty good. It is the families and the connections I made out here that have really made it and it is still growing with the Finbar family.”

    Basketball has brought Minor around the world as he spent five years living and working in China prior to coming to Burbank.

    He played for the Celtics from 1994 until 2001 when a hip injury forced him to retire.

    “When I retired I went back to school to get my degree. Then i started to get into coaching. I started working for the NBA Basketball Without Borders and I would go to China whenever they had basketball camps and in different countries,” said Minor, who played under the legendary Denny Crum at the University of Louisville. “They would bring current or retired players and coaches to work these clinics and that’s how I made my connection with the Chinese companies there.”

    A Topps Stadium Club card of Greg Minor during his playing days with the Boston Celtics. (Photo courtesy of Topps Trading Cards).

    Minor also has experience working in the NBA’s developmental league with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers and Cleveland Cavaliers.

    “My job was to develop players and put together reports for the general managers or assistant general managers of those teams,” he said, noting that he got to work with the likes of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as well as many others. 

    Minor’s pro career finally settled in Boston after being selected by the Clippers as the 25th pick of the 1994 NBA Draft. He was traded on draft night along with Mark Jackson to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Pooh Richardson, Malik Sealy and the draft rights to Eric Piatkowski. 

    But his experience in Indiana was short-lived as the team already had Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and longtime Lakers star Byron Scott at the shooting guard position.

    The Pacers had also drafted University of Indiana star Damon Bailey, who was considered a fan favorite in the state.

    “They failed to sign me, so I became an unrestricted free agent and it came down to Chicago and Boston. Boston offered a bigger deal and I ended up choosing the Celtics,” said Minor, who said he grew up a fan of the Lakers. “In the first two weeks to a month, I fell in love with the organization with how they do things and the professionalism they have. Eric Montross and I were the only rookies and we came into a veteran team. I had a chance to play with Dominique Wilkins and Dee Brown, Sherman Douglas, Dana Barros and Dino Radja.”

    Minor said he has Brown, the 1991 Slam Dunk champion in the event, to thank for his opportunity to participate in the event in 1996 in San Antonio.

    Brown passed on the chance to participate once again and recommended that Minor be given the opportunity.  Minor finished third out of six behind winner Brent Barry and Michael Finley. 

    “It was a wonderful experience. One of the things I always share with people is that it is not as simple as it seems because you as a dunker know everybody out there is watching you, whether it is the fans locally or around the world,” Minor recalled. “When you go up and attempt a dunk they don’t think about the back drop. If I am looking at the rim and the back of the rim the glass is clear there are cameras and flashes going off everywhere like crazy and you need to focus. The last thing you want to do is miss a dunk. It is very challenging.”

    For those who would like to become a part of the Minor Sports Academy, information can be found online at www.saintfinbar.org or by calling (818) 848-0191 and asking to speak with Jhoanne Gabagat.

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    Jim Riggio

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  • Kings fall to Trail Blazers 134-133 in nail-biting overtime following last-second free throws

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    Deni Avdija made two free throws with 1.5 seconds left in overtime for the last of his 35 points, and the Portland Trail Blazers outlasted the Sacramento Kings 134-133 on Thursday night to open a home-and-home set.The teams will meet again Saturday night in Sacramento.DeMar DeRozan hit a jumper with four seconds left to give the Kings a 133-132 lead. With no timeouts, Portland raced down the court and Avdija was fouled by Russell Westbrook. DeRozan’s 3-pointer with eight seconds left forced overtime, completing a 17-2 run in the final 2:28 of regulation.DeRozan led Sacramento with 33 points, with 22 of the points coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. He was 3 of 4 from 3-point range, 10 of 16 overall from the field and made all 10 of his free throws.Avdija was 12 for 19 from the field and made 10 of 12 free throws. The shooting guard also had five assists and five turnovers.Shaedon Sharpe added 26 points for Portland, hitting 4 of 6 3-pointers. Jerami Grant scored 20 points, Donovan Clingan had 19 and Toumani Camara 17.Maxime Raynaud added a career-high 29 points for Sacramento. Westbrook had 20 points and 10 assists. He was 8 of 11 from the field.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    PORTLAND, Ore. —

    Deni Avdija made two free throws with 1.5 seconds left in overtime for the last of his 35 points, and the Portland Trail Blazers outlasted the Sacramento Kings 134-133 on Thursday night to open a home-and-home set.

    The teams will meet again Saturday night in Sacramento.

    DeMar DeRozan hit a jumper with four seconds left to give the Kings a 133-132 lead. With no timeouts, Portland raced down the court and Avdija was fouled by Russell Westbrook. DeRozan’s 3-pointer with eight seconds left forced overtime, completing a 17-2 run in the final 2:28 of regulation.

    DeRozan led Sacramento with 33 points, with 22 of the points coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. He was 3 of 4 from 3-point range, 10 of 16 overall from the field and made all 10 of his free throws.

    Avdija was 12 for 19 from the field and made 10 of 12 free throws. The shooting guard also had five assists and five turnovers.

    Shaedon Sharpe added 26 points for Portland, hitting 4 of 6 3-pointers. Jerami Grant scored 20 points, Donovan Clingan had 19 and Toumani Camara 17.

    Maxime Raynaud added a career-high 29 points for Sacramento. Westbrook had 20 points and 10 assists. He was 8 of 11 from the field.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • As Aaron Gordon seeks second opinions on hamstring injury, Nuggets brace for impact

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    That shadow over the court was Aaron Gordon’s. Suddenly, the Nuggets felt his absence as painfully as their opponents usually feel his presence.

    He would have been perfect for a crunch-time possession late Saturday night and the unenviable task of guarding DeMar DeRozan with a game on the line.

    David Adelman instead asked for one stop from Spencer Jones, the eager 24-year-old wing who has prospered as a defensive specialist on a two-way contract.

    He had started the game in place of the injured Gordon as well, but this was a step up in stakes. The Nuggets trailed 123-120 after a successful two-for-one bucket with 29 seconds to go, allowing them to play out a defensive possession instead of fouling. They had no margin for error, but they had a chance.

    Jones does have one glaring flaw in his defensive game: He’s foul-prone. And against a savvy veteran scorer like DeRozan, discipline with hand placement is especially vital. Jones didn’t pass the assignment this time. He reached into the cookie jar, and DeRozan immediately drew the contact while burying an improbable midrange jumper. Ballgame.

    Gordon and the Nuggets are seeking second opinions on the severity of his right hamstring strain before determining how much time he’ll miss, Adelman said Saturday, 24 hours after Gordon slipped on a drive to the basket in Houston and then gingerly walked off the court. The injury could result in another prolonged absence for a Nuggets starter, with Christian Braun already on the shelf for the next five weeks.

    “We’re trying to make sure we get the correct answer to make sure we’re doing the right thing,” Adelman said. “… Obviously, that was concerning last night with Aaron.”

    The Nuggets are bracing for impact. Hunter Tyson played first-half rotation minutes in their 128-123 loss to Sacramento. Zeke Nnaji started last Wednesday at New Orleans when Gordon’s hamstring sent him a warning sign. DaRon Holmes II was called up from the G League on Saturday.

    And Jones was a major variable in the defensive equation of replacing Gordon during Denver’s back-to-back this weekend. He was impressive in Houston, matching up on a full range of players from Reed Sheppard to Alperen Sengun.

    On Saturday, he was a minus-18.

    “I’m concerned about anybody guarding DeRozan,” Adelman said when asked whether he was concerned about the foul potential of the Jones matchup. “He’ll learn from that. He got his hand in there. That’s what DeMar does. He’s always been an artist with that. He’s one of the best scorers in the modern era. A lot of it is because of that, and of course, it comes at a really key time. So Spence will learn from it. I have nothing but full confidence in him.”

    Baptism by fire is the only way sometimes, in Adelman’s view. After spending weeks lauding his team’s depth, the injury bug is forcing him to use it even more.

    “We’re going through this process with a couple of guys out, really three guys out,” he said, referring also to Julian Strawther’s recent back pain that has kept him inactive the last four games. “So we want to see what each guy can do. We played Jalen (Pickett) a little bit. We started him (against Indiana). Zeke started in New Orleans. We wanted to give Hunter a little bit of run.

    “As we go through this time, if guys are out — and some are, as you know — we’ll try different lineups to see what we can do. … I can’t play an eight-and-a-half man rotation every night. So I’ll get creative with it as best I can.”

    Denver’s three healthy starters showed out on the second night of the back-to-back. Nikola Jokic amassed 44 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Jamal Murray continued to be a steady source of offense, with 23 points and nine assists to just one turnover. Cam Johnson continued to do all the little things that prompted Adelman to defend him when he was slumping — and also went for his first 20-point game as a Nugget.

    But with Peyton Watson and Jones slotted in as starters, the bench got outscored 48-20. In a home loss to the Bulls last Monday, the margin was an even uglier 66-9. That happened with Gordon in the lineup.

    “I think 12-4, it’s not the real picture. I think we are not that good,” Jokic said Saturday, laying it on perhaps a little too thick. “I think we need to be much better if we want to do something big. Yes, we’ve played better. We look better. But I think we need to consistently, every night, every possession.”

    “Those guys are really important to what we do. They’re very talented players, CB and AG,” Johnson added. “Very gritty guys. Contribute a lot to the game. But it’s part of the league, you know? It’s part of the game. Eighty-two games is a long season. Sometimes, things happen. I think we have the depth that we can (trust the) next man up and rally and find ways to maximize the guys available on the floor.”

    If Gordon sits out an extended period that corresponds with Braun’s recovery, getting stops will be Denver’s biggest bugaboo. The team’s defensive rating when those two players share the floor is an elite 109.5 in 241 minutes. It’s 118.9 when they’re both off the floor. The Kings turned the ball over only six times on Saturday. Russell Westbrook scored 15 fourth-quarter points to fuel their win, which snapped an eight-game skid.

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    Bennett Durando

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  • Minnesota Timberwolves defeat Sacramento Kings 124-110 in NBA Cup game

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    Anthony Edwards scored 30 points and Julius Randle added 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away in the fourth quarter and beat the Sacramento Kings 124-110 in an NBA Cup game Friday night.

    Donte DiVincenzo made five 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the Timberwolves, who have won four in a row and are 2-0 in the NBA Cup. Naz Reid had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota.

    Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 34 points and 11 rebounds. Zach LaVine scored 25 points, while Russell Westbrook extended his NBA record with his 205th career triple-double, posting 13 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.

    Sacramento, which gave up a season-high 144 points in a loss to the Timberwolves on Sunday, has lost five straight overall and is 0-2 in the NBA Cup.

    Leading 92-91 after three quarters, the Wolves started the fourth on an 11-2 run, keyed by two DiVincenzo 3-pointers, the second coming after Jaden McDaniels rebounded a Randle missed free throw and found DiVincenzo, who buried a 32-foot shot to make it 103-94.

    After two quick buckets by the Kings, the Wolves went on a 16-2 run to break the game open. Rudy Gobert had a dunk and a tip-in on consecutive possessions as Minnesota pulled away.

    The Timberwolves led by as many as 11 in the first quarter, but the Kings came back and took a 49-47 lead on an alley-oop layup from Westbrook to LaVine.

    Up next

    Timberwolves: Host the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

    Kings: At the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

    NOTE: The attached video first aired on Nov. 13, 2025.

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    CBS Minnesota

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  • Sabonis’ clutch put-back lifts Kings over Jazz in thriller

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    Domantas Sabonis wasn’t supposed to return on Friday night–not yet. But the Sacramento Kings are sure glad he did.Sabonis, who was thought to be unavailable until Sunday’s game against Los Angeles, was cleared from a hamstring strain early on Friday that resulted in him becoming available against the Utah Jazz.(Video Above: Fan excitement builds at Sacramento Kings home opener)In what was Sacramento’s home-opener, Sabonis’ clutch put-back basket during the final seconds of regulation delivered the Kings a 105-104 win–their first of the 2025-26 season.Sabonis’ late-game heroics went hand-in-hand with a clutch final stop by veteran guard Dennis Schroder, who put the clamps on Jazz guard Keyonte George’s game-winning attempt that came up empty to finish off the winning effort.It wasn’t a beautiful game from Sacramento, but they did enough in crunch time to come away with a win that–even in game two of 82–they felt like they needed.The upcoming schedule is daunting, and the Kings need to stack wins when they can. Friday’s home-opener sent fans home with smiles on their faces, and that’s the most important thing for Sacramento (1-1).Kings vs. Jazz recap & takeawaysAfter a sluggish start that included falling into an immediate six-point hole, Sacramento bounced back thanks to a red-hot start from Zach LaVine.LaVine, who scored 30 points on 13-of-24 shooting from the field during Wednesday’s season-opening loss in Phoenix, scored 15 points on five-of-eight shooting (two-of-four from three-point range) over just seven minutes in the first quarter to ignite the Kings’ offense.Ball movement was crisp early, as Sacramento handed out nine assists on the first 11 made baskets to take control heading into the second quarter.After shooting 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep during the first quarter, the Kings’ offense struggled in the second, allowing Utah to stop the bleeding and keep things close. Sacramento shot just 32 percent from the field in the second, while LaVine went scoreless in the period.The Kings’ offense still appears to be a work in progress, as the ball-movement from the first quarter disappeared in the second (two assists and three turnovers). Still, Sacramento took a three-point lead into the second half as they looked to secure their first win of the 2025-26 season.After going scoreless in the second quarter, LaVine got involved in the offense again as play entered the second half.A sputtering Kings offense leaned on the star guard as LaVine scored nine points in the period to help Sacramento re-establish a lead, with Malik Monk continuing his strong start following Wednesday’s 19-point outing in Phoenix by scoring nine points of his own in the third to aid his teammate.Monk and Russell Westbrook brought energy off the bench to breathe life into the Kings’ offense, with Monk’s buzzer-beating, step-back triple sending a packed crowd into a frenzy as Sacramento took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.While Utah’s three-point shooting was abysmal for the majority of the night, things shifted the other direction during the second half for the Jazz.After going six-for-21 (28%) from downtown during the first half, Utah opened up the fourth quarter by knocking down three of its first six attempts to keep Sacramento close.All-Star big Lauri Markkanen was a problem for an undersized Kings defense, and while he punished the Kings’ interior defense, supporting cast members Kyle Filipowski, Bryce Sensabaugh, and rookie Walter Clayton Jr. applied pressure from the perimeter to regain the lead with less than eight minutes to go.LaVine, Westbrook, and Dennis Schroder all had big plays in crunch time, but Utah wouldn’t go away.Westbrook’s foul on Markkanen with 28.1 to go allowed the Jazz to take a 104-103 lead, but Sacramento would answer in thrilling fashion as Domantas Sabonis corralled his own miss and went back up to give the Kings a one-point lead with 5.2 seconds remaining.Sabonis missed his and-one free-throw, giving Utah a chance to win on the final possession. Schroder did a solid job contesting Utah guard Keyonte George’s game-winning attempt, and the shot missed everything as Golden 1 Center erupted simultaneously as the final horn sounded.It wasn’t pretty, but a gritty finish that culminated with timely baskets and stops on the defensive end gave Sacramento its first Beam of the 2025-26 season. Sabonis Makes His DebutWhile he was originally scheduled to be re-evaluated on Saturday, Domantas Sabonis (hamstring strain) made his season debut on Friday night.Sabonis, who is known for playing through injuries, sat during Wednesday’s season-opening loss in Phoenix. After missing just one game, the three-time defending NBA rebound champion logged a practice session on Thursday before being cleared to return to the hardwood against Utah.Sacramento will conclude its brief two-game home stand on Sunday afternoon when it faces Luka Doncic and the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center.Westbrook Lights The BeamRussell Westbrook is already on his way to becoming a fan-favorite among Sacramento Kings fans.Westbrook, who made his home debut on Friday, was a sparkplug during the win, scoring seven points and handing out four assists to go along with one steal over 17 minutes.The future Hall of Famer was tasked with defending the seven-footer Markkanen at times, and his hustle plays didn’t go unnoticed–especially his triple in the fourth quarter that kept Utah from expanding on a four-point lead with less than five minutes to go.Westbrook told reporters after the game that until joining Sacramento last week, he hadn’t played five-on-five since May, when he was playing for Denver in the NBA Playoffs.Following the game, Westbrook made his way over to the scorer’s table, where he lit the first beam of the 2025-26 season.“Been looking forward to doing that since I’ve been here,” Westbrook said of the beam lighting.This story first appeared on Sactown Sports. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    Domantas Sabonis wasn’t supposed to return on Friday night–not yet. But the Sacramento Kings are sure glad he did.

    Sabonis, who was thought to be unavailable until Sunday’s game against Los Angeles, was cleared from a hamstring strain early on Friday that resulted in him becoming available against the Utah Jazz.

    (Video Above: Fan excitement builds at Sacramento Kings home opener)

    In what was Sacramento’s home-opener, Sabonis’ clutch put-back basket during the final seconds of regulation delivered the Kings a 105-104 win–their first of the 2025-26 season.

    Sabonis’ late-game heroics went hand-in-hand with a clutch final stop by veteran guard Dennis Schroder, who put the clamps on Jazz guard Keyonte George’s game-winning attempt that came up empty to finish off the winning effort.

    It wasn’t a beautiful game from Sacramento, but they did enough in crunch time to come away with a win that–even in game two of 82–they felt like they needed.

    The upcoming schedule is daunting, and the Kings need to stack wins when they can. Friday’s home-opener sent fans home with smiles on their faces, and that’s the most important thing for Sacramento (1-1).

    Kings vs. Jazz recap & takeaways

    After a sluggish start that included falling into an immediate six-point hole, Sacramento bounced back thanks to a red-hot start from Zach LaVine.

    LaVine, who scored 30 points on 13-of-24 shooting from the field during Wednesday’s season-opening loss in Phoenix, scored 15 points on five-of-eight shooting (two-of-four from three-point range) over just seven minutes in the first quarter to ignite the Kings’ offense.

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    Ball movement was crisp early, as Sacramento handed out nine assists on the first 11 made baskets to take control heading into the second quarter.

    After shooting 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep during the first quarter, the Kings’ offense struggled in the second, allowing Utah to stop the bleeding and keep things close. Sacramento shot just 32 percent from the field in the second, while LaVine went scoreless in the period.

    The Kings’ offense still appears to be a work in progress, as the ball-movement from the first quarter disappeared in the second (two assists and three turnovers). Still, Sacramento took a three-point lead into the second half as they looked to secure their first win of the 2025-26 season.

    SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Russell Westbrook #18 of the Sacramento Kings goes up for a shot on Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center on October 24, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

    After going scoreless in the second quarter, LaVine got involved in the offense again as play entered the second half.

    A sputtering Kings offense leaned on the star guard as LaVine scored nine points in the period to help Sacramento re-establish a lead, with Malik Monk continuing his strong start following Wednesday’s 19-point outing in Phoenix by scoring nine points of his own in the third to aid his teammate.

    Monk and Russell Westbrook brought energy off the bench to breathe life into the Kings’ offense, with Monk’s buzzer-beating, step-back triple sending a packed crowd into a frenzy as Sacramento took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.

    While Utah’s three-point shooting was abysmal for the majority of the night, things shifted the other direction during the second half for the Jazz.

    After going six-for-21 (28%) from downtown during the first half, Utah opened up the fourth quarter by knocking down three of its first six attempts to keep Sacramento close.

    SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Dennis Schröder #17, Zach Lavine #8 and Russell Westbrook #18 of the Sacramento Kings react after they beat the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center on October 24, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

    All-Star big Lauri Markkanen was a problem for an undersized Kings defense, and while he punished the Kings’ interior defense, supporting cast members Kyle Filipowski, Bryce Sensabaugh, and rookie Walter Clayton Jr. applied pressure from the perimeter to regain the lead with less than eight minutes to go.

    LaVine, Westbrook, and Dennis Schroder all had big plays in crunch time, but Utah wouldn’t go away.

    Westbrook’s foul on Markkanen with 28.1 to go allowed the Jazz to take a 104-103 lead, but Sacramento would answer in thrilling fashion as Domantas Sabonis corralled his own miss and went back up to give the Kings a one-point lead with 5.2 seconds remaining.

    SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Zach Lavine #8 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz during the second half at Golden 1 Center on October 24, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

    Sabonis missed his and-one free-throw, giving Utah a chance to win on the final possession. Schroder did a solid job contesting Utah guard Keyonte George’s game-winning attempt, and the shot missed everything as Golden 1 Center erupted simultaneously as the final horn sounded.

    It wasn’t pretty, but a gritty finish that culminated with timely baskets and stops on the defensive end gave Sacramento its first Beam of the 2025-26 season.

    Sabonis Makes His Debut

    While he was originally scheduled to be re-evaluated on Saturday, Domantas Sabonis (hamstring strain) made his season debut on Friday night.

    Sabonis, who is known for playing through injuries, sat during Wednesday’s season-opening loss in Phoenix. After missing just one game, the three-time defending NBA rebound champion logged a practice session on Thursday before being cleared to return to the hardwood against Utah.

    Sacramento will conclude its brief two-game home stand on Sunday afternoon when it faces Luka Doncic and the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center.

    Westbrook Lights The Beam

    Russell Westbrook is already on his way to becoming a fan-favorite among Sacramento Kings fans.

    Westbrook, who made his home debut on Friday, was a sparkplug during the win, scoring seven points and handing out four assists to go along with one steal over 17 minutes.

    The future Hall of Famer was tasked with defending the seven-footer Markkanen at times, and his hustle plays didn’t go unnoticed–especially his triple in the fourth quarter that kept Utah from expanding on a four-point lead with less than five minutes to go.

    Westbrook told reporters after the game that until joining Sacramento last week, he hadn’t played five-on-five since May, when he was playing for Denver in the NBA Playoffs.

    Following the game, Westbrook made his way over to the scorer’s table, where he lit the first beam of the 2025-26 season.

    “Been looking forward to doing that since I’ve been here,” Westbrook said of the beam lighting.

    This story first appeared on Sactown Sports.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Former MVP Russell Westbrook to sign with Sacramento Kings, sources say

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    Russell Westbrook has agreed on a deal to play with the Sacramento Kings and is expected to be signed on Thursday, league sources confirmed to KCRA 3’s Michelle Dapper.Westbrook is a nine-time All-Star and was named the NBA’s MVP in 2017.He earlier won an Olympic gold medal in London in 2012.This will be the 18th season for the 36-year-old point guard, who most recently played with the Denver Nuggets.The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.While the signing is not yet official, Kings’ players were asked what an addition like Westbrook would bring to the team. Dennis Schröder described him as a “competitor and close friend” that never backs down. “He’s an amazing player, no question,” rookie big-man Maxime Raynaud said. The Kings will begin their regular season against the Suns in Phoenix on Oct. 22 and their home opener is on Oct. 24 against the Utah Jazz.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    Russell Westbrook has agreed on a deal to play with the Sacramento Kings and is expected to be signed on Thursday, league sources confirmed to KCRA 3’s Michelle Dapper.

    Westbrook is a nine-time All-Star and was named the NBA’s MVP in 2017.

    He earlier won an Olympic gold medal in London in 2012.

    This will be the 18th season for the 36-year-old point guard, who most recently played with the Denver Nuggets.

    The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    While the signing is not yet official, Kings’ players were asked what an addition like Westbrook would bring to the team.

    Dennis Schröder described him as a “competitor and close friend” that never backs down.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    “He’s an amazing player, no question,” rookie big-man Maxime Raynaud said.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    The Kings will begin their regular season against the Suns in Phoenix on Oct. 22 and their home opener is on Oct. 24 against the Utah Jazz.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Nikola Jokic triple-double leads Nuggets to second straight overtime win on road

    Nikola Jokic triple-double leads Nuggets to second straight overtime win on road

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    BROOKLYN, N.Y. — To get their first win of the season, the Nuggets almost had to sacrifice their second.

    Michael Malone knew the risk he was taking. It narrowly paid off Monday night in Toronto with an overtime breakthrough. But the physical strain on his starters was visible 24 hours later as they instantly struggled to defend the perimeter against a team widely projected to be the worst in the NBA.

    The Nuggets allowed 40 first-quarter points and fell behind by as many as 17 in the second before they revived themselves again for a 144-139 win over the Nets on Tuesday — again, in overtime.

    Nikola Jokic lifted his team with another masterpiece: 29 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists on 9-of-16 shooting. In a deja vu sequence down by three at the end of regulation, the Nuggets opted to go for two points with 33.8 seconds left. Malone called for a Jokic post-up, like Monday, which Jokic easily executed, like Monday. Then, like Monday, the Nuggets’ opponent missed a free throw, allowing them a chance to tie it in the final seconds without needing a three. Again, Denver dialed up a Jokic post-up.

    “We are trying to get there to see, are they gonna double?” the center said.

    Brooklyn didn’t. The three-time MVP backed his way to an effortless baby hook with nine ticks left.

    “They doubled him a lot tonight,” Malone said. “This was more, they waited for him to dribble the ball and then the double came. I’m so happy I get to coach Nikola because I can’t imagine game-planning for guarding that guy.”

    The only difference between their back-to-back magic acts: This time, the Nuggets left enough time to give up a wide-open corner three as time expired. Dorian Finney-Smith clanked it.

    And again, the starting lineup found itself logging extra hours at the office. Malone had already gone to an eight-man rotation in the second half of the Toronto game.

    “Obviously we found ourselves in a game last night that we kind of shortened our rotation up a little bit in the second half, feeling the pressure of trying to get the first win of the season,” he said before opening tip at Barclays Center. “And when you look at the box score after the game, especially going into the second night of a back-to-back in Brooklyn, you have your starters all at or near 40 minutes. And that’s not sustainable. We can’t do that. Game three, it was cool, man. Let’s get our first win, kind of take a deep breath. But that’s not sustainable.”

    His foresight was probably more immediate than he hoped. The Nets shot 12 of 24 from beyond the arc in the first half. When they weren’t launching, Denver’s defenders took the bait anyway, allowing drivers to get behind them and playing catch-up on rotations. After another rough bench stint, Brooklyn led 47-30 with 9:42 remaining in the half.

    The Nuggets’ collective redemption arrived in the form of a snarling, sharpshooting Russell Westbrook about an hour later. He had already been the best version of himself in the first half, zipping brilliant entry passes to Jokic and bullying his way to the foul line with the second unit (then converting the free throws). But on the last possession of the third quarter, with Denver trailing 99-93, he stepped into just his second 3-point make of the season. On the first possession of the fourth, he drove and kicked to Peyton Watson for a corner three. Tie game.

    His next pull-up 3-point attempt, ill-advised or not, gave him 22 points on 12 shots and capped a 13-2 run. It was 106-101, Denver.

    Russ giveth and Russ taketh. He shanked an uncontested dunk with his left hand during a quick 5-0 answer from Brooklyn, setting the stage for Denver’s second consecutive suspenseful finish.

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    Bennett Durando

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  • Kawhi scores 14 in return, Clippers hold off Lakers 103-97

    Kawhi scores 14 in return, Clippers hold off Lakers 103-97

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    LOS ANGELES — Kawhi Leonard had 14 points and seven rebounds in his first game in 16 months, and the Los Angeles Clippers opened a season of sky-high expectations with a 103-97 victory over the Lakers on Thursday night.

    Paul George scored 15 points and John Wall added 15 in his debut for the Clippers, who held on down the stretch to beat their more pedigreed Los Angeles rivals for the eighth consecutive time.

    Leonard came off the bench for the first time since 2013 and played 21 minutes in his first game since he tore a ligament in his right knee in a playoff game in June 2021. The two-time NBA Finals MVP decided to ease back in a temporary reserve role after missing all of last season while recovering from surgery.

    “My goal was to try to be great in my minutes,” Leonard said. “Have fun, obviously stay healthy and win the basketball game. We did that tonight. Just the first game, though. We’ve got a lot to go.”

    The Clippers’ high hopes for their first championship rest largely on Leonard’s ability to return to elite form. Leonard and George are healthy now alongside five-time All-Star Wall, who provided an immediate spark in his first NBA game in 18 months after sitting out last season in Houston.

    “I was turned up for sure,” Wall said of his return. “It felt great, I ain’t gonna lie. … We’ve got a new team, and it’s just going to take some time for us offensively with me (and Leonard) on a minutes restriction, but with due time, we’ll get there.”

    Anthony Davis scored 25 points despite reduced mobility after a mid-game fall, while LeBron James had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the 20th home opener of his career. Lonnie Walker scored 26 points in his Lakers home debut.

    The Lakers dropped to 0-2, but still rallied from two large deficits and kept it close into the final minute despite nightmare shooting performances from Russell Westbrook (0 for 11) and fellow point guards Patrick Beverley (1 for 7) and Kendrick Nunn (0 for 7) in their Lakers home debuts. The Lakers went 9 for 45 on 3-pointers overall.

    “We’re getting great looks, all our guys,” Davis said. “Continue to have confidence in yourself. Don’t let missed shots take away your confidence. Keep shooting. Be confident in your shot, and they’re going to fall.”

    The oft-injured Davis gave fans a fright when he crashed to the floor after being undercut in the third quarter. He returned a few minutes later and played through back pain.

    TIP-INS

    Clippers: Marcus Morris and Ivica Zubac scored 14 points apiece. Zubac added 17 rebounds, including six offensive boards.

    Lakers: This injury-plagued franchise already has four players sidelined, including G Dennis Schröder (thumb surgery) and C Thomas Bryant (thumb surgery).

    KAWHI BENCHED

    Leonard suggested the idea of coming off the bench until he feels fully up to speed. Leonard had started 447 consecutive regular season games and 100 playoff contests since Nov. 10. 2013, when he came off the bench for the Spurs in New York.

    Leonard indicated he’ll likely sit out one of the Clippers’ back-to-back games this weekend.

    RUSS NOT BENCHED

    Lakers coach Darvin Ham said he briefly spoke to Westbrook about the guard’s claim that coming off the bench possibly contributed to his preseason hamstring injury because he didn’t know how to warm up properly for a reserve role after spending the previous 13 years as an NBA starter. Ham said he and the Lakers “would in no way, shape or form put a player in harm’s way.”

    UP NEXT

    Clippers: At Kings on Saturday.

    Lakers: Host Trail Blazers on Sunday.

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    More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Why The Los Angeles Lakers Need To Go All-In As Soon As Possible

    Why The Los Angeles Lakers Need To Go All-In As Soon As Possible

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    Russell Westbrook and two first-round draft picks for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.

    The above deal has been rumored for months, with the Lakers seemingly unwilling to include both their remaining tradeable draft selections in 2027 and 2029, and Indiana refusing to relinquish that caliber of talent, and taking on the contract of Westbrook, for anything less.

    The mexican standoff is likely to spill into the regular season until someone caves. But with the emergence of Victor Wembanyama as arguably the most hyped draft pick over the past two decades, an interesting subplot has entered the narrative.

    The ghost of the Anthony Davis trade

    When the Lakers traded for Anthony Davis in 2019, they gave up the farm. Virtually all their draft capital went to the New Orleans Pelicans, along with Brandon Ingram who developed into an All-Star in the Big Easy.

    In that package was a 2023 swap option, that gives the Pelicans the right to swap first-round picks. The swap is entirely unprotected, meaning the Lakers could – in theory – win the NBA Draft Lottery, and thus the right to select Wembanyama, only for the Pelicans to exercise that right, swoop in, and pick off the generational talent with the Lakers forced to watch.

    Some might point to the Lakers having a certain player on the roster by the name of LeBron James, and argue that with him around, it’s impossible for the franchise to ever be that bad to be in contention for the first overall pick.

    That logic is, however, highly flawed. The Lakers conveyed their 2022 first-rounder to the Pelicans, which ended up being the eight overall selection, as a result of a 33-win season. Even if they finish at the same spot this season, the lottery is still a lottery, meaning they could potentially win it.

    If Davis has another injury-riddled season, and they don’t find a solution to the Westbrook conundrum, it won’t really matter if they have a soon-to-be 38-year-old James.

    The level of control the Lakers do have is pulling the trigger on the Indiana trade, and thus drastically improving their chances of making it to the playoffs. That way, they could avoid forking over a lottery selection to the Pelicans.

    The logic of going all-in

    It’s understandable if the Lakers look at that trade as a lost cause, and wish to not let it dictate future moves. However, that would be dangerous.

    If the Lakers do end up winning the lottery, and thus be forced to send the rights to Wembanyama to the Pelicans, consider for a moment the change in power dynamic in the NBA.

    The Pelicans, with Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, Ingram, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Dyson Daniels, and whoever they can get for Jonas Valanciunas will likely enter Wembanyama’s rookie season as a legitimate championship candidate, and quickly turn into the championship favorites by the next season, which is a status that could last for a decade.

    Not only would the Lakers themselves, who are still trying to win, have no chance of beating that Pelicans team; they’d have built a powerhouse within their own conference that would have instant dynasty upside.

    (They’d also add a reported $500 million to their franchise value, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.)

    What incentive would James or Davis have to stay in that conference, knowing they stand a better chance of getting back to the Finals by joining a team in the East?

    Granted, this is long-term, worst-case thinking. But given the flattened lottery odds, the worst three teams stand just a 14% chance to win the lottery. The ten worst teams all stand at least a 3% chance of winning the lottery. So this isn’t inconceivable.

    There would be an incredible ripple effect should the above scenario play out, one that would essentially remove the Lakers, and most other Western Conference team, from serious contention for a long time.

    As such, it would actually be in the best interest of the Lakers themselves to be proactive, and not block their future path towards the Finals. That means caving, and forking over the two selections to Indiana.

    Heck, it might even be in the best interest of most Western Conference teams to further help the Lakers avoid the Wembanyama scenario, as to not help them build a generational team in New Orleans that would compete against them for the next decade. That is how absurd a situation this could become.

    As for the Pelicans, they’re just biding their time and hoping the Lakers implode once again. General manager David Griffin would want for nothing more than the Lakers to insist upon their stubbornness, and for this to drag out for as long as possible, solely for the Lakers to dig themselves as deep a hole as they can, before they wake up and realize what they stand to benefit by making that Pacers trader sooner than later.

    Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

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    Morten Jensen, Contributor

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  • Westbrook injures hamstring in Lakers’ preseason finale

    Westbrook injures hamstring in Lakers’ preseason finale

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    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Russell Westbrook left the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason finale because of an injured left hamstring after five scoreless minutes off the bench Friday night.

    Coming off the bench for the first time since he was a rookie, Westbrook entered midway through the first quarter in the Lakers’ 133-86 loss to Sacramento. He missed two 3-pointers and had two turnovers.

    LeBron James led the Lakers with 12 points, playing 20 minutes. Los Angeles also was without Anthony Davis, with the big man skipping the trip for precautionary reasons because of lower-back tightness.

    The Lakers are set to open the regular season Tuesday night at defending champion Golden State.

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    More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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