Devin Booker scores 52 points to lift the Suns over the Pelicans 124-111
Devin Booker scored 52 points, the fifth-highest scoring game of his career, to power the Phoenix Suns to a 124-111 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, bringing them within a game of the Pelicans for the No. 6 playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Thompson has season-high 33, Warriors edge Lakers 117-115
Klay Thompson scored 16 of his season-high 33 points in the fourth quarter, Stephen Curry made a clutch layup with 46 seconds remaining, and the Golden State Warriors held off the Los Angeles Lakers 117-115, spoiling another scoring milestone by LeBron James.
LeBron returns with triple-double, Lakers beat Knicks in OT
LeBron James returned from a five-game absence due to injury and had a triple-double of 29 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from a 21-point, second-quarter deficit, beating the New York Knicks 122-115 in overtime Saturday night.
Suns roll past LeBron-less Lakers for 111-94 win
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul gets fouled by Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 21, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)PHOENIX โ The LeBron-less Los Angeles Lakers are off to a predictably slow start. Los Angeles played without 17-time All-Star LeBron James for just the second time this season and fell to 0-2 in his absence. Los Angeles is also playing without All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who has missed a big chunk of the season with a right calf strain. TIP-INSLakers: Without James, Los Angeles went with a starting lineup of Wesley Matthews, Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Schroder.
LeBron James sprains right ankle in loss, out indefinitely
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James holds his ankle after going down with an injury during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)LOS ANGELES โ LeBron James left in the second quarter with a high right ankle sprain that the Lakers said will sideline him indefinitely, and Los Angeles went on to fall 99-94 to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Two hours after the game, the Lakers announced that James is out indefinitely. Harrell suggested Hill's actions during James' injury were โnot a basketball play,โ and said the officials should have considered giving him more than a personal foul. UP NEXTHawks: At Los Angeles Clippers on Monday nightLakers: At Phoenix on Sunday night.
LeBron, short-handed Lakers beat up on Warriors 128-97
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks in front of Golden State Warriors forward Eric Paschall (7) and center James Wiseman during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Monday, March 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)SAN FRANCISCO โ LeBron James had a triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, leading the injury-depleted Los Angeles Lakers past the Golden State Warriors 128-97 on Monday night. Stephen Curry scored 27 points with four 3-pointers and became the Warriors' franchise assists leader a day after his 33rd birthday and in his 12th NBA season. Warriors: Golden State hasn't beaten the Lakers at home since a 115-101 victory on Feb. 2, 2019 โ so never at the second-year Chase Center. The Warriors wrapped up their eighth back-to-back this season and third of five playing consecutive days at home.
Suns overcome Booker's ejection, hold off Lakers 114-104
Phoenix Suns forward Dario Saric, right, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)LOS ANGELES โ Dario ล ariฤ scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, Mikal Bridges added 19 and the Phoenix Suns overcame Devin Booker's ejection for a 114-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. I feel it was a great road trip.โLeBron James scored 38 points for Los Angeles, which has lost five of seven with mounting injury problems. Dennis Schrรถder added 17 points, but the Lakers couldn't keep up without regulars Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma and Marc Gasol. โOur guys are giving great effort and great hustle and great fight.
Take note: At 26-6, Utah Jazz are the NBA's best team so far
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)Looking at individual stats reveals nothing about the Utah Jazz. โNobodyโs playing as well as the Utah Jazz in the NBA right now.โAdAt 26-6, the Jazz sit atop the NBA. The Jazz have made 544 3s, the most in NBA history by any team in its first 32 games. But with the way they're playing now, even Vogel concedes that the Jazz are doing a whole lot right. Theyโre playing like the best team in the league right now.โ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Heat hold off depleted Lakers 96-94 in NBA Finals rematch
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, tries to pass as Miami Heat guard Gabe Vincent defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Heat even kept it together to pull out a win over the defending NBA champions despite a fourth quarter that nearly went wrong. Nunn scored 27 points, Jimmy Butler had 24 points and eight rebounds, and Miami held off the Los Angeles Lakers 96-94 Saturday night in an NBA Finals rematch. Kyle Kuzma scored 23 points while hitting four 3-pointers, and Montrezl Harrell had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers. ... Goran Dragiฤ missed his eighth straight game with a sprained left ankle.
Jokic powers Nuggets by Lakers, Davis re-aggravates Achilles
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)DENVER โ The sight of Anthony Davis limping off the court was hard for the Los Angeles Lakers to shake. Nikola Jokic recorded his sixth triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggets beat the Lakers 122-105 on Sunday night in a game in which Davis re-aggravated his sore right Achilles. Now, the only thought for the Lakers is the result of Davis' MRI on Monday for what the team called a strain. For his big game, Jokic credited a new mindset. Entering the game, Davis was questionable with what was described as right Achilles tendinosis.
Lakers F Anthony Davis set for MRI on strained Achilles
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, left, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets guards Jamal Murray, center, and Monte Morris defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)DENVER โ Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis will undergo an MRI on Monday after re-aggravating a sore right Achilles late in the first half of a 122-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Davis hobbled to the free-throw line, made both shots and then was subbed out with 2:39 remaining. AdEntering Sunday's game, Davis was questionable with what was described as right Achilles tendinosis. Everyone, individually, has to pick up their play for the collective of the team in A.D.โs absence.โAdThe Lakers play in Minnesota on Tuesday.
LeBron takes charge in 2nd OT, Lakers edge Pistons 135-129
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Lakers committed a season-high 23 turnovers, blew a 17-point lead and wasted several chances to win in regulation. He tied it on a driving layup with 3.1 seconds left, and James missed a driving layup at the buzzer. โThereโs so many learning situations for young players and our guys to play against a great team like the Lakers. Lakers: Vogel got a technical foul in the second quarter for arguing about a blocking call on Marc Gasol.
Harris shot in final seconds leads 76ers past Lakers 107-106
Jamesโ push of the 76ers big man got him hit with a flagrant 1 and Embiid cried foul. Harris swished a jumper with 3 seconds left, ending the Lakersโ 13-0 run and sending Philadelphia to a 107-106 victory over Los Angeles on Wednesday night. The 76ers lead the East at 13-6 and the Lakers are 14-5 in the West. James hit Anthony Davis for the go-ahead basket with 11.2 seconds to go for a 106-105 lead and cap that run. YOU AGAINGreen and backup center Dwight Howard played key roles in the Lakersโ championship last season.
LeBron scores 46, Lakers beat Cavs to stay perfect on road
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers' Dylan Windler (9) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)CLEVELAND โ Back home, LeBron James kept the Lakers perfect on the road. When James was short with a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter, the unidentified Cavs executive celebrated. It was only James' second trip back to Cleveland since he left the Cavs for the second time as a free agent after the 2018 season. โIt's more of a somber-tone-type-of-day.โThe Lakers are spending the night in Cleveland before flying to Philadelphia โ Bryant's hometown โ on Tuesday.
Davis scores season-high 37 as Lakers beat Bulls 101-90
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, shoots against Chicago Bulls forward Thaddeus Young during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. Davis dominated with a season-high 37 points against his hometown team, LeBron James added 17 points and 11 rebounds and the Lakers beat the Chicago Bulls 101-90 on Saturday. Davis scored 26 points in the highest scoring half by a Laker this season as Los Angeles grabbed a 63-33 lead. Bulls: Chicago shot 39 about percent from the field and made 8 of 25 3-pointers. Bulls: Chicago hosts Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics.
Hammon first woman to coach NBA team; Lakers beat Spurs
Hammon became the first woman to direct an NBA team, taking over the Spurs after coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in a 121-107 loss to the Lakers. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)SAN ANTONIO โ Becky Hammon would have preferred a victory over history after becoming the first woman to coach an NBA team. The Lakers took their first double-digit lead at 35-25 on Kyle Kuzmaโs 3-pointer with 1:14 remaining in the first quarter. Lakers coach Frank Vogel did not elaborate on Carusoโs status. Spurs: Popovich said the Spurs will monitor Aldridgeโs knee soreness on a day-to-day basis.
Still The King: James wins AP Male Athlete of Year award
The AP award was first given out in 1931. Jamesโ fourth win matched Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods for the most by men. Three women have won the AP award at least four times; Babe Didrikson was a six-time winner, Serena Williams has won five and Chris Evert four. James โ also the APโs male athlete of this past decade โ also won the yearly AP award in 2013, 2016 and 2018. Michael Jordan, a three-time winner, is the only other basketball player to win the AP award more than once.
George's 33 send Clippers past Lakers 116-109 on ring night
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, is defended by Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)LOS ANGELES โ After the Los Angeles Lakers got their championship rings, the Los Angeles Clippers gave a performance that showed this retooled team is determined to contend for its own jewelry several months from now. Paul George scored 26 of his 33 points in the second half, Kawhi Leonard added 26 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied past the Los Angeles Lakers on the NBA championsโ ring ceremony night for a 116-109 victory Tuesday. The Clippers beat the Lakers in the season opener for the second straight year while winning coach Tyronn Lueโs debut. Schrรถder also was impressive in his Lakers debut, with 14 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
The NBA preseason begins, with empty arenas as the stages
Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford talks to players during a timeout in the first half of the team's NBA preseason basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. The NBA preseason โ a truncated 49-game, nine-day sprint โ opened Friday with a five-game slate, action returning to NBA arenas for the first time in exactly nine months. Fridayโs games:KNICKS 90, PISTONS 84At Detroit, R.J. Barrett scored 15 points and Toppin finished with 11 points and seven rebounds in his debut as the Knicks won their preseason opener. Julius Randle scored 11, while Elfrid Payton and Nerlens Noel each scored 10 for New York. Svi Mykhailiuk and Saddiq Bey led the Pistons with 14 points apiece.
LeBron considers load management, maps future with Lakers
James chose that year deliberately: His oldest son, LeBron James Jr., will graduate from high school in 2023. The uniqueness of 2020 has forced James and the Lakers to consider whether they should practice load management this season. James and the Lakers haven't decided on their plans for the regular season, with James saying there's โa fine lineโ between strategic rest and unnecessary inactivity. We think heโs going to be very effective and provide extraordinary value for every year he decides to play as a Laker. Iโm sure heโll hang many jerseys someday, but we hope one of those will be a Lakers jersey.โ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Vogel: Lakers 'have to be even better' to repeat as champs
FILE - Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, rear, and Anthony Davis (3) celebrate after the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 106-93 in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in this Oct. 11, 2020, file photo. Anthony Davis is finalizing a five-year contract worth up to $190 million to return to the Los Angeles Lakers. One day after LeBron James agreed to a two-year, $85 million contract extension with the Lakers through 2022-23, Davis committed to the Lakers through the 2024-25 season. A distinct lack of vacation time aside, Los Angeles begins the new season in an apparently stellar position. "The first thing you have to understand about going into a repeat situation is itโs going to be harder than the year before.
Coaching can wait: Rondo plots future, but stays in present
For the first time in his long career, Rondo is the oldest guy on the team. โTo be honest, Iโve been doing that for the last five or six years of my career,โ Rondo said. I've been working to understand young talent, understand the (collective bargaining agreement). This is a young team with so much upside and versatility. ... We're on the the upswing for great things here in the city of Atlanta.โHis future career can wait.
Butler loses last game in the bubble after memorable run
There will be no more coffee customers with the bubble closing down, though he kept it open far longer than expected with some of the most inspired NBA Finals play seen in years. Butler carried the Miami Heat all the way to Game 6 against the favored Los Angeles Lakers but the weight of his efforts seemed to leave him with little energy Sunday. โI didnโt win so none of the stats matter,โ Butler said. But Butler made no excuses, not only saying the Heat could win, but that they should win. Denying Butler the salesman was easier for Vogel than clamping down on Butler the basketball player.
Rondo, a champ in Boston, on brink of getting a Lakers ring
These days, however, the words James uses when speaking of the Los Angeles Lakersโ backup point guard include cerebral and determined. Rondo helped the Boston Celtics win their 17th NBA championship. So, Rondo could be the first player to win a title for both Boston and Los Angeles. James still remembers playoff matchups in 2008 and 2010, when he was in Cleveland and Rondo was with Boston. When the Lakers had a chance to get Rondo, they didnโt hesitate โ so clearly, James was more than fine with the move.
Lakers will look to close Heat out in Game 5 of NBA Finals
Boxes are being shipped out of the NBA bubble in advance of the looming shutdown. The NBA Finals โ and the longest season in league history, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and 4-1/2 month shutdown that followed โ could end on Friday night, with James and the Lakers going into Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead over the Miami Heat. โI think we all know that tomorrow night is also a must-win for us, just as much as it is a must-win for the Heat,โ Lakers forward Anthony Davis said. The Lakers will aim to head into Friday night with the same desperation that Miami will have while facing elimination. Jimmy Butler, Miamiโs leading scorer and best player by far in the series, said heโll set the Heat example for Game 5 by demanding more of everything from himself.
James' turnovers, Davis' fouls doom Lakers in Game 3 loss
James was whistled for traveling, ending a possession that could have given the Los Angeles Lakers a fourth-quarter lead. In the time of the game when he usually turns it up, James turned it over Sunday night, part of a sloppy performance by the Lakers in a 115-104 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Los Angeles committed 20 turnovers that led to 21 Miami points, with James committing a game-high eight of them. James and Davis had been putting up numbers like Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant through the first two games of the series. With Miami short-handed, the only intrigue seemed to be which of the two Lakers superstars would win the NBA Finals MVP award.
Heat are ailing, but insist NBA Finals vs Lakers aren't over
His teamโs starting point guard and center are both doubtful to play in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. And his Miami Heat are coming off a one-sided loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. That, combined with Miamiโs injury problems, sure seems to indicate that the Lakers have full control of this matchup. Lakers coach Frank Vogel said heโll plan for Dragic and Adebayo to play. All three of Miamiโs NBA titles came after Game 1 losses in the finals.
James, Herro see popularity rise in the NBA playoffs
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. โ LeBron Jamesโ popularity, even in his 17th season, cannot be argued. Herro, according to the NBA, saw the biggest increase in followers added โ 41% โ among all players during the conference finals. Herro became the first player born in the 2000s to play in the NBA Finals when he checked in during the first quarter of Game 1. FAMOUS FANSFormer President Barack Obama was among those in the โvirtualโ crowd of fans for Game 1 of the NBA Finals. A slew of players with NBA championships also were on the big screens, including Shaquille OโNeal and Dwyane Wade.
Lakers, Heat start their preparations for NBA Finals
What was once a 22-team bubble at Walt Disney World is down to the final two, with Adebayo and the Miami Heat set to take on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals that start on Wednesday night. Itโs the first finals matchup between the clubs, with the Lakers looking for a record-tying 17th title and the Heat seeking their fourth in the last 15 seasons. โBut we know that the job isnโt done yet.โThe Heat were spending much of Monday resting up before an evening team meeting would officially start their finals preparation process. Much like the Heat, the Lakers took a moment to enjoy winning the conference title. By Game 4 or so of this series, the Lakers and Heat will have been at Disney for three months.
Davis, Lakers beat Nuggets to take 3-1 lead in West finals
Anthony Davis scored 34 points, LeBron James had 26 and the Lakers beat the Nuggets 114-108 on Thursday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals. James added nine rebounds and eight assists, and the Lakers had 12 offensive rebounds for a whopping 25-6 advantage in second-chance points. Game 5 is Saturday, when the Lakers can reach the NBA Finals for the first time in a decade. With an array of short jumpers, Davis made his first six shots before anyone else on the Lakers made a basket. The Nuggets shot 59% in the first half but the Lakers had an 18-2 advantage in second-chance points.
Lakers try to regain control vs confident Nuggets in Game 4
Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray (27) looks on as Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis (3) grabs his wrist after falling to the floor during play in the second half of Game 3 of the NBA basketball Western Conference final Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers try to regain control vs confident Nuggets in Game 4
If the Los Angeles Lakers don't start playing better, the Nuggets might be right. Outplayed for much of the last 1 1/2 games, the top-seeded Lakers look to regain control of the series when the teams play Game 4 on Thursday night. The Lakers were careless with the ball and not disciplined enough on defense in Game 2, when they needed Anthony Davis' 3-pointer as time expired to avoid a loss. We have control of the series,โ Davis said. The Nuggets then scored 25 points in Game 3 off the Lakers' turnovers โ with James committing a game-high six of them in his 26th playoff triple-double.
Murray, Nuggets hang on in Game 3, cut Lakers' lead to 2-1
Jamal Murray had 28 points, 12 assists and two late 3-pointers to halt a Lakers charge, helping the Nuggets to a 114-106 victory Tuesday night that cut Los Angeles' lead to 2-1 in the Western Conference finals. It would grow to 18 and could have been worse if not for Davis, who scored nine straight Lakers points. The Lakers got the first five points of the third to cut the lead in half, but Denver regained control and led 93-75 after three. Nuggets: Denver's last halftime lead had been a 59-57 edge over the Clippers in Game 3 of the West semifinals. THE AIR UP THEREThe Lakers came into the game 4-0 in the playoffs as the designated road team.
Lakers roll past Nuggets 126-114 in West finals opener
The top-seeded Lakers opened a double-digit lead in the first half that they easily extended in the third quarter. The Lakers quickly knocked off any rust for another long layoff in the bubble against a Denver team that's had things much tougher. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray each scored 21 points for the Nuggets, playing in the conference finals for the first time since the Lakers beat them in 2009. The Nuggets fell to 7-22 against the Lakers in the postseason. ... Denver's 16 fouls in the second quarter tied the most by any team in a quarter this season.
At home, on the road or at Disney, James is tough to beat
Earlier in this postseason, he also became the all-time leader in playoff road wins. For the first time in NBA history, road teams have a winning record through the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Lakers are 3-0 in the playoffs as the road team so far, which has pushed James total for road playoff wins to 65 two more than Tim Duncan managed in his two decades with San Antonio. Nobody impacts winning more than LeBron James, Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. The difference was the supporting casts, and Rajon Rondos 21 points and nine assists were enormous for the Lakers.