The Los Angeles Lakers are set to receive a massive boost on the second night of their back-to-back on Wednesday as All-NBA center Anthony Davis returns against the San Antonio Spurs.
Davis has missed the past five-and-a-half weeks after hopping off the floor against the Denver Nuggets on December 16. It was subsequently revealed that he had suffered a fractured bone spur and a stress reaction in his right foot.
During the 20 games he spent on the sidelines, the Lakers have gone 10-10, bringing their overall record to 22-26 after Tuesday's loss to cross-town rivals the Los Angeles Clippers.
It leaves them with the third-worst record in the tightly bunched Western Conference, but they are only 2.5 games out of the six seed, which is currently occupied by the 25-24 Dallas Mavericks.
The return of Davis – reported by ESPN's Dave McMenamin – is seismic for Los Angeles. The 29-year-old franchise centerpiece was in the midst of his best statistical season in a Lakers uniform before his injury.
He is averaging 27.4 points per game – the most since one of his four All-NBA First Team seasons in 2017-18 – as well as a career-high 12.1 rebounds, which is only bettered by the Sacramento Kings' Domantas Sabonis (12.5).
Davis' eight seasons averaging at least two blocks per game is the most among active players, and he is on track to make it a ninth as his mark of 2.1 this season places him fifth in the league.
After the Spurs come to town, the Lakers head to Boston to take on the Celtics on Saturday, before continuing their tantalising road trip with games against the Brooklyn Nets and a visit to Madison Square Garden against the Knicks.
Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka made it clear on Tuesday that their trade for Rui Hachimura will not be the end of their dealings before the deadline on February 9.
The Lakers made the first big splash of trade season by sending three second-round picks and bench guard Kendrick Nunn to the Washington Wizards in exchange for their former ninth overall draft pick from 2019.
They remain with two premium trade assets – their first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2029 – as well as Russell Westbrook's massive contract to potentially balance any salary with a star arriving in Los Angeles.
According to Pelinka, he felt the Hachimura move was the kind of low-risk, high-reward deal that made sense as they continue to pursue bigger fish.
"[We] felt like it was an opportunity for us to strike early and address a need in a market that has proven to be a little bit slow," he said.
"It doesn't mean our work is finished – we're going to continue to monitor the situation with the 29 other teams.
"Our job as a front office is always to look to improve our team both now and in the future, and we felt like Rui was the perfect way to do that, and that's why we struck early."
The Lakers have been linked with a number of deals, including a reported trade for Indiana Pacers duo Buddy Hield and Myles Turner prior to the season, but Pelinka said he is saving his bullets for a championship-altering move.
"I think the calculus for the Lakers is to win a championship or not," he said. "There's no in-between or incremental growth.
"So as we analyze opportunities, we have to do it through that lens. And, I said this at the beginning of the season, if there's an opportunity to get all the way to the end and win a championship, there's no resource we'll hold onto if we feel like that's there.
"The completely unwise thing to do would be to shoot a bullet early and then not have it later when you have a better championship move you can make. That's a really delicate calculus and something the entire front office, we evaluate with all the moves.
"If we see a move that puts us as a frontrunner to get another championship here, the 18th one here, we'll make it, and if that move doesn't present itself, we'll be smart and make it at a later time."
Lakers superstar LeBron James has let his frustration be known at times this year about the urgency of not wasting the final years of his prime, but Pelinka said he will not let that force him into a sub-optimal move.
"I think LeBron said it really well at the press conference the other night when he said: 'My job is to play basketball, the front office's job is to do their job and build a roster, and coach [Darvin] Ham's job is to coach.'," he said. "I agree with that.
"We all have to do our jobs and do them with excellence and all be together. That's how we operate and will continue to operate."
While the Lakers wait for their next big move, coach Ham shared his excitement about the acquisition of the 24-year-old, six-foot-eight Hachimura.
"I've always been impressed by him," he said. "Just a multi-faceted, strong, athletic, skilled young player that I'm really excited about having the opportunity to add him to our ballclub. I think he's going to bring a lot."
After losing to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, the Lakers are now 22-26 and sit 2.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks in the race for the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
Donovan Mitchell is concerned he may have re-aggravated the groin injury that kept him out recently in the final play of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 105-103 loss to the New York Knicks.
Mitchell had missed the Cavs' past three games with groin tightness and said he felt the issue tighten as he drove to the bucket trying to score a game-tying bucket.
The All-Star's shot was blocked by Isaiah Hartenstein, flooring Mitchell who somehow got the rebound and dished a pass to Evan Mobley, whose also missed, ending the game.
Mitchell remained on the ground after the buzzer, initially clutching his right leg in apparent pain and frustration, before being helped to his feet by training staff and gingerly walking to the locker room.
"I went up to try dunk it, both my legs cramped and my groin just tightened up and locked up on me," Mitchell told reporters.
"Three things happened at the same time. As soon as I jumped, then I tried to get the rebound and that was that."
Mitchell, who finished the game with 24 points on nine-of-24 shooting, said the injury felt similar to his previous groin issue, although he was yet to be assessed.
"It felt the same as before," he said. "I don't know what comes next.
"I felt good enough to come back, and for that to be the last five seconds of the game really pisses me off."
When asked why he stayed on the ground for so long after the game, he added: "It's definitely both [frustration about the injury and his play], but more so [the injury]. I'm praying that I'm all right.
"I screwed that [the play] up. The last few possessions, I can cry about the foul calls all I want. I've just got to be more poised for our group. I had one turnover on a layup, even though I feel like I got fouled, pull it out, run a play, get something.
"Then the second one where I air-balled the layup, that's on me. I let the team down at the end of the game. We played a really good game up until that point, all of us, and I didn't do my job. And that's on me."
The win snapped the Knicks' five-game losing run as Julius Randle led the way with 36 points and 13 rebounds.
LeBron James scored 46 points but the Los Angeles Clippers continued their recent dominance over the Los Angeles Lakers with a 133-115 victory on Tuesday.
The Clippers have now won 10 straight against the Lakers and are 36-9 in recent seasons. The win moves the Clippers up to fifth spot in the west with a 26-24 record, while the Lakers are 22-26 and 13th in the west.
Paul George top scored for the Clippers, who made 19 three-pointers at 50 per cent as a team, leading the way with 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting while adding nine rebounds and four assists.
Kawhi Leonard chipped in 25 points with nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks as the Clippers found form with a third straight win, and they could receive further reinforcements soon as Luke Kennard (calf) and John Wall (abdominal strain) close in on returns.
James was exceptional for the Lakers, shooting 16-of-29 from the field with nine-of-14 triples, along with eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block.
The four-time NBA MVP's 46-point haul moves him to within 177 of tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record at 38,387.
James appeared set for a 50-point game, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter, before the Clippers put the game to bed on an 8-0 run and send James to the bench for good with five minutes remaining.
Another triple-double as Jokic calls game
Nikola Jokic scored the game-winner with 16.2 seconds left as he recorded his 15th triple-double of the season in the Denver Nuggets' 99-98 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Jokic and Jamal Murray were disconnected down the stretch before linking up for the crucial two-pointer, capping the Serbian's game with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, adding further weight to his claims for a third straight MVP, which would be the first occurrence since Larry Bird from 1984-86.
Murray added 25 points on 11-of-21 shooting with seven assists for Denver, while C.J. McCollum top scored for the Pels with 20 points, but he went zero-of-eight from three-point range.
Celtics suffer back-to-back defeats
The short-handed Miami Heat fought back from 14 points down to inflict back-to-back defeats on the Boston Celtics with a 98-95 victory.
Bam Adebayo top scored with 30 points and 15 rebounds for Miami, who were without Jimmy Butler due to a back injury. The Heat squared the game up at 87-87 in the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run, before going on to win their sixth straight game at home.
Jayson Tatum, who scored 31 points with 14 rebounds, threw a pass that was intercepted by Tyler Herro in the final minute, before Payton Pritchard missed a desperation three-point attempt on the buzzer.
With his team in the midst of a franchise renaissance, Sacramento Kings general manager Monte McNair has agreed to a contract extension, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
McNair's deal comes with the Kings sporting a 27-19 record, sitting third in the Western Conference and atop the Pacific Division, 3.5 games ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers. Sacramento are heading towards ending a record 16-year playoff drought and are seeking their first division title since 2002-03.
McNair, who had entered the final months of his original three-year contract, has made several moves to put the Kings in position to reach the postseason.
Under his watch, Sacramento drafted and then later traded point guard Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers for All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis, who is now enjoying a career-best season partnered with franchise point guard De'Aaron Fox.
Last offseason, the Kings drafted impressive rookie Keegan Murray and traded for sharpshooter Kevin Huerter, while adding sixth man Malik Monk in free agency.
McNair also hired coach of the year candidate Mike Brown, who has helped change the culture of the previously dysfunctional organisation.
These moves, as well as the the growth of Fox, have propelled the Kings to a league-best 120.3 points per game. That total would the highest of any NBA team since the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets in 1983-84.
Sacramento hired McNair after 13 seasons as a front office executive with the Houston Rockets.
Kyle Kuzma shared on Tuesday that he is open to a long-term extension with the Washington Wizards when he hits free agency.
Kuzma, 27, is fully expected to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season by declining his $13million player option for 2023-24.
The former 27th overall draft pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017 is enjoying a career-best season with the Wizards, averaging 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while suiting up for 45 of a possible 46 fixtures to this point.
Standing at six-foot-nine, Kuzma has shown the ability to defend three positions while also hitting 2.6 three-pointers per game, providing the kind of size, versatility and floor-spacing in desperate demand league-wide.
Kuzma shared that he has had no discussions with the Wizards about a potential extension, but he is open to the conversation when it arrives due to how the franchise has allowed him to spread his wings.
"That’s probably coming," he told The Athletic. "But I’ve said from the jump I love being here, because I can play my game and I’ve developed so much.
"Taking on a new role has been amazing for me… they understand what I’m doing right now. I’m trying to get better and that’s my priority."
He added that he believes the franchise would like to retain him long-term, and he appreciates the feeling of being wanted after being sent away from the Los Angeles Lakers as part of their trade for Russell Westbrook.
"It is a source of peace, because any time somebody wants you, that’s a good thing," he said. "You want to be wanted in this world. You don’t want to be not-wanted.
"So, it’s a great feeling… as a person, you love that, you feel love. You feel that and it makes you alive. It’s a great thing, especially when you think of the landscape of this sport between teams and players.
"Players are gone year after year, there are such short stints now. For anybody to want to keep you long term, that’s a blessing.
"They showed me love. They have allowed me to have a platform to show my game and show the league I’m not just a role player. I’m someone that’s arriving right now – that’s the biggest thing for me.
"I want to keep elevating. Having a leadership position, having somewhere where I’m developing and playing my game and my role and I’m getting better every single game – that’s what I care about."
With his ability to leave the Wizards at the end of the season, Kuzma said he is aware he will be involved in trade rumours as the franchise assesses what they could potentially get in return, but it does not bother him.
"I’ve been in trade talks five out of six years in my career," he said. "I’ve seen it. I’ve been through it. I understand it.
"I’ve been in trade rumours at the highest of the highest levels year after year. So, I’m numb to white noise and noise in general. I don’t get rattled and I don’t get bothered. I’m really an unbothered person at this point in my life."
He added: "I’m the only source in this world that knows what I want to do or what I’m thinking. People can think, they can say I may want out and say I want to be here or whatever, but nobody really knows but me, and I don’t even know.
"I don’t get caught up in speculation and all the headlines and stuff, because I’ve been there. I’ve been there and done that. I understand what it is."
LeBron James shared his pride after his son Bronny James was named as one of 24 players to participate in the 2023 Boys' McDonald's All-American game in Houston on March 28.
James, the son of four-time NBA MVP LeBron, is rated as an NBA Draft prospect when eligible in 2024. The McDonald's All-American Game is the annual all-star exhibition for high-school players.
LeBron, who was the MVP of the 2003 All-American game, posted on Instagram: "Ayyyyyyyeeeeee @bronny!!!!!! Congratulations Son! So damn proud of you! Continue to be you through it all no matter what!! You’re truly AMAZING!!! #JamesGang . P.S. Congrats to all the other men and women who was named as well in the 2023 Class Micky D's games! It’s an HONOR."
Two-way guard James, 18, is the only uncommitted player selected in this year's rosters, while there are four prospects headed to Kentucky.
James is not the only son-of-a-gun selection, with Stanford's Andrej Stojakovic, son of three-time NBA All-Star Peja, is also named.
Kentucky's D.J. Wagner is included, marking the third generation in his family to play in the game.
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