LOS ANGELES — During the 2020s, beating the Nuggets has become a tough task.

The Lakers have experienced this firsthand over the years, with a Western Conference Finals loss to Denver in 2023, a first-round playoff exit against them in 2024 and even painful regular season losses such as their defeat during Kobe Bryant’s statue unveiling.

So, on Saturday against Denver, with the season series on the line, it’s no surprise that the Nuggets pushed the Lakers to the brink, forcing them to play their first overtime game of the year.

However, this time the Lakers proved that the past isn’t always an indicator of the future, and they got the better of their Western Conference rival, winning 127-125.

LA’s margin for error was slim, and they needed everyone to bring their A-game.

Austin Reaves needed to miss a free throw on purpose and score off the rebound to extend the game to overtime. Luka Dončić was chucking up shots and knocked down the game-winning basket. And LeBron James, at 41 years old, was fully extending his body, diving on the ground trying to gain possession for his team late in the fourth.

Those three, however, are always asked to do more. It’s part of the pecking order.

A player who did everything in their job description and then some for LA was Marcus Smart.

He scored 21 points, his third-highest scoring total of the season. He had a plus-minus of +16, the best on the team, and five steals, tied with Nikola Jokić for the most in the game.

Smart is a player known for his defensive prowess, but it was his offensive output that made him one of the heroes on Saturday night.

In overtime, with the Lakers down by one with under a minute to go, Dončić and Smart worked the two-man game around the perimeter and Dončić delivered a behind-the-back bounce pass to Smart.

With zero hesitation, Smart gathered himself and knocked it down to put the Lakers in front.

“He was great tonight,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said postgame. “They go up, I can’t remember the exact score, but we had two timeouts in overtime and we elected to go two-for-one, and he hits the three. Those two guys, Luka and him, executed that to perfection, and we ended up getting the last shot, which was the difference in the game because we executed the two.”

Smart had excuses readily available to pass up that shot. Just a week ago, he had a couple of opportunities to help the Lakers beat the Nuggets in Denver, but he missed on some open looks from beyond the arc.

Losing a close contest while missing looks the opponent wanted you to have would make plenty of other players hesitant to take the same shot against that team in a rematch, but Smart isn’t most people.

“It felt good for my teammates to believe in me,” Smart said. “Especially after playing this team a couple of weeks ago, and having some looks to put us up, or tie a game and they not falling. Could’ve easily fell into that trap where we’re like, not again, and I wouldn’t blame Luka or those guys to not trust me, but I think it speaks to our team, speaks to me, speaks to those guys, and how willing they are to trust each other and trust us.”

While the three was the biggest play Smart had, he was an irritant that Denver couldn’t shake all night long. He was disrupting the Nuggets’ shooters, applying intense ball pressure and getting the Lakers out in transition.

Smart’s play won’t regularly make a highlight reel, but his impact is loud and felt on every team he’s ever played for. He is a role player of the highest caliber, the type of guard every playoff team desires on its roster. No task is too small, and no shot on the floor is too big for him to take.

How far the Lakers will go this year is still up in the air, but one thing that’s all but certain is that Smart will be on the floor when that gets decided.

“I’ve been doing this for 12 years, and I pride myself on it,” Smart said. “And it doesn’t always work in my favor, but at least I know, when I leave that court, I left it all on the court. And that’s all I can ask for. So for me, this is a normal day. My teammates needed me to, in a sense, do my job, and I’m gonna go out there every night and try to do my job.”
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Bobby McMann had two goals and an assist in his Kraken debut and Seattle beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Saturday night to end a four-game losing streak and move within a point of the final wild card in the West.

McMann went from Toronto to Seattle at the trade deadline, but was delayed because of a visa issue that was resolved Friday.

His new linemates also had three-point nights, with Matty Beniers finishing with a goal and two assists, and Jordan Eberle added three assists.

Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak added goals for the Kraken, and Brandon Montour had two assists. Philipp Grubauer stopped 32 shots.

Evander Kane and Marco Rossi scored for NHL-worst Vancouver. Nikita Tolopilo made 28 saves. The Canucks have five games left on an eight-game homestand.

McMann scored on a power play at the end of the first period and added his second early in the third. Seattle got him for a a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft and a conditional second-round selection in 2027.

Up next

Kraken: Host Florida on Sunday night.

Canucks: Host Florida on Tuesday night.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mathieu Choiniere scored twice — the 27-year-old's second career multi-goal game in MLS — and Hugo Lloris had his fourth consecutive shutout on Saturday night to help Los Angeles FC beat St. Louis City 2-0.

Loris finished with four saves for LAFC (4-0-0), which has outscored its opponents 8-0 this season. The 39-year-old Lloris, who had 12 clean sheets in each of his first two seasons with the club, joined Roman Bürki (St. Louis, 2025) as the only players in MLS history with four consecutive shutouts to open a season.

Choiniere, in his ninth MLS season, went into the game with 12 goals in 132 career appearance.

Choiniere intercepted a pass near midfield, raced to the top of the penalty arc and slipped a rolling shot inside the left post to open the scoring in the 73rd minute. Then, in the 81st, Choiniere ripped a shot from near the right corner of the penalty box that skipped between the legs of defender Timo Baumgartl and bent inside the left post to make it 2-0.

Bürki had three saves for St. Louis (0-3-1).

LAFC's Denis Bouanga hit the crossbar with a shot in the opening moments and Nate Ordaz had his shot from the center of the area bounce off the right post.

Players for both teams wore black armbands with “IL” in white lettering to honor Ilona Löwen, the wife of St. Louis City's Eduard Löwen, who died Monday following a two-year battle with brain cancer. Eduard Löwen, who signed with St. Louis as a designated player in 2022, has not played this season.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to prove they have what it takes to be considered a contender in the Western Conference this year.

Luka Doncic and the Lakers defended home court on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, beating the Denver Nuggets 127-125 in overtime.

The Lakers have now won five straight games and eight of their last nine games. The team improved to 42-25 overall and sits third in the conference.

Doncic produced 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for a triple-double against Denver. It was the Slovenian’s seventh 30-point triple-double this season and the 55th of his career.

Doncic broke free of a double team to hit a jumper with 0.5 seconds remaining in overtime to break a 125-125 tie and give Los Angeles the edge.

LUKA. CLUTCH. pic.twitter.com/slrRwgyZZy

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 15, 2026

More: Lakers peaking at the right time, beat Bulls for another win as NBA playoffs approach

“I felt like it was the best atmosphere since I've been a Laker,” Doncic told reporters after the game. “The whole crowd was into it and was really special to witness that."

The clutch performance followed Doncic's previous game, where he nearly put together a triple-double. He had 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Austin Reaves helped send the game to overtime when he intentionally missed a free-throw attempt and collected the rebound to score a jumper and tie the game at 118 with 1.9 seconds left in regulation.

AUSTIN REAVES GRABS THE BOARD OFF HIS OWN MISSED FREE THROW AND TIES THE GAME 😲

WE ARE GOING TO OT! pic.twitter.com/aPZAJkEpxM

— NBA (@NBA) March 15, 2026

Reaves finished the game with 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists. LeBron James added 17 points, six rebounds and five assists and Marcus Smart scored 21 points.

Austin Reaves said "I love you" to the ball after his clutch shot 😂❤️ https://t.co/0J9yTjyUwjpic.twitter.com/0qDfw3DdYF

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 15, 2026

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic game winner, Austin Reaves play lead Lakers to OT win

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Isaac Johnson scored 22 points to lead No. 2 seed Hawaii to a 71-64 victory over top-seeded UC Irvine on Saturday night for the Rainbow Warriors' first Big West Championship title and NCAA Tournament berth since 2016 — coach Eran Ganot's first with the program.

Hawaii (24-8) led for most of the game and took the lead for good on Johnson's layup with about 10 minutes to play. UC Irvine pulled to 66-64 with 38 seconds left but Harry Rouhliadeff answered with a layup and then Dre Bullock followed with a breakaway two-hand slam dunk to help seal it for the Warriors.

Rouhliadeff, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 78-63 win against Cal State Fullerton in the semifinal, finished with 15 points and a season-high 12 rebounds against the Anteaters for his second double-double of the season. Bullock also scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds for the Warriors.

Jurian Dixon scored 17 points for UC Irvine (23-11). Derin Saran and Kyle Evans added 13 points apiece and Andre Henry had 12.

Hawaii entered 0-3 in matchups against UC Irvine in the tournament (2013, 2018 quarterfinals and 2015 finals).

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BOSTON — When Neemias Queta finally checked out of Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards, Luka Garza shot to his feet and slapped Queta’s chest in congratulatory fashion. Queta had just completed one of his best games of the season — tallying 24 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal — and Garza was eager to celebrate.

Such has been a common sight on the sidelines. Whenever one Celtics big man has put together a strong performance this season, the other center celebrates the success as though it were their own.

“We definitely are great friends,” Garza told CelticsBlog before Saturday’s game.

So, in typical fashion, as Queta exploded for a career-best 22 points in the first half, Garza was the first to his feet after every basket, pumping his fist at every putback and crafty finish that Queta converted.

Then, in the second half, the roles had somewhat reversed, and Garza was the one hitting shot after shot, finishing the game with 15 points.

This time, it was Queta leaping to his feet every time Garza

“When I’m on the bench, I’m just trying to cheer him up as much as I can,” Queta said. “Maybe learn a little bit with the crashing, and be[ing] able to get offensive rebounds.”

The two big men — who rarely share the floor — together combined for 39 points on Saturday, their highest-scoring total as Celtics teammates. The two have very different cultural backgrounds — Queta grew up in Portugal, Garza in Virginia — but have become fast friends in Boston.

And, they’re bonded by a similar uphill journey to make it in the NBA. Both centers were drafted in 2021, in the second round; Queta was picked 33rd by the Sacramento Kings, and Garza was picked 52nd by the Detroit Pistons. Both have fought for two-way contracts, and in moments, felt their future in the NBA was in jeopardy.

“There’s just a level of respect there from both of our journeys of coming to the league and both being second-round draft picks, both being in and out of the G League, not really getting a chance,” Garza told CelticsBlog before Saturday’s game. “And then, obviously, this year being the year that both of us get the biggest opportunities of our careers. So, I think there’s a lot of support for each other through that.”

Now, both are playing their best basketball, having received their most extended opportunities yet.

After being the Celtics’ fourth-string center last year, Queta has started every game he’s appeared in this season. He’s averaging 10 points and 8.4 rebounds in 25 minutes a night, having established himself as one of the league’s elite big man defenders.

Garza is averaging a career-high 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game, having appeared in 56 of the Celtics’ 67 games. He’s shooting 42.1% from three — a stark improvement from his 27.8% clip last year. Compared to Queta, Garza’s role has been more inconsistent; he’s dealt with stretches of DNPs and more limited minutes, especially in the weeks after Nikola Vucevic’s arrival in Boston.

But Luka Garza has always stayed ready

Despite fluctuating opportunities, Garza’s mindset and preparation have never wavered. So, when Vucevic fractured his ring finger last Friday, Garza was ready to slot back into the rotation.

“If I’m not playing, I’m really focused on growth and development and working on what I can do to improve when the next chance comes,” Garza said. “That helps keep my mind right in shape and all those kinds of things. So when it does come, then I’m ready.”

Another key?

Garza’s game-day routine never changes, regardless of how things have gone of late.

“The last three years in Minnesota, more often than not, I wasn’t going to check in, but I still kept the same routine, just because you never know what can happen,” he said. “And I’ve seen guys who don’t do that, and then the opportunity comes, and they’re not ready. And those small opportunities that you take advantage of can change your life, can change your career.”

It’s that type of preparation that has allowed Garza to pour in 15 points on 5-6 shooting in 15 minutes on Saturday. And, during game action, when Garza is on the sidelines, he’s scouting Queta’s every step.

“During the game, I’m mostly watching him, because that’s my position, that’s what’s happening in the game – I’m locked in on him,” Garza said. “I’m locked in on how he’s setting screens, how they’re treating him. If they’re trying to go under, if they’re trying to go over.”

If Queta’s positioning is at all off on either end of the floor, Garza tries to note that too. Anything he observes from the sideline is critical information he’ll use when he checks into the game. In particular, Garza looks to study Queta’s defensive positioning, which has become critical to the Celtics’ success.

“I’m always just kind of watching and seeing, and that leads to learning a lot from him, especially defensively, and just how he anchors the paint and his positioning, especially in deep situations when he’s playing kind of a deeper drop,” Garza said. “And, there are certain times that I’ll be in that [coverage] as well, and that’s something I’ve always looked to improve on and get better at.”

And, when roles are revesed and Queta is on the sidelines, he takes it as an opportunity to study Garza’s uncanny ability to offensive rebound.

“He’s such a workhorse,” Queta said. “And, he really gets his imprint on the game.”

For Joe Mazzulla, both players have been critical to the Celtics’ success this season.

“They’re both different in their versatility,” Mazzulla said. “They both can impact matchups. They both can impact coverages. You can play different coverages with them defensively. They both do a great job of playing off of each other, having an understanding that they need each other, and that our team needs both of them to be really good, and they both have an understanding of what each guy can do. When you have that, it’s just part of being a good team. It’s a credit to those guys for helping us be that.”

Off the court, the two have grabbed dinner and gotten to know each other in a more meaningful way.

“Neemi’s an awesome dude,” Garza said. “This team, in general, is really connected.”

Queta and Garza’s underlying friendship has been one of the many strong relationships key to the Celtics’ success. Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman are in theory competing for minutes, but that hasn’t stopped them from being the best of friends.

“At the end of the day, everyone’s goal is to win,” Mazzulla said.

All season long, Queta and Garza have helped the Celtics do just that.

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Dejan Joveljić had a goal and an assist against his former team, Lasse Johnsen had a goal and an assist in his league debut and Sporting Kansas City beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 on Saturday night.

Neither team found the net until Joveljić used assists from Manu García and Johnsen to score two minutes into stoppage time for a 1-0 lead at halftime. García earned his first assist after tallying nine as a rookie last season.

Joveljić, along with Stephen Afrifa, set up an insurance goal by Johnsen in the 74th minute for a 2-0 advantage. Afrifa's helper was first this season and his second in 39 appearances.

That proved necessary for the victory after Marco Reus used his head for an unassisted score in the 82nd minute to cut the Galaxy's deficit to a goal. Reus scored for the first time this season and the seventh time in 31 career matches.

John Pulskamp finished with four saves to help Sporting KC (1-2-1) earn its first victory of the season while putting an end to a seven-match losing streak on the road dating to last season.

Novak Micovic saved two shots for the Galaxy (1-2-1).

Joveljić totaled 34 goals and 11 assists in 106 starts with LA from 2021-24. He had 15 goals and six assists during the Galaxy's championship run in 2024 when he scored the second goal in a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bullls. His third goal this season gives him 21 along with three assists in 36 matches with Sporting KC.

Los Angeles played without Gabriel Pec, who was suspended for the match after receiving a red card in a 4-1 road loss to the Colorado Rapids last week. Joseph Paintsil was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The Galaxy have a slim lead in the all-time series 29-28-18, including a 19-9-9 record at home.

Both teams posted home victories in two matchups last season.

Up next

Sporting KC: Hosts Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

Los Angeles: At Portland Timbers on Sunday.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Ereauna Hardaway and Cheyenne Rowe each scored 13 points and UTSA held Rice to a season-low score beating the Owls 54-40 on Saturday in the American Conference title game on Saturday.

Idara Udo added 11 points for No. 6 seed UTSA (18-15) which clinched its first championship — and NCAA Tournament berth —since joining the American.

Hailey Adams was the only player for top-seeded Rice (28-5) in double figures with 12 points.

UTSA led 20-13 at halftime as the two squads recorded the lowest scoring half in the history of American Conference tournament play. The Owls drew within 24-20 to start the third quarter, but UTSA went on a 10-0 run in which Udo scored half the points and the Roadrunners stayed up by double digits for the remainder. Damara Allen's basket with 5:04 left made it 48-30.

Rice's only regular season conference defeat occurred when it hosted UTSA in a 61-52 loss on March 7.

UTSA knocked off second-seeded East Carolina 54-44 on Friday night and also held the Pirates to their lowest scoring total of the season.

UTSA last reached the NCAA Tournament in the 2009 season as a member of the Southland Conference. It was the program’s sixth conference championship appearance overall, and the Roadrunners now have an even record in conference championship play.

UTSA won consecutive titles in the Southland in 2008 and 2009. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball