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It's still unclear exactly when Rui Hachimura will return for the Lakers after missing six games because of right calf soreness, but coach JJ Redick said the forward is trending toward playing soon.

That could be as early as Monday night when the Lakers play at the Sacramento Kings or Tuesday night when they play the Atlanta Hawks at Crypto.com Arena.

Hachimura practiced Sunday and took extra shots after the session. “He was able to do everything in practice," Redick said.

Read more:Luka Doncic and LeBron James both falter at finish as Lakers lose to Bucks

Hachimura has been rehabbing for two weeks. He took part in a few practices and is eager to return.

Does he think he will play against the Kings?

“I think so. I think I felt good after [practice], but I got to check with the trainers and everybody and then we’ll see for tomorrow," Hachimura said.

When he does return, Hachimura will be on a minutes restriction and will probably come off the bench, Redick said.

Hachimura said his calf has “healed," giving him a chance to practice with the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers’ G League team.

Hachimura is averaging 12.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 27 games. He is shooting 52.1% from the field and 44.5% from three-point range,

“I’m fine,” he said. “I feel good about it."

Hachimura is aware how calf injuries have led to more serious ailments for NBA players. Although staying healthy is a priority with free agency looming at the end of the season, Hachimura said his main concern is helping the Lakers win games.

Read more:Luka Doncic has a triple-double, but LeBron-less Lakers lose to Spurs

“I think at the end of the day ... I’m trying to help this team win. That’s the whole purpose of being here,” he said. “I’ve been here for four seasons now. I think I’m one of the guys that has been here the longest too, so I’m happy to be here playing with these guys. The coaches and everybody, I love these guys.

"Of course the contract and stuff is coming up. But at the end of the day I’m just trying to focus on everyday, just in the moment. ... We got a second half that is coming. As a team too, but for me, I got to be ready for the playoffs.”

NBA suspends Kings guard Dennis Schroder

A day after the NBA suspended Sacramento point guard Dennis Schroder three games for confronting and attempting to strike Luka Doncic after a game on Dec. 28, Redick offered little insight into the incident.

“It's a league matter,” Redick said. “So, I don't really have a comment on it, to be honest with you. They made their decision. And it's up to them.”

The league said the incident occurred approximately 40 minutes after the game when Schroder sought out Doncic in a Crypto.com Arena hallway and initiated the confrontation.

The two had been sniping at each other all game, with Doncic at one point taunting Schroder for not signing an $84-million contract with the Lakers in 2021.

After the game, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, Schroder was hiding and waiting to attack Doncic in the hallway.

Redick was asked if he was aware of what happened.

“There's very few things I'm not aware of,” Redick said.

For his part, Schroder posted on social media, “Attempting,” with several emojis.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Observations after Sixers fall to Raptors in OT to begin mini-series  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers wound up with no reward for playing five extra minutes in the first leg of a Toronto back-to-back.

They couldn’t seal the deal in regulation and fell to a 116-115 overtime loss to the Raptors on Sunday night. The teams will meet again on Monday. 

Scottie Barnes made the game-winning free throw with 0.8 seconds left in OT. He posted 31 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. 

Tyrese Maxey had 38 points and five assists.

The 21-16 Sixers were without Joel Embiid (left knee injury management and left groin soreness). Paul George was a late scratch with left knee soreness. 

RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl were sidelined for the 24-16 Raptors.

Here are observations on the Sixers’ overtime loss Sunday:

Same first-half shooting story  

The Sixers added Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond to their starting lineup in place of George and Embiid.

Dominick Barlow scored the team’s first six points on two layups and a pair of free throws. Outside of Barlow, the Sixers began 0 for 8 from the field. 

As was the case in their win Friday night over the Magic, the major first-half story for the Sixers was their dreadful jump shooting. The Raptors were in the same boat.

Jared McCain finally broke the three-point ice for both teams when he hit a nice side-step triple with 2.1 seconds left in the first quarter to give the Sixers a 25-22 edge. Overall, the Sixers and Raptors combined to shoot 3 for 26 beyond the arc in the first half. The Sixers and Magic had gone 3 for 33.

Raptors do damage in open floor

Toronto’s offense had much of its success early in the shot clock.

The Raptors created issues for the Sixers when they were backpedaling and failed to stop the ball. Led by Barnes, the Raptors constantly pushed the ball forward through both the pass and dribble. Toronto posted eight of the game’s first nine fast-break points.

Physicality and disputed whistles also emerged as early themes Sunday night.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse picked up a technical foul less than two minutes into the contest and had many further conversations with the officials. The Sixers ended up shooting 25 for 31 at the foul line and the Raptors went 29 for 39. 

Toronto built a 14-point advantage late in the second quarter and held a 58-48 lead at halftime.

Sixers squander chances to seal it

Kelly Oubre Jr.’s third game since returning from a left knee sprain was by far his best.

Oubre provided a serious jolt right after halftime with especially aggressive, athletic basketball on both ends of the floor. He made a personal 7-0 run, converting two layups and a corner three. Oubre also snagged three steals in the third quarter.

While Maxey and Oubre featured in the Sixers’ strong third quarter, Jabari Walker and Adem Bona also chipped in useful frontcourt minutes off the bench. Both Bona and Walker played high-energy, physical games and competed well on the glass. They totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds (six offensive) and two blocks.

The Sixes eventually took a 73-71 lead on a Maxey mid-range jumper. They won the third quarter by 18 points and entered the fourth up by eight.

As Maxey watched the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Raptors surged ahead. No. 9 overall pick Collin Murray-Boyles (17 points, 15 rebounds) threw down a put-back dunk and Toronto took an 88-86 lead.

The Sixers played Maxey off the ball for a stretch late in the fourth quarter and VJ Edgecombe (17 points on 6-for-19 shooting) had a rough time offensively. After Edgecombe missed a step-back three, Barnes drove on Barlow and slammed in a big dunk. Two Barnes free throws evened the game at 99 apiece.

Maxey soon resumed on-ball duties and appeared to have the Sixers on the verge of a victory. He made a difficult turnaround jumper, a driving layup, and a three that gave the Sixers a 107-103 edge with 20.1 seconds left.

From there, the Sixers squandered multiple chances to secure a regulation win.

Immanuel Quickley hit a long two from the left corner and the Sixers turned the ball over on the subsequent inbounds play. Oubre couldn’t complete a clean pass to Edgecombe along the sideline.

Quickley then came up well short on a baseline jumper attempt over Edgecombe, but Toronto retained possession because the rebound last deflected off of Bona.

Barnes threw his baseline out-of-bounds pass to Murray-Boyles. He drove and dished to Jamal Shead (22 points, six assists), who made a short push shot with 2.0 seconds to go. Quentin Grimes missed a half-court heave, sending the game to OT.

Just like the rest of the game, overtime was a back-and-forth affair. Edgecombe sunk a massive shot when Shead denied Maxey the ball late in the shot clock, burying a tightly guarded three with 15.6 seconds on the clock to knot it up at 115-all.

Barnes ultimately had the last word. He drove on Oubre, drew a foul with 0.8 seconds remaining and knocked down his first free throw. Barnes intentionally missed his second, meaning the Sixers had no way to steal the game, and the Raptors celebrated a hard-earned win.

The Knicks are set to receive a big boost on Sunday night, as Josh Hart is officially available for the road meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Hart will slide right back into the starting lineup and won't face a minutes restriction. 

His return is certainly a welcomed sight for New York, as the forward has missed the last eight games with an ankle injury suffered in the win over the Cavaliers on Christmas Day.

SNY's Ian Begley said on this week's edition of the Putback that Hart had been "getting close," and he was upgraded to questionable for the first time on Saturday night. 

Now, the training staff has deemed he's made enough progress for a full return. 

The Knicks remain in second place in the Eastern Conference, but they struggled mightily with Hart sidelined, going 3-5 and dropping five of their last six games.

The 30-year-old had been playing some of his best basketball of the season before going down with the injury, putting together 14.5 points and 9.1 rebounds over his last 15 games.