Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

This week’s announcement that the Sixers will be featured in the NBA’s Christmas schedule for the 2026-27 should come as no surprise. It was to be expected even before the acquisition of LeBron James as the Jaylen Brown trade was likely the second-biggest transaction in the NBA’s offseason behind only James signing in Philadelphia.

Not that getting selected to play on the biggest day on the league’s regular season calendar guarantees you anything, but we wanted to take this time to look back and remind fans of just how popular of a pick the Sixers have been for the Dec. 25 slate. Here are all the games Philadelphia has played in on Christmas Day since Joel Embiid was drafted in 2014:

2024 – Sixers @ Celtics

Final score: 118-114, Sixers

2023 – Sixers @ Heat

Final score: 119-113, Heat

2022 – Sixers @ Knicks

Final score: 119-112, Sixers

2019 – Bucks @ Sixers

Final score: 121-109, Sixers

2018 – Sixers @ Celtics

Final score: 121-114, Celtics (OT)

2017 – Sixers @ Knicks

Final score: 105-98, Sixers

Playing Boston twice and New York two times in this slew of six games over the last decade on Christmas should come as no surprise to Sixers fans. This season in Los Angeles against the Lakers, Philadelphia will play its first Christmas Day game against a Western Conference opponent since 2001. The opponent on Christmas Day a quarter century ago? Yeah, that was also the Lakers as the Sixers made the trip across the country for an NBA Finals rematch.

Of course, James joining the Sixers after playing for the Lakers for the last eight seasons is the driving force behind the matchup that will be in the marquee broadcast window for The Association on Christmas Day as well with tipoff set for 5 p.m. ET.

While this is not meant to relitigate “The Process” although that’s always fun, it is worth noting that after the 2001 Finals rematch in L.A., the Sixers did not start getting these Christmas Day games until Embiid was healthy and playing 50+ games per season which started in the 2017-18 campaign. Obviously the goal of “The Process” wasn’t to get scheduled on Christmas Day, but there is no doubt that Philadelphia has been a more desired team for the league to feature on such an important day in the regular season.

We all know by now that the NFL has decided to play on Christmas as well and the TV ratings blow the NBA’s ratings out of the water. Fortunately, for Philadelphia sports fans, the Eagles are the Christmas Eve game this season which gives the Sixers the full attention locally on Christmas Day. Regardless of what else there is to offer on Dec. 25, the NBA continues to prioritize the Sixers as one of the best teams they have to offer on a day they have no choice but to schedule its best teams and/or its biggest markets. Merry Christmas four months early, Sixers fans! 

When the agreement was made for Mark Walter to sell the majority ownership stake of the LA Lakers to businessman Josh Kushner and former The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger at a historic valuation of $12.5 billion, there were more questions than answers.

But one thing that became apparent in the immediate aftermath of the pending sale: Iger will be the one most actively involved with the Lakers once the sale becomes official, a source told The California Post.

Iger had told The Post he and Kushner were interested in ownership stakes in the NBA’s potential expansion in Las Vegas.

But they recently pivoted to aggressively pursue the majority ownership stake of the Lakers from Walter, who agreed to purchase the Lakers from the Buss family last June in a deal that became official in late October 2025 for a then-record valuation of around $10 billion.

It wasn’t clear as of Wednesday morning when the sale from Walter to Iger and Kushner would become official. 

The transaction has to be approved by the NBA Board of Governors. The next board meeting is scheduled for September. 

“As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world,” Iger and Kushner said in a joint statement.

“We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles.”

The latest sale of the Lakers came together came quickly.

Iger told The Post he and Kushner learned over the weekend that Walter could be interested in selling his stake in the Lakers that he purchased just over a year ago. 

And within three days, an agreement was made.

Walter, who is also the majority owner of the Dodgers, isn’t selling any of his other ownership stakes as part of the deal. 

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Follow the latest on the multibillion-dollar LA Lakers sale:

• Lakers stunningly sold to Josh Kushner, Bob Iger for historic $12.5 billion
• Lakers fans react to blockbuster $12.5B sale: ‘Insane!’
• Lakers’ sudden $12.5 billion sale comes amid Mark Walter federal investigation
• Magic Johnson makes championship promise after historic Lakers sale
• Luka Dončić doesn’t mince words on historic $12.5 billion Lakers sale

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And the sale is solely for Walter’s shares in the Lakers.

Walter, the CEO of TWG Global and Guggenheim Partners, is also the controlling owner of the Sparks in addition to having financial interests in Chelsea FC, the Cadillac Formula 1 racing team, the Billie Jean Cup and the Professional Women’s Hockey League.   

Thrive Eternal will be the investing vehicle used in Iger’s and Kushner’s purchase of the Lakers.

Thrive Eternal is the permanent capital holding company launched by Thrive Capital, a venture capital firm Kushner founded. 

The capital holding company is focused on owning and stewarding a small number of franchises “that we can own and steward over many decades,” according to its official website. 

Thrive Eternal, which launched in April, acquired a minority ownership stake in the San Francisco Giants in the spring. 

Kushner isn’t a stranger to NBA ownership, interestingly.

He became a minority owner of the Grizzlies in 2019 before selling his share to purchase a stake in the Heat in May 2025.

Kushner will have to divest his stake in the Heat to take control of the Lakers.

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Two-time NBA All-Star and former Iowa State standout Tyrese Haliburton is set to return to his collegiate roots as the Indiana Pacers face the Minnesota Timberwolves in an exhibition game at Hilton Coliseum. Scheduled for Oct. 7 at 6 p.m., the contest marks the fourth time an NBA exhibition has been held at the venue and the first such event since 2018.

Haliburton, who is entering his seventh NBA season and fifth with the Pacers, has quickly ascended to the elite tier of professional guards. After finishing third in the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year voting, he earned All-NBA Third Team honors in both 2024 and 2025. During the 2023-24 campaign, he led the league with 10.9 assists per game, eventually guiding Indiana to the NBA Finals in 2025 for just the second time in franchise history.

“It’s special that I’m able to go back there and play for a preseason game,” Haliburton said during a press availability Wednesday. “I’m very appreciate to our organization for making that happen.”

His recent success extends to the international stage, where he became the first former Iowa State basketball player to win an Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games. While he is the eighth Cyclone overall to earn gold, his achievement remains a historic milestone for the university’s basketball program.

Before his professional rise, Haliburton was a dominant force for the Cyclones. During the 2019-20 season, he led the Big 12 in both assists (6.5) and steals (2.5) while averaging 15.2 points per game. Despite a season-ending injury after 22 games, he was named a Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award finalist and an All-Big 12 Second Team selection.

Previous exhibitions at Hilton have featured Cyclone legends such as Jeff Grayer, Jeff Hornacek and Fred Hoiberg.

Tickets for the Pacers-Timberwolves matchup will be available for purchase starting Sept. 9.

When it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers, there may be no one more in tune with the historic franchise than Magic Johnson.

As a player, Johnson led the franchise to five NBA championships, and he has also been a coach, executive, and minority owner with the franchise.

The Naismith Hall of Famer took to social media Aug. 12 to sign off on the sale of the team to businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney chief executive Robert Iger. The reported price tag for the sale is a record $12.5 billion, the highest price paid for a North American sports franchise.

Laker fans, you couldn’t have two better owners. I’ve known Bob personally for over 40 years - he has always loved the Lakers and basketball and he will bring championships back to LA.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) August 12, 2026

"I want to congratulate my good friend Bob Iger and Josh Kushner on their purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers!" Johnson said on X."

Johnson previously praised Mark Walter, the Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner who bought the Lakers from the Buss family for $10 billion and was only approved as an owner in October 2025. Walter's tenure as owner will last less than a year.

Johnson said he has known Iger for more than four decades and made a bold prediction about the new ownership group getting the Lakers back to the top of the league.

"Laker fans, you couldn't have two better owners. I've known Bob personally for over 40 years – he has always loved the Lakers and basketball and he will bring championships back to LA," Johnson said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Magic Johnson praises new Lakers ownership, predicts future titles

With the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to billionaire businessman Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger for a reported $12.5 billion, the question remains about the status of team governor Jeanie Buss.

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As Lakers governor, Buss serves as the main decision-maker in all business matters and represents the team at the NBA's Board of Governors meetings. Team governors must maintain at least a 15% ownership of a franchise to continue in the governor's role.

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Buss remained a team governor despite the 2025 sale of the team to Mark Walter, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chelsea soccer team owner, for $10 million.

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Buss, 64, has been governor of the team since 2013, when her father, Dr. Jerry Buss, died, leaving the franchise in the hands of his six children. Buss was then named controlling owner of the team in March 2017.

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Jeanie Buss status with Lakers

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According to the terms of the sale of the team to Walter, it stipulated that Buss would remain the team's governor for at least the next five years. This continues the family's involvement with the team since Dr. Buss first bought the team in 1979.

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How much were Lakers sold for?

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The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold for a record $12.5 billion less than two years after Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter bought the team from the Buss Family. The deal was first reported by ESPN.

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The sale to businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger would mark the highest amount ever paid for a North American sports franchise, surpassing the $10 billion that Walter paid for the Lakers.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happens to Jeanie Buss after Lakers sale? Governor status explained

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be sold for the second time in less than two years.

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The organization is being sold to American businessman Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a record-breaking price that is expected to be over $12 billion, according to ESPN.

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The Buss family had provided a level of stability for just over four and a half decades before selling the team to Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter.

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Lakers star guard Luka Doncic has witnessed some changes in his short stint in L.A. He was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers in 2025 in a deal that also involved Anthony Davis.

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Doncic shared his thoughts regarding the sale with a statement on X.

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"Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA," Doncic said. "I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together."

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It was reported by The Athletic earlier this year that Doncic had been "impressed with the level of communication" with Walter.

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It remains unclear whether Doncic had any prior knowledge of the sale this week.

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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.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic shares reaction to news of Los Angeles Lakers' $12B sale

It’s schedule release week in the NBA, as the league is releasing bits and pieces of the schedule before revealing it in full on Thursday. Yesterday was the Christmas schedule. Today? The NBA Cup. The NBA has officially announced the dates for the Suns’ 2026 Emirates NBA Cup games.

The Suns open the cup on Friday, October 30, at home against the Denver Nuggets, followed by road games against the Jazz on November 20, the Rockets on November 25, and the Mavericks at home on November 27.

If you don’t give a damn, we don’t give a Cup pic.twitter.com/ImPYgXUhvw

— Suns JAM Session Podcast (@SunsJAM) August 12, 2026

Per the press release from the Suns:

The Quarterfinals (Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5) and Semifinals (Tuesday, Dec. 8 and/or Wednesday, Dec. 9) will take place in NBA team markets before the tournament concludes with the Championship on Friday, December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

On days during the Knockout Rounds when Emirates NBA Cup games are not scheduled (Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 10), the 22 teams that do not qualify for the Knockout Rounds will each play two regular-season games. The losing teams from the Quarterfinals in each conference will play each other in a regular-season game on Dec. 10.

Suns’ History in the NBA Cup

Last season, Phoenix made it to the knockout round after going 3-1 in group play, which included one of the team’s most memorable wins of the season after they rallied from down eight with 50 seconds left to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves.

However, in the first round of the knockout rounds, Phoenix suffered its worst loss in franchise history, falling 138-89 to the Oklahoma City Thunder without Devin Booker in the lineup.

In the three years of the Cup, Phoenix has a 9-5 record and has made the knockout round twice, but lost both times in the first round.

Unlike the first three seasons, if Phoenix advances to the championship, they’ll play in Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, instead of Las Vegas.

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The Knicks will open another one of their championship defenses against the 76ers.

The teams will square off in Philadelphia on Oct. 30 on Amazon Prime for the league’s first NBA Cup group-stage game.

The Knicks memorably won last year’s NBA Cup, defeating the Spurs in the final in Las Vegas in December — which served as a preview for the NBA Finals, where they again beat the Spurs.

That means the Knicks will begin their championship defense against LeBron James and the new-look 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Opening Night on Oct. 20, then will begin their Cup defense against the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena 10 days later for the first group-stage game.

The full NBA Cup group-stage schedule was released Wednesday.

The Knicks will play the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Nov. 13, will host the Cavaliers at MSG on Nov. 25 for a Thanksgiving Eve clash and host the Heat at MSG on Nov. 27 for a Black Friday showdown.

The games against the 76ers, Pacers and Heat will be nationally televised on Amazon Prime.

The NBA Cup final will be played at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Dec. 11 — marking the first time it will be held outside of Las Vegas, which hosted the first three finals for the in-season tournament. The NBA announced that the semifinals will be played in team markets. Last year, the semis and the NBA Cup final were in Las Vegas.

Wednesday’s release means there are now seven known games on the Knicks schedule after a few marquee slots were announced Tuesday:

– vs. 76ers on Oct. 20 (Opening Night)

– at Celtics on Oct. 23

– at 76ers on Oct. 30 (NBA Cup tipoff)

– at Pacers on Nov. 13 (NBA Cup group stage)

– vs. Cavaliers on Nov. 25 (NBA Cup group stage/Thanksgiving Eve)

– vs. Heat on Nov. 27 (NBA Cup group stage/Black Friday)

– vs. Spurs on Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)

The full schedules will be released Thursday.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob dismisses circulating Steph Curry rumor as ‘clickbait' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Joe Lacob has heard the speculation about Steph Curry’s future with the Warriors. The Warriors owner is not buying any of it.

Appearing on “The TK Show” with Tim Kawakami, Lacob was asked directly whether Curry will sign a contract extension once he becomes eligible on Aug. 29 — and more pointedly, whether the Warriors owner could ever imagine a scenario where Curry wanted out.

“It’s not the date yet — we’re not really at that point, but we’re getting close,” Lacob told Kawakami. “We’ll have that conversation. We’ll see what we do. But my guess is Steph — I wouldn’t worry about this too much. Steph loves it here, we love him here. I don’t want Steph to go anywhere. I really can’t imagine a scenario where he’s going anywhere.”

Pressed further on whether he could envision Curry ever raising the idea of leaving, Lacob’s answer sharpened considerably.

“No, no, no. I don’t think that is even a thing,” Lacob said. “This is just a clickbait thing from all these people that do this kind of thing these days, and there seem to be a lot of them. I don’t believe any of that is true. I’m very close with Steph — he lives right near me, he’s incredibly happy with the organization, with his life… I’ve never heard a word about that, and I can’t imagine it. We certainly don’t want him to go anywhere. I just think people are completely making a bunch of crap up.”

The speculation Lacob is dismissing traces back largely to the Warriors’ failed pursuit of LeBron James this summer, which prompted some to wonder whether a disappointing offseason might push Curry to reconsider his future. But unlike the broader criticism of the team’s roster construction, the reporting on Curry’s situation specifically has been remarkably consistent — ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania have both described “mutual interest” in an extension, and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. echoed the same sentiment earlier this week.

“There’s two things I’m confident about with Steph,” Dunleavy said. “He really, really wants to win, and he wants to finish his career as a Warrior. I don’t think that changes tomorrow, August 29th, start of the season, middle of the season, end of next season.”

There is a more legitimate strategic debate happening around Curry’s extension — ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has argued the 38-year-old superstar could benefit from delaying an extension to preserve cap flexibility for a future roster overhaul. But that conversation is about team-building strategy, not about Curry wanting to leave — a distinction Lacob’s frustration suggests has gotten lost in the noise.

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In a completely shocking turn of events, the Lakers have been reportedly sold to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion.

This is unprecedented considering the sale of the Lakers to Mark Walter only became official last October.

However, that’s what’s happening in Los Angeles, and Luka Dončić has now commented on this change of ownership.

It appears Luka remains committed to his mission of winning titles with the Lakers and looks forward to meeting with Kushner and Iger.

Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA. I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to…

— Luka Dončić (@lukadoncic) August 12, 2026

It’s mind-boggling how many times Luka has gone through this.

When he first arrived in LA, the Buss family was the majority owner. Walter owned the Lakers for less than a year, and now Kushner and Iger will be running things.

When Dončić was a Dallas Maverick, Mark Cuban was the majority owner, and then he sold it to the Adelson and Dumont families in 2023. Not long after that transition of power in Dallas, Luka was traded to Los Angeles.

This means Luka will have played for five different majority NBA owners once the deal closes. He is entering his ninth season. https://t.co/Of0w05h803

— Christian Clark (@christianpclark) August 12, 2026

It’d be nice if this is the last time that Luka has to deal with this. Instability at the very top of an organization can have catastrophic consequences.

Now the Lakers will have to hit the reset button on their franchise makeover. Walter was in the middle of renovating LA’s practice facility, and there are plenty of open positions that need to be filled, including the second assistant general manager role.

The NBA is in the middle of the offseason, so it’s unknown when Luka will have a face-to-face with this new ownership group. The next basketball-related thing on Dončić’s schedule is a mini-camp he is hosting in Slovenia this August with his Lakers teammates.

Hopefully, whenever he does have a long discussion with the new Lakers owners, it leads to stability and gives Luka confidence that things are trending in the right direction.

The good news, though, is Luka remains committed to LA. He seems as determined as ever to win an NBA title and has a long-term deal secured so he can focus on that goal.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

The Emirates NBA Cup is returning for a fourth season, with the league announcing the slate of games on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

The league's 30 teams are each placed into groups of five within their conference, based on their win-loss records from the 2025-26 regular season.

Each team plays four group stage games against each team in their group, with two two home games and two on the road. Eight teams (group stage winners and two wild cards) move on to the single-elimination knockout stage.

Every NBA Cup game, except the championship, will count toward the regular-season standings.

Group Play starts Oct. 30 with a full slate of games, featuring a doubleheader on Amazon Prime with the defending NBA Cup and Finals champion New York Knicks against the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Golden State Warriors.

NBA Cup Schedule

Group Play: Oct. 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20, 24, 25 & 27

The quarterfinals will take place Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, with the semifinals being played Dec. 8 and Dec. 9.

The championship will be played Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Oct. 30

All times eastern.

• Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
• New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers – 7:30 p..m, Prime
• Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors – 10 p.m., Prime
• Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns – 10 p.m., NBA League Pass

Nov. 6

• Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Boston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Philadelphia 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:30 p.m., Prime
• Toronto Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Minnesota Timberwolves at New Orleans Pelicans – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers – 10 p.m., Prime
• San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings – 10 p.m., NBA League Pass

Nov. 13

• New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers – 7 p.m., Prime
• Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets – 8:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs – 9:30 p.m., Prime
• Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings – 10 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Oklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers – 10:30 p.m., NBA League Pass

Nov. 20

• Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Toronto Raptors at Detroit Pistons – 7:30 p.m., Prime
• Orlando Magic at Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz – 9:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets – 10 p.m., Prime
• Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers – 10 p.m., NBA League Pass

Nov. 24

• Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards – 8 p.m., NBC
• Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets – 10 p.m., NBC

Nov. 25

• Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers – 5 p.m., ESPN
• Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder – 7:30 p.m., ESPN
• Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Phoenix Suns at Houston Rockets – 8:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers – 10 p.m., ESPN
• Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors – 10 p.m., NBA League Pass

Nov. 27

• Miami Heat at New York Knicks – 7 p.m., Prime
• Philadelphia 76ers at Indiana Pacers – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves – 8:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns – 9 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs – 9:30 p.m., Prime
• Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz – 9:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers – 9:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
• Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers – 9:30 p.m., NBA League Pass

NBA Cup Groups

Western Conference

West Group A

• Dallas Mavericks
• Denver Nuggets
• Houston Rockets
• Phoenix Suns
• Utah Jazz

West Group B

• Los Angeles Clippers
• Memphis Grizzlies
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New Orleans Pelicans
• Oklahoma City Thunder

West Group C

• Golden State Warriors
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Portland Trail Blazers
• Sacramento Kings
• San Antonio Spurs

Eastern Conference

East Group A

• Brooklyn Nets
• Detroit Pistons
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Orlando Magic
• Toronto Raptors

East Group B

• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Indiana Pacers
• Miami Heat
• New York Knicks
• Philadelphia 76ers

East Group C

• Atlanta Hawks
• Boston Celtics
• Charlotte Hornets
• Chicago Bulls
• Washington Wizards

NBA Cup Champions

• 2025-26 - New York Knicks; MVP: Jalen Brunson, New York
• 2024-25 -  Milwaukee Bucks; MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
• 2023-24 - Los Angeles Lakers; MVP: LeBron James, Los Angeles

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When does 2026 NBA Cup start? League unveils full tournament schedule

The Los Angeles Lakers are being bought in a $12bn takeover deal by Joshua Kushner, the Donald Trump associate who attempted to buy a stake in the Fifa World Cup.

Kushner, who is the brother of Trump’s son-in-law, along with Bob Iger, the former Disney chief executive, confirmed to ESPN that they intend to take control of one of the most famous sports teams in the world, 14 months after the organisation’s last change of ownership.

Mark Walter, the American chief executive of Guggenheim Partners and co-owner of Chelsea Football Club, only took control of the Lakers in July 2025 with a €10bn (£7.45bn) majority stake. It broke the record for the most expensive takeover of a sports team in history. That record is to be broken again thanks to Kushner’s and Iger’s £8.88bn deal,

Kushner was the driving force behind the private investment entity that did a deal with Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, in the failed £15bn sell-off of the football World Cup. Kushner’s Thrive Eternal firm was named by Fifa as the lead investor in Fifa Forward Enterprise, through which Infantino planned to sell an approximate 20 per cent stake for $4.2bn for a share of the football governing body’s commercial rights.

Iger, who stood down as chief executive of Disney in March, is an adviser to Thrive Capital, the US venture capital firm that was founded by Kushner and that launched Thrive Eternal with a view to obtaining ownership opportunities in well-known cultural assets and global franchises.

Kushner’s older brother is Jared Kushner, who is married to Trump’s daughter, Ivanka.

In a statement, Joshua Kushner and Iger said: “As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honoured for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of [former owners] Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles.”

The takeover must still be finalised and then approved by the NBA’s board of governors. It is uncertain what will happen to Kushner’s minority-stake ownership of the Miami Heat.

Walter has decided to sell the Lakers for $2bn more than he bought the side for from the Buss family last year. The news comes three weeks after LeBron James elected to leave for the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Walter is reported to be facing a federal investigation into his finances. The LA Times reported last week that $21bn in loans from two Delaware insurers who Walter owns were allegedly received by companies with ties to him or by his TWG Global holdings company, but were not disclosed to state insurance regulators.

Walter has not publicly commented, but a TWG spokesman told the LA Times: “Mark Walter and TWG have always acted in good faith, and those who have done business with Mark know him as honest and straightforward. Nothing about these transactions was any different.”

Addressing the unexpected sale, Walter said: “Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honours of my life – an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family. I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”

Warriors owner Joe Lacob ‘sensitive' to maximizing end of Steph Curry's career originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As Steph Curry enters his 18th campaign in the 2026-27 NBA season, he once again will be the Warriors’ focal point. But as Curry, two-time NBA MVP, 12-time All-Star and four-time champion, nears the twilight of his career, Warriors owner Joe Lacob wants to make sure Golden State maximizes the end of their superstar’s legacy.

In an interview with Lacob on “The TK Show,” the San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami mentioned Curry’s remaining years and asked if the Warriors are trying to do everything they can to be competitive while he is still there, alluding to struggles the team could experience once Curry retires. And Lacob is not oblivious to the situation, acknowledging that he’s focused on keeping a Curry-led Warriors team among the NBA’s best.

“Yes, I am sensitive to it,” Lacob told Kawakami. “He might be around one year, two years, although he could be Lebron and be around at 45. We don’t know that either, he’s one of the most remarkably conditioned athletes, I would not put anything past him. But having said that, yeah, we understand that, and Draymond [Green] is older as well … it’s going to happen at some point, people are going to be done or leave or whatever. We are trying at all times to be as good as we can be.

“It’s never acceptable not to be the best team you can possibly be for your fans, for the franchise, for Steph, for everybody. We’re always trying to do that, we really are … we’re trying, and I wouldn’t make so many conclusions about what we’re going to be or how bad we’re going to be after either. Our intent is to be good at all times. …”

Winning their last title in 2022, the Warriors have shown that they can compete in today’s NBA and with Curry still playing at an elite level, they have a foundation for a win-now mindset. But entering 2026-27 without a new addition to the roster and missing the NBA playoffs last year, the clock is ticking on the team’s title window.

While Curry has expressed his desire to finish his career in Golden State, recent team struggles have led to trade rumors surrounding the Warriors guard, mostly involving contending teams. But if there is one thing that the Warriors have shown, it is that keeping Curry a member of the franchise for life is a top priority and that doing whatever it takes to win is something that Lacob and company are not afraid to do.

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Mark Walter’s sudden sale of the Lakers comes as he’s being looked into by federal investigators.

Just days before Walter agreed to give up his role as Los Angeles’ controlling owner to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion, it was reported that US prosecutors have been probing the businessman over the way billions of dollars had allegedly moved inside his companies.

The Securities and Exchange Commission alongside the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan are investigating how around $16 billion in loans ended up in Walter’s conglomerate TWG Global balance sheets, according to the Wall Street Journal, with the feds exploring if any fraud had taken place.

A spokesperson for TWG Global, however, has denied wrongdoing, insisting Walter and his companies have “always acted in good faith.”

“Those who have done business with Mark know him as honest and straightforward,” the rep said. “Nothing about these transactions was any different. We are confident these matters will be resolved favorably.”

ESPN reported that the deal came together in a 72-hour span with Iger and Kushner first approaching Walter about a deal on Sunday.

While Walter gained notoriety in the business world after co-founding Guggenheim Partners — a global investment and advisory firm — he’s become a known name in the sports landscape following his establishment of TWG Global.

Through the org., Walter’s acquired affiliations with the Dodgers, Chelsea, the LA Sparks and the Cadillac Formula 1 team, among others.

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Follow the latest on the multibillion-dollar LA Lakers sale:

• Lakers stunningly sold to Josh Kushner, Bob Iger for historic $12.5 billion
• Lakers fans react to blockbuster $12.5B sale: ‘Insane!’
• Lakers’ sudden $12.5 billion sale comes amid Mark Walter federal investigation
• Magic Johnson makes championship promise after historic Lakers sale
• Luka Dončić doesn’t mince words on historic $12.5 billion Lakers sale

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He had just purchased the Lakers last year from the Buss family for around $10 billion before he agreed to offload the team to Kushner and Iger on Wednesday.

“Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life – an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family,” Walter said in a statement to ESPN following the news of the sale.

“I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”

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Lakers superstar Luka Dončić vowed to bring another championship to Los Angeles on Wednesday after the franchise’s surprise $12.5 billion sale to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.

The 27-year-old star player, who was handed the keys to the franchise following LeBron James’ departure in free agency, broke his silence on the blockbuster ownership change in an upbeat social media post.

Dončić said he was “excited” to work with the Lakers’ new billionaire owners as he looks to lead the storied franchise back to NBA glory.

Ultimately, the Lakers’ success will hinge on superstar Slovenian guard Dončić.

He didn’t waste any time making his statement on social media Wednesday morning in the wake of the historic Lakers sale.

“Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA,” Dončić wrote.

“I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together,” he added.

Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA. I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to…

— Luka Dončić (@lukadoncic) August 12, 2026

This is exactly the sort of statement that Lakers fans were hoping to see from Dončić, who is clearly optimistic about what this change in ownership will bring.

Most within the basketball community would agree that the Lakers roster isn’t championship-caliber right now. Then again, the team is definitely good enough to earn a spot in the postseason, and Dončić has proven countless times that he can dominate entire playoff series with his elite play.

To add, the Lakers can always acquire more players via trade during the season. And these new owners are clearly showing they won’t spare any expense bringing this franchise back to glory.

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Follow the latest on the multibillion-dollar LA Lakers sale:

• Lakers stunningly sold to Josh Kushner, Bob Iger for historic $12.5 billion
• Lakers fans react to blockbuster $12.5B sale: ‘Insane!’
• Lakers’ sudden $12.5 billion sale comes amid Mark Walter federal investigation
• Magic Johnson makes championship promise after historic Lakers sale
• Luka Dončić doesn’t mince words on historic $12.5 billion Lakers sale

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Billionaire Mark Walter is selling the Lakers just 14 months after purchasing a controlling stake in the celebrated franchise from the Buss family at a then-record $10 billion valuation.

The $12.5 billion deal represents a $2.5 billion jump in the Lakers’ valuation in barely a year and would again set a record for the largest sale of a US sports franchise.

The transaction still requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors and could take several weeks to complete, with the league’s next board meeting reportedly scheduled for September.

Walter, who will retain control of the Dodgers, is selling the Lakers while his Guggenheim Investments firm is under scrutiny from the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Federal investigators are examining how $16 billion in loans to companies tied to Walter, or his holding company TWG Global, ended up with insurance companies he owned after passing through a third party, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Kushner, 41, is the founder and managing partner of Thrive Capital and the son of US Ambassador to France Charles Kushner and brother of White House official Jared Kushner.

Iger, 75, served two stints as CEO of The Walt Disney Company, from 2005 to 2020 and again from 2022 until leaving the company in March.

Iger and his wife Willow Bay became controlling owners of Angel City FC in 2024.

Kushner and Iger had previously been part of a group pursuing a potential NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas before opting to buy the Lakers.

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