You never know what will happen to anyone sitting courtside during an NBA game.
In fighting for a loose ball, Lakers guard Marcus Smart crashed into longtime television host and political commentator Bill Maher while facing the Knicks in a Sunday afternoon tip-off at the Crypto.com Arena.
It’s only the fourth time this season the Lakers held an opponent under 100 points, and the Knicks are by far the best team L.A. has done this against, with the others being the Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors.
Luka Doncic led the LeBron James-less Lakers with 35 points, eight rebounds and four assists, making five threes in the process.
Smart shot just 1-for-10 and went 0-for-5 from deep, ending the day with just five points, four assists and two steals.
Tyrese Maxey has played in 61 games this season — Joel Embiid and Paul George combined have played 60. Maxey has become the All-Star starter and star of the 76ers. Which is why this may be the little finger but it's big news.
Maxey will miss both ends of the 76ers back-to-back Monday (Cleveland) and Tuesday (Memphis) because of a sprained pinkie finger on his right hand, the team announced. Here is the statement from the 76ers.
"Tyrese Maxey suffered a sprain of the right fifth finger. He will undergo additional testing and consultation in the coming days to determine a treatment plan. He is OUT for the next two games and further updates will be provided after the back-to-back."
While not good news, it's better than how bad it looked when the injury happened. The injury happened with 16.2 seconds left in the 76ers' Saturday night loss to the Hawks. Maxey collided with teammate Adem Bona and instantly grabbed his right hand in pain, then immediately left the game.
Maxey sprained the same finger last season and, while he returned, he struggled with his shot after that (the team shut him down early in what was a tanking season).
This season, Maxey was voted an All-Star starter by the fans, and with good reason: He is averaging 29 points and 6.7 assists per game, shooting 37.3% from 3-point range. He has been the one consistent player for Philadelphia this season and the team gets outscored by 4.6 points per 100 possessions when he is off the court.
Which is a concern for a 76ers team that sits as the No. 8 seed in the East, but needs wins with only three games separating No. 6 (and avoiding the play-in) from No. 10 (red-hot Charlotte, with Atlanta at No. 9).
Philadelphia also will be without Embiid (oblique strain) and George (suspension) for the back-to-back to start the week. The 76ers can only hope Maxey doesn't miss more time than that. The good news is that it appears guard VJ Edgecombe (lumbar contusion) may be able to return for the back-to-back.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 4: Mo Bamba #11 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 4, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Michael Scotto, the Utah Jazz have signed center Mo Bamba to a second 10-day contract.
The Utah Jazz have signed center Mo Bamba to a second 10-day contract.
Bamba fills a need with the injuries to Walker Kessler and Jusuf Nurkic. We’ll see if this amounts to anything but it’s clear that the Jazz are more interested in giving center minutes to Kyle Filipowski. That said, we have seen Bamba get some backup minutes with some mixed results. He has had some nice moments protecting the rim, but there have been a lot of minutes where you don’t feel his presence on the floor. It’s too bad because Bamba’s measurables are off the charts. Knowing those measurables, it’s worth giving Bamba a chance. Can he show something to end the season that could have him stick to the roster? It would be a huge deal if they could help Bamba reach his potential with his measurements. He’s never been able to stick to a roster, but it’s easy to see why he’s so intriguing.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with Keldon Johnson #3 in the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on January 28, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
The Spurs played an awful game against the Clippers for about 30 minutes of game time on Friday night, letting the Clippers take a 25 point lead, followed by 18 minutes of frantic play where the team showed a level of effort and mental resilience that we Spurs fans haven’t seen for at least a decade in the Alamo City. The last few minutes weren’t beautiful, as both teams made critical mistakes, but the Silver and Black made the critical plays and Wembanyama’s gravity led to Champagnie and Stephon Castle getting key rebounds on free throw misses that iced a thrilling 116-112 victory in the Frost Bank Center.
Tonight the Spurs face the Houston Rockets, who are currently in third place in the west, six games behind the Spurs in the loss column. This is the fourth and final meeting between the two teams, and the Spurs currently own a 2-1 lead, so a win tonight would lock up the tiebreaker, and also give the Spurs a seven game lead over the Rockets with 18 games to play, which could be propitious for a team looking to lock up home court advantage in the playoffs.
The Rockets are a tough opponent, even without Steven Adams who they lost for the season last month. With Kevin Durant will be in the hall of fame, and he’s capable of scoring points in bunches. Reed Sheppard has been doing a great job recently since he’s moved to the starting lineup, with elite shooting and quick hands on defense. Amen Thompson is a tough defender and paint scorer, and Alperen Sengun is a tough inside presence. The Spurs will have to put together a 48 minute game tonight to put this one away early. The Celtics are coming to town on Tuesday night, but the Spurs can’t look past tonight’s game to focus on Jason Tatum and Boston. Let’s look for another great Victor Wembanyama game and for Champagnie and Castle to put the game away early. Let’s GOO SPURS!!
Game Prediction:
Reed Shepard will get switched onto Wembanyama, and Victor will taunt him by dangling the ball over his outstretched hands. Unfortunately, he will have so much fun doing it that he loses track of time and gets called for a 24 second violation.
San Antonio Spurs vs Houston Rockets March 8, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT Streaming: Peacock TV: Peacock, NBC Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
The stars came out for a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles.
Inside Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers hosted the Knicks in a nationally televised showcase between two of the NBA’s most historic franchises — two cities that see themselves not merely as markets but as cultural capitals.
It was also the annual gathering of people who live in Los Angeles but arrive wearing their Knicks gear to let everyone know they’re originally from New York City.
And like any big stage in either New York or Los Angeles, the seats were filled with stars.
Yes, LeBron James was there. Luka Dončić, too. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns carried the hopes of Manhattan into the afternoon light. But on this particular Sunday, the audience sometimes felt just as headline-worthy as the performers.
If the Knicks and Lakers represent basketball royalty, then the celebrities sitting courtside looked like a Hollywood premiere with a shot clock.
Almost exactly one year ago, when the Lakers beat New York in a 113-109 overtime thriller, the celebrity roll call looked like an Oscars seating chart: Larry David, Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Kylie Jenner, Denzel Washington, John McEnroe, Brenda Song, Macaulay Culkin, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Connolly, Kyler Murray and Rams star Puka Nacua.
Soaking in the atmosphere with the grin of someone who has seen plenty of big games in this town was actor Martin Lawrence, who sat across from James on the Lakers’ bench. To his right sat Jordan Howlett, the wildly popular internet personality known as “Jordan the Stallion.”
Next to Howlett was Action Bronson — the Queens-born rapper and lifelong Knicks diehard — wearing a Knicks hat just as you’d expect. Across the court from him was Sacha Baron Cohen, who watched with the kind of quiet curiosity that suggests he might be mentally filing the whole thing away for some future satirical masterpiece.
Martin Lawrence sits courtside.NBAE via Getty Images Action Bronson holds a drink while watching NBA action.NBAE via Getty Images Knicks legend Patrick Ewing is all smiles courtside.NBAE via Getty Images Flea, Melody Ehsani and their son at the Lakers game.Getty Images LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 08: Bill Maher and Sacha Baron Cohen (R) attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Celebrities At The Los Angeles Lakers GameGetty Images LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 08: Freddie Gibbs (R) and Ben Lambert attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Celebrities At The Los Angeles Lakers GameGetty Images
Bill Maher, never one to hide an opinion, leaned back and observed the circus unfolding around him — a political comic sitting comfortably in the middle of Los Angeles’ most apolitical ritual: celebrity watching. He even got a taste of the action up close and personal as Lakers guard Marcus Smart dove for a loose ball and crashed into him and his girlfriend, film-producer Noor Alfallah, who has a child with actor Al Pacino.
Pacino’s “Godfather III” co-star Andy Garcia, whose Hollywood gravitas feels almost as timeless as the Lakers’ purple and gold, sat a few seats away as well.
Actor Ben Lambert, decked out in a Knicks jersey and Yankees hat, sat courtside next to rapper Freddie Gibbs.
Rich Paul, one of the most powerful agents in sports and the architect behind LeBron’s business empire, sat courtside as he always does. Comedian and actor Jay Mohr, who is married to Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, chatted with his wife throughout the game.
Sitting in Jack Nicholson’s legendary courtside seats was his son, “Smile” actor Ray Nicholson.
Nearby, was Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who has practically become part of the architecture of Los Angeles sports. His presence at Lakers games now feels as routine as the national anthem.
Former big men from both teams: Patrick Ewing of the Knicks and Dwight Howard of the Lakers sat back and smiled from their courtside seats as well. Two Hall of Fame legends sharing the same building.
Some of the celebrities sitting courtside this afternoon for Knicks vs. Lakers on ABC:
Ray Nicholson (son of Jack), Flea, Knicks’ owner James Dolan, Rich Paul, Martin Lawrence, Influencer Jordan Howlett (Jordan the Stallion 8), Patrick Ewing, Dwight Howard, Action Bronson, Bill… pic.twitter.com/hHwt7hafoG
The Knicks billionaire owner sat in attendance as well, a reminder that even the most famous arena in sports — Madison Square Garden — must occasionally take its show on the road.
Because that’s what these games become.
The Knicks versus the Lakers isn’t simply an NBA matchup. It’s a cultural summit meeting between the East Coast’s intellectual swagger and the West Coast’s cinematic glow.
Sunday’s gathering proved something important about basketball in these two cities: The game is never just about the game.
It’s about identity.
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In New York, Knicks fandom is almost tribal — gritty, loud, impatient. Spike Lee pacing the Garden sideline is part of the mythology. In Los Angeles, Lakers fandom is something different. It’s cultural. Sitting courtside isn’t merely about watching basketball; it’s about participating in the entertainment capital’s most glamorous public ritual.
That tension between authenticity and spectacle is exactly what makes Lakers-Knicks such an irresistible television event.
The NBA knows it. Networks know it. Hollywood certainly knows it.
Because when these teams meet, the arena becomes something bigger than sports. It’s about two American cities that believe they sit at the center of the universe.
New York brings the attitude.
Los Angeles brings the spotlight.
And on Sunday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena, the spotlight was bright enough for everyone to share.
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Wiki Carmona scored two goals against his former team after Prince Owusu found the net on a penalty kick and CF Montreal thumped the New York Red Bulls 3-0 on Sunday.
Montreal (1-2-0) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute on a PK goal by Owusu. Montreal's first goal of the season was set up when Iván Jaime drew a foul on Red Bulls' defender Justin Che.
Carmona scored unassisted in the 44th minute off a free kick to give Montreal a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Carmona stole the ball and capped the scoring with another unassisted goal in the 68th minute. Carmona had six goals in 102 appearances over five seasons with the Red Bulls. He failed to score in 21 starts over 34 appearances last season.
Thomas Gillier finished with five saves for Montreal, earning his first clean sheet in his 11th career start. Gillier allowed eight goals through the first two matches.
Ethan Horton finished with one save for the Red Bulls (2-1-0) in his third MLS start. Horton was coming off his first clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution.
New York started teenagers Julian Hall (17), Adri Mehmeti (16) and Matthew Dos Santos (17) for a third straight match.
First-year coach Michael Bradley's Red Bulls were trying to open a season with three straight victories for the first time in club history.
Marco Donadel notched his first victory as Montreal's head coach after taking over on an interim basis last season when the club finished 13th and missed the playoffs.
New York outscored Montreal 3-0 in a pair of victories last season.
Up next
New York: At Toronto FC on Saturday.
Montreal: At Orlando City on Saturday in the fourth of six straight road matches to begin the season.
Mar 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman (55) reacts after a play against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Eight minutes into the third quarter, Baylor Scheierman chased down Payton Pritchard’s missed 3-pointer and slapped the rebound back to him. The extra effort led to a feed to a wide-open Sam Hauser, who buried a second-chance three to give the Celtics a 26-point lead and forced a Cavaliers timeout.
That relentless hustle sums up the difference Scheierman makes.
“He’s just another connector,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “He doesn’t care about starting. He doesn’t care about anything but competing. That doesn’t get rewarded enough — his competing and his care factor. He doesn’t care about anything but competing at the highest level and executing — he takes a ton of pride in that.”
In the fourth quarter, with 10 minutes remaining, Jaylen Brown launched a deep three to beat the shot clock. Right under the basket, it was Scheierman who boxed out 6-foot-11 Cavaliers center Evan Mobley and secured the offensive rebound. It didn’t lead to a second-chance look this time, and even though Scheierman didn’t need to chase the ball, he still attacked the glass anyway.
No matter how long it had been since Scheierman last touched the ball, the Celtics could count on him to be in the right place at the right time. He was a pest on defense, disrupting Cleveland’s offense at every opportunity. He delivered an elite offensive performance en route to his fourth career double-double — all of which have come in his last 14 games. To go along with his 10 rebounds, Scheierman also scored 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
He knocked down four of six 3-point attempts, including a deep 31-footer to free Pritchard from a double team.
It had been over five weeks since Scheierman last scored at least 16 points and knocked down four 3-pointers, but Boston’s trust in him never wavered. Like everyone else filling a role, it was only a matter of time before he found his next opportunity. In Cleveland, Scheierman stabilized the second-unit offense, delivered key defensive possessions, and outrebounded everyone except starter Neemias Queta, who finished with 11 boards.
Scheierman’s performance wasn’t just a confidence booster — it was a reminder of what he’s capable of.
“Obviously, we’ve got a great team — a lot of great players. Credit to them for finding me when I was open,” Scheierman told Abby Chin, per NBC Sports Boston. “They trust me to make the right play, and I just try to do that every time.”
When it came to protecting the glass and disrupting Cleveland’s offense, Scheierman’s impact was contagious. He played a major role in holding the Cavaliers to 36 first-half points, including just 10 in the second quarter. That marked Boston’s best defensive quarter of the season, as Scheierman and company limited Cleveland to 4-for-25 shooting, including a miserable 0-for-14 from three.
The Celtics used that momentum to build a convincing 56-36 advantage at the half.
“We were just really together defensively as a unit,” Scheierman told Chin. “Everyone was helping each other out. Obviously, they’ve got talented players over there, and they’re tough to stop one-on-one. We don’t play defense one-on-one — we play it as a unit, and I think we did that at a very high level, especially in the second quarter.”
Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley combined to shoot just 8-of-23 from beyond the arc against Boston’s defense. The Cavaliers finished 28.9 percent overall, converting only 13 of 45 attempts in one of their ugliest offensive showings this season. Even when they rallied and cut into Boston’s lead, they couldn’t navigate the Celtics’ defense or hit the critical, clutch shots needed to muster up a comeback.
It required playing both ends of the floor to ensure Cleveland’s comeback never materialized. Scheierman’s two-way versatility made him a problem that Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson had to account for. His first basket was an unforeseen left-handed hook over Thomas Bryant to beat the shot clock that has since become a must-see social media clip. He’s more than just a catch-and-shoot threat, and over the season he’s steadily putting teams across the league on notice.
Scheierman’s recent surge might fly under the radar for many, but it hasn’t escaped Mazzulla’s notice one bit.
“When you have a guy that doesn’t miss a beat, regardless of the situation or the circumstances that he’s in, you see stuff like that,” Mazzulla told reporters. “I think he’s doing a great job handling it.”
This was the type of win that has eluded the Lakers for most of the season.
Controlling.
Decisive.
And just as importantly, it was against one of the NBA’s best teams.
Luka Doncic helped key the Lakers’ home win Sunday against the Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ 110-97 victory over the Knicks on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena wasn’t only significant because of the stage — a nationally televised matchup on ABC between the most popular teams in the league’s biggest markets — but because it put a pause to the concerns whether the Lakers have what it takes to beat the league’s best.
And on Sunday afternoon, while LeBron James was in street clothes on the bench for the second consecutive game, they put together arguably their best performance of the season against a healthy Knicks team that won 16 of its previous 21 games.
The shotmaking and playmaking from their stars was present, with Luka Doncic (35 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals) and Austin Reaves (25 points, five assists, four rebounds) combining for 60 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.
Austin Reaves scored 25 points in the victory. NBAE via Getty Images
The role players contributed with energy and hustle plays, with Marcus Smart, Jaxson Hayes, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia leading the way with impactful plays that don’t show up in the box score.
And the defense was as dialed in as it’s been all season, with the Lakers also benefiting from the Knicks’ poor 3-point shooting.
“We played hard, stuck to the game plan and competed,” Reaves said. “That’s what it came down to. I thought we played harder than them, and we set the tone early and had a really good third quarter.”
What it means
The Lakers’ win over the Knicks put them at 5-12 on the season against teams with .600-or-better records.
They had lost the previous six and 12 of their last 13 matchups against those teams, with the lone win in that stretch being against the Nikola Jokic-less Nuggets on Jan. 20.
Turning point
When Hayes and Smart made multiple hustle plays underneath the Lakers’ basket that ended with Smart throwing the ball off Mikal Bridges out of bounds, helping the Lakers maintain possession.
Doncic hit a step back 2 on the out-of-bounds play, putting the Lakers up 101-86 with 7 ½ minutes left.
“Obviously, he needs to be aggressive like this,” Doncic said of Reaves. “Playing with him is so easy, because he draws so much attention, helps others, too. So, just playing with him, it makes my life easy.”
MVP: Luka Doncic
With the Knicks hanging in, Doncic made a 3-pointer with 1:05 left to put the game out of reach.
Doncic’s shooting numbers weren’t stellar (11 of 25, 5 of 16 on 3s), but he controlled the game.
Stat of the game: 23
That was the combined number of field goal and free-throw attempts Reaves took against the Knicks.
It was the second most Reaves combined for in the statistical categories since he returned to the floor from a calf injury last month.
Reaves shot 8 of 16 from the field and 6 of 7 on free throws.
Up next
The Lakers will host the Timberwolves on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena.
They already have won the season series, 2-0, over the Timberwolves after beating Minnesota twice in October.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 9: Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 9, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
the Washington Wizards play the New Orleans Pelicans at 7 PM tonight. Let’s get a win.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Brooklyn Meyer had 26 points to go with nine rebounds and second-seeded South Dakota State claimed another Summit League championship, defeating top-seed North Dakota State 64-51 on Sunday.
The Jackrabbits improved to 13-2 in Summit League title games and will play in the NCAA Tournament for the 14th time, all since 2009.
South Dakota State took the lead for good with a about 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. The Jackrabbits built a seven-point lead early in the fourth quarter but a 3-pointer from Molly Lenz got the Bison within 48-44 with seven minutes remaining. However, North Dakota State made only two field goals the rest of the game.
Playing with the lead in the fourth quarter, the Jackrabbits made 14 of 16 free throws with eight of the makes coming in the final minute. SDSU made 21 of 29 free throws for the game, compared to just 5 of 9 for North Dakota State.
Avery Koenen led North Dakota State (28-4) with 12 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Lenz also scored 12 and Karrington Asp had 10 points off the bench.
Hadley Thul had 10 points for South Dakota State (27-6).
An 11-3 run over a six-minute stretch of the second quarter helped the Jackrabbits build a 27-18 lead. North Dakota State regrouped and Marisa Frost's buzzer-beating 3-pointer got the Bison within 31-27 at halftime.
After the Bison took what would be their last lead at 36-34 midway through the third quarter, South Dakota State scored the next eight points for a 42-36 lead.
North Dakota State has not appeared in the NCAA Tournament at the Division I level but is a five-time Division II national champion.
Up next
NCAA Tournament decisions are due on Selection Sunday, March 15.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey will sit out at least the next two games with a sprained finger and the two-time All-Star will have additional tests to determine how long he'll be sidelined, the team announced Sunday.
The 76ers said Sunday that Maxey will be consulted after the additional tests to determine a treatment plan. The team added that it would have no further update until after the 76ers' next two games: at Cleveland on Monday night and home against Memphis on Tuesday night.
Maxey, who was selected to his second All-Star team this season, led the 76ers with 31 points against the Hawks before injuring his finger. He's Philadelphia's leading scorer with 29 points per game, which ranks him fourth in the NBA, while also averaging 6.7 assists and two steals.
The 76ers (34-29) entered Sunday eighth in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games ahead of the ninth-place Hawks.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves is fouled by New York's Mikal Bridges, right, while driving to the basket in front of Karl Anthony-Towns, left, in the first half of the Lakers' 110-97 win over the Knicks on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers have struggled against the NBA's elite teams this season, something that's been a source of consternation for the team.
The opportunity to start shaping another narrative was presented Sunday against one of the league’s top teams in the New York Knicks.
Doncic had 35 points and eight rebounds. Though he was 11 for 25 from the field and five for 16 from three-point range, his three with 1:05 left sealed the win for the Lakers (39-25).
Reaves had 25 points, five assists and four rebounds. He was eight for 16 from the field and three for six from three-point range.
Rui Hachimura (13 points, seven rebounds) and Luke Kennard (12 points) helped make sure the Lakers didn’t blow a 23-point lead against a New York team that is third in the Eastern Conference.
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson had 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Knicks (41-24).
The Lakers entered the game with a 4-12 record against teams with a winning percentage over .600. Many of their losses to top teams have been by double digits, which has become a significant reason for concern with the playoffs fast approaching.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, dives for a loose ball in front of New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during the first half Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
It wasn’t going to be easy against a Knicks team that’s one of the NBA's best on the defensive end. They entered Sunday ranked fifth in points allowed (110.6) and seventh in both field-goal percentage (45.7) and defensive rating (111.7).
When the Lakers extended their lead to 21 points in the third quarter, they did so, in part, by playing stingy defense. They held the Knicks to 24 points in the third, with 35% shooting from the field and 18% shooting from three-point range.
The Lakers also scored 34 points in the quarter, shot 55% from the field and 50% (five for 10) from three-point range.
The Lakers played without LeBron James, who missed his second straight game because of a left elbow contusion and left foot arthritis. James sustained his elbow injury after falling to the court in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.
But Lakers center Deandre Ayton, who missed Friday's win over Pacers with left knee soreness, returned.
It has been an up-and-down season for Ayton, but Lakers coach JJ Redick said he is confident the 7-foot center can be more consistent moving forward.
Ayton showed flashes of his talent against the Knicks by being more engaged. He was active on defense from the start, blocking a shot in the first quarter. He set a hard screen to get Doncic open and then rolled to the basket and took a lob pass from Doncic for a two-handed dunk in the first quarter.
Ayton finished with six points and eight rebounds.
“Ultimately, the player has to be consistent," Redick said. "And that's not to say that's a knock on DA. That's just the NBA. We've been very consistent with how we've coached him. And we recognized early that was, maybe not a change, but that was something we had to be adaptable with. And I think we're hopeful and optimistic that we're gonna get a consistent version down the stretch of the season."
GLEN ALLEN, Va. (AP) — Brooklyn Gray scored 16 points and Rhode Island beat George Mason 53-51 on Sunday for the Rams' first Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament title.
Top-seeded Rhode Island (28-4) will make just its second trip to the NCAA Tournament and the first since 1996. No. 2 seed George Mason (23-9) won the tournament last season.
Rhode Island led by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter, but Jada Brown hit a 3-pointer with 15.4 seconds left to pull George Mason to 51-48.
Gray added a pair of free throws with 8.9 seconds left before Mary Amoateng hit a 3 at the buzzer.
Gray made two 3-pointers and shot 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. She made six free throws and scored eight in the fourth quarter.
Rhode Island used a 15-9 third quarter to take a 39-34 lead into the fourth. Kennedy Harris hit a 3 to pull George Mason to 42-39, but the teams then went scoreless for nearly a four-minute stretch before layups from Gray and Sophia Vital stretched the Rhode Island lead to 46-39 with 1:06 left.
Albina Syla grabbed 10 rebounds to go with nine points for the Rams.
Harris scored 15 points to lead George Mason. Amoateng finished with 13 points and Zahirah Walton added 10.
The Rams made it to the final in 1984, 2003, and 2024. There hasn't been back-to-back champions in the A-10 tourney since George Washington in 2015-16.
His mindset changed after he started for the U.S. in a 9-1 win over Britain on Saturday night.
“I didn’t expect these types of emotions to run through my brain or my thoughts to differ,” Skubal told reporters. “I was pretty committed to making a start and getting back to camp. Things have changed, obviously. That’s why I’m going to have some conversations and try to figure out a plan for me. But yeah, I don’t know either way.”
Skubal, who has won the last two AL Cy Young Awards, said he was talking to his agent, Scott Boras, and the Tigers about the situation. But the left-hander, who can become a free agent after this season and is expected to command a huge contract next winter, added he was “not in the right headspace to make a decision right now.”
Last month, Skubal said he would make only one WBC start regardless of how far Team USA advances because he wanted to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day mostly with the Tigers.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday in Florida that he talked with Skubal briefly on Saturday night.
“I don’t think anything’s been determined,” Hinch said, according to MLB.com. “I think he’s incredibly emotional about the experience. It’s a difficult time that weighs heavily on players because they want to do it all.”
Hinch said they planned to have more conversations about it soon.
“We agreed to talk again as things settled down a little bit and he got a good night’s sleep,” Hinch said. “He’ll wake up and get a good work day in today.”
Skubal added the situation has created “one of the tougher decisions I’ve made in my career so far.”
He also expressed appreciation for the U.S. team supporting whatever he chooses to do.
“They’ve been extremely supportive of everything,” Skubal said. “They totally get what’s going on with my situation — it’s unique. I’ve had these discussions with people, and most of it is, they’re extremely supportive of me being here in the first place. And I’ve got a ton of respect for that. But it’s just hard. When you get in these environments, and you get this team, it’s hard to walk away from that.”
Skubal gave up a home run to Nate Eaton on his first pitch Saturday night but allowed just one single after that while striking out five in three innings. The U.S. improved to 2-0 with the win and faces Mexico on Monday night with reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes on the mound.
The Sixers All-Star collided with Adem Bona while diving for a loose ball in the final seconds of their 125-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, March 7. Maxey stayed down for a few moments longer as he grabbed at his right hand before getting up and heading to the locker room while wrapping his hand in the bottom of his jersey.
It's a tough blow for Maxey, who is averaging career-highs across the board with 29.0 points, 6.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game on 46% shooting. During a season in which the Sixers (34-29) have at times looked like bona fide contenders at their best, Maxey has been their most consistent presence.
But th 76ers have been marred by injuries and other issues all season.
Joel Embiid has missed the team's last four games with a right oblique strain and won't be re-evaluated until March 14, so he'll be out at least three more games. Paul George hasn't lived up to the max contract he signed with the 76ers in 2024 and is currently serving a 25-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy. Even Rookie of the Year candidateVJ Edgecombe has been out the last three games with a lumbar contusion.
The injury bug comes at a crucial point in the season for Philadelphia as they're currently locked in a heated race for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. Entering Sunday, they sit half a game behind the Orlando Magic for the sixth seed, but also just a game and a half ahead of the ninth-seeded Hawks, who now own the tiebreaker after the March 7 contest.
