Category: NBA

No matter where your college allegiances lie, it’s worth remembering that Mother Nature is always undefeated. As we look at this weekend’s Starting Five, therefore, we remind everyone that logistics might hamper the schedule in some locales, particularly in the eastern half of the country.

We think, however, that the items offered here for your Saturday viewing enjoyment will go on as scheduled. But of course fans should check on game day through official channels. And, above all, if you’re traveling, please be safe.

With all that out of the way, here’s the Starting Five for a potentially snowy January 24.

No. 24 North Carolina at No. 15 Virginia

Time/TV: Noon ET, ESPN2

This one was moved up a couple hours in hopes of getting it in ahead of the storm. The action on the court should be hot enough for all, however, as the Cavaliers are riding a five-game winning streak, while the Tar Heels got in a needed get-right game against Notre Dame following a rough west-coast trip. The inside-out combo of Thijs De Ridder and Malik Thomas have been carrying the scoring load for UVa. The Tar Heels do most of their damage in the paint via Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, but they’ll need a few treys to drop as well.

Villanova at No. 3 Connecticut

Time/TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, Fox

They’re accustomed to winter weather in the northeast, and this one is early enough that it should tip off on time. It’s an important contest for both parties, as there are fewer opportunities for high-end wins in the Big East this year. Bryce Lindsay leads a deep Wildcats’ backcourt that will have to be ready for UConn’s relentless ball pressure. The Huskies haven’t exhibited the wire-to-wire dominance of their recent championship runs, but having center Tarris Reed healthy again has been a major boost at both ends of the floor.

No. 11 Illinois at No. 4 Purdue

Time/TV: 3 p.m. ET, Fox

The Boilermakers return home after splitting on their trip to Los Angeles. They don’t get much of a break, however, as the Fighting Illini bring an eight-game winning streak into Mackey Arena. Purdue floor general Braden Smith is coming off a bad shooting night at UCLA, but he’s still handing out over nine assists a game. Illinois will be without guard Kylan Boswell (hand) for a couple more weeks, but the Illini were able to compensate for his absence in their most recent outing against Maryland.

No. 6 Houston at No. 12 Texas Tech

Time/TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

The game of the day might once again involve the Red Raiders, who staged a late rally a week ago to overtake Brigham Young. They now hope to turn the tables on the Cougars, who handed them their lone league loss to date in Houston back on Jan. 6. Since that four-point squeaker against the Red Raiders, Houston dismissed its last three opponents in blowout fashion. Tech’s dynamic duo of J.T. Toppin and Christian Anderson have been getting some timely help from LeJuan Watts of late. They’ll all have their hands full with the Cougars’ three-headed monster on the perimeter of Emanuel Sharp, Kingston Flemings and Milos Uzan.

Tennessee at No. 17 Alabama

Time/TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

In addition to being a key SEC contest for both squads, there’s a curiosity factor for this contest with the Crimson Tide at the epicenter of the sport’s latest eligibility litigation. If Charles Bediako does play, it will likely be for a limited number of minutes backing up Aiden Sherrell, though he would give the Tide another option in the interior defense, which has unquestionably been an Achilles heel for this group. All of this of course is of little concern for the Volunteers, who have struggled to make shots when needed. Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament remain the primary options, but both have seen their shooting percentages dip in conference play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball schedule features five huge games this weekend

We’re back! Welcome to the five highest-IQ plays of the week! 

Sure, we love the high-flying dunks and the deep, off-the-dribble step-back threes, but this is a place for the under-the-radar plays that might not get the credit they deserve. The plays that get the basketball sickos and nerds out of their chairs. The plays that even YOU could make in your weekly rec league game. 

Each week, the plays will be ranked from five to one—one being the smartest—and will only be taken from games that occurred within the past week. For this week, games from January 15th to January 21st are considered. The C’s went 3-1 this week, with wins over the Heat, Hawks and Pacers but a tough loss to the Pistons.

5. Catch high, keep high

Baylor Scheierman is just the latest NBA player to start taking some three-point shots without a dip in his release. You’ll hear lots of “shooting coaches” and “basketball trainers” talk about getting the ball into your shooting pocket in order to get as much power as you can, especially if you’re a young player who hasn’t reached full physical development. But the cold, hard truth is that NBA defenders are sometimes too big and athletic to spend all that time setting up your shot. Instead of finding a shooting pocket, Scheierman just catches it high, keeps it high, and knocks down the shot—he probably gets the ball out of his hands in half the time he would have if he listened to your local basketball trainer. 

4. 3-man game

This beautiful offensive spacing is made possible by Payton Pritchard’s heady relocation and quick thinking. Players are taught to relocate—or find a spot on the three-point line—after they drive to the lane and kick out to shooters. But they’re often taught to do so on the weak side of the floor. Here, Pritchard’s decision to relocate right back to where he drove from seems odd at first, but then utterly genius after you realize that there are three Celtics players on that side of the floor as opposed to two Pistons. And since each of those three Boston players can make threes, they’re an impossible cover for only two defenders. Big time IQ, Pritch.

3. Two places at once

Okay, so I know I literally just said that it’s impossible to defend on one side of the floor when you’re a defender down, but I guess that doesn’t apply if your name is Jordan Walsh? On this play, Walsh closes out to Walker and simultaneously jumps to contest his three (which Walker quickly thinks better of) while forcing him to improve his passing angle to Sheppard in the corner. That gives Jordan Walsh—and probably only Jordan Walsh and like 15 other NBA players—enough time to get back and block the shot. He’s literally in two places at once.

2. Watching your defender’s eyes

When you’re a player like Jordan Walsh, the defense isn’t losing sleep over you on the offensive end. Your main offensive responsibilities as a role player include (but are not limited to) shooting and making open threes, cutting to the basket, and offensive rebounding. But what do smart cutters actually do to get open? Well, one thing they do is pay attention to their defender’s eyes, which is exactly what Jordan does here. He’s looking right at Norman Powell and knows that once Hauser drives baseline, Powell’s eyes will be on the ball. So as soon as Norm stares at the ball, Walsh cuts backdoor for an easy two. The timing is perfect.

1. Creative Spain action

I’ve talked at length about the Celtics’ use of Spain action (ball screener gets a back screen from a third player), but this is a really interesting way for Boston to get into the action. Instead of simply running down the floor and starting in the typical alignment (pick and roll with a third defender starting in the paint), the Celtics instead set up in a zoom alignment before Brown slips the play and gets himself into position to set a screen for Queta. This totally throws off Miami and is quite frankly a brilliant wrinkle for the C’s to get into their most common and effective offensive action. Special stuff, Joe and staff.

Good morning, it’s Friday, January 23rd. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 25-20 and play the Sacramento Kings tonight at home.

This is Cleveland’s first game against the Kings this season. Surprisingly, the Cavs went 0-2 against Sacramento last year, making them one of the only teams to sweep the Cavs last season. The Kings are currently 14th in the Western Conference with a 12-33 record.

Today’s Game of the Day

• Houston Rockets at Detroit Pistons – 7 PM, Prime Video, AT&T SportsNet Southwest

The Detroit Pistons have taken a 5.5 game lead over the rest of the Eastern Conference, sitting at 32-10 behind a breakout season. They’ve gone 17-4 at home this season and have won eight of their last 10 games.

Meanwhile, Houston is fourth in the Western Conference and is only half a game outside of seventh place. Every game matters in the West — and the Rockets will need to pick up a difficult win on the road to stay above water. They recently beat the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 behind 21 points from Reed Sheppard in a comeback victory.

The Rest of the NBA Slate

• Sacramento Kings at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:30 PM
• Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 PM
• Phoenix Suns at Atlanta Hawks – 7:30 PM
• New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies – 8 PM
• Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder – 8 PM
• Denver Nuggets at Milwaukee Bucks – 9:30 PM
• Toronto Raptors at Portland Trail Blazers – 10 PM

The Nets just lost to the Knicks 120-66, in case you’re interested in watching how they respond to playing one of the worst games in modern NBA history.

Cavs links of the day

• Cavs vs Hornets Player Grades – Fear the Sword
• Cavs Trade Deadline options are slim – Akron Beacon Journal

NBA links

• LaMelo Ball just made the ugliest kind of NBA history – Yahoo Sports
• NBA Rookie Rankings – The Ringer

Nigeria's hopes of Olympic basketball success could receive a boost, with Orlando Magic's Desmond Bane saying he wants to "make something happen" and recruit fellow NBA stars to D'Tigers' cause.

Bane is officially listed as American by the NBA but has Nigerian heritage and is yet to represent any nation on the international stage.

Having qualified for their first Olympics at London 2012, Nigeria's basketball team went on to also compete at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, but missed out on the 2024 Games in Paris.

"I would for sure," said the shooting guard when asked about the possibility of answering the call if it came.

"We just need to get all the Nigerians together for the Olympics coming up in the next couple years and make something happen."

Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, who was born in Lagos but raised in the USA, is already a Nigeria international, but Bane says he has had conversations with other players about joining up.

"I'd talk to Aaron Nesmith (Indiana Pacers)," the 27-year-old told BBC Sport. "Me and Gabe Vincent (Los Angeles Lakers) also talked about it a little bit. We need to do it."

Forwards Precious Achiuwa and Adem Bona of the Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers respectively are also Nigerian-listed NBA players.

Currently ranked 50th in governing body Fiba's world rankings, Nigeria have dropped to 7th among African nations.

And D'Tigers are far from certain to reach the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Their first chance could come through the 2027 Fiba World Cup in Qatar, where they would have to finish as the highest-ranked of the five African nations who will compete.

But they will have to qualify first, and currently sit third in their first round group behind Guinea and Tunisia.

There will also be a separate African Olympic qualification competition featuring six nations, with the winner booking a spot in LA.

Bane has just finished taking part in this year's NBA Global Games, with Orlando beating the Memphis Grizzlies in Berlin before losing the return fixture in London.

Speaking in Germany, NBA commissioner Adam Silver again talked up the possibility of a new European continental league, to add to the Basketball Africa League which has been running since 2021 and is also backed by the NBA.

Bane is impressed by the growing global impact and talent pool.

"I think it's great. You hear about NBA Europe and talking about Nigeria, there's so many talented players everywhere."

Buss family drama is not new to the Lakers or their fanbase. From the moment team governor Jeanie removed her brother, Jim, from his front office role, the Lakers have, at times, resembled a soap opera more than a basketball team.

However, that has often existed in a vacuum, existing alongside the on-court Lakers and rarely overlapping. That is until Wednesday when, in Baxter Holmes of ESPN’s piece on Jeanie and the Buss family, LeBron James was pulled into the mix.

The story described a seemingly deteriorating relationship between Jeanie and LeBron since the 2020 title. The culmination of sorts came when Jeanie reportedly considered trading LeBron in 2022.

In the aftermath of the story, Jeanie released a statement pushing back on the idea that she has not appreciated LeBron while also, more hilariously, saying not to drag him into the family’s drama.

On Friday, LeBron spoke to the media for the first time after the team’s loss to the Clippers. To say he was unbothered would be an understatement.

In a lengthy response, LeBron spoke about not caring about stories and reports and discussed his motivations for coming to the organization, which was also a topic in Holmes’ piece.

“At the end of the day,” LeBron said, “when I came to this organization, my whole mindset was about restoring excellence and the things I seen growing up with the Lakers. Obviously, I didn’t get an opportunity to watch Showtime, but I know the history. Then, in the early 2000s with Shaq and Kob’ and then what Kob’ did those couple runs with him and Pau, my whole mindset was ‘How can I get that feeling back to the Lakers organization.’

“When the Lakers and Knicks and Bulls and Celtics are good, it’s great. And I was able to do that along with 14, 16 other guys, winning a championship, bringing a championship. That’s always been my mind. Quite frankly, I don’t really care about articles. I don’t care about stories. I don’t care about podcasts and all that type of shit. It don’t bother me…If you know me personally, then you know what I’m about.”

LeBron James on his relationship with Jeanie pic.twitter.com/nrf91revHZ

— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) January 23, 2026

He was also asked about his relationship with Jeanie directly and where he felt it stood in light of the reports.

“I thought it was good,” LeBron said. “But somebody can see it another way. There’s always two sides of the coin. At the end of the day, how I represented this franchise and what I wanted to do to represent this franchise when I got here until now is with the utmost respect and dignity and I would say loyalty.”

That’s not really a great statement, but it was also one delivered in a way that didn’t feel like a shot at Jeanie. Granted, that’s me reading into things and LeBron could have meant it some other kind of way. However, the whole tone of his interview was more dismissive of the whole story than passive-aggressive.

LeBron was pushed one more time after that response about his relationship with Jeanie and, specifically, if the two had been in contact since the story’s release.

“We never talk,” LeBron said. “It’s like me and Jeanie be on the phone talking. You guys ain’t ever heard a report about that. Don’t make something out of it that it’s not. It’s always been mutual, it’s always been respect, it’s always been a great partnership but it’s not like I call Jeanie on the phone. It’s not like I called [Heat owner] Micky Arison or [Cavaliers owner] Dan Gilbert on the phone.

“Come on guys. Don’t make this more than what it is. I don’t care.”

To my point above, this all felt like LeBron wanting to downplay the whole situation. Considering he easily could have made a much bigger deal about this if he wished, it does feel notable that he chose this path instead.

All that being said, it also likely wasn’t completely nothing to LeBron. It certainly adds another layer to LeBron’s impending free agency and whether this further signals the end of LeBron’s time in LA.

Because the Lakers can’t just be a normal franchise.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

LeBron James downplayed any suggestion of a rift between him and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss on Thursday following an ESPN report that detailed how the now-minority owner of the team had started to turn on the Lakers superstar.

“Quite frankly, I don't really get involved in that, or the reports, or whatever the case may be,” James said after the Lakers lost 112-104 to the Clippers at Intuit Dome.

The report detailed how years of in-fighting between the Buss siblings led to the family selling a majority stake of the team to Dodgers owner Mark Walter last year. As the franchise struggled to recapture the magic established under Jerry Buss, Jeanie had grown distant and resentful, the report said, that James didn’t take accountability for involvement with the decision to acquire Russell Westbrook in 2021. She reportedly floated the possibility of trading James to the Clippers in 2022 and didn’t believe James was grateful when the Lakers drafted Bronny James in 2024.

But LeBron James brushed it off.

“At the end of the day, when I came to this organization, my whole mindset was about restoring excellence,” James said. “The things that I seen growing up with the Lakers — obviously, I didn't get an opportunity to watch Showtime [era], but I know the history. Then the early 2000s with Shaq [O’Neal] and [Kobe Bryant], and then what Kob did and those couple runs with him and Pau [Gasol]. So my whole mindset was like, ‘How can I get that feeling back to the Lakers organization?’ … And then I was able to do that along with, you know, 14, 16, other guys winning the championship, bringing the championship here.”

The Lakers’ 2020 championship — in James’ second season with the team — helped the franchise tie rival Boston for the most championships in league history. But the Celtics have since pulled ahead with an 18th title.

The Lakers have won two playoff series in the five seasons since their last championship and have been eliminated in the first round in back-to-back seasons. They stunned the NBA by acquiring Luka Doncic in a midseason trade last season but are struggling to hang on in the competitive Western Conference. They have lost six of their last nine games.

Against the Clippers, the Lakers trailed by 26 points third third quarter before rallying. James scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and converted on a three-point play with 1:28 remaining to cut the Lakers' deficit to three points. But the Clippers, who have won 14 of their last 17 games starting with a win over the Lakers on Dec. 20, answered with a reverse dunk by Ivica Zubac and a dagger three-pointer from John Collins.

Read more:With the Lakers in a tailspin, which players are in danger of not being re-signed?

“LeBron, for what seems like the 20th straight game, just gave us — he emptied the tank and gave us everything he had,” coach JJ Redick said.

After he missed the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica, James is averaging 22.5 points, six rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. Since guard Austin Reaves re-injured his calf on Christmas Day, James has averaged 24.9 points and played more than 31 minutes in each of the 12 games, including playing two back-to-backs in a week.

The 41-year-old James has achieved some of the most significant milestones of his career with the Lakers. He became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in purple and gold. He is the first player to play 23 NBA seasons. Now in his eighth season with the Lakers, L.A. has been his continuous NBA home for longer than any other city, not counting the separate seven- and four-year stints he had in Cleveland.

When he came to the Lakers, James told Buss that he wanted to return the Lakers to glory, he recalled while accepting the NBA Finals most valuable player award in 2020. Buss, standing nearby in the socially distant trophy ceremony, smiled and clutched her hands to her chest when James brought up her father.

When asked Thursday of how he thought the partnership with Jeanie Buss has been, James said he thought "it was good, but somebody could see it another way.

“So it’s always two sides of the coin,” James continued.

The two have not talked since the report was published Wednesday, but that’s not out of the ordinary, James attested.

“We never talked,” James said. “I don't understand. It's not like me and Jeanie be on the phone talking, guys. I never heard a report about that. Don't make something out of it that it's not. It's always been mutual, it's always been respect, it's always been a great partnership."

“I've been here two years, everybody in this organization appreciates LeBron and appreciates what he's done for the Lakers,” Redick said before the game. “He's carried on the legacy and also truthfully the burden of being a superstar for the Los Angeles Lakers for eight years. And he's done it with class. And then personally, I can just speak to it: I've enjoyed coaching him at the highest level, like 10 out of 10. That's not to say LeBron and I don't have our disagreements, but I know with that guy, he's gonna put everything into this and it's been awesome to coach.”

James picked up his $52.6 million player option this summer. It’s the first time in his 23-year NBA career that he’s played on the final year of a deal. He will be up for free agency this summer along with several other players, including guard Austin Reaves, forward Rui Hachimura and center Deandre Ayton.

With the trade deadline approaching, James brushed off questions about what steps the Lakers can do to improve their roster. As he turned to walk out of the locker room, James pointed to his hoodie that was printed with the name of his wife Savannah’s podcast.

“Everybody’s crazy,” James said.

Read more:Can the Lakers 'have fun with it' in the second half of the season?

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Draymond Green has a history of getting himself kicked out of games when Steph Curry is unavailable. That might extend to games when Jimmy Butler is out.

The Warriors’ embattled power forward came into a tied game with the Dallas Mavericks and committed two personal fouls and a flagrant in 1:52. Dallas rode the extra free throws to an 11-0 run that the Warriors couldn’t overcome in a 123-115 loss.

Draymond's reaction to earning a flagrant 1 foul on this play 🫢 pic.twitter.com/ElLYR2LgNE

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 23, 2026

Steph Curry and De’Anthony Melton combined for 60 points. Green finished with four points, three turnovers and six fouls — plus a flagrant.

The Warriors lost their second straight game and lost their second forward in three games. Jonathan Kuminga had scored 10 points in nine minutes when he had to leave the game with injuries to his ankle and knee. He finished with a plus/minus of +18, second to Melton’s +22 among Warriors players.

Curry put the Warriors on his back with 38 points and eight three-pointers, while new starter Brandin Podziemski had a 10-assist game. Curry’s 12 4th-quarter points weren’t enough to get Golden State past a huge game from Naji Marshall — 30 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, 10-for-12 shooting — and Dwight Powell turning back the clock with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Steph is LOCKED in 🔒 pic.twitter.com/UG7KR7IPK1

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 23, 2026

The Warriors ultimately lost this game in two areas: Rebounding, and fouls. Dallas had 54 rebounds to the Warriors’ 35, and shot 30 free throws to the Warriors’ 18. The bench shot 3-for-16 from deep, Kuminga’s injury derailed the already-tenuous rotations, and Gary Payton II was an improbable -32 in his 17 minutes on the floor while missing three shots within two feet of the hoop.

Melton was once again one of the Warriors best players, scoring his 22 points in 23 minutes, shooting 9-for-15 with two assists and two steals. He may be the most pleasant surprise for the Warriors all year, while unintentionally placing himself in the rumor mill for a deadline deal — though his cheap minimum contract paradoxically might make him harder to trade.

Melton reclaims the lead 🤑 pic.twitter.com/n02ifK9dbn

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 23, 2026

The Warriors spotted the Mavericks a 6-0 lead to begin the game, and for the first part of the first quarter, Golden State’s offense was exclusively Curry three-balls. Kuminga came in and sparked an 8-0 run that featured two different and-ones from the young forward. Why was it that this guy couldn’t see the floor for a month?

JK and-1 💪 pic.twitter.com/fBAGU2S6lz

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 23, 2026

ANOTHER JK and-1 🔄 pic.twitter.com/tnUCSp1NMa

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 23, 2026

When Kuminga re-entered the game in the second, the Warriors went on an immediate 13-3 run, where Melton kept scoring, the Warriors kept sharing the ball, and Kuminga kept attacking the rim — though not with a windmill dunk.

JK WINDMILL ALLEY-OOP 🤯 pic.twitter.com/yHpdjn4ejO

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 23, 2026

Kuminga had what initially looked like a cute moment with the Dubs up 43-39. He got fouled and while grimacing, temporarily borrowed the seat of a little girl to rest. He got up to drain both free throws, then left the game minutes later. Relieved to see him head for the locker room, the Mavericks went on a 10-0 run.

For the second game in a row, the Warriors lit it up in the third quarter, scoring 39 points, with 13 coming from Curry and eight from Melton. The Warriors shot 16-for-24 and committed only a single turnover, while Marshall and Dubs-killer Brandon Williams kept Dallas close with a combined 18 points of their own.

Moses Moody hit a big shot to cap a 13-4 run to start the quarter, and is now shooting 17-for-29 from three-point range in his last five games.

Podz finds Moody for the open trey 👌 pic.twitter.com/srI2wWdR9a

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 23, 2026

Golden State eventually pulled ahead of Dallas thanks to a 33-foot heat check three-pointer from Curry. They closed the quarter on a 12-2 run that featured two three-pointers, two layups, and two steals.

Steph from WAY downtown 😱 pic.twitter.com/5B9c42Raod

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 23, 2026

The high-water mark for the Warriors came when Buddy Hield hit his second bucket of the quarter, which looked like a three-pointer but was ruled a two. That gave the Warriors a seven-point lead, though one they’d totally surrender within two minutes after a 10-0 Mavericks run. Rookie Cooper Flagg scored four point sin the run, and when Payton blocked his layup, Powell secured the rebound and turned it into one of Max Christie’s five three-pointers (He had 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting, 5-for-12 on threes).

In the entire fourth quarter, the Warriors got three rebounds. Three. They also got possession once when P.J. Washington blocked Curry’s layup out of bounds. It would be hard to avoid getting three rebounds in 12 minutes of play, even with the Mavericks shooting 11-for-17 and going to the line for 13 free throws. But that’s how the Warriors played down the stretch, committing 10 fouls and securing three rebounds. Green had four of the former and one of the latter in his 2:52 of fourth-quarter action.

This isn’t a great team without Jimmy Butler, but this was a very winnable game against an injury-ravaged Mavericks team. Steve Kerr may be scrambling too much, using 10 players in the competitive portion of the final quarter, and it hurt not to have Kuminga after halftime. Then again, Kerr has been known to forget Kuminga is on the bench when he’s been taken out of the game, so it may not have mattered.

The Warriors head to Minneapolis this weekend for what seems to be their annual baseball-style series with the Minnesota Timberwolves, one that hasn’t been kind to the Warriors in the past few years. The Wolves are on a four-game losing streak, which sadly means, they’re due. Two consecutive road games against the team who went to the last two conference finals is bad enough, but Green really looked like he was ready to get kicked out of tonight’s game one way or another. Do we really think he’s going to chill out for two games featuring Rudy Gobert?

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but a late, if not spirited, Lakers comeback fell short as they ultimately lost to the Clippers on Thursday.

It’s a common theme for the team in recent years to fall behind big, fake a comeback and make the score closer than it deserved to be. As was the case against their crosstown rivals, who led by as many as 26 against a pretty woeful Lakers team.

However, the purple and gold found a lineup that provided some energy late in the third and at the start of the fourth, pulling them back into the game. However, with the margin of error razor thin, a Clippers response in the final minutes ended the game, even if the Lakers tried yet again at one last dash comeback.

So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

LeBron James

36 minutes, 23 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 1 foul, 9-19 FG, 1-4 3PT, 4-5 FT, -7

You can see how much LeBron feeds off the energy of athletic players around him. The lineup that got the team back into the game featured the Lakers flying around the court, getting some stops and getting out in transition.

Grade: B+

Jake LaRavia

22 minutes, 7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 4 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 2-5 FG, 2-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, -15

It was a really great opening roughly two minutes of the game for LaRavia. After that, he kind of faded into the background.

Grade: B–

Deandre Ayton

21 minutes, 4 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 2-5 FG, -14

How concerning is it that the Lakers have looked better in the last two games with Ayton off the court?

Grade: D

Marcus Smart

30 minutes, 10 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 4-10 FG, 1-5 3PT, 1-1 FT, -1

Smart was pivotal in the Lakers’ comeback attempt as he, along with Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura, helped set the tone defensively and get stops.

Grade: B+

Luka Dončić

39 minutes, 32 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 11-27 FG, 3-13 3PT, 7-10 FT, -17

Luka was really doing all he could in the first quarter and first half to keep the Lakers in it early. By the time the rest of the team caught up, he was out of rhythm. He also didn’t help his case with that late decision not to shoot after the incredible steal from Vando, but that likely wouldn’t have changed the result.

Grade: A-

Gabe Vincent

15 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1-2 FG, 1-1 3PT, -8

On one hand, Vincent needs to be out of the rotation. On the other hand, having gotten a good look at the other guard options on the bench, it’s hard to make an argument for any of them to get minutes.

Grade: F

Jaxson Hayes

17 minutes, 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 3-4 FG, -4

While he was better than Ayton, the Lakers’ best lineup was a center-less one. And he did little to slow down Zubac on the boards when he was playing.

Grade: C-

Rui Hachimura

28 minutes, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-11 FG, 2-7 3PT, +6

While I could easily mention Rui finding his shot and playing a big role offensively in the comeback, there’s no way I can not mention this sequence.

WOOOOOOW, RUI HACHIMURA SHUTS DOWN JORDAN MILLER pic.twitter.com/s5YqzHNIED

— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) January 23, 2026

Grade: A-

Jarred Vanderbilt

22 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 3 fouls, 3-5 FG, 1-1 3PT, +16

On the topic of players who helped spark the run, Vando was also at the heart of it. He still has offensive limitations and missed a couple layups, but he was very much a positive on the night.

Grade: A-

Drew Timme

10 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 3 fouls, +4

Timme’s minutes were more limited in this one, but he was still diving on the floor and making the hustle plays, which is all you could ask from a two-way signing.

JJ Redick

I liked some of the string Redick pulled in this. He benched Ayton on a rough night and went as far as to go centerless, which got the Lakers back into the game.

Grade: B+

Monday’s DNPs: Kobe Bufkin, Bronny James, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht

Monday’s inactives: Austin Reaves, Nick Smith Jr., Adou Thiero, Chris Mañon

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — If Tuesday’s Grammy trip-opening comeback win over the Nuggets was the Lakers showcasing their ability to climb out of a hole, then Thursday’s 112-104 loss to the Clippers at the Intuit Dome showed that sometimes a hole is too big.

For most of the game, it looked like the Lakers were on the path to losing in a way that’s familiar to many of their fans: have a competitive opening few minutes; allow their opponent to get comfortable offensively; and ultimately lose by double digits after letting go of the rope.  

But just like they did two nights prior, the Lakers showed some fight and temporarily flipped the script on the Clippers.

But it wasn’t enough.

After taking an early 18-14 lead behind strong starts from Luka Dončić (32 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals) and LeBron James (23 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals), the Clippers started to take control when reserve wing Kobe Sander knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers following defensive breakdowns from the Lakers.

Though Sanders’ two treys helped ignite a 22-11 run for the Clippers who closed the opening quarter with a 36-29 lead. That early first quarter run extended to a 50-29 advantage for the Clippers who surged to a 64-47 lead at the half.

The halftime break didn’t inspire the Lakers who continued to struggle as the Clippers opened the third with a 13-4 run to take a game-best 26-point lead, 79-53. 

But the Lakers finally picked it up defensively, cutting the Clippers lead to 86-72 by the end of the third quarter. They ultimately got within just two points midway through the fourth after Dončić hit a fadeaway trey.

Nevertheless, they couldn’t didn’t get any closer despite having multiple attempts to change the momentum.

The Lakers, who trailed 110-104 with 24 seconds left, had one last chance but Dončić missed a 3-pointer ending all hope. 

What it means

The Lakers, who fell to 26-17, dropped to No. 6 in the Western Conference standings, just percentage points ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves (27-18).

Turning point

Jake LaRavia’s steal against James Harden at the 8:01 mark in the third, when the Lakers were trailing 72-49, started a stretch in which the Lakers forced six turnovers in the final eight minutes, serving as a spark plug for the team’s defense. 

MVP: Kawhi Leonard

Leonard, who made his return after missing the previous three games because of a left knee contusion, finished with 24 points on 9-of-19 shooting to go with five rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes. 

One of Leonard’s biggest plays was his assist to John Collins for the corner 3-pointer that put the Clippers up 110-102 with 43 seconds left to secure the win for the Clippers

Stat of the game: 14 steals

The Lakers’ second-half success because they were more disruptive on the defensive end. They held the Clippers to 48 points on 34.2% shooting.

The Clippers committed 11 turnovers in the final two quarters. Lakers also had seven steals in the second half, which led to 13 points. 

Up next

The Lakers’ road trip continues with a matchup against the Mavericks in Dallas on Saturday.

It will be Dončić’s second time playing against his former team at American Airlines Center since the shocking trade nearly a year ago. 

Denver Nuggets (30-15, third in the Western Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (18-25, 11th in the Eastern Conference)

Milwaukee; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bucks -6.5; over/under is 221.5

BOTTOM LINE: Denver visits Milwaukee looking to prolong its five-game road winning streak.

The Bucks have gone 9-11 in home games. Milwaukee is ninth in the Eastern Conference with 26.3 assists per game led by Ryan Rollins averaging 5.5.

The Nuggets are 18-7 in road games. Denver ranks seventh in the Western Conference with 32.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Nikola Jokic averaging 9.1.

The Bucks score 112.2 points per game, 4.3 fewer points than the 116.5 the Nuggets give up. The Nuggets score 5.3 more points per game (121.1) than the Bucks give up to opponents (115.8).

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Nuggets won 108-104 in the last matchup on Jan. 12. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Nuggets with 25 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 31 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Bucks. AJ Green is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Peyton Watson is averaging 14.5 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray is averaging 20.0 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 54.1% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 4-6, averaging 109.3 points, 41.1 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.2 points per game.

Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 109.6 points, 38.1 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.0 points.

INJURIES: Bucks: Myles Turner: day to day (ankle), Kevin Porter Jr.: out (oblique), Taurean Prince: out (neck).

Nuggets: Cameron Johnson: out (knee), Tamar Bates: out (foot), Nikola Jokic: out (knee), Christian Braun: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Toronto Raptors (27-19, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (23-22, ninth in the Western Conference)

Portland, Oregon; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Raptors -4.5; over/under is 223.5

BOTTOM LINE: Portland comes into a matchup with Toronto as winners of four games in a row.

The Trail Blazers have gone 13-10 in home games. Portland ranks eighth in the NBA with 45.3 rebounds led by Donovan Clingan averaging 10.8.

The Raptors are 14-9 on the road. Toronto averages 114.3 points while outscoring opponents by 1.8 points per game.

The Trail Blazers are shooting 45.1% from the field this season, 1.3 percentage points lower than the 46.4% the Raptors allow to opponents. The Raptors average 114.3 points per game, 3.7 fewer than the 118.0 the Trail Blazers allow.

The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Raptors defeated the Trail Blazers 121-118 in their last meeting on Dec. 3. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 28 points, and Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 25 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Avdija is averaging 26 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists for the Trail Blazers. Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 22.0 points over the last 10 games.

Brandon Ingram is averaging 21.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Raptors. Barnes is averaging 20.2 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 8-2, averaging 117.0 points, 45.0 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 8.3 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.3 points per game.

Raptors: 6-4, averaging 114.2 points, 41.7 rebounds, 31.1 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.9 points.

INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson: out (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle: out (thumb), Blake Wesley: out (foot), Kris Murray: out (back), Deni Avdija: day to day (back), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).

Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: out (back), Collin Murray-Boyles: day to day (thumb), RJ Barrett: day to day (ankle), Ja'Kobe Walter: out (hip).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Washington Wizards (10-33, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (17-28, 12th in the Eastern Conference)

Charlotte, North Carolina; Saturday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Washington travels to Charlotte looking to stop its five-game road losing streak.

The Hornets are 5-4 against Southeast Division teams. Charlotte averages 14.6 turnovers per game and is 6-8 when it wins the turnover battle.

The Wizards are 2-4 in division matchups. Washington ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 11.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Marvin Bagley III averaging 2.6.

The Hornets are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points lower than the 47.5% the Wizards allow to opponents. The Wizards are shooting 45.9% from the field, 1.8% lower than the 47.7% the Hornets' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the third time this season. The Hornets won the last meeting 126-109 on Dec. 24, with LaMelo Ball scoring 23 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kon Knueppel is shooting 48.2% and averaging 19.0 points for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 18.6 points over the last 10 games.

Alex Sarr is scoring 17.2 points per game and averaging 7.4 rebounds for the Wizards. Bub Carrington is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 5-5, averaging 116.3 points, 49.1 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.1 points per game.

Wizards: 1-9, averaging 108.3 points, 42.1 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.9 points.

INJURIES: Hornets: Mason Plumlee: out (groin), Tre Mann: out (illness), Grant Williams: out (knee), KJ Simpson: out (hip).

Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic: out (knee), Bilal Coulibaly: out (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Trae Young: out (quad), Marvin Bagley III: out (illness).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Golden State Warriors (25-21, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (27-18, seventh in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Saturday, 5:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota enters the matchup with Golden State after losing four straight games.

The Timberwolves are 14-13 in conference play. Minnesota scores 120.0 points while outscoring opponents by 4.9 points per game.

The Warriors are 15-13 in Western Conference play. Golden State has a 2-3 record in one-possession games.

The Timberwolves are shooting 48.4% from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points higher than the 47.2% the Warriors allow to opponents. The Warriors are shooting 46.3% from the field, which equals what the Timberwolves' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Timberwolves won 127-120 in the last meeting on Dec. 13. Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 27 points, and Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 39 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Edwards is averaging 29.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Timberwolves. Randle is averaging 23.4 points over the last 10 games.

Brandin Podziemski is scoring 12.2 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Warriors. Curry is averaging 3.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 123.6 points, 47.0 rebounds, 28.0 assists, 8.7 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.9 points per game.

Warriors: 6-4, averaging 122.8 points, 40.0 rebounds, 31.4 assists, 9.7 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.9 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (foot).

Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee), Seth Curry: out (back).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Los Angeles Lakers (26-17, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-26, 12th in the Western Conference)

Dallas; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Mavericks take on Los Angeles.

The Mavericks are 11-18 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas is 7-10 in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Lakers have gone 19-12 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 5-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Mavericks average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 fewer makes per game than the Lakers allow (13.6). The Lakers average 116.0 points per game, 0.6 fewer than the 116.6 the Mavericks allow to opponents.

The two teams play for the second time this season. The Lakers defeated the Mavericks 129-119 in their last matchup on Nov. 29. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 38 points, and P.J. Washington led the Mavericks with 22 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cooper Flagg is averaging 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games.

Luka Doncic is averaging 33.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.6 steals for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 22.4 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 7-3, averaging 117.2 points, 46.8 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points per game.

Lakers: 4-6, averaging 111.8 points, 41.5 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.4 points.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Daniel Gafford: out (ankle), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: out (hand).

Lakers: Austin Reaves: out (calf), Adou Thiero: out (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Houston Rockets (26-16, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (32-10, first in the Eastern Conference)

Detroit; Friday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pistons -4.5; over/under is 217

BOTTOM LINE: Houston will try to break its five-game road skid when the Rockets take on Detroit.

The Pistons are 18-4 on their home court. Detroit leads the Eastern Conference in rebounding, averaging 46.3 boards. Jalen Duren paces the Pistons with 10.9 rebounds.

The Rockets are 11-13 on the road. Houston is the Western Conference leader with 49.0 rebounds per game led by Alperen Sengun averaging 9.2.

The Pistons average 11.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 fewer makes per game than the Rockets allow (12.5). The Rockets average 11.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 fewer made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Pistons give up.

The two teams play for the second time this season. The Pistons defeated the Rockets 115-111 in their last meeting on Oct. 25. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 21 points, and Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 37 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cunningham is averaging 25.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 9.8 assists for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 13.3 points over the last 10 games.

Durant is averaging 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 8-2, averaging 112.0 points, 44.5 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 12.0 steals and 8.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points per game.

Rockets: 5-5, averaging 107.7 points, 49.6 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.5 points.

INJURIES: Pistons: Duncan Robinson: day to day (back), Ronald Holland II: day to day (illness), Caris LeVert: day to day (illness), Cade Cunningham: day to day (illness).

Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Aaron Holiday: out (back), Steven Adams: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.