Luka Doncic joined the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks last year [Reuters]
LeBron James praised the "generational" talent of team-mate Luka Doncic after the Slovenian hit an overtime winner as the Los Angeles Lakers came from behind to beat the Denver Nuggets 127-125.
Doncic, 27, finished with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for his eighth triple-double of the season as the Lakers secured their fifth consecutive victory.
The six-time NBA all-star hit a step-back jump shot with 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock to hand his side the victory.
"Just a big-time shot by a generational player," James said of his team-mate.
"He's just a big-time player, man. It's going to be just the first of many game winners like that for him in a Lakers uniform."
Austin Reaves hit a team-high 32 points, Marcus Smart added 21 points and five steals, while James, 41, contributed 17 points in 40 minutes as the Lakers moved up to third in the Western Conference.
James dived full length on the floor to prevent Denver getting an offensive rebound with 54.3 seconds remaining - a play Lakers coach JJ Redick said he had never previously seen in James' 23-year professional career.
"I think all of us have heard it from our coaches when we were little: the first man to the floor usually gets the ball," said James.
"So, that's just my little league coach kind of in my head at that moment, understanding the significance of it."
Lakers coach Redick was pleased with his side's collective performance.
"We still have got a long way to go, but we are certainly optimistic with how we handled this stretch of games," Redick said.
SYDNEY (AP) — Toko Koga headed in two goals as Japan routed Philippines 7-0 on Sunday to advance to the Women’s Asian Cup semifinals and secure a spot in next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
The 20-year-old Tottenham defender scored in first-half stoppage time and again in the 76th minute as Japan improved its tally to 24 goals and none conceded so far in the 2026 championship.
Japan will play 2022 runner-up South Korea on Wednesday for a spot in next weekend's final.
“It’s always nice to score a lot of goals and for the players to show what they can do, but it’s not going to help us against Korea,” Japan coach Nils Nielsen said. “I knew we scored a lot, but for the semifinal, (earlier goals) can’t help us.
“We will be ready to play South Korea.”
Four years ago, Japan lost on penalties to eventual champion China in the semifinals, ending its title defense.
All the semifinalists in Australia qualify automatically for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The losing quarterfinalists go into playoffs for two more guaranteed places in Brazil.
Slow start, big finish
Japan completely dominated possession and field position but wasn't able to score for 45 minutes against a determined Philippines defense anchored by goalkeeper Nina Meollo.
Once the first goal went in — Mina Tanaka's header from point-blank range after a scrappy scramble in the goalmouth — it started a flow for the top-ranked team in the tournament.
Three minutes later, Koga jumped to meet a corner from Honoko Hayashi and angled it into the back of the net to give Japan a 2-0 halftime lead.
The Japanese scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half to lead 4-0, with Remina Chiba sliding in with a right-foot shot from the edge of the box in the 65th from Aoba Fujino’s long, floating cross and Manaka Matsukubo scoring in the 67th.
Koga scored again with a close-range header to make it 5-0 before substitutes Momoko Tanikawa and Riko Ueki added further goals in the last four minutes of regulation.
“Obviously it’s tough to take but you’re playing probably the best team in Asia … probably one of the top five teams in the world,” Philippines coach Mark Torcaso said. “Our girls showed a lot of determination in that first half. We had a lot of younger players out there in the first half, and they got some really good exposure and experience, so I’m really proud of that.
“But we’ve got another game to worry about to get to a World Cup, to play Uzbekistan, so we'll just turn the page over and we’ll focus on the next one now.”
China beat Taiwan 2-0 in extra time in a Saturday quarterfinal set against geopolitical tensions to move into a semifinal against host Sam Kerr 's Australia, which beat North Korea 2-1 on Friday night.
Iran's exit
The last of the quarterfinals was played hours after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced another three members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who accepted refugee visas to stay in Australia have decided to return Iran.
Initially, six players and a support staff member accepted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia before the rest of the Iranian contingent flew from Sydney to Malaysia on March 9. So far, four of those have elected to rejoin the Iran squad which has temporarily remained in Kuala Lumpur.
SHANGHAI (AP) — He’s been defined by being Lewis Hamilton’s successor and George Russell’s teammate. Now Kimi Antonelli is a Formula 1 race-winner in his own right, and the second-youngest in history.
The 19-year-old Italian pulled clear of an entertaining battle between Russell and the two Ferraris to take a commanding win at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday and share the podium with his teammate and Hamilton, the seven-time champion he replaced last year.
It's a vindication of the gamble Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff took in picking the youngster, who'd joined Mercedes' junior program aged just 11, to replace an all-time great when Hamilton moved to Ferrari for 2025. There were plenty of doubters when Antonelli crashed 10 minutes into his practice debut in 2024.
“Many said it was just too early last year, and obviously we asked ourselves that question, whether it was too much to throw him into this pressure cooker," Wolff told Sky Sport Germany.
"One year with ups and downs and he’s young. We have to forgive him these mistakes, and now he’s in the second Grand Prix (of 2026) and brings it home ruthlessly. It’s good.”
The 19-year-old Italian was the youngest pole-position starter and briefly lost the lead to Hamilton at the start but retook it soon after and was in control the rest of the way.
“We did it! We did it!” Antonelli shouted to his team over the radio amid laughs and whoops, and he was holding back tears amid celebrations and a TV interview soon after.
It was another 1-2 finish for Mercedes to start the season as Russell came through a battle with both Ferraris to finish second. Hamilton was third for his long-awaited first Grand Prix podium finish for Ferrari.
The only driver younger than Antonelli to win a Grand Prix was Max Verstappen, who was 18 when he took his first victory in 2016. He's the first Italian to win since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006.
Russell bests Ferraris in thriller
The new regulations again produced a dramatic fight for position between Mercedes and the fast-starting Ferraris as Russell fought his way past Charles Leclerc and Hamilton in a multi-lap battle with numerous changes of position. That allowed Antonelli to build his lead at the front.
Even after Russell had pulled away to secure second place, teammates Leclerc and Hamilton kept up their own fight for third. “This is quite a fun battle," Leclerc exclaimed over the radio.
Leclerc was fourth with Oliver Bearman fifth for Haas, Pierre Gasly sixth for Alpine and Liam Lawson seventh for Racing Bulls. Isack Hadjar recovered from an early spin to place eighth for Red Bull, ahead of Carlos Sainz, Jr. in ninth for Williams, while Franco Colapinto was 10th for Alpine to score his first point since 2024.
Max Verstappen was running sixth when his car lost power and he had to limp back to the pits in another blow for the four-time champion, who has been a leading critic of F1’s new cars.
Double disaster for McLaren
Formula 1 champion Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri were both unable to start after encountering technical problems minutes before the race began.
Piastri was due to start fifth and Norris sixth for Sunday's race. Norris was in his car in the pits but didn't leave for the grid, before Piastri was then withdrawn from the grid.
McLaren said it found “two different electrical problems on the power unit side” after an investigation. It's the second time Piastri has failed to start in 2026 after he crashed before the start of last week's race in Australia. Only 18 of 22 cars took the start, with Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and Williams' Alex Albon also unable to make it, before both Aston Martin cars and Verstappen hit trouble in the race too.
PARADISE, Nev. (AP) — Dominique Daniels Jr. hit three 3-pointers in the final two minutes and finished with 23 points on Saturday night to help No. 2 seed Cal Baptist beat top-seeded Utah Valley 63-61 to win the final Western Athletic Conference Tournament and clinch the first NCAA Tournament berth in program history.
Cal Baptist (25-8), which began the transition from Division II in 2018 and became eligible for the postseason in the 2022-23 season, extended its program record (D-I era) for single-season wins. The Lancers have won six games in a row.
Utah Valley (25-8), which has won back-to-back conference regular-season titles and four of the last six, had its seven-game win streak snapped.
Daniels, who finished 7-of-25 shooting, hit back-to-back 3s that tied it 60-all with 1:16 to play. Jackson Holcombe grabbed an offensive rebound, was fouled and made 1-of-2 free throws with 39 seconds left, but Daniel hit a pull-up 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down that gave Cal Baptist a two-point lead with 14.6 seconds remaining.
Isaac Davis missed a potential tying alley-oop dunk with three seconds left.
Holcombe led the Wolverines with 18 points and Davis scored 12. Trevan Leonhardt had 10 rebounds and eight assists to go with six points while consistently harassing Daniels defensively.
Bradey Henige had 11 points for the Lancers and Jonathan Griman had 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting before he fouled out with about 5 1/2 minutes left.
Utah Valley won the season series, 2-1, with both wins coming on its home floor. Daniels had a program-record 47 points in Cal Baptist's 78-71 home win over the Wolverines on Jan. 24.
Both programs are joining the Big West Conference beginning next season, when the WAC will rebrand as the United Athletic Conference.
Up next
Cal Baptist: Awaits its seeding and first-round opponent for the NCAA Tournament.
Utah Valley: Clinched an automatic invite to the NIT.
MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand has won the toss Sunday and chosen to bat in the first of five Twenty20 internationals against South Africa, beginning only a week after New Zealand's loss to India in the T20 World Cup final.
Eight members of the New Zealand World Cup squad including Rachin Ravindra, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Glenn Phillips, Jacob Duffy, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman are unavailable while preparing for the Indian Premier League or Pakistan Super League.
Australia-born batter Nick Kelly will make his T20 debut for New Zealand after previously playing in three one-day internationals against Pakistan last year. Tom Latham, Tim Robinson, Bevon Jacobs and Zak Foulkes rejoin the New Zealand team along with Ben Sears who was a traveling reserve at the World Cup.
Connor Esterhuizen will make his debut for South Africa along Dian Forrester and Jordan Hermann who joins brother Rubin Hermann in the Proteas lineup.
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New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (captain), Jimmy Neesham, Cole McConchie, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears.
South Africa: Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Hermann, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (captain), Nqobani Mokoena, Ottneil Baartman.
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana travels to Milwaukee looking to break its six-game road slide.
The Bucks are 19-26 in conference play. Milwaukee is ninth in the Eastern Conference with 32.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Giannis Antetokounmpo averaging 7.0.
The Pacers are 3-9 against opponents in the Central Division. Indiana ranks ninth in the Eastern Conference with 26.4 assists per game led by Andrew Nembhard averaging 7.3.
The Bucks score 110.8 points per game, 8.9 fewer points than the 119.7 the Pacers allow. The Bucks average 111.0 points per game, 5.0 fewer points than the 116.0 the Bucks allow to opponents.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Bucks won 105-99 in the last meeting on Feb. 7. Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 23 points, and Nembhard led the Pacers with 22 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Rollins is averaging 16.7 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Pascal Siakam is averaging 24 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 14.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 2-8, averaging 102.9 points, 39.3 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 7.4 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.4 points per game.
Pacers: 0-10, averaging 110.3 points, 39.4 rebounds, 28.1 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.4 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo: day to day (calf), Ousmane Dieng: day to day (illness).
Pacers: Pascal Siakam: day to day (knee), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Quenton Jackson: day to day (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes Sacramento and Utah meet on Sunday.
The Kings are 10-34 in conference games. Sacramento has a 3-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Jazz have gone 11-31 against Western Conference opponents. Utah allows 125.0 points to opponents while being outscored by 7.6 points per game.
The Kings average 110.6 points per game, 14.4 fewer points than the 125.0 the Jazz give up. The Jazz's 46.5% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.8 percentage points lower than the Kings have given up to their opponents (49.3%).
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Jazz won the last meeting 121-93 on Feb. 12. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 23 points to help lead the Jazz to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: DeMar DeRozan is averaging 18.4 points and 3.9 assists for the Kings. Russell Westbrook is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Keyonte George is averaging 23.6 points and 6.1 assists for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 18.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 4-6, averaging 115.1 points, 44.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.3 points per game.
Jazz: 2-8, averaging 112.6 points, 41.0 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 10.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.2 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Malik Monk: out (ankle), Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Devin Carter: out (calf), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Drew Eubanks: out (thumb), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (ankle), Ace Bailey: day to day (concussion), Keyonte George: day to day (leg), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee), John Konchar: day to day (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Phoenix Suns (39-28, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (44-23, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Phoenix Suns take on the Boston Celtics in a non-conference matchup.
The Celtics have gone 22-10 in home games. Boston leads the league in team defense, allowing 107.0 points while holding opponents to 44.1% shooting.
The Suns have gone 17-15 away from home. Phoenix is last in the league scoring 42.9 points per game in the paint.
The Celtics are shooting 46.4% from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points lower than the 47.0% the Suns allow to opponents. The Suns score 5.5 more points per game (112.5) than the Celtics give up (107.0).
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Celtics won the last meeting 97-81 on Feb. 25. Derrick White scored 22 points to help lead the Celtics to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylen Brown is averaging 28.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Celtics. White is averaging 17.5 points and 5.1 assists over the past 10 games.
Devin Booker is averaging 25.4 points and six assists for the Suns. Collin Gillespie is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 6-4, averaging 110.1 points, 48.8 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 5.5 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.8 points per game.
Suns: 6-4, averaging 108.4 points, 41.1 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.6 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Nikola Vucevic: out (finger).
Suns: Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Lakers (42-25, third in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (41-25, fourth in the Western Conference)
Houston; Monday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles visits the Houston Rockets following the Lakers' 127-125 overtime win against the Denver Nuggets.
The Rockets are 23-19 in conference matchups. Houston ranks second in the Western Conference at limiting opponent scoring, giving up only 109.9 points while holding opponents to 45.9% shooting.
The Lakers are 28-16 in Western Conference play. Los Angeles scores 116.5 points and has outscored opponents by 1.2 points per game.
The Rockets are shooting 47.4% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point lower than the 48.4% the Lakers allow to opponents. The Lakers average 12.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 fewer makes per game than the Rockets allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Rockets won 119-96 in the last meeting on Dec. 26. Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 26 points, and Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 25 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Thompson is scoring 17.8 points per game and averaging 7.7 rebounds for the Rockets. Kevin Durant is averaging 26.1 points and 6.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LeBron James is averaging 21.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers. Doncic is averaging 34.0 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 6-4, averaging 112.1 points, 46.9 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.0 points per game.
Lakers: 8-2, averaging 121.7 points, 42.2 rebounds, 28.0 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.4 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Jae'Sean Tate: out (knee), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Alperen Sengun: day to day (back), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).
Lakers: Maxi Kleber: out (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Memphis Grizzlies (23-43, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (27-40, 12th in the Eastern Conference)
Chicago; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Memphis travels to Chicago looking to stop its four-game road skid.
The Bulls are 16-18 on their home court. Chicago ranks second in the Eastern Conference with 28.8 assists per game led by Tre Jones averaging 5.5.
The Grizzlies are 11-23 in road games. Memphis ranks third in the Western Conference with 28.5 assists per game led by Cam Spencer averaging 5.5.
The Bulls' 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.7 more made shots on average than the 13.9 per game the Grizzlies give up. The Grizzlies average 13.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 fewer makes per game than the Bulls allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Matas Buzelis is averaging 15.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Bulls. Josh Giddey is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Cedric Coward is averaging 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Grizzlies. GG Jackson is averaging 14.6 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 3-7, averaging 112.1 points, 47.5 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 7.0 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.4 points per game.
Grizzlies: 2-8, averaging 117.1 points, 37.3 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 9.6 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.7 points.
INJURIES: Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Jalen Smith: day to day (calf), Isaac Okoro: day to day (knee), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jaden Ivey: out (knee), Zach Collins: out for season (toe), Collin Sexton: day to day (leg).
Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: day to day (knee), Jaylen Wells: day to day (shoulder), Walter Clayton Jr.: day to day (ankle), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out for season (toe), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), GG Jackson: day to day (foot), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the 76ers face Portland.
The 76ers have gone 19-16 at home. Philadelphia is sixth in the Eastern Conference scoring 115.7 points while shooting 46.0% from the field.
The Trail Blazers are 14-19 on the road. Portland gives up 117.7 points to opponents while being outscored by 2.4 points per game.
The 76ers are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points lower than the 47.4% the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 115.3 points per game, 0.9 fewer than the 116.2 the 76ers give up.
The teams play for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Feb. 10 the Trail Blazers won 135-118 led by 30 points from Toumani Camara, while Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points for the 76ers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Dominick Barlow is scoring 8.2 points per game and averaging 4.7 rebounds for the 76ers. Quentin Grimes is averaging 15.5 points and 3.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Donovan Clingan is averaging 12 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 20.1 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 50.8% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 5-5, averaging 112.3 points, 41.3 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 5-5, averaging 110.5 points, 45.3 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 9.7 steals and 7.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.5 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Andre Drummond: day to day (back), Tyrese Maxey: out (finger), Johni Broome: out (knee), Jabari Walker: day to day (illness), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr.: out (elbow).
Trail Blazers: Robert Williams III: day to day (injury management), Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 14: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — During the 2020s, beating the Nuggets has become a tough task.
So, on Saturday against Denver, with the season series on the line, it’s no surprise that the Nuggets pushed the Lakers to the brink, forcing them to play their first overtime game of the year.
However, this time the Lakers proved that the past isn’t always an indicator of the future, and they got the better of their Western Conference rival, winning 127-125.
LA’s margin for error was slim, and they needed everyone to bring their A-game.
Austin Reaves needed to miss a free throw on purpose and score off the rebound to extend the game to overtime. Luka Dončić was chucking up shots and knocked down the game-winning basket. And LeBron James, at 41 years old, was fully extending his body, diving on the ground trying to gain possession for his team late in the fourth.
Those three, however, are always asked to do more. It’s part of the pecking order.
A player who did everything in their job description and then some for LA was Marcus Smart.
He scored 21 points, his third-highest scoring total of the season. He had a plus-minus of +16, the best on the team, and five steals, tied with Nikola Jokić for the most in the game.
Smart is a player known for his defensive prowess, but it was his offensive output that made him one of the heroes on Saturday night.
In overtime, with the Lakers down by one with under a minute to go, Dončić and Smart worked the two-man game around the perimeter and Dončić delivered a behind-the-back bounce pass to Smart.
With zero hesitation, Smart gathered himself and knocked it down to put the Lakers in front.
“He was great tonight,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said postgame. “They go up, I can’t remember the exact score, but we had two timeouts in overtime and we elected to go two-for-one, and he hits the three. Those two guys, Luka and him, executed that to perfection, and we ended up getting the last shot, which was the difference in the game because we executed the two.”
Smart had excuses readily available to pass up that shot. Just a week ago, he had a couple of opportunities to help the Lakers beat the Nuggets in Denver, but he missed on some open looks from beyond the arc.
Losing a close contest while missing looks the opponent wanted you to have would make plenty of other players hesitant to take the same shot against that team in a rematch, but Smart isn’t most people.
“It felt good for my teammates to believe in me,” Smart said. “Especially after playing this team a couple of weeks ago, and having some looks to put us up, or tie a game and they not falling. Could’ve easily fell into that trap where we’re like, not again, and I wouldn’t blame Luka or those guys to not trust me, but I think it speaks to our team, speaks to me, speaks to those guys, and how willing they are to trust each other and trust us.”
While the three was the biggest play Smart had, he was an irritant that Denver couldn’t shake all night long. He was disrupting the Nuggets’ shooters, applying intense ball pressure and getting the Lakers out in transition.
Smart’s play won’t regularly make a highlight reel, but his impact is loud and felt on every team he’s ever played for. He is a role player of the highest caliber, the type of guard every playoff team desires on its roster. No task is too small, and no shot on the floor is too big for him to take.
How far the Lakers will go this year is still up in the air, but one thing that’s all but certain is that Smart will be on the floor when that gets decided.
“I’ve been doing this for 12 years, and I pride myself on it,” Smart said. “And it doesn’t always work in my favor, but at least I know, when I leave that court, I left it all on the court. And that’s all I can ask for. So for me, this is a normal day. My teammates needed me to, in a sense, do my job, and I’m gonna go out there every night and try to do my job.” You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
The Lakers' fifth win in a row required heroics from Austin Reaves just to force overtime, which is where Luka Doncic made the final shot of the game.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 127-125 on Saturday night in one of the best, most entertaining games of the season. Reaves, who finished with 32 points, forced overtime when he intentionally missed a free throw, grabbed the rebound and made a floater with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation. Lakers center Deandre Ayton deserves credit on that play for clearing out Nikola Jokic and creating the space for Reaves to make his play.
In overtime, Doncic was the hero, hitting the final shot of the night with 0.5 seconds left.
Doncic finished with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.
Nikola Jokic had a triple-double of his own (his 27th of the season) with 24 points, 16 rebounds and 14 assists. Aaron Gordon scored 27 points to lead the Nuggets. All-Star point guard Jamal Murray had a rough night, shooting 1-of-14 from the floor and fouling out near the end of regulation.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets delivered a heavyweight fight worthy of the national spotlight Saturday night, a 127–125 overtime thriller that swung wildly like a pendulum in a storm. The Lakers led by 17. The Nuggets clawed back and briefly seized a seven-point advantage late. Then chaos took over.
Austin Reaves missed a free throw with five seconds left, chased down the rebound like a man refusing to let the moment escape him, and tied the game with a desperate layup.
AUSTIN REAVES GRABS THE BOARD OFF HIS OWN MISSED FREE THROW AND TIES THE GAME
Overtime followed, where punches were traded possession after possession until Luka Doncic slipped along the baseline and buried the dagger that sent the arena into delirium.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson enjoyed watching the same competitive fire between opponents that translates across all of sports.
Despite all the celebrities in attendance, when Doncic’s game-winner splashed through the net, the phones dropped. The celebrities stood. And the building roared.
NBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty Images
For a brief moment, fame, fortune and followers didn’t matter.
Basketball did.
And on nights like this, in a city that turns everything into theater, the NBA delivered the best show in town.
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Bobby McMann had two goals and an assist in his Kraken debut and Seattle beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Saturday night to end a four-game losing streak and move within a point of the final wild card in the West.
McMann went from Toronto to Seattle at the trade deadline, but was delayed because of a visa issue that was resolved Friday.
His new linemates also had three-point nights, with Matty Beniers finishing with a goal and two assists, and Jordan Eberle added three assists.
Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak added goals for the Kraken, and Brandon Montour had two assists. Philipp Grubauer stopped 32 shots.
Evander Kane and Marco Rossi scored for NHL-worst Vancouver. Nikita Tolopilo made 28 saves. The Canucks have five games left on an eight-game homestand.
McMann scored on a power play at the end of the first period and added his second early in the third. Seattle got him for a a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft and a conditional second-round selection in 2027.
Joe Burrow & Bijan Robinson in the building for 
