Category: Basketball

The Cleveland Cavaliers rallied back for a win on the road against the Sacramento Kings. They can thank their new backcourt for this one.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

35 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks

Mitchell took a backseat in the first half as his new co-star took his turn learning the offense. But in the second half, Don understood it was his time to be aggressive. He began windmilling and bombarding the Kings from all areas of the floor.

Mitchell had 6 points at the half, then scored 12 points in the third quarter, and 17 points in the fourth to finish with a game-high 35 points.

Grade: A

James Harden

23 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds

It’s tough to join a team midseason and immediately find your groove. This started as a feel-out game if I’ve ever seen one. Harden did an excellent job running Cleveland’s pick-and-roll, but it took some time for him to be start scoring the rock.

Travis Scott crashed James Harden and Donovan Mitchell's postgame interview after the Cavs win 😭

pic.twitter.com/5mgfMWEzEf

— Kurrco (@Kurrco) February 8, 2026

Harden officially welcomed himself to the Cavaliers by pouring in 15 points in the fourth quarter. He and Mitchell combined for a whopping 32 points in the final frame, escaping Sacramento with a win (and delivering a Travis Scott endorsement with him).

Grade: A

Jarrett Allen

29 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist

Props to Allen. He’s not only carried additional weight with Evan Mobley on the sidelines, but he’s found a new pick-and-roll partner in Harden who can get him more involved than ever before. This was an awesome glimpse at a two-man game that I can’t wait to watch develop. Allen shot 11-12 tonight, starting the game 11-11.

Grade: A+

Jaylon Tyson

10 points, 0 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 turnovers

A lot was going on in this game. Tyson never found his role in it all. He finished with a minus-27 in nearly 30 minutes. That’s tough to do in a game you won.

Grade: F

Keon Ellis

6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 17 minutes

I would have liked more Ellis in this game. His defensive playmaking and three-point shooting are skills that fit any lineup. Kenny Atkinson eventually decided he agreed, closing this game with Ellis.

Grade: A-

Nae’Qwan Tomlin

6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists

Tomlin is still getting ignored by opposing defenses. That led to some clunky spacing in his minutes. But, as is the story of the season, his energy and activity keep Tomlin as one of the team’s highest plus/minus players. He finished as a plus 16 tonight.

Grade: C+

Dennis Schroder

7 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds

Schroder’s scrappy style is going to fit right in with Cleveland’s bench. He had a few instances of tunnel vision (3-9 shooting) tonight. Other than that, Schroder was a serviceable backup guard.

Grade: B

Sam Merrill

2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists

Merrill has done a lot to earn some benefit of the doubt when he has a poor shooting night. He’s usually able to be effective even when his shots aren’t falling. But I don’t think anything was working for Sam tonight. He finished 0-6 from the floor.

Grade: F

Craig Porter Jr.

4 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

This wasn’t a great game for Porter. His lack of shooting can be crippling on the offense when his defense isn’t making up for it. He contributed as a playmaker and even swiped a few steals, but Porter was overall too out of place for me to feel good about his performance.

Grade: D+

Thomas Bryant

10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Bryant nailed back-to-back three-pointers in the first half. After that, his mobility became a serious liability for the Cavaliers’ defense. It is what it is. We knew this was a limitation for TB.

Grade: C+

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — James Harden scored 23 points in his Cavaliers debut and Donovan Mitchell had 35, including a free throw that sealed the win with 35 seconds remaining, in Cleveland's 132-126 victory over Sacramento on Saturday night that sent the Kings to their 12th straight loss.

Harden was acquired by Cleveland from the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday for Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick. He shot 7 for 13, including 5 for 8 from 3-point range, and had eight assists.

Jarrett Allen had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won for the eighth time in nine games.

Nique Clifford scored 30 points to lead Sacramento, which hasn’t won since beating Washington at home on Jan. 16. Russell Westbrook added 21 points and nine assists for the Kings, who have lost six straight at home.

The Cavaliers went into halftime leading 57-55, but the Kings took the lead in the third quarter at 96-93. Mitchell scored 29 points of his points in the second half for the Cavaliers.

Up next

Cavaliers: At Denver on Monday night.

Kings: At New Orleans on Monday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

The Lakers moved quickly after the trade deadline to sign their 15th and final player.

On Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Lakers were signing Kobe Bufkin to a two-year deal with the second year being a player option.

The Los Angeles Lakers are signing guard Kobe Bufkin to a two-year deal, with a team option for the 2026-27 season, sources tell ESPN. Bufkin has starred for L.A.'s South Bay affiliate and now rejoins the Lakers in his third NBA season to fill their 15th roster spot. pic.twitter.com/Z1m3M4KvTM

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2026

Bufkin had a brief 10-day stint with the Lakers, playing rotation minutes in two games. His best outing came against the Blazers where he had nine points in 22 minutes. In the previous game, he played 17 minutes against the Hornets and went scoreless.

However, as has been the case throughout the year, Bufkin has been putting on a show in the G League recently. His last three games have seen him score 36, 41 and 29 points. Across those contests, he shot 18-31 from the 3-point line. In 21 games with South Bay, he’s averaged 26.7 points, shooting 51.3% from the field and 43.1% from the 3-point line.

For a Lakers team that has struggled to shoot the ball this year, adding Bufkin, as well as Luke Kennard at the trade deadline, gives them some options for shooters off the bench. Bufkin is also still 22 years old, so there is plenty of room for him to grow and develop.

Since the second year is a team option, the Lakers could decline it this summer if things don’t go well for the rest of this season or if they need to clear some cap space.

This does mean the Lakers are out of the running for any buyout players. Considering most of the buyout market is guards, the Lakers opted to keep one they already had in-house over a Cam Thomas or Haywood Highsmith.

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

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
Joel Embiid – 8
VJ Edgecombe – 7
Paul George – 6
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain :’( – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

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The Sixers are back in the win column after a 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the desert.

VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid all sported matching headbands for the contest, a rare occurrence, especially for the All-Star guard.

It was a very slow start to this one, as both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net. The Sixers began to pick their offense up in the second quarter, going on a huge run to garner a respectable lead heading into the halftime break.

Once again, they ran into the third quarter wall and the Suns began to pull closer. In the fourth, the Suns would pull to within five, but not enough to withstand the strong performances we saw from our Bell Ringer nominees.

Tyrese Maxey: 29 points, 8-of-21 FG, 3-of-10 3PT, 10-of-11 FT, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal

Maxey once again did not have his most efficient shooting night out West, but there were many pivotal moments that aided the Sixers victory.

Appreciate the person in the crowd who fired Tyrese up 😂 pic.twitter.com/NpT8N3WHiC

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

His work in the first half took place mainly on the right baseline, finding different angles to drain midrange and fadeaway jumpers. The broadcast revealed his parents were courtside in seats near that baseline, as he pointed to them after the buckets. His speed and decision making were on full display, while mixing in effective ball-handling to open up easy drive opportunities.

Maxey with the slick finish and the Sixers take an 81-71 lead into the final frame pic.twitter.com/oOtkA7eWrC

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

His playmaking continues to be a plus during a tough shooting stretch from deep. He had multiple outlet passes against the Suns that led to very easy buckets in transition.

In the fourth he hit a huge step back three, his second of the game, to bury the Suns and force them to resort to fouling.

Joel Embiid: 33 points, 9-of-19 FG, 4-of-7 3PT, 11-of-13 FT, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block

Embiid was a dominant force from the midrange. The Suns decided to not double team him, and lived with the consequences of either a made shot or foul committed. His persistence in his approach got into the Suns heads quickly, leading to a chatter-filled second half.

Jo still cooking in the second half pic.twitter.com/UzDrUwzzQa

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

As long as the Suns kept manning him up, he kept cooking and shooting over whoever was guarding him. He would also add a flurry of threes into his offensive attack, including a big one in the fourth quarter to help extend the Sixers lead back into double digits.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 18 points, 6-of-14 FG, 3-of-7 3PT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Oubre Jr. was a much needed third option offensively as VJ Edgecombe had gotten into foul trouble early. He kicked off scoring with a three and helped pick the Sixers scoring up in the second with this highlight dunk:

Lil razzle dazzle from KO. Dunk contest? pic.twitter.com/Ifrbt8iWve

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

His defensive presence kept the Sixers in phase with the riled up Suns, still finding composure when they needed it most. After a Suns run in the third, Oubre finished a silky lefty layup to help stem the tide. His play today can make fans feel more comfortable during Paul George’s suspension — though he did have a couple silly fouls late.

Trendon Watford: 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks

Watford, along with Oubre, played the glue-guy positions to a tee. Where Oubre was focused on shooting, Watford’s impact was his playmaking. He found multiple shooters after drives, and had a creative possession after setting a screen for Embiid on the elbow. Worth a watch if you missed the game, as more offense like this could be on the horizon.

What a beautiful possession pic.twitter.com/yLBj47KUhc

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

His energy in the fourth quarter was crucial in keeping the Sixers ahead through relentless defense from the Suns, making multiple plays in a row with the ball in his hand.

CHENNAI, India (AP) — New Zealand avenged its loss to Afghanistan two years ago with a thumping five-wicket win at the T20 World Cup on Sunday.

In what is expected to shape up as the toughest group in the tournament with 2024 finalist South Africa also in Group D, New Zealand cruised to 183-5 – its highest ever chase at the T20 World Cup – with two overs to spare.

Gulbadin Naib, batting at No. 3 for the first time in T20s since the 2024 World Cup when Afghanistan knocked out the Black Caps from the race to the semis with an 84-run win at Guyana, smashed 63 off 35 balls as Afghanistan posted 182-6 after winning the toss.

But opening batter Tim Seifert (65) raised his maiden T20 World Cup half-century to overcome Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s twin strike that had rattled New Zealand to 2-14 inside the first two overs.

Mujeeb clean bowled Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra off successive balls before Glenn Phillips (42) dealt with the hat-trick ball and then put the chase back on track by putting on an aggressive 74-run partnership with Seifert.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan (1-36) also couldn’t stem the flow of runs as New Zealand continued to accelerate in the middle overs against the experienced leg-spinner.

Rashid broke the stand in the 10th over when Phillips exposed his stumps against Rashid’s full-pitched ball and dragged it back onto his stumps. Then Rashid couldn’t hold onto a sharp return catch from Seifert before the opener had reached his half-century.

Seifert completed his fifty in style by smacking off-spinner Mohammad Nabi for two successive sixes and followed it with a boundary before he was caught at deep square leg.

Mark Chapman (28 off 17 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (25 not out) then accelerated to get Black Caps home in the team's first game of the tournament.

Earlier, Naib struck four sixes and three boundaries and laid a platform for Afghanistan’s strong finish with a 79-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal (29).

Express bowler Lockie Ferguson (2-40) had struck twice when he was introduced in the last over of the power play and removed both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) and Ibrahim Zadran (10).

Naib took his time, scoring 14 off 16 balls but needed only another 13 deliveries to raise his half-century as New Zealand struggled with its fifth bowler. James Neesham conceded 33 off his three overs while part-time spinners Phillips and Ravindra gave away 26 off their two overs.

Later on Sunday

England won the toss and elected to bat in its opening Group C match against Nepal at Mumbai while later Sunday co-host Sri Lanka is scheduled to meet Ireland in a Group B game at Colombo.

The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, began on Saturday with victories for Pakistan, India and the West Indies.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Cleveland Cavaliers executed well enough down the stretch to win James Harden’s debut with the team. They defeated the hapless Sacramento Kings 132-126.

The Cavaliers’ starting lineup was understandably disjointed at the start of the game. Their four-guard unit featuring Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, and Jarrett Allen struggled to clear the defensive glass or stay in front of their man on that end. Sacramento took advantage by getting off to a hot start offensively.

On the other end, Mitchell and Harden seemed unsure of who should be in control on offense. Both seemed like they didn’t want to step on the other’s toes, which led to a somewhat stagnant offensive attack.

Sacramento pushed its lead to double figures in the middle of the first quarter, before the Cavs got back into the game with bench lineups featuring one of either Mitchell or Harden on the court.

The Cavs took a narrow two-point lead into the break, but then gave it all away at the start of the third quarter, leading to the Kings regaining their double-digit advantage.

Mitchell took over from there. His 12 third-quarter points helped keep the Cavs within reach heading into the fourth.

It seemed like things were getting away from the Cavs again after a back-and-forth start to the fourth. The Kings grabbed a seven-point lead with just under four minutes left in the game, before the Cavs roared back.

Two points from Allen and back-to-back threes from Harden gave the Cavs a one-point lead with just over two minutes left.

The Kings didn’t go away. DeMar DeRozan hit a big three to tie the game with just over 42 seconds left.

Mitchell then forced a foul on the following possession and hit both free throws to give the Cavs the lead again. The Kings missed their final three shots, allowing the Cavs to come away with the victory.

For as awkward as the Mitchell and Harden fit was in the first three quarters, they looked good together down the stretch. The duo combined for 32 of the team’s 39 points in the final frame to pull out the victory.

It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest debut for Harden, despite the solid box score numbers. It took him a while to get going offensively, and he seemed lost at times with the defensive rotations.

That said, you could see how Harden can help this team, particularly down the stretch. His ability to get Allen easy looks and the gravity he possesses offensively are going to be incredibly useful. Harden played his best in the fourth quarter, pouring in 15 points, with the game on the line.

On the night, Harden provided 23 points on 7-13 shooting, which included going 5-8 from three, to go along with eight assists and two rebounds.

Mitchell carried the Cavs to the finish line. He scored 17 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter and was the best player on the court.

Allen also had a strong showing. He provided 29 points on 11-12 shooting with 10 rebounds.

The Kings were led by 30 points on 12-19 shooting from Nique Clifford. Westbrook supplied 21 points and nine assists.

The Cavaliers have now won three-straight games and eight of their last nine. This includes going 3-1 so far on their Western Conference road trip.

The Cavs will take on the Denver Nuggets on Monday for their last game of this road trip. Tip-off is at 9 PM.

Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. spoke Saturday for the first time since the NBA trade deadline, when the franchise tried to go all-in on acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo before the Milwaukee Bucks pulled the plug on dealing their superstar. 

Dunleavy denied that the team’s pursuit of Antetokounmpo prevented them from making other deals, adding that he was excited about the Warriors’ pivot to acquire Kristaps Porzingis in a trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta. 

Porzingis has only played in 17 games this season after being diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), as well as recently suffering left Achilles tendinitis. But Porzingis is expected to make his Warriors’ debut after the All-Star break and Dunleavy is optimistic that he can stay healthy. 

“We feel good about it,” Dunleavy said. “We looked into it pretty in depth. We believe in our medical staff. There’s no guarantees, there’s no certainty. But with where he’s at right now, where he’s been, we feel good about it.”

He added that taking a gamble on Porzingis was worth it. 

“On the other end of it, in terms of what we’re sending out, we’re sending out a player in a similar boat who struggled to stay on the floor,” he said, referring to Kuminga. “From our standpoint, we recognize the risk medically, but it’s a risk we’re willing to take.”

In addition to the Warriors not getting Antetokounmpo, whom they were hoping could extend Steph Curry’s championship window, the biggest fallout of the trade deadline was Draymond Green being involved in trade talks for the Bucks’ superstar. 

Dunleavy staunchly denied Green was on the trading block. 

“His name was not in conversations, other than the ones where teams called me and asked about him, which they do every year,” he said. “So, nothing’s new there. The idea that he stayed with the Warriors past the deadline was greatly exaggerated. It was never a possibility of him not being here or remotely close, to be honest. I’ve conveyed that to him. I think he knows that. But when stuff comes up in the media, it feels different for the players. And I think that’s the first time it happened for Draymond, so he’s dealing with it in a certain way. 

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“But the reality is nothing was close. And nothing was considered. Draymond was not being shopped or talked about in deals, so it’s a little misleading and we’re kinda picking up the pieces here. But I think he’s in a great spot and so are we moving forward.”

Green, however, made it clear on his podcast Saturday morning that he had a different understanding of the situation. Green said that when he and Dunleavy chatted ahead of the deadline, Dunleavy told him, “Obviously, if we were going to do a deal with Giannis you or Jimmy would have to be traded just to make it work.”

“What it said to me in that moment was there’s a chance I may get traded for Giannis because he didn’t rule it out,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “He didn’t say we’re not putting you in the deal. So, I took that as, all right, it’ll probably be me.”

As for Dunleavy, when asked if Green wasn’t involved in a potential deal if that meant they were aiming to trade Butler, he balked. “No, no, no we’re not doing that,” he said. “I’m not going down the roster talking about who’s in trades and who’s not.”

The Warriors are now looking toward the summer to make a splashy move.

“We’re willing to do whatever it takes to improve this team, whether it’s young players, first-round picks,” Dunleavy said. “We always have been, we always will be, as long as we’re in this win-now window. 

When asked what the expectations are for the Warriors this season, considering Butler is out after suffering a torn ACL on Jan. 19 and Porzingis’ health is a bit of a wild card, Dunleavy acknowledged he was unsure. 

“I’m interested to see how it goes,” he said. “I think this addition for us could be really good, similar to the addition of Jimmy, how he gave us a boost. I think this is similar. Maybe not to that level, we certainly took off. I’m not sure on our expectations just because we have to get healthy.”

The Warriors are still aiming to be in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes over the summer, joining a long list of teams that are hoping to add him to their roster. 

Either way, looking forward, Dunleavy made it clear that the Warriors are willing to take a big swing to give Curry a chance to win a fifth ring, if the right trade comes along. 

“We’ve got the goods to make deals,” he said.

CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Jokic got another game ball from his Denver Nuggets teammates after yet another triple-double. This one, though, was a bit more special than the others.

It made some NBA history.

Jokic had 22 points, 17 assists and 14 rebounds to pass Oscar Robertson for No. 2 on the league's career list with his 182nd regular-season triple-doubles, leading the Nuggets to a 136-120 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.

“He is a legendary player,” Jokic said of Robertson, who was the first player to average a triple-double in a full season in 1961-62. “Any player who steps into this league knows he’s a global legend.”

The three-time NBA MVP and eight-time All-Star is making his own mark on the game, too. The triple-double was Jokic's 19th this season and second in as many games. He trails only Russell Westbrook, who has 207, on the career list. Westbrook (four), Jokic (two) and Robertson (one) are the only NBA players to average triple-doubles in a season.

Nuggets coach David Adelman, who had been with the organization since Jokic's third season in 2017, said he still catches himself being amazed by the 6-foot-11 Serbian center.

“When your center gets 17 assists in a game — that just doesn’t happen,” Adelman said. “Unless it’s him.

“It’s absolutely unbelievable what he’s done.”

Teammate Jamal Murray said he expects even more from Jokic, who’ll turn 31 on Feb. 19.

“He’s got a lot of that left,” he said. “It’s going to be a Usain Bolt record when he sets it. He’s going to have that for a long time.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

At Thursday’s trade deadline, most of the attention in Brooklyn was around Cam Thomas being waived and Michael Porter Jr. being kept.

But now in the aftermath, it’ll be on Josh Minott and Ochai Agbaji being added — and how the under-the-radar pair can fit into the rebuild of the Nets, who beat the Wizards 127-113 at Barclays Center on Saturday.

“We know they’re very good players. That’s why they’re here,” coach Jordi Fernández said. “Show me what you can bring to the group, and if you can be part of this group, you can be a future Net.

“Ball pressure is our first staple. Every time you can apply ball pressure — full-court or half-court — you can create turnovers and deflections and make the other team uncomfortable late in the clock. We believe those guys can do that, and I’m excited to watch them play.”

Both newcomers were available Saturday vs. Washington, though neither saw action.

Brooklyn actually had a clean injury report with every roster player except the two-ways available.

The Wizards suiting up just eight sent the tank-happy Nets fans into a fervor.

Nevertheless, on a young Nets team trying to build around youth and disruption, there are opportunities for both Minott and Agbaji to carve out roles.

“For me it’s about staying true to the values I’ve learned over my 3 ½ years in the league, especially the work ethic,” said Minott, still just 23. “I’ve been around some winning organizations. Understanding what we did right and what it takes to make those playoff pushes, it’s about bringing that over.

“Defensively, I line up with the core values here, pressure and being disruptive. My shooting has come a long way too. I can confidently say that’s a strength and I believe in taking the right, open shots.”

League observers who spoke with The Post particularly cited the move for Minott, 6-foot-8, 212 pounds, as shrewd.

A second-round pick by Minnesota, he was acquired by Boston and promptly won a starting spot with his energy, defense and athleticism.

He averaged 10.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals in a seven-game stretch earlier this season.

But Minott hit a slump before suffering a severe ankle injury that sidelined him for five weeks.

He lost playing time to Hugo González, Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman, and with Boston facing both a roster and cap crunch, the Nets squeezed them for Minott, sending no picks or players and just the minimum cash required to make a deal official ($110,000, per sources).

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With Noah Clowney, Ziaire Williams and Danny Wolf all having their various struggles, there is opportunity for Minott.

Now in Brooklyn, he plans to bring the same fire that earned him early playing time this season in Boston.

“It was the hunger I was playing with. That’s something I’m definitely bringing here, the hunger and desperation,” said Minott. “I know this organization values that mindset of disruption. I saw we’re near the top of the league in pickup points, so it’s not just talk. I’m bringing that drive and determination.”

Agbaji, 25, arrives with more experience, first with Utah and then Toronto.

The off guard arrives managing just 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds on 42/19/86 shooting splits, having backslid badly from a career year a season ago when he averaged 10.4 points and 3.8 boards on 50/40/71.

“For me it’s about getting back to myself and who I know I can be,” Agbaji said. “That’s super important in this league and it’s what I work for and what I’m trying to show again.

“First, my defense and the intensity I play with every single night. I’m always trying to win every possession. That’s who I am as a player. I know I have a lot more to show. I had a great season last year and I’m trying to build on that. My time in Toronto was great, but I’m looking forward to what I can do here.”

Agbaji played at Kansas alongside Jalen Wilson, winning an NCAA title.

“I hosted him on his recruiting visit. I’ve known him a long time and seen him grow,” said Agbaji. “Ending up teammates with him again is great. It makes this feel even more like home.”

LOS ANGELES — With Luka Doncic and Steph Curry, two of the NBA’s greatest offensive players, sidelined, it shouldn’t have been a surprise for Saturday night’s marquee matchup between the Lakers and Warriors to turn into a rock fight.

But that’s exactly what came to fruition, with both teams struggling early to find any kind of offensive rhythm, and it feeling like the first team that did would be the one to leave Crypto.com Arena with the victory. 

And after a LeBron James-led offensive push in the third quarter, the Lakers were that team, leading to the Lakers beating the Warriors 105-99 to continue their strong homestand. 

James, who finished with 20-point, 10-assist double-double to go with seven rebounds, had 12 points and three assists in the game-deciding third, a quarter the Lakers won 38-29.

The Lakers scored nearly as many points in the third as they did in the first half (42), shooting 63.2% in the game-deciding quarter. 

With Doncic sidelined and starting center Deandre Ayton being a late scratch because of right knee soreness, Rui Hachimura stepped back into the first unit, scoring 18 points off the bench. 

Austin Reaves added 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds, while Marcus Smart recorded 15 points, four assists and two blocked shots. 

Jarred Vanderbilt (13 points, eight rebounds) was a game-changer off the bench with his energetic play. 

What it means

The Lakers won three consecutive games for just the second time since the end of November, and first time in a month. 

They improved to 32-19 on the season, the same record as the Houston Rockets, who are No. 4 in the Western Conference standings.  

Turning point

When Luke Kennard, in his Lakers debut after the team acquired him ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, knocked down a corner 3-pointer with 5:47 left to give the Lakers a 92-88 lead.

The Warriors cut their deficit from 12 late in the third to one midway through the fourth after a layup from Gary Payton II. 

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But Kennard’s second 3-pointer of the game put the Lakers up by four, with the Lakers leading by at least that margin for the remainder of the game. 

An underrated turning point was when Draymond Green received a technical foul during halftime, with the Warriors leading 42-41.

Reaves knocked down the free throw coming out of halftime, tying the game at 42 apiece before the second half officially started. The Warriors didn’t lead for the remainder of the game.

MVP: LeBron James

Even though he didn’t shoot efficiently from the field (6 of 17), and once again struggled with taking care of the ball (seven turnovers), James’ play in the third led the Lakers in what was a game-deciding stretch.

Saturday was James’ second consecutive points-assists double-double. 

Stat of the game: 17

That’s how many more free throws the Lakers made than the Warriors, also attempting 19 more shots from the charity stripe. 

Smart led the Lakers with 8-of-9 shooting on free throws. James and Reaves both went 6 of 7 from the line.

Up next

The Lakers will continue their lengthy homestand with a matchup against the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. 

The Thunder (40-13) have lost two straight games and are 16-11 since Dec. 18. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be sidelined through the All-Star break because of a strained abdominal muscle, while All-NBA wing Jalen Williams hasn’t played since Jan. 17 because of a strained right hamstring. 

Monday will be the first night of a home back-to-back, with the Lakers hosting the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Barrington Hargress had 23 points, Sebastian Rancik came off the bench to post a double-double and Colorado beat Arizona State 78-70 on Saturday night.

Hargress made 10 of 15 shots with a 3-pointer for the Buffaloes (14-10, 4-7 Big 12 Conference), who finished off a season sweep of the Sun Devils (12-12, 3-8). Rancik, a 6-foot-11 sophomore, totaled 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his first double-double. Isaiah Johnson had 16 points and Bangot Dak scored 10.

Moe Odum finished with 23 points and five assists for Colorado. Massamba Diop totaled 19 points and seven rebounds, while reserve Anthony “Pig” Johnson scored 14.

Rancik buried a 3-pointer and Dak followed with a fast-break dunk to give Colorado a 26-16 lead. Rancik hit another 3 for a 12-point lead, but the Buffaloes went scoreless over the final two minutes while Odum made two free throws and Johnson scored off his steal to cut it to 39-31 at intermission.

A halftime review by the referees led to a flagrant-1 foul on Elijah Malone for his foul on Odum, giving the Sun Devils two free throws and the ball to start the second half.

Allen Mukeba had a three-point play and Odum hit a jumper to polish off an 11-2 run in the first three minutes to give the Sun Devils a 42-41 lead.

Colorado took a 64-56 lead on a Rancik layup with 8:48 remaining. Diop had two dunks as Arizona State scored the next six points, but Dak hit a jumper and Rancik sank a 3 as the Buffs stayed in front over the final 5:28.

Up next

Arizona State: Hosts Oklahoma State on Tuesday.

Colorado: At No. 13 Texas Tech on Wednesday.

___

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Tari Eason scored a season-high 26 points, and the Houston Rockets beat the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder 112-106 on Saturday.

Alperen Sengun had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his second triple-double of the season and No. 10 for his career. Jabari Smith Jr. had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, and Kevin Durant added 20 points.

Cason Wallace scored 23 points for Oklahoma City, and Isaiah Joe added 21.

It was Oklahoma City’s second game without reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is recovering from an abdominal strain. He will be out until after the All-Star break. The Thunder already were missing 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams and second-year guard Ajay Mitchell, one of the Rising Stars for All-Star Weekend.

Second-year guard Jared McCain played his first game with the Thunder since coming over in a trade with Philadelphia. He entered late in the first quarter to loud cheers. He finished with five points in 14 minutes.

Oklahoma City fans, still angry with Durant 9 1/2 years after he left the Thunder to head to Golden State in free agency, booed him during pregame starter introductions. They cheered when the normally outstanding free-throw shooter missed two in the second quarter after being fouled on a shot.

McCain scored his first basket for the Thunder with about nine minutes left in the second quarter. An alley-oop lob from Joe to Wallace gave the Thunder a 46-32 lead. Oklahoma City led 52-46 at the break, with Chet Holmgren posting 10 points and 10 rebounds.

NETS 127, WIZARDS 113

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. scored 23 points and Brooklyn used an 80-point first half to beat short-handed Washington.

With the Wizards having only eight players available, the Nets led by 34 points in the second quarter and went on to snap a three-game losing streak.

Day’Ron Sharpe added 19 points and Noah Clowney had 18 for the Nets, who won for just the second time in 12 games. Rookie Danny Wolf had 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Will Riley scored a career-high 27 points for the Wizards. Justin Champagnie added 21 points and nine rebounds.

The teams are tied for 13th in the Eastern Conference at 14-37, playing plenty of young players as they angle for lottery position. But Brooklyn had its full roster on the court Saturday while Washington sat a few players on the first back-to-back games.

SPURS 138, MAVERICKS 125

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Guard Stephon Castle had a career-high 40 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for his second career triple-double, leading San Antonio past Dallas.

Devin Vassell had 17 points and Victor Wembanyama added 16 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio, which set a season high for points in a half with 81 before halftime.

The Spurs (36-16) won their fourth straight and ninth in 12 games to remain second in the Western Conference.

Dallas, which lost 135-123 at San Antonio on Thursday night, got 19 points from Klay Thompson, 18 from Brandon Williams and 17 from Max Christie. Cooper Flagg finished with 14 points.

Castle joins Hall of Famer David Robinson as the only Spurs in franchise history with a 40-point triple-double.

The second-year guard from Connecticut punctuated his triple-double by following up a miss with a windmill dunk that put San Antonio up 129-108 with 6:26 remaining.

MAGIC 120, JAZZ 117

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 23 points and Orlando overcame a 17-point deficit to beat Utah.

Desmond Bane added 22 points, making two free throws with 28.3 seconds to go to give the Magic a 118-117 lead. Anthony Black scored 21 points, and Banchero also had eight assists and seven rebounds.

Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 27 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 17 of his 22 points in the first half in his Utah debut, and Isaiah Collier scored 20 points. Utah has lost two straight and 18 of 22.

Jackson came over from Memphis in a trade this week. John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. also made their Jazz debuts after the deal.

Keyonte George returned to the Utah lineup after missing three games because of a sprained left ankle. He had five points.

HORNETS 126, HAWKS 119

ATLANTA (AP) — Miles Bridges scored 26 points, Kon Knueppel had 23 and Charlotte beat Atlanta for its ninth straight win.

LaMelo Ball added 19 points and nine assists as Charlotte improved to 12-3 in its last 15 games. Brandon Miller scored 16 points, and Moussa Diabate finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

The Hornets’ win streak is the longest active streak in the NBA and the best run for the franchise since it also won nine in a row during the 1998-99 season.

Jalen Johnson had 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Atlanta, which had won six of eight. Zaccharie Risacher scored 18 points, and Onyeka Okongwu had 16.

NUGGETS 136, BULLS 120

CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 17 assists and 14 rebounds for his second triple-double in as many games, Jamal Murray had 28 points and 11 assists and Denver ended a three-game skid with a victory over Chicago.

It was Jokic’s 19th triple-double of the season. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 points for the Nuggets, who capped a three-game road trip with a win after losing at Detroit and New York.

Matas Buzelis scored 21 points and Collin Sexton added 17 for the Bulls, who have lost four straight.

The Bulls led 104-97 after closing the third period on a 16-2 run, but Denver started the final quarter on a 20-2 spurt to take the lead for good. Jokic and Julian Strawther capped the run with consecutive 3-pointers.

Chicago went the first six minutes of the fourth before making its first field goal and finished the final period 5 for 17 from the floor.

Jokic had nine points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in 17 first-half minutes, but the Bulls led 65-59 at the intermission.

LAKERS 105, WARRIORS 99

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 20 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to help Los Angeles beat the Golden State.

Los Angeles won its third straight game despite not have superstar guard Luka Doncic after he sustained a mild hamstring strain Thursday night, and center DeAndre Ayton was a late scratch because of a knee injury.

Luke Kennard had 10 points in his Lakers debut after being acquired in a trade from Atlanta on Thursday, including a key corner 3-pointer and finding Jarred Vanderbilt underneath the basket for a dunk as part of a late 11-0 run.

Rui Hachimura had 18 points, Austin Reaves added 16, and Marcus Smart had 15.

Moses Moody had 25 points to lead the Warriors, who have lost four of their past six games. Stephen Curry missed his third straight game because of a knee injury.

76ERS 109, SUNS 103

PHOENIX (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 33 points, Tyrese Maxey added 29 and Philadelphia beat cold-shooting Phoenix.

The 76ers have won six of their last seven games, bouncing back from a 119-115 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. The Suns lost for the third time in four games, shooting just 11 of 46 (23.9%) from 3-point range.

Philadelphia led 81-71 going into the fourth quarter and pushed its advantage to 16 after holding Phoenix scoreless for the first three minutes of the fourth.

The Suns made things interesting in the final minutes, cutting it to 101-97 with 1:04 left on Devin Booker’s two free throws, but Maxey responded with a stepback 3-pointer to keep the 76ers ahead.

Embiid grabbed nine rebounds, made four 3-pointers and was 11 of 13 on free throws, all while jawing for much of the game with Suns forward Dillon Brooks. Formr Sun Kelly Oubre Jr. finished with 18 points.

CAVALIERS 132, KINGS 126

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — James Harden scored 23 points in his Cavaliers debut and Donovan Mitchell had 35 to lead Cleveland to a victory over Sacramento, sending the Kings to their 12th straight loss.

Harden was acquired by Cleveland from the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday for Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick.

Jarrett Allen had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won for the eighth time in nine games.

Nique Clifford scored 30 points to lead Sacramento, which hasn’t won since beating Washington at home on Jan. 16. The Kings have lost six straight at home.

TRAIL BLAZERS 122, GRIZZLIES 115

PORTLAND. Ore. (AP) — Donovan Clingan had 20 points and 19 rebounds, Jerami Grant had 29 points, and Portland erased an 11-point second-half deficit to beat Memphis and split a two-game series in Portland.

Portland beat the Grizzlies 135-115 on Friday.

Jrue Holiday had 21 points and Caleb Love scored 17 points, 10 in the second half, off the bench.

Olivier Maxence-Prosper (25 points) and Javon Small (22 points) each had career nights for Memphis in the loss.

Portland’s All-Star forward Deni Avdija missed his fourth straight game with a lower back strain. Scoot Henderson also missed Saturday’s game after making his return from a torn hamstring on Friday.

Jahmai Mayshack’s 3-pointer pushed the Memphis advantage to 104-97 before Portland made its final push.

Vit Krejci, Toumani Camara and Love each hit a 3-pointer before Love stole the ball and made a layup to give Portland a 108-107 lead with 5:59 left in the game.

Javon Small’s 3-pointer cut Portland’s lead to a point about three minutes later but Holiday answered with a layup before Grant made back-to-back 3s to give the Trail Blazers a 120-113 lead with 1:51 left.

The Suns welcomed Devin Booker and Jalen Green back on Saturday night, but the return came with a thud. The shooting never showed up. Phoenix finished 11-of-46 from beyond the arc, good for 23.9%, and that hole proved too deep to fully climb out of, losing 109-103. To their credit, they kept pushing. The Suns made a late run and trimmed it to a four point game with under a minute to play after trailing by as many as 19. The effort was there. The shot making was not.

Nights like this leave a messy box score. Collin Gillespie went 2-of-10 from deep. Dillon Brooks matched that. In his first game back, Booker looked rusty, finishing 1-of-7 from three. The rhythm never fully arrived.

On the other end, Joel Embiid dictated everything. He poured in 33 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and even stepped out to go 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. There was no slowing him down.

The loss makes it two straight for Phoenix. They remain planted in seventh in the Western Conference, even with teams above them dropping games. The record now sits at 1-3 in February and 0-3 at home this month. Getting bodies back helps. Making shots still matters more.

Game Flow

First Half

It was a cold start for Devin Booker in his return. He missed his first three shots, all from beyond the arc. His first points in two weeks came at the free throw line, as Jalen Green checked in with 6:29 left in the first. Booker went 1-of-2, and the Suns found themselves down 14-10.

Joel Embiid, a game-time decision himself, came out firing. He knocked down a pair of early threes, which stood out considering he is a 30% shooter from deep this season.

Collin Gillespie opened the Suns’ scoring with a three. After that, it was rough. Phoenix missed its next 12 attempts from beyond the arc and finished the quarter 1-of-13 from three. Still, Green’s entry with the second unit brought life. He looked healthy. He looked aggressive. He led the team with six points in the quarter and gave the offense some needed juice.

What a feed by Oso Ighodaro on the bounce pass and the finish by Jalen Green pic.twitter.com/XUYQsm2VYN

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) February 8, 2026

Philadelphia struggled too. The 76ers shot 8-of-23 in the quarter, with five of those makes coming from three. So despite the Suns’ shooting woes, they stayed within striking distance and trailed only 24-22 after one.

The second unit of Gillespie, Goodwin, Bouyea, Dunn, and Ighodaro opened the second quarter by giving up a 9-4 run. Missed shots piled up. Turnovers followed. And Philadelphia cashed those mistakes into easy points at the rim.

KELLY OUBRE JR. DOUBLE-CLUTCH REVERSE DUNK. pic.twitter.com/TzdTKT2EER

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 8, 2026

The deficit quickly stretched to 14 as the Suns continued to come up empty on every three-pointer they took. Long misses turned into long rebounds. Long rebounds turned into transition chances. Same sequence. Over and over.

Suns have started 1-of-18 from downtown as they trail by 14 in the second quarter

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) February 8, 2026

The brutal three point shooting clearly got into Phoenix’s head. You could see it. Open looks were there, and instead of letting it fly, they hesitated. Pump fakes. Extra dribbles. Possessions stretched longer than they needed to. And the shots that followed were worse than the ones they passed up.

With 5:19 left in the second quarter, and down 16, Dillon Brooks hit the Suns second made three-pointer of the game, making the deficit 44–31. So Phoenix started 1-of-19 (5.2%) from deep to start the game.

The patented Embiid-foul baiting then began as he generated contact on everyone who defended him and hit the whistle every time. Turned his body into Brooks? Foul. Jumped into Devin Booker? Foul. Embiid ended the half with 17 points, going 3-of-5 from deep and 6-of-8 from the line. His 8 free throw attempts in the second was 6 more than Phoenix attempted.

Man you should have to donate half your paycheck to charity if you willingly choose to watch Embiid hoops on a nightly basis

Be a better person!

— Sam Cooper (@scooperhoops) February 8, 2026

The Suns ended the half having made just 4 of their 25 three-point attempts, and that was primarily the story. Both teams had 20 points in the paint, and although the rebounding edge favored Philly 29-21, both teams had 7 second-chance points. The 76ers were +9 in points generated from deep and +2 at the line. And that’s what the Suns trailed by at the half. 11 points, 58-47.

Second Half

So how did the Suns respond coming out of halftime. Not well. They immediately surrendered an 8-0 run and the deficit jumped to 19. Joel Embiid stayed in control, scoring 7 quick points as the team was running everything through him.

Start of that third quarter was as flat as anything, especially defensively. The switching on screen, rolls, and rotations just haven't been there.

With a team like the 76ers running as many PNRs as they do, those rotations have to be on point.

— Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) February 8, 2026

Midway through the third, Phoenix finally found a pulse. They ripped off a 10-2 run, leaning into their usual aggressive style. Pressure picked up. Bodies flew around. The game started to feel uncomfortable again.

Things got chippy fast. Dillon Brooks took the Joel Embiid assignment despite already sitting on three fouls, and he did not back down. The physicality escalated. Former Sun Kelly Oubre Jr. got involved as well, jawing with Brooks as the temperature of the game rose.

Villain vs. Valley Boy is what we all enjoy to see

— Kevin Zimmerman (@KZimmermanAZ) February 8, 2026

You do not see this often, but the defensive pressure from Phoenix forced a pair of over and back violations in the third. That intensity showed up in other areas too. The Suns did a solid job crashing the glass and creating extra chances. The problem was finishing them.

In the third quarter, Phoenix grabbed five offensive rebounds and turned those into two second chance points. The effort was there. The payoff was not.

By the end of the quarter, the Suns had outscored Philadelphia 24-23. The defensive edge had clearly ramped up. Still, the shooting lagged behind. They went 2-of-10 from deep in the frame, and that continued to weigh everything down.

After three, Phoenix trailed 81-71.

Philly popped another run to start the fourth because, surprise surprise, the Suns shooting was nowhere to be found. Even with Embiid getting a rest, the 76ers expanded their lead as the Suns were chucking bricks.

Once again, however, midway through the quarter, the Suns put together a run to get it to a 9-point deficit. But the moment they did that, Embiid banked in a timely three-pointer. 

the bank is open on saturdays in AZ. 💸 pic.twitter.com/AMmJfCcZNV

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 8, 2026

Down 12, Royce O’Neale was whistled for an and one that Jordan Ott immediately challenged. He won it. Instead of the deficit growing with a free throw coming, the Suns stayed down 10. A small win. A needed one.

And then, almost on cue, Philadelphia buried a three on an inbounds play with one second left on the shot clock. But after review, it was determined Watford didn’t get it off in time.

It was determined that Watford did not get this off in time pic.twitter.com/s8FDs7eSHW

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) February 8, 2026

With 1:31, the Suns got it down to a 6 point game, and after a missed shot by Embiid, Devin Booker was sent to the line with 1:04 left. He knocked them both down, and the Suns trailed by 4. 

Tyrese Maxey hit a dagger three in the face of Oso, but Booker was fouled on a three-pointer headed the other way with 41 seconds left. He canned those as well. 

The Suns had an impressive defensive possession the next time down, but with 0.7 seconds left in the shot clock, Devin Booker fouled Tyrese Maxey on a three. Maxey hit them all. Booker was quickly fouled by Oubre on another three, and Booker hit all of those. So once again, a 4 point game. A Gillespie foul, two made free throws by Maxey, a turnover on the in bounds pass and it was over.

Up Next

Phoenix hosts the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, before hosting the Thunder the next night (seriously, what is up with the level of opponent the Suns have to face on the second night of back-to-backs this season?!), which is their final game prior to the All-Star break.

That’s a pretty important lead to hold on to and bounce back.

The Sixers hung on this time, defeating the Phoenix Suns 109-103 Saturday night.

Joel Embiid led the way again with 33 points and nine rebounds going 9-of-19 from the floor. Tyrese Maxey, off a couple scoring bursts, put up 29 points and six assists shooting 8-of-21 from the field. 

Kelly Oubre Jr. put up a much-needed 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting and got away with some shaky fouls late.VJ Edgecombe had a quiet scoring night putting up five points on four shots along with six rebounds and two assists while Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 28.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

• At some point we’ll have to figure out Embiid’s stats over his career in games he’s sported a headband. Both he and Maxey joined Edgecombe in donning one for this night. Embiid knocked down his first three jumpers — two from behind the arc as he’s slowly resurrecting his three-point percentage on the season.
• He was the only one on the court in a rhythm early with both teams dropping below 40% from the field. The rest of the Sixers opened the game 4-of-13 from the floor. Maxey missed his first three attempts, some quite badly, before burying a wide open corner three with a lot of time to spare.
• Their only points after that came from another Maxey three, this time of the stepback variety. It was still enough to keep the Sixers ahead by two after the first, despite the Suns getting some clean looks from deep. They made only one of their 13 attempts.

Pretty step-back from Tyrese and the Sixers take a 24-22 lead into the second pic.twitter.com/8O9jsoiF4H

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

Second Quarter

• It’s funny that as of late Quentin Grimes’ two finishing packages have been absolutely yamming on people or finger-rolling every layup, but both have been working for him well as of late. A few minutes into the quarter it was Oubre who slammed over somebody, timing the bounce perfectly from a long Maxey pass.

KELLY OUBRE JR. DOUBLE-CLUTCH REVERSE DUNK. pic.twitter.com/TzdTKT2EER

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 8, 2026

• The second unit, led by Maxey, continued to play good ball as a unit, going on an extended 17-2 run. They moved the ball well in the half court offense, but the way they continued to try to turn misses into fast breaks helped them control the pace of the game. With the Suns still not able to buy anything from the floor it gave them plenty of chances to do so.
• After a couple of Sixers’ turnovers, Royce O’Neale and Jordan Goodwin seemed to finally open the lid for Phoenix from beyond the arc. Embiid settled things down with frequent trips to the line on the other end, getting the Suns quite frustrated when he put them in the bonus with three minutes left in the half. The Sixers couldn’t quite take full advantage — Embiid, Grimes and Dominick Barlow all missed one late in the half, keeping the lead at 11 at the break.

Third Quarter

• It was one of those quiet nights for Edgecombe with the other two going and the rookie being in foul trouble, but he opened a very good start to the half with a three off the catch. Oubre piled on with a couple baskets off the catch while Embiid finished another layup through contact.

the and 1 makes it an even 20 points for @JoelEmbiid. pic.twitter.com/JrbEKbfmiw

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 8, 2026

• Embiid had another brief heater from the midrange, keeping the Suns at arms’ length as Brooks and Devin Booker both began to shake off slow starts. It was Booker who was more irritated to start the quarter, but Brooks got increasingly irritated as the Sixers got him in foul trouble. That plus taking a hard shove from Oubre on a screen had him chirping nonstop with Oubre and Embiid.
• Around him there were things to clean up — two backcourt violations and three offensive rebounds gave Phoenix plenty of cracks at it, but they still couldn’t get above 40% from the field. A Maxey layup kept the Sixers lead at 10 after three.

Fourth Quarter

• Fittingly, it was two minutes before either team made a field goal to start the fourth, but the midrange jumper from the baseline was proving to be Maxey’s reliable shot for the night. Trendon Watford showed the makings of a solid offensive night, getting himself to the line before helping Adem Bona get wide open in the dunker spot for an easy bucket.

good find by Wat! pic.twitter.com/6l81VmEyD2

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 8, 2026

• It was truly a rollercoaster — not only did Watford turn it over a couple of times, but they were offensive fouls, making him the third Sixer of the night to pick up at least four fouls. He had an and-1 taken away by a challenge. A few possession later he appeared to drill a three from the parking lot, but replay review showed that it did not actually beat the shot clock. He was at least able to come out of the timeout and hit a floater.
• Embiid again took the reins and got himself some baskets from the nail, but the Suns kept coming up with a three-point answer to stay alive. After O’Neale buried one from deep, Booker hit his first of the night. An and-1 from Brooks quickly sped up the Sixers’ math problem.
• Another stepback three from Maxey is just what the Sixers needed. In a comedy of errors, Booker and Maxey proceeded to get fouled shooting threes on three straight possessions, keeping the lead just four with 17 seconds remaining. Oubre was the offender both times for the Sixers. The Suns had to put Maxey on the line again, and throwing the ensuing inbounds pass out of bounds was enough to put an ugly win to bed.

With both teams missing stars, the Lakers controlled much of the second half of Saturday’s game against the Warriors, earning a 105-99 win.

Luka Dončić and Steph Curry each missed the game due to injury while Austin Reaves remained under a minutes restriction. As a result, a host of unlikely suspects stepped up for both teams.

After a back-and-forth first half saw both teams lead, the Lakers surged out of the gate in the second half and built up multiple double-digit leads. A feisty Golden State team kept making runs but LA had a response each time.

Turnovers were an issue once again for the purple and gold as they finished with 22, but the Warriors went 14-51 from the 3-point line, which offset things.

LA started hot from behind the arc, knocking down two 3-pointers early. They built a four-point lead until the Warriors surged ahead by scoring six straight. LeBron tied the game on a layup. Golden State retook the lead in response.

Newest Laker Luke Kennard checked in for his first minutes and drained his first attempt from behind the arc. 

At the 2:23 mark, the Warriors were up by two. Gary Payton II was playing well for Golden State with seven points. Rui Hachimura led Los Angeles with five points. At the end of the first, the purple and gold were down by one.

Luka Dončić typically drives LA's offense early in games, and with him out tonight, the Lakers were out of rhythm, scoring only 20 points on 7 of 17 FG's, with 6 turnovers. They did hold GSW to 21 points on only 9 of 25 FG's (2 of 17 from 3).

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 8, 2026

The second period started with Jake LaRavia converting on a layup, putting the Lakers back in the lead. Both teams were struggling to find consistent offense. LA was shooting 41% from the field, while the Warriors were shooting 35%. Neither team had a player in double figures, with Payton II being the closest with nine points. 

At the 6:46 mark, Los Angeles was ahead by two.

Turnovers were becoming a big issue for the Lakers as they had 12. Hachimura entered double figures with 10 points after scoring five points. The Warriors started to heat up from behind the arc to find some offense. 

The Warriors are often sending a second defender towards Austin Reaves, and he's responded with 7 first half assists in 11 minutes thus far.

LA lead 40-39 with 1:24 left in the 2nd Q.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 8, 2026

At halftime, LA was down by one after Pat Spencer drained a shot at the buzzer. 

The second half started with Austin Reaves knocking down a free throw after Draymond Green received a technical foul at the end of the first half. LeBron then scored six straight, putting Los Angeles ahead. LeBron continued his early third-period dominance, converting on his second three-point play of the quarter. 

LA built a nine-point advantage, its biggest lead of the night. 

Golden State responded with five straight, making it a close affair again. The Lakers regained control, pushing their lead to 11. Jarred Vanderbilt was having a strong game off the bench with 10 points and two steals. 

The Lakers had built a 12-point lead before the Warriors scored seven straight. LA struggled to defend Moses Moody, who was up to 20 points and was shooting 40% from behind the arc. 

Going into the fourth period, the purple and gold were up by eight. Los Angeles only had two turnovers in the quarter. 

Third quarter: Lakers 79, Warriors 71

LA outscored GS 38-29 — nearly matching their first-half point total in one quarter. LeBron James led the way, erupting for 12 of his 19 points through a combination of 3s and bully-ball. Jarred Vanderbilt has been awesome on both ends.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 8, 2026

Jaxson Hayes started the final frame with a layup. Hachimura helped provide the Lakers with some cushion as the Warriors heated up, but five straight points from Golden State cut it to three. A triple from Gui Santos made it a one-point affair. 

LA responded with a 7-0 run, which included Kennard draining another 3-pointer to restore the double-digit lead. Kleber added to the run with a layup, making it a 12-point game.

Moody once again drained a 3-pointer to take it back to single digits with 3:28 left in the game. Things got chippy, with hard fouls and players chirping back and forth. 

A pair of late free throws from Reaves sealed the game as the Lakers iced the game away at the line, earning a third-straight win.

Key Player Stats

LeBron finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. Reaves ended with 16 points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Hachimura scored 18 points, shooting 70% from the field. 

Kennard’s first game as a Laker ended with 10 points on 4-7 shooting. Smart notched 15 points with four assists. Jarred Vanderbilt had 13 points with eight rebounds. Kleber had another impactful game off the bench with five points and seven rebounds while finishing with a team-best plus-minus of +12.

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday at 7:00 PM PT.You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.