Category: Basketball

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Nicolás Fernández scored on a penalty kick in the second half and New York City FC tied the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-1 in a season opener on Sunday before a sellout crowd of 30,510 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Newcomer João Klauss needed 90 seconds to win the hearts of Galaxy fans, scoring with assists from Marco Reus and Joseph Paintsil for a 1-0 lead. LA worked a cash-for-player trade with St. Louis City to acquire Klauss on a 1-year deal, hoping he'll ease the loss of superstar Riqui Puig for a second straight season after complications from a torn ACL.

Los Angeles maintained the lead until Emiro Garces was sent off the field for a second yellow card, setting up a successful PK for Fernández that tied it in the 66th minute and left the Galaxy a man short. Fernández scored five goals in 19 appearances with L.A. last season.

Novak Micovic did not have a save in his 25th career start for the Galaxy — 20 of them coming last season when the 24-year-old allowed 37 goals.

Matt Freese, the reigning goalkeeper of the year, saved six shots for NYCFC — four in the first half. Freese had eight clean sheets in 31 starts last season on his way to the award.

NYCFC is coming off a loss to eventual MLS Cup champion Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference Final last season.

The Galaxy are hoping to rebound from a disastrous season that saw them endure a league-record 16-match winless streak — one year after beating the New York Red Bulls to win the MLS Cup.

Up next

Los Angeles: Hosts Charlotte FC on Saturday.

NYCFC: At Philadelphia Union on Sunday.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

The Boston Celtics continued their four-game road trip with a visit to Los Angeles to play the Lakers Sunday night. Boston rolled to a seventh victory of the month of February as they log a wire to wire win, 111-89 against their rival franchise. Jaylen Brown once again led Boston in scoring with 32 points, Payton Pritchard was unstoppable with 30 points of his own, including a mixtape of tough shots all night, as no Laker could match the former sixth man of the year.

The Lakers started Marcus Smart, Austin Reeves, DeAndre Ayton, Luka Dončić, and LeBron James. Boston started the game with Brown, White, Queta, Hauser, and Scheierman. Boston started off the game a tad sluggish as the Lakers scored the first four points of the game. Scheierman hit a corner three to finally get the C’s on the board at the ten-minute mark of the first quarter.

Big men Nemias Queta and DeAndre Ayton traded baskets as both teams settled into the game flow. Luka got in on the scoring for LA, and Hauser drained a pair of open triples for Boston as the scores were tied at 15 apiece in an entertaining start to the first quarter. Pritchard and Vooch entered the game for Boston at the six-minute mark, and they were spectators to a Jaylen Brown steal and loud two-handed jam.

Brown laced a pretty baseline jumper for his sixth point on 3-7 from the field early. Vooch sealed Doncic on the low block, and Brown fed him in the key with a sweet mini hook shot for his first points of the game. Kennard hit his first shot of the game with LeBron looking on from the bench as the Lakers took an early 25-21 lead. Derrick White got into the key and hit a push shot floater to tie the game at 25 points.

Hugo Gonzalez was tasked with sticking on Luka Doncic late in the first and held his own against the former Real Madrid star. Doncic rushed a step back, and Hugo stayed draped all over the Slovenian All-Star. Derrick White had a brilliant steal on Vanderbilt and fed the neat alley-oop dunk to Vucevic.

In a hectic end to the quarter, Jordan Walsh had a massive block from behind and an unfortunate turnover with an errand pass to Pritchard. LeBron missed his layup, and Walsh was whistled with a foul for leaping over Reaves for a tip-in attempt. Gonzalez had a horrible foul on Reaves with under a second to go as he hit his three free throws to get the Lakers back even at 28-28 to end the first quarter.

Payton Pritchard scored Boston’s first 6 points of the second quarter, including a nasty stepback triple over Vanderbilt, as the pace was extremely hectic. Brown inadvertently kicked Queta in the face on a loose ball play. Brown had a jumper and connected with Smart’s chin. Austin Reaves was whistled for a tech for clapping at the refs as Brown drained the technical free throw. Former Celtic Marcus Smart kept chirping at the refs, and he was then teed up as things got heated.

Scheierman and Brown ran a perfect fast break play off another steal, their sixth of the contest. The C’s were up 38-33 with the Lakers calling a timeout to stop the bleeding. The Lakers came out of the timeout with a play called for Luka Doncic, who calmly hit a bucket in the lane over rookie Hugo Gonzalez.

Doncic hit a triple and argued he was fouled whilst seated on the court. Gonzalez ran the length of the floor for a wide-open layup. Boston was up 44-41 as Luka was getting settled into the contest. Derrick White had a gorgeous catch-and-shoot triple from the corner, off a Pritchard assist in front of the C’s bench, to get Boston’s lead back out to 6 points.

Queta blocked and pinned a LeBron James turnaround into the backboard as the Lakers bench went ballistic as the replay showed a clear goaltend. Brown stripped Doncic as he tried to get into the lane. Boston was super active on the defensive side of things, turning over the Lakers seven times in the first half. White scored his tenth point of the game on another three-pointer, but it was Payton Pritchard who stole the show once more, on a buzzer-beating triple over Doncic to end the half, Boston up 60-50.

Pat Reilly would be honored at half time alongside other Laker legends, as the coaching legend had his statue revealed prior to the game. The second half started as Ayton was whistled for his fourth in the first minute of the second half. Brown hit a three-pointer to open the scoring for Boston, his sixteenth point of the game. Doncic hit a wide open three for his 21st point of the game. Queta got away with placing his hand inside the rim on a defensive play, Reddick was whistled for the team’s third technical as the Lakers were on the wrong side of the whistle.

Pritchard hit his third triple on a deep step back, JB hit a step back jumper over Austin Reaves, Scheierman kept the ball alive with a tip away over three flat footed Lakers. Payton Pritchard grabbed the loose ball and calmly drained his fourth three of the night, Boston still in control 77-65 with three minutes to go in the third.

Reddick and the Lakers successfully challenged a foul call as Brown drove through three white Laker uniforms. However Boston regained possession, and Hugo Gonzalez scored on a cutting layup as the Lakers defenders were caught napping, Boston by 14 points.

Laravia drove and dunked on a broken play, he would becoming the first Laker, not named James or Doncic to score in the third. Jaylen Brown rattled home his second triple to end the second quarter, he had 24 points as Boston led 84-71 with a quarter of play to go.

Joe Mazzulla rolled with Walsh, White, Vucevic, Pritchard and Hauser to start the fourth, that group gave up 5 points to the Lakers, before Boston called a quick timeout to talk about things. Payton Pritchard’s eyes lit up as Lavaria was switched onto him, nailing a step back jumper. Pritchard’s next trip down the floor resulted in another score, his 23rd point over an outstretched Austin Reaves, Boston up 92-77.

A Jaylen Brown mid range step back bucket at the six minute mark, felt like it was all over for the Lakers as the points had dried up, Boston in complete control. LeBron went to the bench with six and half remaining, Luka whistled for an offensive foul on Scheierman, things were going from bad to worse for LA.

JB’s tough and1 drive and fnish on Luka Doncic, saw the Laker faithful head to the carpark early. Lakers went to the deep bench with the white flag flying with three minutes to go in the game. Boston win big time in La La Land by 21 points.

The Celtics next face the Pheonix Suns on Tuesday night.

Hours after unveiling Pat Riley’s statue, the Lakers hit a new low this season as they were run off the floor by the Celtics on Sunday, 111-89.

After a back-and-forth game for most of the contest, the Lakers put up a pathetic display in the fourth to allow Boston to blow the game open. The Celtics set the tone physically from the start and the officials allowed the teams to play.

The result was LA being bullied for much of the night as Boston was the aggressor. LA finished the night shooting 39.1% from the field and 30% from three.

LeBron James opened the game on a personal 4-0 run, giving the Lakers an early edge. Boston started cold, missing their first three shot attempts. Baylor Scheierman jump-started the Celtics’ offense with a 3-pointer. Luka Dončić also started heating up, scoring six points for LA.

Sam Hauser knocked down two 3-pointers that helped tie the game and also led to a Lakers timeout. 

Out of the break, a turnover by Los Angeles ended in a Jaylen Brown dunk. Jaxson Hayes returned the favor with a dunk of his own. The Lakers eventually went up by four after triples from Luka and Luke Kennard. 

Luka Dončić is good at basketball

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) February 22, 2026

Boston had snatched the lead back, going up by three, before Austin Reaves knocked down three free throws to tie the game at the end of the first quarter.

Neither team could score early in the second period until Payton Pritchard drained a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired. Deandre Ayton scored on a hook shot to jumpstart the offense for LA. A 7-0 Celtics run, which included two technical fouls assessed to Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart, shifted the momentum in favor of the green. 

Lots of frustration from the Lakers amidst a 7-0 Boston run in the 2nd Q, with both Reaves and Smart being called for technical fouls.

Seven PF's on LA, and 4 on Boston thus far.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 23, 2026

Luka converted on a floater to stop some of the bleeding. 

Boston’s defense was making LA stumble, forcing seven turnovers. The Celtics ended the half with Pritchard scoring five points, three of which came at the buzzer, yet again.. 

At halftime, the purple and gold were down by 10. Hayes was also ruled out for the rest of the game with a right ankle injury. 

A buzzer-beating three by Payton Pritchard puts the Celtics ahead of the Lakers 60-50 at the half. LA is struggling offensively, shooting 42% from the field. Luka Dončić is the only Laker in double figures. He has 18 points.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) February 23, 2026

After both teams missed a few buckets, Brown converted on a 3-pointer for the Celtics to start the scoring in the third period. LeBron responded with a triple on the other end for Los Angeles. Emotions remained high as the officiating frustrated the Lakers, leading to more free throws for Boston.

At the 6:53 mark, the Celtics were up by 11. 

The third technical on the Lakers today, this one on JJ Redick, came after what LA thought was the second missed goaltending call of the evening on Boston.

LA trail 69-58.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 23, 2026

LA did not know how to defend Pritchard, who was now shooting 71% from behind the arc. He knocked down two more triples before finally missing his eighth attempt. 

Aside from Luka and LeBron, no other Laker was in double figures. The closest was Reaves with nine points. The offensive struggles made it difficult for the team to string together a meaningful run.

Going into the fourth, Los Angeles was down by 13. 

The final frame began with LA trying to make a push, cutting the deficit to single digits. Reaves, LeBron and Rui Hachimura combined for a quick six points. Pritchard then scored six in a row, putting a dent in Los Angeles comeback attempt. 

LA continued to struggle throughout the quarter on both ends of the floor while Boston certainly did not. The Celtics blew the game open on the backs of Pritchard and Brown, who combined for 62 points, to run the Lakers off their home court.

Key Player Stats

Luka finished with 25 points, five rebounds and three assists. LeBron notched 20 points with four rebounds, five assists and two steals. Reaves had 15 points with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. 

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday at 7:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

At long last, the Dallas Mavericks have won a basketball game.

The Mavericks (20-36) won their first game in a calendar month with a 134-130 decision over the Indiana Pacers (15-43) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday. Dallas got a season-high 25 points from Khris Middleton to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists in the win. Andrew Nembhard led the listless and even more shorthanded Pacers with 22 points and 11 assists in the loss.

Hey, you can’t lose them all. Here are five stats that tell the tale of the streak-busting win for the Mavs.

9: Players unavailable due to injury

In a game featuring two teams doing everything they can to avoid the dreaded win column, Sunday’s game between the Mavericks and the Pacers featured 13 players on both rosters who were unavailable due to injury. Indiana and Dallas came into the game at fourth and fifth, respectively, in man games missed due to injury, illness and suspension in the NBA this season.

Cooper Flagg missed his third straight game for the Mavs with a foot sprain, while T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Aaron Nesmith (ankle), Obi Toppin (foot) and Ivica Zubac (ankle) all missed the game for the Pacers.

36-33: Mavericks’ first lead after one quarter since Jan. 19

Sunday marked exactly one month since the Mavs’ last win, a 123-115 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 22 at American Airlines Center. But did you know that it had been even longer since the Mavericks led a basketball game at the end of the first quarter? Dallas had trailed after one quarter in every game of the team’s 10-game losing streak, and trailed the Warriors after one in their last win, 27-24.

Before Sunday’s 36-33 lead at the end of the first quarter against the Pacers, the last time the Mavs had won the first quarter was on Jan. 19 at Madison Square Garden, 31-22, over the New York Knicks. Dallas ended up winning that game, 114-97, in one of the ugliest losses of the year for the Knicks.

The #kyrieirving injury news aside, I think the #dallasmavericks have been stealth tanking for sometime. Let me explain exactly when I think it started. #nba#nbatanking

Download @joinoffsidepic.twitter.com/DZmgWIy7I2

— Kirk Henderson (@KirkSeriousFace) February 18, 2026

17-of-32 (53.1%): Combined first-half 3-point shooting

Despite their short benches, both teams came out with a hot hand from 3-point range. The Mavericks made seven of their 13 first-half 3-point attempts, while the Pacers shot 10-of-19 from deep. Indiana’s tried-and-true three-headed beast from the outside featured Jarace Walker (3-of-3), Quenton Jackson (2-of-2) and Ben Sheppard (2-of-3), who combined to shoot 7-for-8 from beyond the arc.

P.J. Washington led all scorers with 16 points at the break and made his only 3-point attempt of the first half, while Pascal Siakam led Indy with 14 and made 1-of-2 from 3-point land. Dallas led 71-66 at intermission. And then, like clockwork, the two teams combined to go 1-of-6 from long range to start the second half.

48: Combined scoring from P.J. Washington and Khris Middleton

Sunday’s win was Washington’s best game since Dec. 15, when he scored 25 points and pulled down 14 boards in a 140-133 overtime loss to the Utah Jazz. Any sign of life from Washington, who has hibernated through the rougher stretches of the 2025-26 season, is a good sign.

If Washington and Khris Middleton were the story for the Mavericks in the first half, Naji Marshall was the story in the third quarter. He shot 4-of-5 from the field in the third as the Mavs extended their modest five-point lead at the half to eight entering the fourth quarter. Gafford found him with a little room in the lane in the final minute of the third to give Dallas a 98-93 advantage, before late buckets by Caleb Martin and Klay Thompson gave the Mavs some momentum going into the fourth.

Then Washington and Middleton, who paced the Mavs in the first half, reemerged to lead the team to its first win in a month down the stretch. Middleton scored nine points in the fourth quarter, heating up from the mid-range and answering the bell each time Indiana crept to within two possessions of the lead. He banked one in from 12 feet out with 4:41 left in the game to give the Mavericks a 123-116 lead, before knocking down his third 3-ball of the game the next time down to answer an Andrew Nembhard 3-pointer on the other end and make it 126-119.

12/11: Marvin Bagley’s third double-double as a Maverick

More to come on this in the coming days, but Marvin Bagley III notched his third double-double in his first five games as a Dallas Maverick on Sunday with 12 points and 11 rebounds. It remains to be seen if the Mavericks can fix Bagley, who was drafted second overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2018, ahead of both Luka Dončić and Trae Young, or if they even have any interest in taking on the project. Bagley’s current contract is up at the end of this season, but he seems to be playing with a spring in his step since coming to the Mavs from the Washington Wizards in the Anthony Davis trade.

PHOENIX (AP) — Portland All-Star guard Deni Avdija left the Trail Blazers' game Sunday against the Phoenix Suns because of a lower back injury and the team said he won't return to the game.

Avdija was listed as questionable coming into the game, but decided to play. He lasted just one minute before leaving the court and going back to the locker room.

Avdija — who has been battling lower back issues for weeks — came into the night averaging 25 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists.

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

The Washington Wizards lost to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night, 129-112 at Capital One Arena.

LaMelo Ball went off in the first half, scoring 19 of his 37 points in the first half for Charlotte. Bilal Coulibaly scored 15 of his 17 for Washington to counter Ball. Ultimately, the Wizards headed into halftime with a 61-56 deficit. Still, the Hornets were in control throughout the half, and Washington was in danger of letting the game break wide open.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened in the second half as the Hornets expanded their lead by outscoring the Wizards 44-28 in the third quarter. Ball scored the rest of his points in that quarter alone. By then, the rest of the game was garbage time.

Coulibaly led Washington in scoring, but Jaden Hardy added 16 more points off the bench.

The Wizards’ next game is on Tuesday when they head on the road to play the Atlanta Hawks. Tip off is at 7 p.m. ET. See you then and stay safe from the snowstorm.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jalyn Brown had 20 points, Kennedy Blair scored 18 and No. 18 Michigan State put an end to No. 23 Minnesota's nine-game winning streak with a 75-61 victory on Sunday night.

Brown made 8 of 14 shots with two 3-pointers and both of her free throws for the Spartans (22-6, 11-6 Big Ten Conference). Blair made 6 of 9 shots and went 6 for 6 at the foul line, adding eight rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Freshman reserve Amy Terrian sank three 3-pointers and scored 11 for Michigan State. Grace VanSlooten had 10 points and six rebounds.

Tori McKinney made five 3-pointers and scored a career-high 29 for the Golden Gophers (21-7, 12-5). Amaya Battle totaled 11 points and seven rebounds. Sophie Hart pitched in with 10 points and nine rebounds.

McKinney hit two 3-pointers and scored eight by the end of the first quarter to help Minnesota build a 16-10 lead. McKinney had half of Minnesota's 36 points by halftime and the Golden Gophers saw a 10-point lead shrink to two.

The Spartans trailed by eight after a McKinney 3-pointer early in the third quarter, but Terrian and Brown had 3-pointers in a 12-1 run over the final four minutes and Michigan State took a 58-49 lead into the final period. Minnesota got no closer than six over the final 10 minutes.

Michigan State shot 55.6% from the floor to Minnesota's 33.3%. The Spartans bench outscored the Golden Gophers reserves 24-2.

Up next

Minnesota: At Illinois on Sunday in a regular-season finale.

Michigan State: Hosts No. 10 Ohio State on Sunday to close out the regular season.

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Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball.

The Dallas Mavericks (20-36) finally won what turned out to be a fun, competitive NBA game, even if it featured two bad teams. Dallas beat the Indiana Pacers (15-43), 134-130, behind a full team effort. The Mavs had six scorers finish in double figures, including a monster 25 points on 11-for-15 shooting night from Khris Middleton. Naji Marshall had 17, PJ Washington had 23, and Max Christie had 16. For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam finished with 30 points while Andrew Nembhard had 22 points and 11 assists. The Pacers made a season high 20 3-pointers, and the Mavs still found a way to win.

The first half was all offense from the jump. Middleton and Marshall traded buckets with Siakam and Nembhard before Washington scored eight of Dallas’ first 22 points to help fuel a 36-point opening quarter, despite sloppy live-ball turnovers on both sides. The second quarter brought even less resistance, with five different players scoring early and clean looks everywhere as the Mavs took a 71-66 halftime lead. Dallas shot 55.3 percent from the field and 7-of-13 from distance, led by Washington’s 16 and Middleton’s 12, while Indiana matched efficiency at 54.3 percent shooting (10-of-17 from deep) to keep it tight.

The third quarter remained competitive, ending 103-95, as Marshall made four of his five attempts in the frame, Williams drew fouls and made free throws, and Middleton added timely buckets. At the same time, Indiana answered through Siakam’s timely 3-point shooting. The fourth quarter turned into another shootout, with Indiana finishing with a season-high 20 3-balls and no defense being played on either end. Middleton went unconscious in the midrange, and Washington added key finishes and offensive rebounds. In a game defined by shot-making and momentum swings, Dallas made just enough winning plays late to close out an exciting win.

Is PJ Washington back?

P.J. Washington delivered one of his most complete performances of the season in this one. In 36 minutes, he finished with 23 points on an efficient 8-of-14 shooting, including 6-of-8 from the free-throw line, while adding nine rebounds. He was decisive offensively, attacking mismatches instead of settling, and his efficiency stood out in a game where shot selection mattered. Washington also chipped in across the board with two assists, a steal and a blocked shot, impacting possessions beyond just scoring. When Dallas needed steady production and physicality, Washington delivered.

More importantly, this game fits a recent trend. Over the last few outings, Washington has started to look more decisive and more engaged defensively, crashing the boards with purpose and taking 3-pointers in rhythm instead of hesitating. The scoring efficiency has fluctuated, but the aggression and activity have returned. When Washington is rebounding at that level and confidently stepping into shots, he looks a lot more like the version Dallas relied on during the team’s NBA Finals run. It may be too early to declare anything definitive, but if this stretch continues, it is fair to at least float the idea that Washington might be back.

Marvin Bagley III deserves a look next season

Marvin Bagley III gave Dallas meaningful frontcourt production in this one. In 26 minutes, he finished with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and pulled down 11 rebounds, including nine on the defensive glass. He was efficient around the rim, ran the floor well, and consistently cleaned up possessions that could have turned into second chances for the opponent. His activity on the boards helped Dallas control stretches of the game, and his ability to convert inside kept the offense balanced when perimeter shots weren’t falling.

This was not a one-game flash. Over the last few outings, Bagley has quietly been efficient in limited minutes, rebounding consistently and staying within the flow of the offense instead of forcing shots. The production has been steady, not loud, but meaningful. If this stretch continues, he has absolutely earned a real look in training camp next season. Dallas is always searching for dependable frontcourt depth, and Bagley has shown he can provide energy, rebounding, and efficient interior scoring without needing touches drawn up for him.

Turnovers are everything

The Mavericks finished with just 11 turnovers total, and that alone changed the entire texture of the game. Based on the play-by-play, the giveaways were controlled in both halves rather than coming in damaging clusters, as has hurt them in other losses. Dallas avoided the dreaded live-ball turnover runs and four-possession spirals that fueled opponent transition waves. Instead, the Mavs valued possessions, even without a traditional guard-heavy rotation stabilizing things. For a roster that has struggled at times with ball security, especially when shorthanded in the backcourt, an 11-turnover night is not just a stat — it needs to be an identity shift. When they protect the ball like that, they give themselves a chance against anyone.

The fans never got an opportunity to give a grateful goodbye, Pat Riley resigning on an early summer afternoon 36 years ago after the end of a lost season.

Everyone will have that chance now.

When Riley left town at the wrong end of grumblings from players and fans, he was the greatest coach not only in Lakers history but also in basketball history, his .733 winning percentage and 102 playoff victories both NBA records at the time.

Everyone will understand now.

He has been Showtime’s forgotten kingpin, its lost leader, its missing warrior, a stylishly distant legend who had been overshadowed by the seven Lakers whose statues stand watch over the plaza outside Crypto.com Arena.

Make that eight Lakers.

Riley finally is coming home, returning Sunday with the unveiling of a long overdue statue in whose bronze reflection a couple of wistful realizations can be found.

Riles has been terribly, terribly missed.

The Showtime era seems terribly, terribly distant.

Riley hasn’t been with the Lakers in 36 years. The Lakers haven’t won an asterisk-free NBA title in 16 years. Maybe because Shaquille O’Neal spoke only via video Sunday, the greatness of this organization never felt further away.

Mark Walter, were you watching?

The Dodgers group that now owns the Lakers was granted a compelling history lesson during an hourlong ceremony that culminated in a theatrical unveiling of Riley's statue, smartly situated between the bronzes of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Like Riley himself, his statue looked darn near perfect. There was the raised fist that was once a signal for Magic to pass to Kareem for a skyhook. There was the neatly coiffed hair, the nicely fitting suit, the smartly positioned tie, even the painfully stern expression from a guy who left no doubt who was running the show.

“When I was told that the kid from Schenectady, New York, would be honored with a statue here ... I fell to my knees, humbled. I sobbed. ... Tears of joy and gratitude,” Riley said during his acceptance speech, adding, “That statue right there … is loaded up with all of us who took that magical journey.”

It was a Showtime magic born of a commitment found in one of the two inscriptions on the statue.

“There will come a time when you are challenged, and when that time comes, you must plant your feet. You must stand firm. You must make a point. About who you are, what you do, and where you come from. When that time comes, you do it.”

Mark Walter, were you reading?

Riley used those words to earn six Lakers championship rings, four as a coach, one as an assistant coach and one as a player.

After leaving town in 1990 and making a stop in New York, Riley carried those words with him to Miami, where he led the Heat to one title as a coach and two more as an executive, and where he still serves as president at age 80.

“There will come a time when you are challenged …”

For the new Lakers bosses, that time is now, as they find themselves with a product that is light years from the teams that Riley referenced during what amounted to a 30-minute sermon/history lesson prior to the unveiling.

This Lakers organization is a bit of a mess, as evidenced by the speakers who joined Riley on the stage.

There was Magic and Kareem and Jeanie Buss, who all gave compelling talks, very appropriate. But oddly also speaking was Dwyane Wade, who played for Riley in Miami but was never a Laker. The group was interestingly joined by actor Michael Douglas, who spoke as Riley’s friend, while several Lakers Showtime greats watched from the audience.

It was all a bit disjointed, which is similar to the Lakers' current situation. They’re so defensively challenged that they’re surely headed for an early playoff exit, even though they have the stunningly great scorer Luka Doncic, and what happens next?

Read more:Statue outside Lakers' arena is another first for Pat Riley, the consummate coach

Do they keep LeBron James? (Say no!) Do they pay Austin Reaves? (Say yes!) Do they try to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo? (Go for it!)

All these are questions not unlike the one faced by the late Jerry Buss in 1981 when pondering the notion of hiring a kid who never had coached at any level. Buss trusted his instincts and went for it, the enlistment of Riley fashioning a culture that remained strong until the death of Buss in 2013.

It is a culture that Riley described when he left in 1990, quoting the late author Ernest Becker.

“Man's greatest fear — and you've probably heard this before — is his fear of extinction,” he said in his farewell news conference. “But what he fears more than that is to become extinct with insignificance.”

The Showtime Lakers faced those fears and overcame them.

"What we accomplished was not insignificant,” he added in his farewell address. “All anybody ever wants to do is have the feeling that what they do counts and matters. I've always told the players that they don't just want to be the best of the best. There's nothing wrong with being unique. We were unique."

Read more:Plaschke: Lakers had a great ride with Buss family, but Dodgers owner will give team new life

Riley repeated many of those same words Sunday, and added some more wisdom about life with the legends.

“That’s where I learned about commitment … there are only two options,” he said. “You’re in or you’re out. Either you’re with us or against us. There’s no other way, there’s no life in between.”

Riley said through that commitment, the Lakers legacy had been formed.

“The biggest footprint in Laker history had been planted,” he said, later adding, “You begin by chasing footprints, you grow by honoring them. And if you’re committed enough, you leave giant steps of your own.”

He then challenged today’s NBA players, even the ones getting dressed down the hall.

“I ask even the players who play for the Lakers today, I ask you, whose footprints are you chasing today?” he said. “More important, what footprints are you leaving?”

He continued, saying, “When it comes time to kick some ass, you do it. And one day someone will follow the path you left behind and say, ‘Those are footprints worth chasing.”’

Riley ended his talk with what was essentially an inspirational pregame speech as the Lakers prepared to play the rival he finally conquered, those Boston Celtics.

“As my father’s words to me, they ring out loud and clear today,” he said with the sort of verve that is rarely heard around the team these days. “The time has come to kick some ass. To kick some Boston ass.”

Amen.

Mark Walter, were you listening?

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brandin Podziemski scored 12 of his 18 points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter and the Golden State Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets 128-117 on Sunday.

Podziemski shot 7 of 16 and added 15 rebounds and nine assists. Al Horford hit six 3-pointers and finished with 22 points and seven assists as the Warriors ended a two-game losing streak despite being without Stephen Curry (knee), Kristaps Porzingis (sick) and Jimmy Butler (torn right ACL). Draymond Green (back) was also a late scratch.

Moses Moody had 23 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors. DeAnthony Melton added 20 points.

Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists for Denver. It’s Jokic’s fifth triple-double in seven games, 19th of the season and the 183rd of his career.

Jamal Murray scored 21 points for the Nuggets, who had won three of five. Christian Braun scored 18 and Bruce Brown added 12.

CELTICS 118, LAKERS 89

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jaylen Brown had 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Boston swept the season series in the NBA’s most storied rivalry with a victory over Los Angeles.

Payton Pritchard scored 30 points with six 3-pointers and eight assists for the Celtics, who have won three straight and eight of nine as they attempt to close the gap on Detroit atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Brown and Pritchard scored 19 points apiece in the second half, and Pritchard wrapped up the win on a step-back 3-pointer with 3:24 to play, prompting the Lakers to empty their bench amid scattered boos.

Luka Doncic had 25 points and LeBron James got the 43,000th point of his career while scoring 20 for the Lakers, who fell short at home against a probable NBA title contender for the third time in two weeks. Los Angeles was held to its second-lowest point total of the season.

76ERS 135, TIMBERWOLVES 108

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Tyrese Maxey had 39 points and eight assists, VJ Edgecombe made a career-high six 3-pointers and finished with 24 points, and Philadelphia beat Minnesota to snap a four-game losing streak — all by double figures.

Maxey made 16 of 28 shots from the field and hit four of Philadelphia’s 21 3-pointers. Quentin Grimes had 19 points, which included five 3s, and seven assists. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 18 points and four steals.

Coming off a 126-111 defeat Saturday night at New Orleans, the Sixers were again without center Joel Embiid, who missed his third straight game since the All-Star break due to right shin soreness. Embiid also sat out three of the last five games going into the break with soreness in his right knee.

Minnesota had its three-game win streak snapped. Anthony Edwards scored 19 of his 28 points in the first half for the Timberwolves. Jaden McDaniels added 19 and Julius Randle scored 18.

THUNDER 121, CAVALIERS 113

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Isaiah Joe scored 22 points and Cason Wallace added 20 points and 10 assists to help the short-handed Oklahoma City beat Cleveland.

Chet Holmgren had 17 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for Oklahoma City (44-14), which made 21 of 41 3-point attempts (51.2%), including six by Joe, and converted 17 turnovers into 31 points.

The Thunder played without injured starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring). and key contributors Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain) and Alex Caruso (sprained left ankle).

Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Sam Merrill each had 20 points for Cleveland (36-22), which lost for the first time in eight games. The Cavaliers, who made 13 of 39 3-pointers (33.3%), fell behind early but couldn’t complete the comeback against the hot-shooting Thunder.

RAPTORS 122, BUCKS 94

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Immanuel Quickley scored 32 points and Toronto snapped Milwaukee’s three-game win streak with a victory.

Toronto’s Brandon Ingram had 22 points, and Sandro Mamukelashvili added 19. Quickley was 5 of 11 on 3-point attempts and had nine assists and three rebounds.

Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 21 points each. Cam Thomas scored 15 off the bench. Milwaukee lost for just the second time in its last eight games.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his 11th straight game since straining his right calf on Jan. 23. The Bucks are 15-15 with Antetokounmpo and 9-16 without him this season.

HAWKS 115, NETS 104

ATLANTA (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 26 points and 12 rebounds and Atlanta rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Brooklyn for the Nets fourth straight loss.

CJ McCollum added 16 points and eight rebounds in his first start since joining the Hawks as part of a trade that sent Trae Young to the Wizards. Jock Landale had 17 points in 16 minutes off the bench, knocking down all three of his 3-point shots. Onyeka Okongwu threw down a thunderous slam over Nic Claxton in the third quarter and finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Claxton returned after missing three games with ankle and hip injuries to finish with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

MAVERICKS 134, PACERS 130

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Khris Middleton scored 25 points and P.J. Washington added 23 to lead Dallas over Indiana, snapping a 10-game losing streak.

Middleton also had seven rebounds and seven assists and was one of six Mavs players to score in double figures. Washington grabbed nine boards, and Marvin Bagley III had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Dallas ended its longest slide since skids of 10 and 15 games in 1997-98, and won for the first time since Jan. 22 against Golden State.

All-Star forward Pascal Siakam returned from a three-game absence and led the Pacers with 30 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Andrew Nembhard had 22 points and 11 assists. Jarace Walker added 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Kobe Brown scored a career-high 15 as Indiana fell to 0-3 since the All-Star break, losing its first home game since Feb. 3 — the longest stretch between home games in the franchise’s NBA history.

HORNETS 129, WIZARDS 112

WASHINGTON (AP) -- LaMelo Ball made a career-high 10 3-pointers and scored 37 points to help Charlotte rout Washington for a four-game season sweep.

Ball attempted 15 3-pointers. Kon Knueppel added 28 points, and Brandon Miller had 22. The Hornets made 12 of 14 3-pointers in the third quarter to blow open the game, and finished 25 of 46 from long range.

Bilal Coulibaly scored 15 of his 17 points in the first quarter for Washington. The Wizards dropped to 16-40, missing a chance for their first three-game winning streak since February 2025.

Charlotte had lost three of four since a nine-game winning streak ended just before the All-Star break. The Hornets (27-31) are 10th in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind Atlanta and 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee.

TRAIL BLAZERS 92, SUNS 77

PHOENIX (AP) -- Donovan Clingan had 23 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead Portland past the short-handed Phoenix.

Jerami Grant also scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting. The Trail Blazers bounced back from an ugly 157-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday and have won five of their past seven.

Portland built a 20-point lead by late in the third quarter and settled for a 71-57 advantage heading into the fourth. Collin Gillespie hit two 3-pointers to cut it to 80-69 with 7:36 left but Grant responded with a 3 to turn back the rally.

Gillespie led Phoenix with 18 points, and Jalen Green had 13. Coming off a 113-110 double-overtime win over Orlando at home Saturday, the Suns shot just 36.9% from the field and the 77 points were a season low.

It was a sloppy game for both teams — the Blazers had 21 turnovers and the Suns had 19.

KNICKS 105, BULLS 99

CHICAGO (AP) -- Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 11 rebounds for his NBA-leading 39th double-double and New York outlasted the sliding Chicago for their second straight victory.

Towns scored six straight points — on a 3-pointer, a layup and free throw — after Chicago took a 95-94 lead with 3:52 left in regulation on Matas Buzelis’ 3. Mikal Bridges hit another 3-pointer with 27 seconds left, and Jalen Brunson iced it with two free throws.

Brunson had 19 points and nine assists to help New York deal the Bulls a ninth straight loss, their longest skid since a 10-game slide in January 2019.

Landry Shamet added 16 points for the often cold-shooting Knicks, who shot 44.7% from the floor after overcoming an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Houston 108-106 in New York on Saturday.

Buzelis finished with 15 points for Chicago. Jalen Smith had 12 before leaving the in the third quarter with right calf tightness, and Isaac Okoro had 12. Guerschon Yabusele had 11 points and 13 rebounds.

MAGIC 111, CLIPPERS 109

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Desmond Bane scored 36 points and Paolo Banchero added 16 points and eight assists as Orlando held on for a victory over Los Angeles.

Wendell Carter Jr. had 15 points and 14 rebounds and Tristan da Silva scored 13 for the Magic, who improved to 5-2 since Feb. 5.

Kawhi Leonard shrugged off an ankle injury to score 37 points and Bennedict Mathurin added 21 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Clippers, who are 4-5 since Feb. 2. Mathurin missed a 3-point attempt to win the game at the buzzer.

Jordan Miller had 14 points for the Clippers.

Leonard exited Friday’s loss against the Los Angeles Lakers with an ankle sprain. Mathurin was playing in his fifth game for the Clippers after he was acquired at the trade deadline from the Indiana Pacers.

Orlando won despite going 8 of 23 from 3-point range, two games after setting a franchise record with 27 3-pointers in a victory at Sacramento. Jalen Suggs missed his second consecutive game for the Magic with back spasms.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Khris Middleton scored 25 points and P.J. Washington added 23 to lead the Dallas Mavericks over the Indiana Pacers 134-130 on Sunday, snapping a 10-game losing streak.

Middleton also had seven rebounds and seven assists and was one of six Mavs players to score in double figures. Washington grabbed nine boards, and Marvin Bagley III had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Dallas ended its longest slide since skids of 10 and 15 games in 1997-98, and won for the first time since Jan. 22 against Golden State.

All-Star forward Pascal Siakam returned from a three-game absence and led the Pacers with 30 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Andrew Nembhard had 22 points and 11 assists. Jarace Walker added 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Kobe Brown scored a career-high 15 as Indiana fell to 0-3 since the All-Star break, losing its first home game since Feb. 3 — the longest stretch between home games in the franchise's NBA history.

The Pacers played without Aaron Nesmith, recently acquired Ivica Zubac and T.J. McConnell because of injuries, and coach Rick Carlisle said before tip-off that injured All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton is also now suffering from shingles. Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg also sat out for the third straight game with a sprained left foot, missing his only appearance in Indianapolis this season.

Dallas led most of the game but struggled to put this one away.

The Mavs led 36-33 after one quarter, 71-66 at halftime and then used a 12-3 third-quarter run to take a 94-84 lead. Indiana closed to 117-114 midway through the fourth but never regained the lead.

Up next

Mavericks: Will try to win their second straight Tuesday at Brooklyn.

Pacers: Hope to get their first post-break win Tuesday when they host the 76ers.

___

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

Playing the second game of a back-to-back, the New York Knicks (36*-21) face the Chicago Bulls (24-33) tonight at United Center. The Bulls list Anfernee Simons as day-to-day with a wrist issue and Jaden Ivey out with knee soreness. The Knicks are heavily favored thanks to Chicago’s eight-game skid and general stinkability.

Tip-off at 8 PM ET on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Blog a Bull. Please don’t post illegal streams or large, kinky pics of your poodle. And go the Knicks!

* Should be one more, but the Cup Final was a hill of beans. 

Everywhere Pat Riley went, success — and his Armani suits — followed.

New York: an NBA Finals appearance, two Eastern Conference finals and a Coach of the Year award in four seasons. Miami: Riley’s third Coach of the Year honor, the NBA Executive of the Year award (2011) and three NBA titles as a coach/executive in a tenure with the Heat that’s lasted over 30 years.

But for Riley, his legendary basketball resume will always come back to Los Angeles. 

And that was once again the case on Sunday afternoon when the Lakers unveiled their 8-foot, 510-pound statue of the franchise legend ahead of their home game against the Celtics, their longtime rival.

“You go back and look to that period, and you go back to that time and look where I am today, this is where I ended up. I don’t know how I got here,” Riley said. “But I got here, and now there’s a statue out there and that plaza of stars. 

“I’m so grateful. I really am. It’s beyond gratitude. I’m so grateful to be honored and to be with those who are the giants that I jumped up on their shoulders and they carried me.”

Riley was the Lakers’ head coach for nine seasons (1981-90) during the “Showtime” era, leading the franchise to four NBA championships (1982, ’85, ’87, ’88), with two of those titles coming against the Celtics. 

The 80-year-old Riley made it clear during his speech before the statue was unveiled that his professional competitiveness against Boston hasn’t changed. 

“The time has come to kick some ass,” Riley said. “To kick some Boston ass.”

A 2008 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Riley was part of six Lakers NBA championship teams as a player (one; 1972), assistant coach (one; 1980) and head coach.

Riley’s statue was appropriately placed between the statues of Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — fellow franchise legends whom Riley coached during the Lakers’ dominance in the ‘80s. 

The pose for Riley’s statue was of him wearing a Giorgio Armani-tailored suit with crocodile leather belt and the 1985 championship ring and raising his right hand — a signal throughout the Showtime era for Johnson to pass to Abdul-Jabbar for his skyhook.

“Pat, to me, sort of set the standard for modern NBA coaches,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I have always looked at the NBA in sort of two very distinct eras: make the demarcation point either right at merger or in 1980-81, right around that time when Dallas joined as the 23rd team. That, sort of to me, is the beginning of the modern NBA, and that’s right when the Lakers’ run started. And Pat just set the standard for what a modern NBA coach should be. It’s a good-looking statue. We paused a little bit to make sure that we got it right. I thought the statue looked good.”

Even though the focus was on him for most of Sunday, Riley was equally complimentary of Redick.

“I love JJ, I really do,” Riley said. “My teams competed against him in various teams that he played with. He’s a fiery guy. He could shoot the hell out of the ball. He was tough as nails.

“Sometimes I look back and I remember myself at that time, and I looked at JJ and I think they picked the right person. There’s just a quality about him I think that goes above and beyond. And they have a hell of a team for him right here, right now with (Luka) Dončić and (Austin) Reaves and obviously with LeBron (James). And so I think (Lakers president of basketball operations/general manager) Rob (Pelinka) will continue with the new ownership to build that team and to compliment those players. But they have a great opportunity, and I think JJ will be a great coach for it.”

The Golden State Warriors pulled off one of their most surprising wins of the year on Sunday, shocking the Denver Nuggets 128-117. Merely winning was surprising, given that the Nuggets are a significantly better team, and the Warriors were playing their seventh straight game without Steph Curry. But before the game tipped off, the Dubs were dealt a one-two combo of adversity, making the difficult task downright daunting.

First, a few hours before the game began, the Warriors announced that recent trade acquisition Kristaps Porziņģis, who was set to play his second game with the team, was sick and would not be able to make it to the arena. Steve Kerr made it sound like it’s a very serious illness for Porziņģis, as the coach revealed that the stretch big may not join the Warriors on their upcoming two-city road trip.

And then, just minutes before the game began, the Warriors announced that Draymond Green was dealing with a lower back injury, and wouldn’t play.

So the Dubs, sans Curry, Green, Porziņģis, and Jimmy Butler III, took on the 36-21 Nuggets, who were playing without Aaron Gordon, but were otherwise healthy.

Golden State took the challenge and ran with it from the opening tip. The starting five of Pat Spencer, De’Anthony Melton, Moses Moody, Gui Santos, and Al Horford came out firing, with incredible ball movement and some Curry-esque shooting from deep. If you blinked, you missed Horford draining a pair of triples as the Warriors immediately took an 11-2 lead.

While the Warriors’ offense was firing on all cylinders, so too was the consensus best player in the world, Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, who was picking apart Golden State’s defense. At the mandatory timeout, just over five minutes in, the Nuggets had made six field goals … and Jokić had assisted on all six of them. But crucially, the Warriors still led, as their ball movement was going tit for tat with Jokić’s wizardry.

As the first quarter went on, both offenses played beautifully. Christian Braun was feasting on the Dubs with cuts galore, while Santos was doing a little bit of everything to keep Golden State afloat. It looked like the Nuggets were about to erase the lead late, but Golden State ended the first quarter with a huge flurry, with Santos and rookie Will Richard leading the way. To the shock of everyone in the building, the Warriors led 39-27 after the opening frame, and had shot a blistering 9-for-19 from three-point range. Horford had finished the quarter with 11 electric points, while Moody had scored eight.

It’s always expected that the favored team will respond after that sort of quarter. The Warriors got their surprising punch in, but presumably the Nuggets would wake up, adjust, and play better in the second. And indeed, Denver notably tightened up their defense to open the second frame, while first-time All-Star Jamal Murray went to work, chipping away at the lead.

But the Warriors wouldn’t let him chip away too much. The second quarter was a complete team effort, with all nine healthy players contributing across the board: there were deflections and loose balls gathered, rebounds gobbled up, and plenty more threes. It was an exhausting fight for them to stay on top, but stay on top they did, and they led 76-67 at halftime, with a stunning 15 made threes. Against all odds, with Curry sidelined, they set their season record for most points in the first half.

Unfortunately, the halftime hangout sapped Golden State’s shooting ability. When they returned from the break, they had cashed in the threes for turnovers, instead. In fact, after nine threes in the first quarter and six more in the second, the Warriors didn’t make a single shot from beyond the arc in the third quarter.

And as that happened, the Nuggets chipped away. They were playing so well on offense, with Jokić now turning to scoring, rather than passing, to pick apart Golden State’s defense. On the other end, the Warriors started the frame moving the ball well, but just couldn’t hit shots. Yet as the frustration mounted, they started to force the issue, and eventually the turnovers started to fill up the stat sheet.

At the 7:05 mark, a pair of free throws from Braun tied the game. It was the first tie since it was 2-2 in the opening moments of the game. At the 4:59 mark, Denver finally took the lead.

At that point, it felt like the game was well on its way to being over. The Warriors had gotten their surprising run in early, and the Nuggets had now responded. When the talent deficit is that big, the expectation is that once the dam breaks, there’s no putting it back together. You hang onto the lead for as long as you can, and once you lose it, it’s over. And indeed, it felt that way, as the Nuggets pushed the lead to eight points, which somehow felt insurmountable.

Turns out it wasn’t, though. Though the Warriors trailed 101-95 entering the fourth quarter, they still brought the energy and confidence to the fourth quarter.

Golden State opened the scoring in the final frame with a Brandin Podziemski and-one. And then, at the 10:02 mark, they tied the game when Gary Payton II kicked the lid off the bucket and drained a three. It was the team’s first triple of the half, and ended a stretch of 14 consecutive misses from beyond the arc.

The Nuggets would soon have a five-point lead, once again giving many the sense that the Warriors had used up their shots at an upset. And then they flipped the game entirely on its head. Payton made another three, and at the 6:00 mark, Moody scored at the rim in transition, tying the game and forcing the Nuggets to call timeout.

That timeout did nothing. The Warriors got a stop, then Podziemski — who had his best quarter of the season — drained a three. Horford stole the ball from Jokić, and Podziemski made a mid-range jumper. Melton stole the ball from Braun, and a few seconds later had a transition layup. Just 1:18 after David Adelman had called timeout, he called another one, with the Warriors now leading by seven points.

The second timeout barely did anything, either. On the opening possession, Melton stole the ball from Murray, and then found Horford for yet another three. It capped a 15-0 Golden State run, and gave the Warriors a 10-point lead with just over four minutes remaining. Suddenly the Nuggets look like they had woken up in the middle of basketball game, and had no idea where they were, how they got there, or what they were supposed to do. Based on poise and execution, you wouldn’t be able to guess which team was a championship contender, and which team was missing four of their best players.

It turned into a 20-2 run, as the Dubs pushed the lead to 13 points. Their offense was mostly nonexistent in the final two minutes of the quarter, but their defense smelled blood in the water, and put the clamps on Denver. The Nuggets never got closer than nine, as the Chase Center erupted to celebrate a 128-117 win.

Moody led the scoring with 23 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including 4-for-9 from deep, and added seven rebounds and five assists in one of his better games of the year. Horford was nothing short of sensational, with 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including a blistering 6-for-7 from three-point range. Horford only grabbed one rebound, but dished seven assists, while recording three steals and two blocks. Despite drawing the opening assignment against Jokić, Horford didn’t commit a foul all night. Melton also hit the 20-point mark, with 20 points on 7-for-18 shooting, plus four rebounds, two assists, and a whopping four steals (Golden State had 14 on the night).

But the biggest star might have been Podziemski, who nearly had a triple-double. Podz only shot 7-for-16 from the field, but finished with 18 points, a career-high 15 rebounds, nine assists, and one steal. He was dominant all over the court in the fourth quarter, despite entering the frame just 1-for-10 from the field. But he scored 15 of the team’s 33 points in the critical frame, while being a menace on the glass and playing exceptional defense. He helped the Warriors win the bench battle 44-28.

The Warriors overcome a typically superstar performance from Jokić, who had 35 points, 20 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, and two blocks. Murray added 21 points and Braun 18, but the Warriors forced 13 turnovers out of that star trio. Most importantly, the Nuggets shot just 8-for-31 (25.8%) from three-point range, while the Warriors, despite their cold third quarter, went 21-for-52 (40.4%).

With the win, the Warriors improve to 30-27 on the season. They now hit the road for a back-to-back in the south, visiting the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday and the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.