Phoenix Suns (34-26, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (14-48, 15th in the Western Conference)
Sacramento, California; Tuesday, 11 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento hosts Phoenix looking to stop its seven-game home losing streak.
The Kings are 2-9 in division matchups. Sacramento is at the bottom of the league shooting 33.6% from 3-point range.
The Suns are 23-18 in conference games. Phoenix ranks third in the Western Conference giving up just 111.4 points while holding opponents to 46.9% shooting.
The Kings average 110.3 points per game, 1.1 fewer points than the 111.4 the Suns allow. The Suns average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Kings allow.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Suns won the last matchup 129-102 on Jan. 3. Devin Booker scored 33 points to help lead the Suns to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: DeMar DeRozan is averaging 18.2 points and four assists for the Kings. Maxime Raynaud is averaging 14.6 points over the last 10 games.
Royce O'Neale is shooting 41.7% and averaging 10.1 points for the Suns. Collin Gillespie is averaging 3.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 2-8, averaging 109.4 points, 44.5 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.8 points per game.
Suns: 4-6, averaging 103.7 points, 44.1 rebounds, 22.6 assists, 8.8 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 42.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Dylan Cardwell: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
Suns: Jordan Goodwin: out (calf), Devin Booker: out (hip), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Haywood Highsmith: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Brooklyn Nets (15-45, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (32-29, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn will try to break its six-game road losing streak when the Nets take on Miami.
The Heat are 16-18 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami leads the NBA with 35.1 defensive rebounds per game led by Bam Adebayo averaging 7.8.
The Nets have gone 11-26 against Eastern Conference opponents. Brooklyn is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference scoring averaging 107.0 points per game while shooting 44.6%.
The Heat are shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 3.3 percentage points lower than the 49.6% the Nets allow to opponents. The Nets average 13.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 fewer makes per game than the Heat allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Heat won the last meeting 106-95 on Dec. 19. Norman Powell scored 24 points to help lead the Heat to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Andrew Wiggins is shooting 47.4% and averaging 16.1 points for the Heat. Adebayo is averaging 20.5 points over the last 10 games.
Day'Ron Sharpe is averaging 8.5 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Nets. Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 17.2 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 46.6% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 5-5, averaging 119.0 points, 51.2 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.6 points per game.
Nets: 2-8, averaging 107.1 points, 38.4 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.7 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.8 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Nikola Jovic: day to day (back), Norman Powell: out (groin).
Nets: Nic Claxton: out (thumb), Egor Demin: out (injury management).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Dallas Mavericks (21-39, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (30-31, 10th in the Eastern Conference)
Charlotte, North Carolina; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte heads into a matchup with Dallas as winners of four straight games.
The Hornets have gone 13-16 at home. Charlotte is third in the Eastern Conference with 12.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Moussa Diabate averaging 3.7.
The Mavericks are 7-20 on the road. Dallas gives up 117.7 points to opponents and has been outscored by 3.8 points per game.
The Hornets average 15.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.7 more made shots on average than the 12.2 per game the Mavericks give up. The Mavericks average 113.9 points per game, 0.9 more than the 113.0 the Hornets give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Hornets won 123-121 in the last matchup on Jan. 30.
TOP PERFORMERS: LaMelo Ball is shooting 40.1% and averaging 19.3 points for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 22.1 points over the last 10 games.
Klay Thompson is shooting 38.7% and averaging 11.5 points for the Mavericks. Max Christie is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 7-3, averaging 116.5 points, 47.5 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.1 points per game.
Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 114.4 points, 42.3 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.7 points.
INJURIES: Hornets: None listed.
Mavericks: Naji Marshall: out (finger), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Klay Thompson: day to day (adductor), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Cooper Flagg: out (foot), P.J. Washington: out (ankle), Marvin Bagley III: out (neck).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles plays Golden State in Western Conference action Monday.
The Warriors are 21-18 in conference games. Golden State is eighth in the Western Conference scoring 115.6 points while shooting 46.2% from the field.
The Clippers are 18-18 in conference play. Los Angeles is at the bottom of the Western Conference recording only 23.6 assists per game led by Kawhi Leonard averaging 3.7.
The Warriors are shooting 46.2% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points lower than the 46.6% the Clippers allow to opponents. The Clippers are shooting 47.9% from the field, 0.6% higher than the 47.3% the Warriors' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Clippers won 103-102 in the last meeting on Jan. 6. Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points, and Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandin Podziemski is averaging 12.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Warriors. Moses Moody is averaging 15.9 points over the last 10 games.
John Collins is scoring 13.8 points per game and averaging 5.2 rebounds for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 4-6, averaging 110.2 points, 42.6 rebounds, 31.0 assists, 9.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.6 points per game.
Clippers: 5-5, averaging 109.1 points, 39.9 rebounds, 23.2 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.6 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Kristaps Porzingis: day to day (illness), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Seth Curry: out (back), Will Richard: day to day (ankle).
Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Darius Garland: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 1: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off of the court after the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 1, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been a very long time since the Lakers had blowouts like this in consecutive games. You have to go back to mid-November to even find games with margins similar to this, but these Lakers did it in back-to-back days.
You can easily discredit it by saying this is what they should be doing against these teams, but they haven’t been and that’s kind of been the problem. After a really miserable week of games against the Celtics, Magic and Suns, the Lakers seem to have reset the vibes again over the weekend.
It comes at an important time when they are set to see their schedule pick up, but it was a welcome sight to see LA jump ahead early in these two games and have very comfortable, stress-free victories.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
LeBron has looked awfully spry and re-energized this weekend, especially considering it was a back-to-back. With LA heading into the stretch run, having this version of LeBron, particularly with his shooting from three — would be huge.
After a solid game in San Francisco, Reaves faded into the background again. That’s been a common trend since the All-Star break and an increasingly concerning one.
After missing two games due to illness, it was nice to see Rui both back on the court and looking energetic. He looked a bit rusty but still had some nice defensive plays and continues to shoot threes at a high clip.
Not to belabor a point since he’s no longer on the team, but Gabe Vincent has five made threes in his five games with the Hawks. Kennard had seven in the last two games.
LaRavia feels like one of the few players who has quiet bad games. That might be attributed to the energy he brings regardless whether his shot is falling or not, but tonight was one of the nights where it felt like he had a good game only to see him shooting 2-10.
What an impactful 14 minutes from Kleber, who had a big block at the rim, nearly fought Malik Monk and had a couple of huge dunks. Perhaps he should have replaced Hayes in the dunk contest.
Shoutout to Thiero’s huge dunk and Bronny’s three in garbage time.
JJ Redick
Another solid game from JJ, who made an interesting call by going to Kleber when Hayes got in foul trouble instead of Jarred Vanderbilt, who was a DNP-CD. Vando has struggled in recent games again, so it’s not a surprise to see him out of the rotation. If the Lakers are looking for an athletic wing to replace him, it might be worth giving Thiero some spot minutes in the next handful of games.
Grade: A-
Sunday’s DNPs: Jarred Vanderbilt
Sunday’s inactives: Chris Mañon, Drew Timme, Nick Smith Jr.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers in scoring on Sunday. (Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press)
Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points and the Clippers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 137-117 on Sunday night to end a three-game losing streak.
Ninth in the Western Conference, the Clippers improved to 28-31. The Pelicans are 13th in the West at 19-43.
New Orleans star Zion Williamson sat out after injuring his right ankle at Utah on Saturday night. He had played a career-high 35 straight games.
The Clippers never trailed. They led 43-32 after the first quarter and had a 76-70 advantage at the half. It was 107-94 after three, and the Clippers stretched the margin to 26 in the fourth.
Jordan Miller added 19 points for the Clippers. Derrick Jones Jr. had 17, Brook Lopez 16 and John Collins 15.
While Leonard went one of seven from three-point range, the Clippers were 17 of 36 overall. Lopez was four for six, and Jones and Kobe Sanders were each three for four.
Jeremiah Fears led New Orleans with 28 points, hitting five of six three-pointers. Derik Queen scored 19 points, Dejounte Murray had 17, and Trey Murphy III added 16 after missing five games because of a right shoulder injury.
LeBron James had 24 points against Nique Clifford and the Kings during the Lakers' win Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
The search for sustained consistency remained a focus for the Lakers on Sunday against a Sacramento Kings team with the NBA's worst record.
And it helped that the Lakers were completely healthy against the Kings, something that has eluded them nearly all season.
Behind strong efforts from Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the Lakers defeated the struggling Kings 128-104 at Crypto.com Arena in their second straight blowout win.
Doncic, one of five Lakers to score in double figures, scored 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting. He made four three-pointers and had nine assists and five rebounds.
James, who played after initially being listed as questionable because of arthritis in his left foot, scored 24 points in 27 minutes on eight-for-15 shooting. He made a trio of threes and had five assists.
Deandre Ayton and Austin Reaves both had 12 points and Luke Kennard had 11 points off the bench. Rui Hachimura played 22 minutes off the bench and had eight points and two rebounds after missing the previous two games because of illness.
Nique Clifford led the Kings (14-48) with 26 points and had seven rebounds.
The Lakers are 3-3 since the All-Star break with 28- and 24-point wins after three straight losses.
“Again, just the world is falling for us 19 times (after double-digit losses this season),” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “ It’s just part of the nature of this cycle and our guys. ... Our guys bounced back and responded well throughout the season. Tied in the lost column for fifth (with Denver in the Western Conference) and a couple games out of third with a number of these teams coming up that are right there with us. So, we just are going to keep plugging away.”
Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, top, and Sacramento forward Precious Achiuwa battle for the ball during the Lakers' win Sunday. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Just as in Saturday's win at Golden State, the Lakers (36-24) benefited from strong shooting. They shot 50% from the field and 46% from three-point range.
One of the most exciting plays happened in the first quarter when Marcus Smart dived for a loose ball and, while prone on his back, passed to James. The Lakers star then passed to a hustling Austin Reaves, who took a few dribbles to get a Kings defender to commit before making an alley-oop pass to James for a two-handed, rim-hanging dunk.
The crowd was whipped into a frenzy. The Kings called a timeout, allowing the Lakers and their fans to soak in the moment.
Lakers star Luka Doncic celebrates after a three-pointer by teammate Rui Hachimura against the Kings on Sunday. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
There was another play in the third quarter in which Doncic slipped and almost fell down, losing control of the ball. But Doncic regained his balance and the ball before shooting an off-balance three-pointer that gave the Lakers a 24-point lead.
“Ah, yeah, it was on purpose,” Doncic said about falling down. “I tripped on purpose and it was, how do you say, the 'And-1 Mixtape,' that’s what they said on the bench. So, I did it on purpose.”
Doncic smiled.
It was that kind of night for the Lakers, a game full of highlights and fun that allowed Redick to empty his bench in the fourth quarter.
“Yeah, obviously it was two great wins, but we just got to go game by game,” Doncic said. “Obviously there’s a lot of noise outside, but like tonight, we can’t pay attention to that. ... I thought we played great.”
Maxi Kleber was another standout for the Lakers, making all three of his shots for six points. He also had six rebounds and a block.
His two lob dunks left his Lakers teammates celebrating from the bench.
“Every time I do something, you know, you look to the bench, everybody's celebrating,” Kleber said. “So, obviously it's a good push for me, a good push for the team.”
Grant Nelson dunks the ball during the Nets' March 1 loss.
Grant Nelson, on a 10-day contract, acquitted himself well in his home debut.
The undrafted rookie had 11 points, four rebounds and three blocks against the Cavaliers in just his second NBA game.
“It’s really been my dream my whole life. So it’s just fun to get out there, play with some of the best players in the world,” said Nelson. “It’s just really a dream. But I know the work’s not done. I still got a lot to work on.”
Nelson has logged 83 minutes over four games in four cities in five days between Brooklyn and G-League Long Island.
“The adrenaline I’ve had just playing in my first NBA games just kind of carried me through it,” said Nelson, the first player in Nets history to total 10 points, five assists and five blocks combined over his first two career games.
Nelson joined Brook Lopez as the only Net with multiple blocks in consecutive games to start a career, and Jarrett Allen as the only one with five blocks through two career games.
Grant Nelson dunks the ball during the Nets’ March 1 loss. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
“He’s a very good player, high IQ, he’s got a great feel for the game, and plays extremely hard,” said Nets coach Jordi Fernández. “So, you put all those things together, and he’s played very well in the two chances.”
The three two-way roster spots are filled, but any could be converted to a standard deal and Nelson could then be inked to a two-way.
The deadline for that is Wednesday.
Danny Wolf had a career-high 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals, joining Chris Morris, Mike O’Koren and Bernard King as the only Nets rookies to ever hit those figures.
Nic Claxton missed Sunday’s loss with a right thumb sprain.
Egor Dëmin was held out to rest his plantar fascia.
“[Nic] got hit in [Friday’s] game,” said Fernández. “We’ll see how he feels after [Sunday], so there’s no timetable.
“With Egor, he’s been dealing with the plantar fascia. He’s been out for back-to-backs in the past. These [past] two he’s played. But we’re going to have to see how he feels and have a plan with what’s best for him, his body. So, we’ll come up with that. But for sure, No. 1 thing is, and then he feels better.”
Donovan Mitchell was out for Cleveland.
James Harden stepped up against his old team with 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
The 36-year-old was noncommittal about how much longer he wants to play.
“I know it’s coming soon. Hopefully, later than soon, but it’s a reality,” said Harden. “Everybody has to go through this at some point. Just trying to continue to keep my body in shape and play well. We’ll see what happens in the next few years. Take one game at a time and cherish the moments.”
LeBron James dunks a basketball during a game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Back-to-backs in the NBA can be tricky.
With fatigue an even more significant factor than usual, it isn’t always clear the type of energy or focus a team will come with when playing on consecutive days.
But the Lakers established early on in their 128-104 win over the Kings on Sunday night that they weren’t taking the league-worst Kings lightly.
Marcus Smart made one of his signature hustle plays early, diving for a loose ball multiple times on a possession that ended with an Austin Reaves alley-oop to LeBron James to loud cheers from the crowd at Crypto.com Arena to give the Lakers an early 10-2 lead.
“Smart’s defense just totally ignited us at different points in the game,” coach JJ Redick said. “He ended up with five steals, but he was diving on the floor for loose balls. He’s starting transition plays for us. He was another igniter for us.”
LeBron James dunks against the Sacramento Kings. NBAE via Getty Images
It wasn’t always smooth sailing.
And the Lakers weren’t always in control.
But they once again took care of business a little over 24 hours after being the Warriors in San Francisco.
Luka Doncic led the way with 28 points, nine assists and five rebounds. LeBron James finished with 24 points and five assists.
Deandre Ayton made all six of his field goal attempts finishing with 12 points.
Luka Dončić hits a jumper while being defended by Nique Clifford of the Kings. AP
Smart finished with five steals to go with nine points and three assists.
What it means
The Lakers bounced back from their three-game losing streak with back-to-back blowout victories after beating the short-handed Warriors by 28 on Saturday night.
Yes, both were games the Lakers should’ve won.
But in the tight race among Nos. 3-7 in the Western Conference standings, winning is all that matters at this point of the season.
The Lakers improved to 36-24, including 23-7 against teams below .500.
Turning point
When Doncic hit a fadeaway 3-point to put the Lakers up 89-65 late in the third quarter after losing control of the ball.
“It was on purpose,” Doncic quipped. “I tripped on purpose and it was, how do you say, the And-1 Mixtape, that’s what they said on the bench. So, I did it on purpose.”
The Kings were feisty in the second quarter, which they won 31-28, and to start the third.
But when Doncic knocked that shot down, it was clear Sunday night was going to go in the Lakers’ favor.
MVP: Luka Doncic
When the Lakers needed a spark, their best player provided it.
“Luka did great job of getting us going,” Redick said.
Doncic scored or assisted on 16 points for the Lakers during the 21-9 run they went on after the Kings cut their lead to 70-60.
Luka Doncic drives to the basket against the Sacramento Kings. NBAE via Getty Images
And Doncic was directly involved in the Lakers scoring on a few of those plays he didn’t score or record an assist, like when Marcus Smart made a corner 3-pointer that Austin Reaves assisted him on to put the Lakers up 74-60 after the Kings trapped Doncic in the pick and roll.
Key stat of game: 18
That was the number of 3s the Lakers made, one night after making a season-high-tying 19 in the win over the Warriors.
Doncic led the team with four, while James, Smart and Luke Kennard each made three apiece.
Up next
The Lakers will face another one of the league’s worst teams on Tuesday when they host the Pelicans.
The Pelicans, who are 19-43 on the season, had their four-game winning streak ended by the Clippers on Sunday at Intuit Dome.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 12: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets drives against Kyshawn George #18 and Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Toyota Center on November 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets head to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Wizards tonight.
With Washington’s injury list (see below), Washington’s mascot G-Wiz might have to play some minutes for the home team. He’s still recovering from the cheap shot that Jaxson Hayes gave him earlier this season.
March is generally the month where there are a lot of wonky results. Good teams are trying to win games to better position themselves for the playoffs while bad teams are trying to tank and get the best possible odds for the lottery. But the players aren’t tanking, and there are always some wonky results in March. By April, even the tanking teams have given up the ghost and fill their teams with G-Leaguers and 10-day contracts.
The point is that the Rockets have the 17th-easiest schedule the rest of the way, which is the second-easiest among the teams pushing for the third seed in the Western Conference. This is one of Houston’s gimmes left on the schedule. They have to take care of business against the bottom of the league, or else it’ll throw Rockets fans into a panic once again.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 1: Caleb Martin #16 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 1, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks started the month of March hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder. Still without Cooper Flagg as they closed out their homestand, Dallas fell 100-87 to the league’s best team.
Let’s get to the grades!
Brandon Williams: B
14 PTS / 3 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN
Williams wasn’t exactly hot on 5-for-12 shooting, but did some nice things to drive and break down the defense a bit (though some of his misses were point blank). He put up a generally solid game against a very good team.
Max Christie: B
14 PTS / 7 REB / 0 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 35 MIN
Christie quietly had himself a good night. He knocked in five of his 11 shots including going 4-for-8 from deep. He turned it over twice relative to zero assists, but did have two steals and did some of the little things you like to see. He didn’t get to the line at all, and it would be nice to see him driving a bit more to earn those free throws. He has been at his best this season when not exclusively camping out on the perimeter.
Caleb Martin: B+
18 PTS / 3 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 31 MIN
Martin was Dallas’ shining star, which should tell you all you need to know. That’s not intended to be a dig, as he did have himself a nice game, however Martin as your leading scorer is indicative of an odd night indeed. He was 6-for-11including a hot 3-for-5 from downtown. Oddly, his 3-for-6 on free throws were the worst aspect of his shooting.
Khris Middleton: D
4 PTS / 2 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN
Middleton is significantly better than what he showed tonight. This is a “toss it away and start fresh” type of game. He was 2-for-10 shooting overall including 0-for-3 from deep and somehow committed five fouls.
Daniel Gafford: C
8 PTS / 7 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 22 MIN
It’s coming to a point where maybe I have to accept what was heretofore unacceptable to me – that Gafford is not a natural rebounder. However, in exactly six more minutes, Gafford pulled in five fewer rebounds than Moussa Cisse, his backup. Shooting only 3-for-9 from the floor didn’t help things. Gafford is too big and too athletic to not be doing more with the opportunities he has.
Klay Thompson: N/A
7 PTS / 0 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 15 MIN
Thompson doesn’t qualify for a grade in only 15 minutes of play, though his shooting was likely trending toward lower marks as he was 3-for-8 from the floor and 1-for-5 from deep. The real story for Thompson tonight was an adductor contusion that caused him to check out and not return. Time will tell how long he will remain sidelined.
Moussa Cisse: B
0 PTS / 12 REB / 0 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 21 MIN
Cisse was a rebound machine, grabbing nine in his first nine minutes of play and ending with 12 total. In one of the most bizarre stat lines you will ever see, Cisse did one thing spectacularly well, while doing nothing else. He turned it over twice while committing a single foul and was impossibly only one of two players with a plus/minus in the black, joining Ryan Nembhard with a plus-1.
Final Thoughts
The Mavs faired much better than could reasonably have been expected against OKC, but that was largely because the Thunder played with their food rather than stepping on the gas. At any moment, the Mavs could have, and did, roll out a lineup nearly exclusively of two-way or former two-way players against the team with the best record in the league. As always, Dallas played hard, but it was ultimately for naught against a much healthier and much more seasoned and experienced defending-champion team.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 1: Gabe Vincent #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 1, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the second time in as many nights, the Lakers blew out a Pacific Division foe. LA surged out to a big lead in the first quarter, withstood a small comeback attempt in the third and then cruised to a 128-104 win over the Kings.
Much like Saturday’s win in Golden State, LA fell behind briefly at the very start, took the lead and then never came close to trailing again. After opening up a double-digit lead just past the midway point of the first, the margin never dipped into single digits again.
The Lakers shot 50% from the field and 46.2% from three while assisting on 34 of their 47 field goals.
The game started with the midrange master DeMar DeRozan converting on a jumper. However, those were the only points the Kings could muster, as the Lakers were on a roll, scoring 10 in a row. Austin Reaves connected with LeBron James for an explosive alley-oop that started with excellent defense from Marcus Smart.
Nique Clifford and Russell Westbrook scored layups to stop some of the bleeding for Sacramento. Clifford was leading the Kings with six points. Everyone in the starting five, except for Smart, scored some points for LA.
Luka Dončić made his first triple of the night, which helped extend the Lakers’ lead to 14 with 3:05 left in the first. He then knocked down another one soon after. LA ended the quarter on a 13-4 scoring run for an 18-point lead.
Luke Kennard opened the second period with a 3-pointer. Malik Monk scored a quick four in a row for the Kings. Sacramento ramped up its defense, forcing Los Angeles into sloppy play.
Smart and Luka both drained triples to restore the order. Maxi Kleber got in on the scoring as well with an emphatic dunk off an assist from Luka, which had Los Angeles’ bench losing their minds.
Things got a little spicy with Monk picking up a technical foul after a confrontation with Kleber. Deandre Ayton was a perfect 5-5 from the field for 10 points. Ayton, Reaves and Luka were all double figures for the Lakers.
Los Angeles pushed its lead to as much as 22, but 12 points from Westbrook, combined with LA’s offense cooling to 40% in the quarter, helped the Kings cut the deficit to 15 by halftime.
The Lakers lead the Kings 64-49 at the half. LA has three players in double figures, including Deandre Ayton, who is a perfect 5-5 from the field. He has 10 points.
The second half started with Clifford scoring on a triple. Ayton responded on the other end with a hook shot. Sacramento was off to a hot start in the quarter, shooting 66% from the field. Clifford and Westbrook combined for seven of the nine Kings’ points.
At the 9:06 mark, the purple and gold were nursing a 10-point lead.
Reaves connected with LeBron for a much-needed dunk to stop some of Sacramento’s momentum. That kickstarted a 10-2 scoring run, with Luka scoring five in a row, extending the Lakers’ lead to 19.
Luka really started cooking again with two triples, one of which was swished after he slipped and nearly lost the ball.
Clifford was still cooking for the Kings, and he was their leading scorer with 22 points. At the end of the third quarter, the Lakers were up by 20.
Sacramento turned the ball over to open the fourth, leading to LeBron being fouled and converting on a pair of free throws. Smart knocked down his third 3-pointer of the game.
Kleber added more to his stellar night off the bench with another thunderous dunk. After two 3-pointers from LeBron, he was subbed out, and Los Angeles’ bench closed out another blowout victory, which included a huge dunk from Adou Thiero.
Luka finished with 28 points, five rebounds and nine assists. Reaves scored 12 points with five assists and two blocks. LeBron notched 24 points with five assists and two steals. Ayton ended with 12 points on 6-6 shooting.
Kennard had 11 points, shooting 60% from three. In his first game back from an illness, Rui Hachimura finished with eight points and two rebounds.
Smart tallied nine points with three rebounds and five steals. Kleber ended with six points and six rebounds.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday at 7:30 PM PT.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 137-117 on Sunday night to end a three-game losing streak.
Tenth in the Western Conference, the Clippers improved to 28-31. The Pelicans are 13th in the West at 19-43.
New Orleans star Zion Williamson sat out after injuring his right ankle at Utah on Saturday night. He had played a career-high 35 straight games.
Los Angeles never trailed. It led 43-32 after a quarter and had a 76-70 advantage at the half. It was 107-94 after three, and the Clippers stretched the margin to 26 in the fourth.
Jordan Miller added 19 points for Los Angeles. Derrick Jones Jr. had 17, Brook Lopez 16 and John Collins 15.
While Leonard went 1 of 7 from 3-point range, the Clippers were 17 of 36 overall. Lopez was 4 for 6, and Jones and Kobe Sanders were each 3 for 4.
Jeremiah Fears led New Orleans with 28 points, hitting 5 of 6 3-pointers. Derik Queen scored 19 points, Dejounte Murray had 17, and Trey Murphy III added 16 after missing five games because of a right shoulder injury.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Anders Dreyer and Marcus Ingvartsen both had a goal and an assist, and rookie teenager Duran Ferree earned his second clean sheet in his second start when San Diego FC finished off a 2-0 victory over St. Louis City on Sunday night.
Dreyer used assists from Ingvartsen and Onni Valakari to send a shot past Roman Bürki and give San Diego (2-0-0) a lead in the 3rd minute.
San Diego, which finished first during the Western Conference regular season as an expansion team last year, took a two-goal lead in the 54th minute when Ingvartsen got an assist from Dreyer and scored.
Dreyer had 19 goals and 19 assists last season. He had two assists in San Diego's 5-0 romp over visiting CF Montreal to begin this season. Ingvartsen already has two assists after collecting one in eight appearances last season. Valakari totaled four goals and 11 assists during San Diego's first year.
The 19-year-old Ferree needed to make just one save to complete the shutout for San Diego after a two-save effort in the opener.
Bürki turned away four shots for St. Louis City (0-1-1). Bürki had two saves and Ferree wasn't tested in the first half.
St. Louis City was coming off a 1-1 draw with Charlotte FC on a goal by Marcel Hartel. San Diego took care of Hartel, who entered with five goals in his previous six matches dating to last season.
St. Louis City won the Western Conference regular season as an expansion team in 2023.
Up next
St. Louis City: Hosts Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 1: Moussa Cisse #30 of the Dallas Mavericks goes after a loose ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 1, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-39) dropped their third straight game and their 13th in the last 15, 100-87, to the Oklahoma City Thunder (47-15) on Sunday at American Airlines Center.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does, scoring a game-high 30 points in 33 minutes on 12-of-20 shooting for the Thunder, while Caleb Martin led the Mavs, because, hell, someone had to score points in this one, with 18.
Those two were freebies, because we’ve got five piping hot stats coming out of the oven for you, from the latest loss Dallas threw on the pile on Sunday.
32-16: Thunder’s close to the first quarter
After the Mavericks played pretend at existing in the same league as the Thunder for the game’s first four minutes, Oklahoma City blew the doors open on the game with a 12-0 run that took just 2:09 of game time to execute. Dallas head coach Jason Kidd called a timeout to stop the bloodletting, but the wheels had already come off. The Thunder outscored the Mavericks 32-16 over the last 9:56 of the first quarter to take a 36-25 lead after one, leaving Dallas in a position where they were trying for the rest of the game to claw back to within contention.
Chet Holmgren led all scorers with 10 points in the first quarter, including a dunk on a nifty drive-and-dish from Isaiah Hartenstein to cap Oklahoma City’s early 12-0 run. No Dallas Mavericks scored more than four points in the opener. Dallas turned the ball over six times in the quarter, leading to eight Thunder points. Oklahoma City came into the game first in the NBA in points scored off opponents’ turnovers, at more than 23 points per contest.
9: Moussa Cisse rebounds in his first 6:55 on the floor
Here’s one from the statistical oddities file. No doubt aided by the fact that Dallas started the game shooting 13-of-36 from the floor, Moussa Cisse gobbled up nine rebounds in his first 6:55 of playing time on Sunday. Three of those nine boards came on the offensive glass.
Cisse finished the game with 12 rebounds in 21 minutes, while going 0-of-1 from the floor in the loss. He averaged 12.9 rebounds per game in the eight games he played with the Texas Legends in the NBA D-League this year, and came into Sunday’s game averaging 4.6 boards in just under 12 minutes per appearance in NBA action.
4: Thunder first-half 3-pointers
And here’s one from the moral victory file. The Mavericks somehow managed to outscore the Thunder 24-22 in the second quarter to go into halftime down just 58-49. Oklahoma City was in the freezer from 3-point range in the aberration of a first-half, shooting just 4-of-18 (22.2%) from beyond the arc.
Was this outcome attributable to the Mavs’ furious brand of defense along the perimeter to start the game? Some questions are better left unanswered, but we believe you know the answer. Dallas did sit back in a zone look for much of the first half to help keep Oklahoma City’s iso-heavy offense at bay. It also kept the Thunder from living at the free-throw line against an outmanned Dallas bunch. The Thunder shot just seven free throws in the first half.
4:50: Mavericks’ third-quarter scoreless stretch
The Mavericks suffered through nine straight offensive possessions that yielded (checks notes) zero points in one stretch of the third quarter. Brandon Williams blew through the Oklahoma City defense with 9:25 left in the third to cut the Thunder lead to 64-55, and Dallas didn’t score again until Max Christie’s 3-pointer along the right wing with 4:40 left in the frame. Christie stole a bad pass from Gilgeous-Alexander, then got the ball back in rhythm from Ryan Nembhard to stop the bleeding, as the Thunder lead swelled back to 16, 71-55, before Christie’s timely 3-ball.
59: Consecutive away games of 20 or more points for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
And why not one from the file of stats we didn’t know anyone was keeping? With the first of two free throws with 1:50 remaining in the third quarter, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander eclipsed the 20-point plateau in his 59 consecutive road game, passing the great Wilt Chamberlain for most away games in a row scoring 20 or more. He now needs three more consecutive 20-point games to tie and four more to break Chamberlain’s record for consecutive games (home or away) with 20 or more.
Gilgeous-Alexander had 25 at the end of the third quarter against the Mavs and ended the night with a game-high 30 on 12-of-20 shooting. The Mavs trailed 83-69 after three quarters and didn’t seem all that worried about chipping away at the Thunder lead in the foregone conclusion of the fourth quarter.
