PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Spurs' Victor Wembanyama will not play in Game 3 against Portland while he continues to recover from a concussion.
David Stearns still confident his Mets moves despite troubling early results
David Stearns un in making over the Mets roster, and a 12-game losing streak just two weeks into the year might lead an executive to some regrets.
Stearns insisted Friday he remains confident in the group he put together as the president of baseball operations.
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Try it free“It’s tough for me to take two weeks — even two weeks when we didn’t win a baseball game — and say that’s going to dramatically alter who we think we are,’’ Stearns said before the Mets opened a series against the Rockies with a 4-3 loss at Citi Field.
“I still think we’re a good team,” Stearns said. “I recognize we had a stretch where we did not play good baseball, and it cost us. It cost us repeatedly. I think we’re a good team, and I think we will show that.”
It hasn’t been evident much so far, as the new-look offense has mostly slumped — outside of a 10-run eruption in Thursday’s win.
But even that victory was almost spoiled by some rough work by a bullpen that Stearns called “inconsistent,” with an odd mix of starting pitchers and the unreliable Devin Williams closing.
The rotation has been shaky outside of Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes and the defense, also a focal point of the offseason, has had its rocky moments.
And it left the Mets with a 9-17 record after Friday’s loss.
Asked about his attempt to improve the team’s run prevention — a theme in the offseason — Stearns said the results have been mixed.
“Run prevention as a whole is pitching and defense,’’ Stearns said. “There have been moments it’s really good [and] a couple moments that haven’t been so good. It leads to the record we’re at right now. We’ve had consistent play from different parts of our team.”
Bo Bichette has shown signs of life at the plate, as has Marcus Semien, but only the Giants entered Friday having scored fewer runs than the Mets and the lineup as a whole has struggled against hard fastballs.
Stearns pointed to the fact that some of those hitters struggling against high velocity have performed better in those spots throughout their careers and is confident that will happen again.
But the reality is, even with winning consecutive games following the franchise’s longest losing streak since 2002, the Mets have issues — including being without Francisco Lindor indefinitely with a strained left calf just as Juan Soto returned from a right calf strain.
“Injuries are part of this and injuries to good players are part of this,’’ Stearns said. “We’ve just got to get through it.”
Hopefully with more success without Lindor than in Soto’s absence.
“It’s frustrating,’’ Stearns said of the recent streak. “No one likes to lose and when you lose every single day for two weeks, it’s not a good feeling. We also know — I also know — where we are in the schedule and how long the season is.”
And that’s why he’s not looking back and wondering what went wrong in putting the team together.
“We’re not going to wholesale change the evaluation of our team over a two-week stretch,’’ Stearns said. “This is a long season. Going through a 12-game losing streak is difficult and not usual. There’s a reason it doesn’t happen very often, especially this early in the season.”
Mets reveal Francisco Lindor’s injury timeline as Ronny Mauricio looks to seize chance
The Mets have gotten some clarity on Francisco Lindor’s left calf strain — and it’s not good news.
A day after the shortstop landed on the IL, manager Carlos Mendoza said Lindor would be in a walking boot for a week before being reevaluated in three weeks.
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Try it freeMendoza said he did not yet know the grade of Lindor’s calf strain, as he and team president David Stearns both expressed that the five-time All-Star would be reassessed in 21 days.
Lindor’s injury, suffered during Wednesday’s 3-2 win against the Twins, came as the Mets welcomed back Juan Soto from a 15-game absence (following a calf issue of his own).
“Injuries are part of this, and injuries to good players are part of this,” Stearns said on Friday before the Mets faced the Rockies. “We’re certainly not the only team in baseball that deals with this, and we just got to get through it.”
The Mets did that on Thursday, winning their series against the Twins on the back of a 12-game losing streak, but will now rely on a rather unproven prospect in Lindor’s place.
His injury resulted in a second call-up of the season for Ronny Mauricio, who will look to seize his latest chance after blasting six homers in 15 games for Triple-A Syracuse.
The infielder committed an error in his first start back but has the trust of Stearns to make the shortstop position his own in Lindor’s absence.
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“He’s going to get opportunity there. He demonstrated to us both in spring training and Triple-A that he can play shortstop, and we’re going to be confident in him at shortstop,” Stearns said.
“I recognize last night was a rough showing, but we believe he can play shortstop and we’re going to give him a chance.”
The 25-year-old’s gaudy minor league numbers haven’t yet translated to the majors, and he went 0-4 at the plate despite the Mets’ 10-8 win.
Mendoza said he is confident Mauricio will figure it out.
“It’s always important when you finally get an opportunity, but [it] also can put too much pressure. The last thing you want is trying to do too much and trying to impress people,” the manager said.
“I think it’s just ‘go out there, play your game, be yourself.’ That’s all we’re asking him to do. And he’ll do just that. He’s a really good player that just needs to settle in here.”
Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong expecting boos at Dodger Stadium
Following his controversial remarks about Dodgers fans this offseason, Pete Crow-Armstrong told The California Post he’s anticipating a loud round of boos throughout his trip to Dodger Stadium on Friday night.
But if you think the expected response has the Cubs outfielder reconsidering his polarizing stance, think again.
“I don’t triple down,” Crow-Armstrong said. “But I don’t f—king regret s—t.”
In February, Crow-Armstrong, who grew up in Los Angeles, ruffled Angelenos’ feathers when he accused Dodgers fans of being fairweather supporters.
While praising Cubs fans for their passion, he alleged Boys in Blue backers simply show up to the ballpark “to take pictures and whatever.”
A few days later, following backlash, he stood by his statements.
“I grew up going to Dodgers games when they weren’t always good,” he said. “Their fans go in phases. Putting the Giants fan in the coma stuck with me as a kid. Sitting in the stands, nasty stuff goes on. I didn’t always experience that at other ballparks.”
Crow-Armstrong told The Post hours before he and his team took on the Dodgers for the first time since he muttered the shade that his feelings haven’t changed one bit.
“People that I grew up with that say they’re Dodgers fans don’t know s—t about baseball,” said Crow-Armstrong, a Harvard-Westlake School alum. “They don’t pay attention to the team, it’s just a place they go.
“So, again, no shade to diehard Dodgers fans. Because they’re out there. Every team’s got ‘em. But that’s what I got.”
Crow-Armstrong added that he truly feels people in LA head to Chavez Ravine to “take pictures of themselves at the games, just like what they go to Lakers games for and sit courtside and look good.”
“And, do what you do,” he continued. “But Cubs fans don’t do that. We got a fan base that loves being there in 20-degree weather.”
Crow-Armstrong also said he actually got threats over his initial statements.
“I’ve had people telling me that all offseason that my comments about the two fans that put the Giants fan in a coma — ‘I hope you get ready to know what that feels like,'” he said.
But he added he never took any seriously.
The Cubs and Dodgers will square off beginning at 7:15 p.m. Crow-Armstrong will start in center field and bat eighth.
And he said while he’s expecting a lot of trash talk, he won’t be shy about returning it.
“If I give them reason to talk s—t,” he said, “then I hope they take advantage of it and vice versa.”
Dodgers on Deck: Saturday, April 25 vs. Cubs
The Dodgers and Cubs continue their weekend series with another exclusive national broadcast on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday is the Dodgers’ first game on Fox this season, which means no SportsNet LA for the series opener. But they will have Joe Davis on the national call, his first of two consecutive Dodgers Saturday telecasts for Fox.
Roki Sasaki gets the start on his bobblehead night, the third Dodgers player to play in their bobblehead game this season. Will Smith hit a game-winning two-run home run in the eighth inning on March 28, which was also his 31st birthday. Shohei Ohtani had a single and walk in his five plate appearances on April 10.
Right-hander Colin Rea starts for the Cubs.
Saturday game info
- Teams: Dodgers vs. Cubs
- Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
- Time: 4:15 p.m.
- TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smoltz)
- Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
Yankees' Carlos Rodon pitches 4.1 scoreless innings in first rehab start
Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón made his first rehab start for High-A Hudson Valley on Friday night as he recovers from left elbow surgery and he hit the ground running by going 4.1 scoreless innings against the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets' High-A affiliate.
Rodón allowed a hit, a Mitch Voit leadoff single, a walk and struck out four while throwing 65 pitches (43 strikes). He also hit a batter -- Voit in the third -- but ended his outing without surrendering a run.
At 50 pitches through three innings, Rodón went back out for the fourth inning which took him just nine pitches to complete, ending the frame with a strikeout of Colin Houck. After getting the first out of the fifth, Rodon walked the next batter, on a few questionable calls, and was pulled. He left with a 4-0 lead.
Rory Fox entered in relief and struck out two, stranding Rodón's runner at first base.
Atlanta's Nickeil Alexander-Walker named Most Improved Player
For the second year in a row, an Atlanta Hawk is the Most Improved Player in the NBA.
Last season, it was Dyson Daniels. This season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker earned the honor.
The moment Nickeil found out he's the MIP pic.twitter.com/Z4BWDEBbN0
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 24, 2026
"Nickeil's dedication, continual work on his craft, and the ensuing results this season make him incredibly deserving of this award," said Hawks coach Quin Snyder. "He has a tireless work ethic and a focus on improving in every aspect of his game. His game continues to evolve, and his commitment and unselfish attitude as a teammate have also positively impacted the success of the team."
Alexander-Walker won the award because he grew and thrived in a role that was radically different from any one he had been in before. For the previous two seasons with the Timberwolves, Alexander-Walker came off the bench and was asked to be a defensive stopper and score a little, but it was more of a 3&D role, where he averaged 9.4 points a game. This season, especially as Atlanta moved on from the Trae Young era, Alexander-Walker became a starter with the ball in his hand — and he had the best year of his career in his seventh season in the league, at age 27.
Walker Sset career highs in scoring (20.8 ppg), rebounding (3.4 rpg), assists (3.7 apg), steals (1.31 spg), minutes (33.4 mpg), field goal percentage (45.9%), three-point field goal percentage (39.9%) and free throw percentage (90.2%). Plus, he, along with Daniels, gave Atlanta arguably the best defensive backcourt in the league.
Walker got 66 first-place votes from the panel of 100 media members who voted for the award. Jalen Duren from Detroit was a clear second, with Deni Avdija from Portland third. After those three, there was a pretty steep drop off to Boston's Neemias Queta at four and Milwaukee's Ryan Rollins at five.
Cubs roster move: Caleb Thielbar to injured list, Vince Velasquez added
Earlier today, I reported on the Cubs roster move replacing Scott Kingery on the active roster with Nicky Lopez.
The Cubs transactions page had noted Kingery was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Now, there’s been another move. As you know, Caleb Thielbar left Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury. This is how that happened [VIDEO].
Before Friday’s game at Dodger Stadium, the Cubs placed Thielbar on the 15-day injured list and added right-hander Vince Velasquez to the active roster. To make room for Velasquez on the 40-man roster, Kingery was designated for assignment.
The 33-year-old Velasquez has a 3.71 ERA (7 ER/17.0 IP) and 19 strikeouts in four games (three starts) with Iowa this season. He leads the I-Cubs in innings pitched and is tied for second in strikeouts. The right-hander signed a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training with the Cubs on February 13, 2026.
In 191 career major league games, including 144 starts, with Houston (2015), Philadelphia (2016-21), San Diego (2021), the White Sox (2022), and Pittsburgh (2023), Velasquez is 38-51 with a 4.88 ERA (414 ER/763.2 IP), 822 strikeouts, 307 walks, and a 1.37 WHIP. He holds a 34-19 record with three saves, a 3.27 ERA (158 ER/434.1 IP), and 513 strikeouts compared to 173 walks in 109 minor league games (82 starts) across parts of 12 seasons.
I would think Velasquez will work long relief for the Cubs, which might free up Javier Assad to close — Assad did a real nice job in the 10th inning Thursday. Or Assad could set up for Ben Brown.
Lopez will wear No. 5 and Velasquez will wear No. 56.
As always, we await developments.
The blueprint for a Game 3 comeback is hidden in the Game 2 garbage time
After the second loss in the series, and with all the noise surrounding the officiating, it’s not something that interests me or feels worth diving into right now. I understand and expect that it’s what everyone is talking about. Personally, I want to talk about the team’s fourth quarter in Game 2 (which the Suns won 30–20) and what worked tactically. Let’s break all of that down together.
You know the routine: a quick statistical checkpoint is needed to have plenty of numbers in mind while reading! As mentioned above, the Suns won that last part of the game 30-20. The difference came from efficiency and physical presence on the boards: Phoenix shot 55% and 43% from 3, while Oklahoma was held to 30% and 20%. Then, on the glass, the Suns won 13–9 (Maluach’s impact?).
After a pretty tight first half and a third quarter completely dominated by OKC to close out the game, you could’ve thought Phoenix was going to keep collapsing like in Game 1…but that was without counting on the pride and courage that have defined this team for the past 6 to 7 months. In fact (even if we know the Thunder did relax a bit), the Suns even went on a 20–4 run to erase the 10‑point lead.
There was good stuff in those 12 minutes, especially the total presence of Maluach, a strong and ambitious tactical choice from Jordan Ott to respond to the Thunder’s physicality, with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams rotating in. Khaman had an immediate deterrent effect: OKC scored 48 points in the paint, but only 4 of them came in the final quarter.
An impact you notice right away on this sequence (and it bodes well for the future): the moment SGA blows by Booker, you can see Khaman sliding toward the middle to help and stop the drive. The Thunder guard anticipates it and passes to Mitchell, who is pretty poorly positioned (luckily) to take the shot, so he pump fakes, takes Brooks off balance, and drives to the rim. Except Maluach read the play perfectly and comes to shut the door and contest.
This sequence happens late in the game, but it sums up everything Khaman Maluach represents: deterrence, rim protection, and defensive intelligence. He was even placed on Alex Caruso to maximize his strengths and avoid having him chase Chet, who stays a lot on the perimeter. Whether in Game 1 or Game 2, I found that the Suns had a pretty good way of cutting off driving lanes (packing the paint, rotating with help, and having a second line that doesn’t hesitate to attack instead of reacting).
Again, here with Shai: he drops Brooks with his first step, but Maluach and O’Neal are there in help to stop him from going up, so he’s forced to pass to a perimeter player. Result: you go from an almost guaranteed two points to a three‑pointer that has half the chance of going in.
Then let’s talk about our good old Dillon. If there’s one player who deserves credit during this run, it’s him: 13 points and 5 rebounds in this quarter. He was the dynamo, the bulldozer of the team, and the play below perfectly represents his mindset and the way you need to play against this Thunder team: with pace, power, and boldness. You have to play their game without turning it into a caricature.
Finally, I want to show you the sequence that, for me, kick‑starts this run: it begins with Royce O’Neal in full guard‑dog mode, completely limiting Mitchell’s progress and forcing him into a tough layup — Maluach then wins his battle inside against Hart, allowing O’Neal to intercept the pass and run in transition. Dillon finishes this perfect sequence with a running three‑pointer.
The Suns are still far from where they need to be, but they’re slowly getting closer to the key to competing even more with them. They’re clearly not invincible (a pretty close first half and a last quarter dominated by Phoenix); the big issue remains the turnovers — they’re Christmas gifts for the Thunder — and the impact of Booker and Green, who I don’t find at the postseason level yet. To be continued in Game 3.
Immanuel Quickley out for rest of series against Cavaliers in Raptors injury crusher
The Raptors will still be without their starting point guard for their first-round matchup against the Cavaliers.
Immanuel Quickley aggravated his already strained right hamstring while working his way back from injury and will be unavailable for the remainder of the series, the Raptors announced Friday.
Quickley, 26, has already missed the first three games of the playoffs due to the injury, which he suffered during Toronto’s regular season finale against the Nets after missing multiple games because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
After injuries plagued Quickley’s 2024-25 season with the Raptors, he established himself as Toronto’s starting point guard this season, averaging 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists while shooting 44.3 percent in 70 games.
Second-year NBA guard Jamal Shead is starting in Quickley’s place against Cleveland, averaging 7.3 points and 2.3 steals in the series thus far.
“We missed Quickley big time with the way he gets us organized and his shooting helps our team out,” Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic told reporters following the Raptors’ 126-113 Game 1 loss to Cleveland, according to the Associated Press. “I like Jamal’s defense and what we need on the court.
“We wanted to have multiple ball handlers on the floor with Jamal.”
Toronto’s 126-104 victory over the Cavaliers on Thursday snapped a 12-game playoff losing streak against the club — which dates back to LeBron James’ tenure with Cleveland — and cut the series deficit to 2-1.
Two-time All-Star forward Scottie Barnes led the way for Toronto on Thursday, setting career playoff highs in both points (33) and assists (11), while shooting 11-of-17 from the field.
“We knew we needed everybody for this win and you’ve seen some big performances from everybody,” Barnes told reporters following the game. “It just goes to show how resilient, how bad we wanted it. We went out there and tried to do whatever it took.”
Rajakovic lauded Barnes’ Game 3 performance, saying that he “did everything for us tonight.”
Giants GM Joe Schoen: Kayvon Thibodeaux trade talk reports "not true"
Giants General Manager Joe Schoen strongly denied a report concerning trade talks involving edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
A report shortly before the start of the the second round of the draft indicated that the Giants were talking to the Saints and others about a trade that would move Thibodeaux off of the Giants' roster. Schoen said on Friday night that there was no validity to that report.
"We have not had any conversations about Kayvon Thibodeaux today," Schoen said, via multiple reporters. "That's not true."
Thibodeaux is heading into the final year of his contract and Thursday night's addition of Arvell Reese gives the Giants a lot of options off the edge, so a Thibodeaux trade seemed like a possible way to address other needs. It does not look like such a move is on the horizon, however.
Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers preview, Friday 4/24, 9:15 CT
Today’s roster move: Here
Friday notes…
- STREAKING: The Cubs’ nine-game winning streak is their longest since they won 11 in a row July 31-Aug. 12, 2016. They had won nine in a row Aug. 6-15, 2015, then lost the 10th game. This is their 35th streak of at least nine games since 1901. They won the 10th in 23 of them. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- WINNING THE ONES YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO WIN: Until tonight, the Cubs have not faced an opponent with a winning record in 11 consecutive games, during which they went 10-1. The Cubs’ last such game was on April 12, when they stormed from behind to walk off the Pirates, 7-6. The Cubs are 3-4 in games this year vs. teams with more wins than losses. The two earlier wins were at home vs. the Nationals, in the second game of the season, and at Cleveland, in their eight game. The losses were to Cleveland, in their seventh and ninth games, and at home vs. the Pirates in their 13th and 14th.
- WINNING WHEN SCORING LOTS OF RUNS: The Cubs are 14-4 when they have scored at least four runs, including 12-1 with six or more. They are 11-2 when they have allowed three of fewer; 5-7 with at least four.
- THE BUSCH LEAGUE:Michael Busch, career at Dodger Stadium: .317/.379/.633 (19-for-60) with seven doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI. Busch batted .235/.333/.412, 8-for-34 with three doubles and a home run at Dodger Stadium while with the Dodgers in 2023. As a Cub in L.A.: .423/.444/.923 (11-for-26) with four doubles, three home runs and nine runs scored.
The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.
Dodgers lineup:
Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Emmet Sheehan, RHP
Jameson Taillon’s numbers are just about at his career averages. His K rate and BB rate are both up a bit from last year, and he’s already served up six home run balls in just 22.2 innings. His last start, last Saturday against the Mets, was pretty good.
Jamo has not faced the Dodgers in more than three years. The last time was April 15, 2023 at Dodger Stadium, so long ago that Jason Heyward started for L.A. in that game.
Current Dodgers are batting .260 (21-for-79) against Taillon. Kyle Tucker has homered off him and Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez have both gone deep twice. Advice: Keep the ball in the yard tonight please.
This will be Emmet Sheehan’s first full year in the Dodgers rotation, as he missed all of 2024 and part of last year after Tommy John surgery. He got hit pretty hard in his first two starts this year, the last two have been better.
He has never faced the Cubs, and among current Cubs, only Alex Bregman (1-for-4) and Michael Conforto (0-for-3) have faced him.
Here is the weather forecast for the area around Dodger Stadium.
Today’s game is on Apple TV (how to watch). Apple announcers: Wayne Randazzo, Dontrelle Willis and Heidi Watney.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA. If you do go there to interact with Dodgers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
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Former New Zealand cricketer cops two-year ban for using cocaine mid-match
Former New Zealand and Essex all-rounder Doug Bracewell has been given a two-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine during an English County Championship match last year.
Lakers must bring LeBron James back for next season NOW. Here’s why
HOUSTON — There’s a moment in every great player’s career when the noise around them gets loud enough and the world decides it knows what the ending should be before the final chapter has been written.
For LeBron James, that moment came in early March.
James missed three games between March 6-10, and the Lakers were 3-0 without him. In their dominant victories over the Pacers, Timberwolves and Knicks, the team appeared to play freer without him. They looked younger, faster and even better on defense.
Fans and analysts alike pointed to James’ absence and said the Lakers would be better without him. Some even suggested he come off the bench. The audacity. The lazy analysis. James heard it all.
“But it sells papers a lot easier … if you say their team is better off without LeBron,” he said. “They’re absolutely wrong.”
So, LeBron didn’t just go out and say it. He proved it on the court.
Before we explain further, let’s rewind to the beginning of the NBA season.
James missed training camp and the first month of the season with sciatica. The Lakers went 10-4 without him, powered by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
When James returned, he was rusty and still not in game shape. Still, they went 6-1 in his first seven games back. Then injuries stalled things. Reaves went down with a calf strain and missed the next two months. The team drifted without him, 10-10 over a 20-game stretch that felt a lot longer than it actually was.
All three were healthy after the All-Star break, but the fit wasn’t seamless. They went 4-4 over their next eight games before James missed those three consecutive in early March.
Most superstars would push back on the narrative that the team is better off without them.
Instead, James leaned in.
He watched. Studied. Adjusted. And then, quietly, he stepped aside.
He told Doncic and Reaves to keep playing free. To not worry about feeding him the ball on offense. He was happy playing the third fiddle if that meant the team would continue winning. That’s not a small concession for a player who has spent over two decades being the system instead of learning to play inside of one.
But its credit to James and his evolution. His decision to be the third scoring option behind Doncic and Reaves changed everything.
The Lakers ripped through March with a 16-2 record in an 18-game span. Not because James was dominating the ball but because he was dominating in other areas of the game. Defense. Rebounding. Pace of play. He became the connective tissue of the Lakers’ new identity instead of its centerpiece.
But then came April 2. Doncic and Reaves went down with injuries. With just five games left in the regular season, the Lakers were on the brink.
This is typically where the fairytale ends. Everyone wrote off the Lakers.
But, instead, James rewrote the script.
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He went back to being the engine that drives the Lakers. The primary scorer, ball handler and playmaker. Not out of ego but out of necessity. And now, the Lakers have a lead in their first-round playoff series against the Rockets, who were heavy favorites before the series began.
“LeBron is making it very known to not get too comfortable,” Lakers center Deandre Ayton told reporters at practice Thursday. “This is the playoffs. Anything can happen.”
When James goes up 2-0 in a series, his teams are 24-0. That’s not a coincidence. Against all odds, he’s carried the team on his back long enough for Reaves to return soon, and Doncic might not be far behind him.
Even at 41 years old, James is averaging 39 minutes, 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds per game in the playoffs. Those numbers would be impressive for a player in his prime, let alone someone who has already lapped the league’s timeline twice over.
LeBron’s production in this series forces the only question that now matters for the Lakers: How can you walk away from this after the season inevitably ends?
Yes, the future of the Lakers’ franchise belongs to Doncic. Yes, Reaves will become a free agent and deserves to get paid. Yes, the cap sheet is tight, and the CBA is unforgiving. Every dollar matters.
But so does context.
James has already shown he can adjust his role. He has already taken less to help the roster. And now he’s shown — again — that when everything breaks, he can still carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.
That’s not a luxury. That’s a safety net you don’t discard and do everything in your power to keep it in Los Angeles.
If LeBron wants to play a 24th season, then the Lakers can’t get cute. They can’t overthink it. They don’t chase financial flexibility over tangible greatness.
Bring him back.
For James, that likely requires a pay cut. But that’s the reality regardless of which team he signs with if he wants to compete for a championship. The market will correct that conversation quickly.
So if the dollars flatten out across the league, why leave?
His son, Bronny, is under contract with the Lakers next season. His life and family are rooted in Los Angeles. His legacy is already intertwined with the franchise’s history. And more importantly, basketball is still being played at a high level.
The blueprint of this season can be the blueprint for next season.
The Lakers don’t need LeBron to be who he was.
They just need him to be exactly who he’s become.
And over the past two months, including the playoffs, he’s reminded everyone that version might be just as valuable.
Lakers take commanding 3-0 lead over Rockets in playoff series
Marcus Smart had not been in the playoffs since 2023, having languished with Memphis and Washington, two teams unlike a Lakers franchise that views the playoffs as a birthright.
Now that Smart is back in the postseason with the Lakers, he has made up for that lost time, playing with zest, smarts and energy.
Smart’s eight points in overtime was part of his overall game of 21 points, 10 assists, five steals and two blocked shots plus his usual outstanding defense that helped the Lakers pull out a 112-108 win in overtime over the Houston Rockets Friday night at Toyota Center.
Along with LeBron James collecting 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists and Rui Hachimura scoring 22 points, the Lakers have a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Lakers can close out the first-round Western Conference series by winning Game 4 here Sunday night.
Smart drilled a three-pointer in the overtime for a 104-101 Lakers lead. After a missed shot, Smart crashed the boards and was fouled.
He made two free throws for a 109-105 lead and then made three of his next four free throws for what turned out to be the final points of the game.
The Lakers opened a 15-point lead in the first half, but saw the Rockets crawl back to tie the score at 87-87 with six minutes and 22 seconds left.
It was game-on now.
When Reed Sheppard drilled a three-pointer with 4:49 left, it gave the Rockets a 92-91 lead, their first since the first quarter.
The Lakers called a timeout to regroup.
But Jaxson Hayes missed twice, one of his shots getting blocked by Alperen Sengun.
Amen Thompson made one of two free throws and Sengun scored for a 95-91 Rockets lead that made the Lakers play catch-up from that point on.
After Sengun stole a pass from James and dunked for a 101-95 Rockets lead with 40.6 seconds left, the Lakers looked completely done.
But Smart stole the ball and got fouled shooting a three-pointer. He made all three of his free throws to pull the Lakers to within 101-98 with 25.4 seconds left.
The Lakers needed a stop on defense.
They got it when James tipped the ball away from Sheppard from behind. Smart got the ball. It eventually ended up back in the hands of James, who drilled a three-pointer to tie the score at 101-101 with 13.1 seconds left.
The Lakers got another impressive defensive stop when Hayes forced Sengun into a bad shot that missed. James got the rebound and called a timeout with 1.2 seconds left.
James took the last shot for the Lakers, the ball rimming out as time expired in the fourth quarter, the score tied at 101-101, sending the game into overtime.
The night began with Austin Reaves being listed as questionable for the game, then with him warming up and eventually being downgraded to out because of his left oblique muscle strain. Reaves has missed all three playoff games and the last five regular-season games, the same as teammate Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain).
The night began for the Rockets with Kevin Durant working out in an attempt to play in the game, but he too was ruled out with a left ankle sprain suffered in Game 2 in Los Angeles. Durant was already dealing with a right knee contusion that forced him to miss Game 1.
This essentially meant both teams had to play on, to find a way even if they were missing key parts.
For the Lakers, the door opened for Hachimura, who stepped through it with aplomb in the first quarter. He didn’t miss any of his field goals, shooting six for six from the field and three for three from three-point range, scoring 16 points. He played all 12 minutes in helping the Lakers open a 39-32 lead at the end of the first quarter. It was a career-high for points in a quarter for Hachimura, regular season or playoffs.
Even Bronny James showed he was ready for the moment when the Lakers called on the second-year guard. He drilled a three-pointer in the second quarter and then scored on a reverse layup off a lob pass from his father. Both plays drew cheers from the fans inside the arena.
Along with a defense that held the Rockets to 37.2% shooting in the first half, the Lakers lead 63-52 at the half.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.