Phoenix Suns (39-28, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (44-23, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Phoenix Suns take on the Boston Celtics in a non-conference matchup.
The Celtics have gone 22-10 in home games. Boston leads the league in team defense, allowing 107.0 points while holding opponents to 44.1% shooting.
The Suns have gone 17-15 away from home. Phoenix is last in the league scoring 42.9 points per game in the paint.
The Celtics are shooting 46.4% from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points lower than the 47.0% the Suns allow to opponents. The Suns score 5.5 more points per game (112.5) than the Celtics give up (107.0).
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Celtics won the last meeting 97-81 on Feb. 25. Derrick White scored 22 points to help lead the Celtics to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylen Brown is averaging 28.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Celtics. White is averaging 17.5 points and 5.1 assists over the past 10 games.
Devin Booker is averaging 25.4 points and six assists for the Suns. Collin Gillespie is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 6-4, averaging 110.1 points, 48.8 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 5.5 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.8 points per game.
Suns: 6-4, averaging 108.4 points, 41.1 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.6 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Nikola Vucevic: out (finger).
Suns: Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the 76ers face Portland.
The 76ers have gone 19-16 at home. Philadelphia is sixth in the Eastern Conference scoring 115.7 points while shooting 46.0% from the field.
The Trail Blazers are 14-19 on the road. Portland gives up 117.7 points to opponents while being outscored by 2.4 points per game.
The 76ers are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points lower than the 47.4% the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 115.3 points per game, 0.9 fewer than the 116.2 the 76ers give up.
The teams play for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Feb. 10 the Trail Blazers won 135-118 led by 30 points from Toumani Camara, while Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points for the 76ers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Dominick Barlow is scoring 8.2 points per game and averaging 4.7 rebounds for the 76ers. Quentin Grimes is averaging 15.5 points and 3.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Donovan Clingan is averaging 12 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 20.1 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 50.8% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 5-5, averaging 112.3 points, 41.3 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 5-5, averaging 110.5 points, 45.3 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 9.7 steals and 7.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.5 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Andre Drummond: day to day (back), Tyrese Maxey: out (finger), Johni Broome: out (knee), Jabari Walker: day to day (illness), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr.: out (elbow).
Trail Blazers: Robert Williams III: day to day (injury management), Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Mar 13, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (93) hits and RBI single against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning hits at...
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — What the Mets like about Carson Benge — his bat-to-ball ability, solid defense in multiple outfield positions, and overall athleticism— was on display again Saturday, as the young prospect got his second start of the spring in center field and added a hard-hit, opposite-field single in an 8-2 loss to the Astros at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
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He’s looking to win a spot on the Opening Day roster and prior to the game, manager Carlos Mendoza said he’s hoping to have to make “some tough decisions because we’ve got a lot of guys playing well and healthy.”
Benge is doing what he can to make a case for himself.
“He continues to go out there, give good at-bats, play good defense, run the bases, [hit] left-on-left,’’ Mendoza said. “He’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing on his end.”
And his makeup has also impressed the manager.
“He’s quiet,’’ Mendoza said. “He’s a baseball guy. He doesn’t get too high or too low. I don’t think the moment is going to be too big for him, which is good for [him]. He goes about his business, plays baseball, goes home, comes back the next day [and] does it again. That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned.”
Carson Benge hits during the Mets’ March 13 spring training game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Mets pitching depth took a blow when Justin Hagenman was placed on the 60-day injured list with a fractured rib Saturday.
The right-hander suffered the injury during his most recent Grapefruit League outing on March 5, although Mendoza said the team wasn’t sure how, exactly, it occurred.
“After his last outing, he came in and complained about soreness in that area,’’ Mendoza said. “It continued to get worse, we decided to image it and it’s a fracture, unfortunately.”
Mendoza called it “a pretty significant injury. He’s gonna be down for a while. I don’t know the timetable, but he’ll miss some time.”
Hagenman, 29, appeared in nine games for the Mets a year ago and made one start.
With the six-man rotation healthy, Tobias Myers stretched out, and prospects Jonah Tong and Christian Scott waiting in the minors, Mendoza remains comfortable with the team’s depth, though he noted the Mets will miss Hagenman’s versatility.
“You can never have enough pitching,’’ the manager said. “It hurts, losing a guy like [Hagenman] who not only can start, but pitch multiple innings out of the pen. … We’ll miss him.”
All has gone according to plan for Lindor to be able to make it back by Opening Day, although president of baseball operations David Stearns has said he’ll likely have to play in Grapefruit League games in order to be cleared.
Asked if Lindor could potentially take that step in the coming days, Mendoza said, “We’ll see.”
“He continues to feel good,’’ the manager said.
Richard Lovelady, the lefty who’s spent the offseason bouncing between the Mets and Nationals, is back with the Mets, who claimed him off waivers Saturday.
The 30-year-old made 10 appearances in the majors last season, split with the Mets and Blue Jays.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 14: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — During the 2020s, beating the Nuggets has become a tough task.
So, on Saturday against Denver, with the season series on the line, it’s no surprise that the Nuggets pushed the Lakers to the brink, forcing them to play their first overtime game of the year.
However, this time the Lakers proved that the past isn’t always an indicator of the future, and they got the better of their Western Conference rival, winning 127-125.
LA’s margin for error was slim, and they needed everyone to bring their A-game.
Austin Reaves needed to miss a free throw on purpose and score off the rebound to extend the game to overtime. Luka Dončić was chucking up shots and knocked down the game-winning basket. And LeBron James, at 41 years old, was fully extending his body, diving on the ground trying to gain possession for his team late in the fourth.
Those three, however, are always asked to do more. It’s part of the pecking order.
A player who did everything in their job description and then some for LA was Marcus Smart.
He scored 21 points, his third-highest scoring total of the season. He had a plus-minus of +16, the best on the team, and five steals, tied with Nikola Jokić for the most in the game.
Smart is a player known for his defensive prowess, but it was his offensive output that made him one of the heroes on Saturday night.
In overtime, with the Lakers down by one with under a minute to go, Dončić and Smart worked the two-man game around the perimeter and Dončić delivered a behind-the-back bounce pass to Smart.
With zero hesitation, Smart gathered himself and knocked it down to put the Lakers in front.
“He was great tonight,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said postgame. “They go up, I can’t remember the exact score, but we had two timeouts in overtime and we elected to go two-for-one, and he hits the three. Those two guys, Luka and him, executed that to perfection, and we ended up getting the last shot, which was the difference in the game because we executed the two.”
Smart had excuses readily available to pass up that shot. Just a week ago, he had a couple of opportunities to help the Lakers beat the Nuggets in Denver, but he missed on some open looks from beyond the arc.
Losing a close contest while missing looks the opponent wanted you to have would make plenty of other players hesitant to take the same shot against that team in a rematch, but Smart isn’t most people.
“It felt good for my teammates to believe in me,” Smart said. “Especially after playing this team a couple of weeks ago, and having some looks to put us up, or tie a game and they not falling. Could’ve easily fell into that trap where we’re like, not again, and I wouldn’t blame Luka or those guys to not trust me, but I think it speaks to our team, speaks to me, speaks to those guys, and how willing they are to trust each other and trust us.”
While the three was the biggest play Smart had, he was an irritant that Denver couldn’t shake all night long. He was disrupting the Nuggets’ shooters, applying intense ball pressure and getting the Lakers out in transition.
Smart’s play won’t regularly make a highlight reel, but his impact is loud and felt on every team he’s ever played for. He is a role player of the highest caliber, the type of guard every playoff team desires on its roster. No task is too small, and no shot on the floor is too big for him to take.
How far the Lakers will go this year is still up in the air, but one thing that’s all but certain is that Smart will be on the floor when that gets decided.
“I’ve been doing this for 12 years, and I pride myself on it,” Smart said. “And it doesn’t always work in my favor, but at least I know, when I leave that court, I left it all on the court. And that’s all I can ask for. So for me, this is a normal day. My teammates needed me to, in a sense, do my job, and I’m gonna go out there every night and try to do my job.” You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
The Golden Knights continued their offensive prowess for a second straight game, as Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals and had one assist in a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.
Just as important, at the other end of the ice, goaltender Adin Hill registered his first shutout of the season after stopping all 21 shots he faced.
Rasmus Andersson and Keegan Kolesar also scored for the Knights, who were fresh off Thursday's 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The win moved Vegas, which had slipped to third place last week, back into first place with 76 points, one point in front of the Anaheim Ducks. The Edmonton Oilers are one back of the Ducks, who have a game in hand on both teams.
The Ducks lost 2-0 at Ottawa earlier in the night, while Edmonton was idle.
KEY MOMENT
The staredown! Andersson's 12th goal of the season - and second with the Knights - resulted in the Rasmus staredown. The goal, which came 11:35 into the first period, gave the Golden Knights a 2-0 lead. The staredown, though, sent a message.
KEY STAT
5 ... After struggling to take early leads and lose the first period, it marked the fifth consecutive game the Knights didn't allow a goal in the first period.
"We've changed our pregame routine a little bit, our morning skate we've done a little bit differently," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "I don't know if that has any effect ... to be honest, it's just something to get their attention. Obviously, we are doing something better. I think the players have better focus; maybe those tweaks have helped them focus.
"We're not chasing the game as much, and it's a lot easier to play that way."
WHAT A KNIGHT
Dorofeyev is an easy candidate after his second consecutive three-point night, but the nod goes to Hill, after turning in his first shutout of the season.
In starting for the fourth consecutive game, Hill turned in his best performance of the season.
It was Hill's first shutout in more than a year, his last coming on March 13, 2025, when he blanked Columbus in, ironically, a 4-0 win.
UP NEXT
The Golden Knights continue their four-game homestand against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
PHOTO CAPTION: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) makes a save against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at T-Mobile Arena.
The Lakers' fifth win in a row required heroics from Austin Reaves just to force overtime, which is where Luka Doncic made the final shot of the game.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 127-125 on Saturday night in one of the best, most entertaining games of the season. Reaves, who finished with 32 points, forced overtime when he intentionally missed a free throw, grabbed the rebound and made a floater with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation. Lakers center Deandre Ayton deserves credit on that play for clearing out Nikola Jokic and creating the space for Reaves to make his play.
In overtime, Doncic was the hero, hitting the final shot of the night with 0.5 seconds left.
Doncic finished with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.
Nikola Jokic had a triple-double of his own (his 27th of the season) with 24 points, 16 rebounds and 14 assists. Aaron Gordon scored 27 points to lead the Nuggets. All-Star point guard Jamal Murray had a rough night, shooting 1-of-14 from the floor and fouling out near the end of regulation.
Japan lost to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday.
MIAMI — Shohei Ohtani is only one player.
Samurai Japan’s 8-5 loss to Venezuela on Saturday night in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic was a reminder of this reality.
Ohtani produced another moment of magic, blasting a leadoff homer in the first that countered Ronald Acuña’s in the top of the first inning, but it wasn’t enough.
Shohei Ohtani reacts after flying out in the ninth inning of Japan’s 8-5 loss to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic semifinals on March 14, 2026 in Miami. Getty Images
It wasn’t enough to overcome his team’s terror-inducing bullpen and it wasn’t enough to overcome Venezuela’s offensive firepower.
Ohtani flied out for the final out of the game, but the at-bat was ultimately inconsequential. The bases were empty.
Samurai Japan’s dream of a third consecutive WBC championship was over. Venezuela, not Japan, advanced to a semifinal matchup with Italy on Monday.
The game started with Acuna sending a 96.5 mph fastball by Yoshinobu Yamamoto over the right field wall. The former National League MVP screamed as he rounded the bases, and so did the fans.
The response was swift, as Ohtani golfed a breaking ball at the bottom of the zone for a leadoff home run of his own. Ohtani discarded his bat and turned to the Samurai Japan bench, pushing his palms down as if to tell his team to calm down.
Nevertheless, the inning ended disastrously for Samurai Japan. Caught stealing second base for the third out, Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki injured his right knee on the slide.
Wilyer Abreu reacts after hitting a home run during Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic win on March 14, 2026. AP
Japan’s second-best hitter was removed from the game.
The situation was about to become worse, as Yamamoto resembled a rocket launcher more than he did a World Series hero. The Dodgers right-hander gave up back-to-back doubles to Ezequiel Tovar and Gleyber Torres that produced another run for Venezuela.
The game flipped again in the third inning. With one out and a runner on second base, Ohtani was walked intentionally. That brought up outfielder Teruaki Sato, who struck out 163 times last season with the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese league and struck out again in the first inning of this game. Sato managed to get his bat on the ball this time, lining a ball down the right-field line for a run-scoring double that leveled the game at 2-2.
Venezuela celebrates after its World Baseball Classic quarterfinal win on March 14. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The next batter was Sato’s teammate on the Tigers, Shota Morishita, who entered the contest as Suzuki’s replacement. Morishita reached out for a changeup by Venezuela starter Ranger Suarez and redirected the pitch into the seats behind Samurai Japan bullpen in left field.
Suarez was knocked out of the game, and Japan was leading 5-2. The two-time defending tournament champions were on their way.
The dynamic of the game shifted when Yamamoto came out of the game. Some of the pitchers who followed him out of the bullpen were as small as he was physically, only they didn’t have his ability.
Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a home run during Japan’s loss on March 14. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Standing only 5-foot-9, left-hander Chihiro Sumida served up a two-run homer to Maikel Garcia in the fifth inning that reduced Japan’s lead to 5-4. What remained of that lead vanished entirely in the next inning when another 5-foot-9 pitcher, right-hander Hiromi Itoh, gave up a three-run blast to Wilyer Abreu.
Suddenly, Samurai Japan was down, 7-5.
Venezuela’s lead extended to 8-5 in the seventh inning when 6-foot right-hander Atsuki Taneichi tried to pick off Tovar at second base and tossed the ball into center field. Tovar scored on the error.
The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Vegas Golden Knights in the second of two games on the West Coast, in between games at the United Center.
The Blackhawks won the first one, an overtime victory against the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City. With a difficult Golden Knights team looming, Chicago knew that it needed their best effort to compete.
From the puck drop on, however, things did not go well for the Blackhawks. They were outshot by Vegas 32-21, and were shut out on the scoreboard 4-0.
Early in the game, when the Blackhawks were going through the early storm, Jeff Blashill used up his timeout. From that point forward, they competed a bit better, but it was far too late.
It is hard enough to beat a heavy team like Vegas without spotting them a 3-0 lead early in the match. It's almost impossible to come back when down by multiple goals against them.
Adin Hill and the Knights have been looking for more consistent play this season, and the Blackhawks made them look like that Cup-contending team that everybody knows they can be.
Spencer Knight started in goal for the Blackhawks, his second start of the road trip following his three-game absence due to illness. It wasn't his best performance, but the team in front of him did not take care of their assignments the way that they are expected to.
The Blackhawks saw both Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Mangiapane hit the post, Connor Bedard had his share of chances, and an Artyom Levshunov goal was waved off due to a missed stoppage of play (hand-pass). No, that doesn't help them on the scoresheet, but they found chances despite Vegas controlling almost the entire game.
Once or twice a month, for most teams in the NHL, a game comes along where you get thoroughly outplayed. It's emphasised when you're a bottom team like the Blackhawks, but the message will simply be to throw it away and move on. The players know this was an improper effort, and it will be corrected by the next time they hit the ice.
Watch Every Chicago Goal
The Chicago Blackhawks did not score a goal in this match, so there are no videos to share for this one.
What’s Next For The Blackhawks?
The Blackhawks will be back in action again on Tuesday night, St. Patrick's Day. This will be a matchup against the Minnesota Wild, who defeated them in a shootout back on January 27th. This is a home-and-home for these two teams, so it's another opportunity for the Blackhawks to play the same team twice in a short time, mimicking some aspects of a playoff series.
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The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets delivered a heavyweight fight worthy of the national spotlight Saturday night, a 127–125 overtime thriller that swung wildly like a pendulum in a storm. The Lakers led by 17. The Nuggets clawed back and briefly seized a seven-point advantage late. Then chaos took over.
Austin Reaves missed a free throw with five seconds left, chased down the rebound like a man refusing to let the moment escape him, and tied the game with a desperate layup.
AUSTIN REAVES GRABS THE BOARD OFF HIS OWN MISSED FREE THROW AND TIES THE GAME
Overtime followed, where punches were traded possession after possession until Luka Doncic slipped along the baseline and buried the dagger that sent the arena into delirium.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson enjoyed watching the same competitive fire between opponents that translates across all of sports.
Despite all the celebrities in attendance, when Doncic’s game-winner splashed through the net, the phones dropped. The celebrities stood. And the building roared.
NBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty Images
For a brief moment, fame, fortune and followers didn’t matter.
Basketball did.
And on nights like this, in a city that turns everything into theater, the NBA delivered the best show in town.
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Cameron Green has sent a statement to Australia’s Test selectors with a century for Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales at Sydney’s Cricket Central.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Bobby McMann had two goals and an assist in his Kraken debut and Seattle beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Saturday night to end a four-game losing streak and move within a point of the final wild card in the West.
McMann went from Toronto to Seattle at the trade deadline, but was delayed because of a visa issue that was resolved Friday.
His new linemates also had three-point nights, with Matty Beniers finishing with a goal and two assists, and Jordan Eberle added three assists.
Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak added goals for the Kraken, and Brandon Montour had two assists. Philipp Grubauer stopped 32 shots.
Evander Kane and Marco Rossi scored for NHL-worst Vancouver. Nikita Tolopilo made 28 saves. The Canucks have five games left on an eight-game homestand.
McMann scored on a power play at the end of the first period and added his second early in the third. Seattle got him for a a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft and a conditional second-round selection in 2027.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mathieu Choiniere scored twice — the 27-year-old's second career multi-goal game in MLS — and Hugo Lloris had his fourth consecutive shutout on Saturday night to help Los Angeles FC beat St. Louis City 2-0.
Loris finished with four saves for LAFC (4-0-0), which has outscored its opponents 8-0 this season. The 39-year-old Lloris, who had 12 clean sheets in each of his first two seasons with the club, joined Roman Bürki (St. Louis, 2025) as the only players in MLS history with four consecutive shutouts to open a season.
Choiniere, in his ninth MLS season, went into the game with 12 goals in 132 career appearance.
Choiniere intercepted a pass near midfield, raced to the top of the penalty arc and slipped a rolling shot inside the left post to open the scoring in the 73rd minute. Then, in the 81st, Choiniere ripped a shot from near the right corner of the penalty box that skipped between the legs of defender Timo Baumgartl and bent inside the left post to make it 2-0.
Bürki had three saves for St. Louis (0-3-1).
LAFC's Denis Bouanga hit the crossbar with a shot in the opening moments and Nate Ordaz had his shot from the center of the area bounce off the right post.
Players for both teams wore black armbands with “IL” in white lettering to honor Ilona Löwen, the wife of St. Louis City's Eduard Löwen, who died Monday following a two-year battle with brain cancer. Eduard Löwen, who signed with St. Louis as a designated player in 2022, has not played this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to prove they have what it takes to be considered a contender in the Western Conference this year.
Luka Doncic and the Lakers defended home court on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, beating the Denver Nuggets 127-125 in overtime.
The Lakers have now won five straight games and eight of their last nine games. The team improved to 42-25 overall and sits third in the conference.
Doncic produced 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for a triple-double against Denver. It was the Slovenian’s seventh 30-point triple-double this season and the 55th of his career.
Doncic broke free of a double team to hit a jumper with 0.5 seconds remaining in overtime to break a 125-125 tie and give Los Angeles the edge.
“I felt like it was the best atmosphere since I've been a Laker,” Doncic told reporters after the game. “The whole crowd was into it and was really special to witness that."
The clutch performance followed Doncic's previous game, where he nearly put together a triple-double. He had 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Austin Reaves helped send the game to overtime when he intentionally missed a free-throw attempt and collected the rebound to score a jumper and tie the game at 118 with 1.9 seconds left in regulation.
AUSTIN REAVES GRABS THE BOARD OFF HIS OWN MISSED FREE THROW AND TIES THE GAME 😲
Reaves finished the game with 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists. LeBron James added 17 points, six rebounds and five assists and Marcus Smart scored 21 points.
For 30 ½ minutes on Saturday night, the Lakers were in the driver’s seat while hosting the Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. And then the Nuggets were in control.
And then each team gave the other their best shots.
But the Lakers had the best shot: a game-winning 17-foot fadeaway jumper from Luka Doncic in overtime to give the Lakers a 127-125 dramatic win over the Nuggets to close out a 5-0 homestand they had three of their best victories of the season during.
“He just made a great basketball play, got to his spot and hit a tough shot,” coach JJ Redick said. “And that was a great moment for him. I’m happy for him.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic shoots a game winning shot while under pressure from Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones during overtime at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Doncic capped off the game with another big play when he blocked Tim Hardaway Jr.’s last second-shot attempt, sealing the victory for the Lakers.
But Doncic wasn’t alone in his late-game heroics.
There was LeBron James, at 41 years old, fully extending his body while diving on the floor for a loose ball to force a jump ball with the Lakers down, 112-111, with 54.6 seconds left in regulation.
“Just living in the moment – understanding the impact of the game, the implications of the game and our opponent and what we’re trying to build,” James said. “Every possession matters.”
After the Lakers lost the jump ball, Marcus Smart picked Aaron Gordon’s pocket, making a layup in transition to momentarily give the Lakers a one-point lead in regulation. And when the game went into overtime, Smart once again stepped up with a 3-pointer that gave the Lakers a 125-123 lead with 31 seconds left.
Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton also made big plays on both ends of the floor to help the Lakers beat the Nuggets.
Doncic didn’t have the most efficient shooting night (10 of 26), but he recorded a 30 point-13 assist-11 rebound triple-double.
Reaves led the Lakers with 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists, making big plays in his own right during a game several Laker plays did.
Smart made five 3-pointers and recorded five steals, finishing with 21 points, while LeBron James added 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with a 24 point-16 rebound-14 assist triple-double.
Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
The Lakers improved to 42-25 on the season, moving back up to third in the Western Conference’s standings.
They won the regular season series over the Nuggets (41-27), 2-1, with Denver staying at sixth in the West.
The Lakers are on a five-game winning streak.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
Turning point
With the Lakers down 118-116 with 5.2 seconds left in regulation, Reaves intentionally missed his second free throw before grabbing an offensive rebound off of his own miss and hitting an eight-foot floater to tie the game at 118 apiece.
“I knew I was going to miss,” Reaves said. “I wasn’t going to give the ball an opportunity to go in. Some people shoot it high and they end up making it on accident. But I don’t think my ball ever got over 10 feet.”
End of 4Q: Lakers 118, Nuggets 118.
Austin Reaves intentionally missed the 2nd FT and made the runner to send Lakers-Nuggets into OT.
Both of the Lakers star guards made big plays down the stretch to put the Lakers in position to beat the Nuggets.
They combined for 62 points, 19 assists, 18 rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals.
Stat of the game: 6
Saturday marked Doncic’s sixth career game-winning field goal in the final five seconds of a game (five in the regular season, one in the playoffs), according to the Lakers.
Up next
The Lakers will kick off a six-game road trip when they play the Rockets on Monday at Toyota Center.
It’ll be the first of two matchups in Houston, with the Lakers playing the Rockets again on Wednesday.
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Isaac Johnson scored 22 points to lead No. 2 seed Hawaii to a 71-64 victory over top-seeded UC Irvine on Saturday night for the Rainbow Warriors' first Big West Championship title and NCAA Tournament berth since 2016 — coach Eran Ganot's first with the program.
Hawaii (24-8) led for most of the game and took the lead for good on Johnson's layup with about 10 minutes to play. UC Irvine pulled to 66-64 with 38 seconds left but Harry Rouhliadeff answered with a layup and then Dre Bullock followed with a breakaway two-hand slam dunk to help seal it for the Warriors.
Rouhliadeff, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 78-63 win against Cal State Fullerton in the semifinal, finished with 15 points and a season-high 12 rebounds against the Anteaters for his second double-double of the season. Bullock also scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds for the Warriors.
Jurian Dixon scored 17 points for UC Irvine (23-11). Derin Saran and Kyle Evans added 13 points apiece and Andre Henry had 12.
Hawaii entered 0-3 in matchups against UC Irvine in the tournament (2013, 2018 quarterfinals and 2015 finals).
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Joe Burrow & Bijan Robinson in the building for 
