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The post-trade deadline time can be a strange one in the NBA. The teams that didn’t make many moves are trying to get ready for the playoffs, hoping to peak at the right time. The ones that shook things up are looking to rediscover an identity or form one for the first time. And then some franchises want the season to mercifully end, like the Kings.

Sacramento came into the season with play-in hopes, loaded up with veterans and a few young pieces. To say that they fell short of expectations would be an understatement. The Kings are last in the West, and unlike other bottom-dwellers, they find themselves there despite trying to win.

At least they were earlier in the season. After the deadline, they shut down Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and deadline acquisition De’Andre Hunter, as they all underwent season-ending surgeries. One of their feel-good stories of the season was the emergence of rookie Dylan Cardwell, but he will be out for a month. Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan are still there, but those two couldn’t do much in Sacramento’s 37-point loss to the Magic on Thursday. They have some interesting young players that they need to develop the rest of the way, but no one who stands out as a cornerstone. The lottery can’t come soon enough for De’Aaron Fox’s previous team.

The Spurs are in a completely different situation. They have exceeded expectations and have the second-best record in the West, with a realistic chance to catch up to the injury-riddled Thunder. They did nothing at the deadline, so the chemistry they built remains intact, as shown in their convincing victory over the Suns after the All-Star break. All their rotation players are healthy and should be well-rested after not needing to be on the floor for heavy minutes to dispatch Phoenix in their first Austin game. And they looked locked in from the start and dominant the entire night, proving they are hungry as they prepare for the franchise’s return to the playoffs.

Late February and March basketball offers matchups between teams that have opposite goals and realities. The Spurs should prevail easily against a Kings team that wouldn’t mind another loss to keep the other tankers at bay. But there’s a reason they play the games, so San Antonio should come out focused and take care of business.

Sacramento Kings (12-45) vs San Antonio Spurs (39-16)

February 21st, 2026 | 7 PM CT

Watch: KENS| Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Mason Plumlee – Out (Conditioning), Lindy Waters III – Questionable (Knee).

Kings Injuries: Domantas Sabonis – Out (Knee surgery), Zach LaVine – Out (Hand surgery), Dylan Cartwell – Out (Ankle), De’Andre Hunter – Out (Eye).

What to watch for:

• The battle of the French centers. With Sabonis out, rookie Maxime Raynaud has been starting for the Kings and putting up some solid numbers. The big man has averaged 117 points and 8.4 boards when he’s been on the floor at tip-off, and in his last five games, he’s averaged 14.2 points and 9.8 boards. Wembanyama should dominate the matchup, but it should be fun to see him go against a talented 7’1 center who happens to be his friend.
• The Spurs, finding their killer instinct. One of the few disappointing things about this iteration of the Silver and Black has been the team’s propensity to play down to its competition, resulting in too many close games. Against the Suns, that wasn’t an issue, as they started well and never relented on their way to an easy win. The same should happen against the lowly Kings, as the talent disparity is massive. Blowing out inferior or shorthanded teams not only allows for less wear-and-tear but is also typically a sign of a mature group. Let’s see if the young Spurs are making progress there.
• Former Spurs vs. Former Kings. De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes combined for 48 points in the first matchup with his former team this season. Fox also had 11 assists. DeMar DeRozan had 27 in just 15 shots in the losing effort, and Drew Eubanks played 11 minutes off the bench. The former Spurs and the former Kings could once again play a part in determining the winner. DeRozan would need to fuel the offense for Sacramento to have a chance, and Eubanks would need to provide solid minutes against Wembanyama. For San Antonio, Fox’s scoring and Barnes’ shooting are not as necessary, but always welcomed. And if things get out of hand, we might even get to see Doug McDermott in garbage time.

If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!

The Duke basketball rivalry with Michigan is set to resume on Saturday, Feb. 21.

The No. 3 Blue Devils (24-2) and No. 1 Wolverines (25-1) are set to play for the first time in 13 years when they take the court at 6:30 p.m. ET, not from Michigan's Crisler Center or Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium, but from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., in The Duel in the District.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracket tracker: Who's in, out on NCAA Tournament bubble

This will mark the 31st meeting between the programs and the seventh in a neutral site, which includes three meetings in the NCAA Tournament.

The last meeting between Duke and Michigan occurred in 2013 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, when the Blue Devils took down the Wolverines 79-69 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

Here's what you need to know about the "Duel in the District" between Duke and Michigan on Saturday:

Why are Duke-Michigan playing nonconference game in February?

The "Duel in the District" game between Michigan and Duke was announced on June 24, 2025. Capital One Arena is the home of the NBA's Washington Wizards, the NHL's Washington Capitals and the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team.

The matchup is set to take place at the arena, which hosts several high-profile NCAA events in the coming years, including the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball East Regional, the 2027 Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship and the 2028 Division I Women’s Basketball Regional.

Michigan makes its way back to the nation's capital for the first time since participating in the Coaches vs. Racism matchup against Prairie View A&M on Nov. 13, 2021. The Wolverines play in Capital One Arena (then the Verizon Center) for the first time since winning the Big Ten Tournament there in 2017.

Duke played in the 2024 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena, falling to eventual tournament winner North Carolina State in the quarterfinals.

Duke-Michigan basketball history

• Series record: Duke leads 22-8

Duke and Michigan have faced off 30 times prior to Saturday's game. That includes three meetings in the NCAA Tournament (1992 national championship, 1964 Final Four and the 2011 second round) between the programs.

Here's a look at entire history between the programs:

• Feb. 21, 2026 (Washington, D.C): No. 3 Duke vs. No. 1 Michigan
• Dec. 3, 2013 (Durham, N.C): Duke 79, Michigan 69
• Nov. 22, 2011 (Lahaina, Hawaii): Duke 82, Michigan 75
• March 20, 2011 (Charlotte): Duke 73, Michigan 71 (Round of 32)
• Dec. 6, 2008 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Michigan 81, Duke 73
• Nov. 21, 2008 (New York): Duke 71, Michigan 56
• Dec. 8, 2007 (Durham, N.C.): Duke 95, Michigan 67
• Dec. 7, 2002 (Durham, N.C.): Duke 81, Michigan 59
• Dec. 8, 2001 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Duke 104, Michigan 83
• Dec. 9, 2000 (Durham, N.C.): Duke 104, Michigan 61
• Dec. 11, 1999 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Duke 104, Michigan 97
• Dec. 12, 1998 (Durham, N.C.): Duke 108, Michigan 64
• Dec. 13, 1997 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Michigan 81, Duke 73
• Dec. 8, 1996 (Durham, N.C.): Michigan 62, Duke 61
• Dec. 9, 1965 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Michigan 88, Duke 84
• Dec. 10, 1994 (Durham, N.C): Duke 69, Michigan 59
• Dec. 11, 1993 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Duke 73, Michigan 63
• Dec. 5, 1992 (Durham, N.C.): Duke 79, Michigan 68
• April 6, 1992 (Minneapolis): Duke 71, Michigan 51 (national championship)
• Dec. 14, 1991 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Duke 88, Michigan 85
• Dec. 8, 1990 (Durham, N.C.): Duke 75, Michigan 68
• Dec. 9, 1989 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Michigan 113, Duke 108
• Dec. 7, 1970 (Durham, N.C.): Duke 95, Michigan 74
• Dec. 10, 1969 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Duke 73, Michigan 68
• Dec. 9, 1968 (Durham, N.C.): Michigan 90, Duke 80
• Dec. 6, 1967 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Duke 93, Michigan 90
• Dec. 3, 1966 (Durham, N.C.): Duke 96, Michigan 75
• Dec. 21, 1965 (Detroit): Duke 100, Michigan 93
• Dec. 5, 1964 (Durham, N.C.): Michigan 86, Duke 79
• March 20, 1964 (Kansas City): Duke 91, Michigan 80 (Final Four)
• Dec. 21, 1963 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Michigan 83, Duke 67

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Duke, Michigan basketball are playing nonconference game in February

The Cleveland Cavaliers did enough to win their second game in as many nights. They defeated a good Charlotte Hornets team 118-113 to capture their seventh victory in a row.

The Cavs need Jarrett Allen to play at this level. He’s shown these past few weeks that this team is at its very best when he’s actively involved in the offense. That came through once again as he put up 26 points on 11-15 shooting to go along with 14 big rebounds.

I’ve generally been skeptical of reading too deeply into how the Cavs’ record correlates with Allen’s shot attempts or scoring output. Causation doesn’t always mean there’s a correlation.

Additionally, it’s common for stats like this to be misleading. For example, football teams typically have a worse record when they attempt more than a certain number of passes. This isn’t because passing is ineffective or bad. It’s just that teams that are behind in a game have to pass more often than those that are winning. This leads to stats like this being skewed.

That’s how I’ve typically viewed Allen’s production numbers. And I was wrong for doing so.

Allen’s rim pressure just opens up the offense for everyone. This was clear in the string of games before they got James Harden. Now, it’s even harder to ignore after they traded for one of the best pick-and-roll distributors of all-time.

The Cavs’ biggest problem was not getting Allen involved enough. That hasn’t been an issue with Harden. Passes like this force Allen to be aggressive. He simply has no other choice.

When Allen is beating you like this, defenses can’t send two to the screen and hope the rotation stops the roller. However, not doing so opens up looks for the ball handler, like this clean pull-up three for Harden.

Allen is the big the offense should prioritize first.

Evan Mobley being in the lineup has the potential to make things more difficult, even though that didn’t happen on Thursday against a bad Brooklyn Nets team. He’s another center who needs to be fed in a similar way to be effective offensively.

That said, Allen should be the main target over Mobley. His screening and the rim pressure he provides — as we’ve seen these past several weeks — are much more valuable offensively. There’s simply no excuse for ignoring Allen after this many strong showings.

Outside shooting teams like the Hornets can give the Cavs problems defensively. Charlotte head coach Charles Lee came from the Boston Celtics, and a lot of his team’s offensive philosophies trace back to his time in Boston. How Charlotte and Boston generate threes is different, but the amount they take and how they do a good job of rebounding misses is similar.

The Cavs didn’t do a great job of defending the three-point line. The Hornets got back into this game by going 8-15 from distance in the third quarter. They were able to generate open outside shots with simple guard screening actions or by forcing the defense to collapse and then found the open shooter as a result.

Cleveland’s defensive philosophy is predicated on defending the basket. This is a sound strategy and ultimately the right one. Scoring in the restricted area is still the most effective way of doing so. And in this game, the Cavs did a great job of keeping the Hornets from getting there as Charlotte converted just 43.5% of their shots at the rim (1st percentile).

That said, teams like Charlotte and Boston don’t necessarily attack the basket because they want to score. They do so because they want to create in rhythm threes.

This is an area where the starting backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Harden are suseptable. Neither is good at keeping their defensive assignment in front of them. Their teammates know this and are ready and prepared to rotate over to help, which can lead to open shooters on the perimeter.

Charlotte lost this game because they went cold in the fourth quarter and ended up converting just 35.7% of their 56 three-point shots. However, many of those misses were more due to shot variance than anything the Cavs were doing defensively.

The Cavs have struggled on the glass against teams that know how to rebound their missed threes.

Charlotte racked up 23 offensive boards. Nine of those were due to Ryan Kalkbrenner being an immovable object inside. There’s not much you can do about someone that big. However, they also retrieved a fair amount of their missed threes that didn’t have as much to do with him. That’s more of a concern.

Missed threes can bounce further off the rim. If you want to grab those, a good place to run is to the free-throw line. Kenny Atkinson, when he has been asked about this in the past, has said that you need good rebound spacing against teams that shoot this many threes. The Cavs didn’t have that.

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The Hornets were rewarded for their efforts on the glass with 37-second chance points.

These two concerns are why the Celtics are the worst playoff matchup for the Cavs. Boston also hunts threes and prioritizes offensive rebounding, but they’re overall more talented on both sides of the ball. On top of that, they have one of the best coaches in the league. I don’t want to get too derailed by this tangent, but it’s worth pointing out after a game like this.

Harden and Sam Merrill have developed great chemistry. Merrill hit four shots against Charlotte, and three of them were assisted by Harden.

Like Allen, Merrill was seemingly created in a lab to play with Harden. He’s a smart off-ball mover who knows where to be to create the best angle for a pass. He’s also great at attacking off screens. Throw in Harden’s ability to make every pass and process the game at a high level, and you have a formidable duo.

I’m not sure why you would double-team Harden.

The Hornets tried to force the ball out of Harden’s hands late. He accepted the double, found the outlet in Mitchell, and then this led to an open three for Dean Wade. This was a great and well-executed sequence from Cleveland’s perspective.

The Cavs have consistently handled Harden being trapped well. They’ve properly spaced the floor, and Harden has made the right play seemingly every time.

Keon Ellis is incredibly entertaining to watch defensively. Few players have his energy, lateral quickness, and nose for the ball. This combination creates someone who’s both a sound man defender and is also a chaos agent who can seemingly come out of nowhere to completely blow up a play.

So far, Ellis has registered at least two stocks (blocks and steals) in the six games he’s played with the Cavs. On Friday, he collected two steals by baiting his opponent into a pass that he knew he could take away.

Players who gamble for steals and blocks like this don’t always lead to their team playing better defense. Typically, you need to gamble too much to do so. But it isn’t a gamble for someone who has Ellis’s length and quickness.

Not counting Friday’s game, Cleveland has registered an impressive 108.9 defensive rating with Ellis on the floor, which is only going to get better after the Cavs had an 87.5 defensive rating in the 24 minutes Ellis played in Charlotte.

“He’s maybe the most unique player,” Atkinson said after the game. “[He’s] totally not what I thought. [He’s a] unique, unique player. Sometimes he gets a deflection, and you don’t even see how it happens. His hands are so fast. … He’s a quick jumper off the floor to get contests. … Man, what a unique player. Really a game changer.”

The Wizards returned from the All-Star break with disastrous back-to-back wins in a tête-à-tête against the Indiana Pacers. In the one last night, the Wizards rallied from a 15-point second quarter deficit to win by 13.

In the NBA’s 2026 race for the bottom, Washington has fallen to fifth behind the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Indiana, and the Brooklyn Nets. The Utah Jazz — an annual leader in tanking shenanigans — is lurking.

I sympathize with Wizards head coach Brian Keefe and general manager Will Dawkins. Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George sat. They traded away productive to semi-productive veterans for Anthony Davis and Trae Young — neither of whom has played even a second for the Wizards.

Justin Champagnie, who produces when he plays, departed last night’s game after just 11 minutes with a sore knee.

Keefe is left with no choice but to play kids, and what’s making The Tank a bit of a challenge is that some of those kids are playing pretty well — at least when going up against a Pacers team missing virtually every useful NBA player in the organization.

Kids playing pretty well, even against what amounts to a G League squad, isn’t bad. The Wizards need to lose enough to keep that first round pick, so things could get downright debaculous in the near future. Just to be clear, I want Dawkins to know that I can help. I have enough vacation time to become the NBA’s oldest ever rookie on a 10-day contract. Maybe two.

I mean, yeah my body might not hold up for more than a game or two (if that), but I will brick lots of threes, be easy pickings on defense, and consistently fail to get back on defense.

Also, if Anthony Gill serves as the team dad, I can (briefly) be the team’s granddad.

Thoughts & Observations

• Full disclosure: I was on work travel and did not watch either of these games, so these observations are strictly from the numbers.
• Amazing to think that the Wizards had a 61.1% effective field goal percentage, and the Pacers clocked in at 57.8% and the teams combined for a slightly subpar offensive night. Both teams committed loads of turnovers. Neither got to the free throw line or gathered offensive rebounds.
• If the teams had combined for an average night offensively, they would have totaled 252 points. They tallied 249. Not a huge difference, but again — amazing considering the high shooting percentages from the floor.
• Even more amazing: the Wizards shot 61.1% from the floor (eFG%) while also hitting just 6-29 — 20.7% — from three-point range. That’s because they hit 74.2% on twos. Yowza.
• Washington’s ability to get inside was determinant — they outscored the Pacers 78-46 in the paint.
• Kudos to Alondes Williams for having a great game halfway through a 10-day contract — 25 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists in 30 minutes.
• More kudos to Kadary Richmond, also on a 10-day contract, for producing 6 steals in 31 minutes.
• Even more kudos to Sharife Cooper — on a two-way contract — for notching 18 points and 5 assists in 27 minutes.
• Yet more kudos to Keefe for giving 55% of the game’s minutes to guys on two-way contracts and 10-day contracts.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

The Celtics are no stranger to having elite facilitating guards. You can go all the way back to Bob Cousy in the 50s and 60s, Dennis Johnson in the 80s, Rajon Rondo in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and now we might have to start talking about Derrick White in 2026.

White is averaging a career high 5.6 assists on the season, so he might not look like Rondo on the surface, but he is starting to turn it on lately. In his last 6 games, White has an absurd 42:8 assist to turnover ratio and is averaging 7.0 assists per game in this time period. This uptick in assists could be because of a switch in the starting lineup.

In the Celtics first game since the trade deadline against the Dallas Mavericks on February 3rd, Joe Mazzulla decided to move Payton Pritchard to the bench after Boston traded Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls. Pritchard being a former 6th Man of the Year winner, naturally has flourished in his return to the role, averaging 22.5 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds, on 52% shooting from the field and 43% from three. This move to the bench has allowed Pritchard to not have to focus on being the primary point guard of the team and be able to hunt for his shot. This primary point guard spot has been bestowed upon Derrick White and it is safe to say that he is taking the reigns and running with it.

Derrick White is having a rough offensive season with one of his worst shooting seasons of his career at 39% shooting from the field and 33% shooting from three. In a bigger role, his shots are just not falling the way they were over the last few seasons. But now that he is the primary facilitator, White doesn’t have to focus on scoring more because his playmaking can do the work and he can focus his energy on continuing to be an elite defender.

A good example of White’s passing replacing his scoring is looking at the points created coming off his assists. In these last 6 games, White is averaging 16.3 points over this time but is shooting 36% from the field and 30% from three. However, in 4 of those 6 games, White has created 20+ points just off of his assists alone, with the most being 23 points against the Chicago Bulls on February 11th.

Let’s look at his most recent 8 assist performance against the Golden State Warriors on February 19th. He created 20 points off his assists, spreading the wealth to 7 different teammates. Most of his assists came during the Celtics runs in the first half where Boston scored 74 points. His biggest came in the fourth quarter however, threading the needle to Jaylen Brown for a tough fadeaway jumper to essentially ice the game after the Warriors rallied back in the game.

My favorite assists that White has been able to create involves the two-man game with the Celtics bigs. Whether its Luka Garza, Neemias Queta, or Nikola Vucevic, White has been able to find them easy buckets. He has been able to run the pick-and-roll to perfection, drawing multiple defenders him and finding his big center underneath the basket for an easy layup or dunk.

White’s ability to find three point shooters for catch and shoot threes and even on the fast break has been another highlight of his. All of his passes are landing right in the shooting pocket for guys like Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Baylor Scheierman to take advantage.

One thing that I do wonder is what happens to White’s ability to play-make when Jayson Tatum comes back. If he does come back this season, I expect White’s role not to change very much. He might have less ball handling responsibility with Tatum on the floor, but that could open him up to becoming the elite catch-and-shoot guy he was in the past. If not, there is no harm in having another ball handler and he could just continue what he is doing this season if Tatum comes back rusty in that area of play at all.

Derrick White is sneakily having the best season of his career when it comes to his defense and scoring, but his playmaking leap might be the most impressive part of his year that no one is talking about.

As part of their Spurs Week Austin , the San Antonio Spurs unveiled a newly refurbished basketball court at Foundation Communities M Station Apartments, an affordable housing community outside downtown Austin.

Jackie Cuellar, Director of Corporate and Volunteer Engagement at Foundation Communities shared,

“At Foundation Communities, we believe a home is more than just a roof—it’s a place where families thrive. By transforming this court into a vibrant hub for M Station residents, we are ensuring families have a safe space to connect and be active.”

This court refurbishment was presented through the Spurs partnership with Ledger.

Spurs 2025 draftees Carter Bryant and Dylan Harper made an appearance, led some basketball activities on the new court, and a presided over a special shoe giveaway allowing students to customize their own sneakers.

Patricia Mejia, Chief Impact & Inclusion Officer at Spurs Sports and Entertainment stated,

“Creating safe, inclusive spaces where young people can play, connect and thrive is core to who we are. What makes this court special is that it’s located right where families live. Access to safe play spaces isn’t guaranteed, and having this court just outside their doors makes it easier for kids to stay active, build confidence and learn teamwork every day.”

Spurs Week continues tonight with as the Spurs host the Sacramento Kings.

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LOS ANGELES — With just 28 games left to play coming out of the All-Star break, the Lakers are entering the final phase of the season.

That means every game becomes increasingly important as teams jockey for playoff positioning and attempt to set themselves up for postseason success.

In the Lakers’ first game back from the All-Star break, they faced a tough opponent, taking on the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard. They passed the test, beating their rival 125-122.

While the game was far from easy, the Lakers had everyone available to take on the challenge. LA had a clean injury report, allowing them to play their entire rotation, a rarity for the purple and gold this season.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick took this opportunity to begin the game with a new starting lineup featuring LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Luka Dončić, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart.

The result? The Lakers’ offense came out blazing, scoring 41 points, knocking down eight 3-pointers and missing just two shots in the opening quarter.

“I think in the first quarter, we were playing good defense, and we were playing with a lot of pace,” Luka said postgame. “We were able to create some different looks, and I think that is how we should play.”

Despite the good start, challenges came LA’s way. Kawhi Leonard was incredible, scoring 31 points. And the Clippers had a 17-1 run in the third quarter that turned the Lakers’ 14-point advantage into a one-point deficit.

With the talent in the Western Conference, games like these are commonplace. How teams respond to this type of adversity is what separates the good teams from the bad ones.

On Friday night, the Lakers demonstrated they are the former.

Luka and LeBron were generating looks for their teammates. Both players had 11 assists. In the fourth, Smart stepped up, and the defensive specialist added some scoring to his performance.

Midway through the fourth Smart scored five straight points to even the game up. Not only were these crucial baskets down the stretch of a close gcontest, but it was the first time Smart had shot the ball all night long.

With under two minutes to go, LA led by just three points and the game could’ve gone either way.

While LA’s offense was humming and their stars were played well, it was a charge that secured the result.

With under two minutes to play and the Clippers down by three, Bennedict Mathurin was pushing the ball up the court and appeared destined to make it a one-point game.

Reaves did what he always does which is whatever it takes to win. He stood in Mathurin’s way and absorbed the contact as he got steamrolled in the paint. The foul was called, which not only gave the Lakers possession, but took Mathurin out of the game.

“That play right there changed the whole momentum,” Ayton said. “That just got everybody fired up and even more locked in down the stretch.”

The win wasn’t easy and it defintely wasn’t pretty. In fact, the Lakers almost gave up the game with a late turnover that gave Nic Batum a chance of tying it with a last-second three. But it rimmed out and the Lakers won.

In the end the win-loss column cares not about context and with the Lakers needing to increase their win total as high as possible with what’s left in the season, earning the victory is all that matters.

“Obviously, want to go game by game, but it was important to start like this,” Luka said.

With the win in hand, a new starting lineup revealed and some impressive performances by the Lakers’ most important players, the time it’s now or never for LA to show the NBA just how good they can be.

If Friday night was any indicator, this team’s ceiling has yet to be reached.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers’ first game of the season with a fully healthy roster on Friday night against the Clippers provided all of the glimpses of optimism a stakeholder could hope for.

It also highlighted some of their biggest concerns.

The good for the Lakers in their 125-122 win over the Clippers: Luka Dončić’s hot start, and the offense looking dominant for significant stretches. 

Also, the starting lineup of Dončić, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton looked like a natural fit. 

But the concerns remained the same, with the Lakers defense struggling to get stops for significant stretches. 

But they got the most important one of the night at Crypto.com Arena when Nic Batum missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer, with the Lakers’ maintaining a 3-point lead, their winning margin.

Dončić led with the Lakers with 38 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. Reaves added an efficient 29 points and six rebounds in his first game back in the starting lineup since December, while LeBron James had a 13-point, 11-assist double-double. 

What it means

The Lakers improved to 34-21, including 16-10 at home.

The Clippers (27-29) missed out on a chance to improve to .500 for the first time since early November.

Turning point: Kawhi Leonard’s exit

Leonard was ruled out because of left ankle soreness late in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers took a 112-109 lead after Dončić made a relocation 3, leading to Clippers coach Ty Lue calling a timeout with 5:11 left.

But when the game resumed, Lue didn’t have his best player back on the floor, evaporating a significant chunk of the Clippers’ offensive juice.

The Lakers led for the rest of the way.

Leonard led the Clippers with 31 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Benn Mathurin, coming off scoring a career-high-tying 38 points in Thursday’s home win over the Nuggets, scored 26 off the bench but fouled out with 1:49 remaining.

MVP: Luka Dončić

An unconventional pick of Marcus Smart, who made a pair of clutch 3s and a midrange jumper, was almost made.

But the way Dončić started the game — 17 points and four assists in the first quarter — and closed with 12 points in the fourth sealed his case.

Dončić’s 22 points in the first half marked his league-leading 28th half this season with 20 or more points.

Stat of the game: 54.8%

That was the Lakers’ 3-point percentage against the Clippers, their second-highest percentage from deep in a game this season.

Dončić led the Lakers with 8-of-14 shooting on 3s, with Reaves shooting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. 

Their season-high 3-point percentage remains 55.9%, when they made 19 of 34 3s in the Jan. 13 win over the Hawks.

Up next

The Lakers will host the Celtics on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in the nationally-broadcast matchup on NBC/Peacock.

The team will unveil the Pat Riley statue ahead of the game against the Lakers’ longtime rivals. 

The Clippers also will remain in Southern California, hosting the Magic on Sunday evening at Intuit Dome.  

Cleveland Cavaliers (36-21, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (43-14, first in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Cleveland hits the road against Oklahoma City looking to prolong its five-game road winning streak.

The Thunder have gone 23-7 in home games. Oklahoma City ranks fifth in the league with 34.3 defensive rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 6.8.

The Cavaliers are 17-10 in road games. Cleveland is ninth in the Eastern Conference giving up just 115.3 points while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting.

The Thunder make 48.6% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.6 percentage points higher than the Cavaliers have allowed to their opponents (46.0%). The Cavaliers average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 more makes per game than the Thunder allow.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Thunder won 136-104 in the last matchup on Jan. 19.

TOP PERFORMERS: Holmgren is averaging 17.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 14.5 points over the last 10 games.

James Harden is scoring 24.7 points per game and averaging 4.8 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Sam Merrill is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 6-4, averaging 112.9 points, 44.4 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 9.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.4 points per game.

Cavaliers: 9-1, averaging 122.9 points, 44.0 rebounds, 29.6 assists, 10.4 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 51.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.8 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (abdomen), Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: out (abdomen), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

Cavaliers: Evan Mobley: out (rest), Max Strus: out (foot).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Memphis Grizzlies (21-33, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Miami Heat (29-27, eighth in the Eastern Conference)

Miami; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Heat -9.5; over/under is 238

BOTTOM LINE: Memphis hits the road against Miami looking to stop its four-game road losing streak.

The Heat have gone 16-11 at home. Miami is second in the Eastern Conference with 54.4 points per game in the paint led by Jaime Jaquez Jr. averaging 10.3.

The Grizzlies are 9-18 on the road. Memphis ranks ninth in the NBA with 45.0 rebounds per game. Santi Aldama leads the Grizzlies with 6.7.

The Heat average 119.7 points per game, 2.3 more points than the 117.4 the Grizzlies give up. The Grizzlies average 13.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 fewer makes per game than the Heat give up.

The two teams square off for the second time this season. The Heat defeated the Grizzlies 146-114 in their last meeting on Oct. 25. Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 24 points, and Cedric Coward led the Grizzlies with 16 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Adebayo is averaging 18.4 points and 9.9 rebounds for the Heat. Andrew Wiggins is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Walter Clayton Jr. is scoring 6.9 points per game and averaging 2.0 rebounds for the Grizzlies. GG Jackson is averaging 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 4-5, averaging 119.7 points, 51.0 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 9.8 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.1 points per game.

Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 116.5 points, 39.1 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 11.2 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.7 points.

INJURIES: Heat: None listed.

Grizzlies: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Ty Jerome: out (calf), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Cedric Coward: out (knee), Santi Aldama: out (knee), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Charlotte Hornets (26-31, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (16-39, 13th in the Eastern Conference)

Washington; Sunday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte will try to keep its six-game road win streak alive when the Hornets take on Washington.

The Wizards are 2-6 against division opponents. Washington allows the most points in the Eastern Conference, giving up 122.7 points and is allowing opponents to shoot 47.7%.

The Hornets are 8-4 against the rest of their division. Charlotte ranks third in the Eastern Conference shooting 37.2% from 3-point range.

The Wizards are shooting 45.8% from the field this season, 1.6 percentage points lower than the 47.4% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets average 15.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 14.0 per game the Wizards give up.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Hornets won the last meeting 119-115 on Jan. 24. Brandon Miller scored 21 points to help lead the Hornets to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bub Carrington is averaging 10.1 points and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Hornets. Miller is averaging 20.8 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 5-5, averaging 113.3 points, 42.9 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 9.7 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.2 points per game.

Hornets: 7-3, averaging 111.1 points, 47.3 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 6.2 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points.

INJURIES: Wizards: Anthony Davis: out for season (finger), Justin Champagnie: day to day (knee), Kyshawn George: out (toe), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (hand contusion), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Alex Sarr: out (hamstring), Trae Young: out (knee).

Hornets: Coby White: out (calf), Grant Williams: out (rest), Liam McNeeley: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.