Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn led the way for UNLV (3-4) with 25 points while Issac Wiliamson scored 18 points and Kimani Hamilton added 13. The Rebels kept the lead under 10 points through much of the first half and trailed by only four, 29-25, with 8:04 remaining before halftime. But the Crimson Tide scored the next eight points to go up by 12.
Luka Doncic owns the Clippers again as Lakers win NBA Cup matchup
Luka Doncic drilled a three-pointer right in front of the Clippers’ bench late in the first quarter and then glared at them, shaking his head as he ran back down court to play defense for the Lakers, just one of the many piercing stares he sent their way after delivering one of his three-point bombs.
It seems as if Doncic has his own personal rivalry against the Clippers and it just simply folded into the inter-city rivalry.
And once again, Doncic overwhelmed the Clippers in directing the Lakers to a 135-118 win Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
He came up one rebound shy of a triple-double, dropping 43 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds. He was 14 for 28 from the field, seven for 12 from three-point range and eight for 11 from the free-throw line.
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In leading the Lakers to their fifth straight win, Doncic now has recorded 39 double-double games of at least 40 points, which moved him past Anthony Davis for the fourth most among active players and tying Magic Johnson for the sixth most 40-point double-doubles as a Laker.
Doncic also tied Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal for the most 40-point double-doubles as a Laker before the age of 27 since the NBA/ABA merger (five).
"I think we played a great game,” Doncic said. “I think they were getting a lot of shots, especially in the first half.”
Late in the fourth quarter, the game turned physical, and Doncic was in the middle of it.
Kris Dunn pushed Doncic in the back, and Doncic confronted Dunn, who then put the basketball in Doncic’s chest. Jaxson Hayes then stepped in and pushed Dunn.
In the end, Dunn was assessed two technical fouls and ejected from the game and Hayes was assessed a technical foul. Doncic shot a technical foul free throw with 3:33 left in the game.
“Of course, I appreciate it,” Doncic said about Hayes stepping in to help him. “I told him right away, ‘Thanks for having my back.’ And that says a lot about him. That says a lot about this team. Everybody has got each other's back.”
Doncic scored 24 points against the Clippers in the first quarter alone, making his first five three-pointers before finishing the quarter five for eight from three, nine for 14 from the field, many of the baskets punctuated by a stare down at the Clippers’ bench.
By the half, Doncic had posted 32 points on 11-for-17 shooting and six for 10 on three-pointers and six assists.
Over the course of his career with the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic, who is averaging 12.5 free-throw attempts per game, has torn the Clippers apart.
Entering Tuesday night’s game, he had averaged 32.2 points per game over 20 games, his highest against any Western Conference foe. He had produced 7.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and shot 48% from the field, 36% from the three-point line.
When asked why he has performed so well against the Clippers, Doncic shrugged.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I think we just met a lot of times in the playoffs. They beat me the first two times, so I don't know what it is. I guess I like it.”
Read more:Shooters shoot: How the Lakers are handling their early three-point slump
With Deandre Ayton (right knee contusion) out and Hayes starting in his place, Austin Reaves (31 points) and LeBron James (25), did their part to help the Lakers clinch Group B of the NBA cup with a 3-0 record.
The Lakers finish group play against the Dallas Mavericks here Friday night and the Clippers complete their group play against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night at Intuit Dome.
Etc.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said that Ayton got an MRI exam on his knee that “was clean other than just some swelling, a little bit of a bruise.” Ayton was injured in the first half against the Jazz Sunday. “Don’t think it’s going to be a long-term thing,” Redick said. “Hopefully it’s a game-to-game thing and he’s back at some point by the end of the week.”...The Lakers announced that they signed forward Drew Timme to a two-way contract and waived two-way center Christian Koloko. Timme has played for the Lakers’ G League team, the South Bay Lakers, and posted averages of 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 25.5 minutes over six games. The 6-foot-10 Timme played his college basketball at Gonzaga.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Michigan, Gonzaga face off in Players Era Championship title game
No. Michigan will play No. Gonzaga in the title game of the Players Era Championship on Wednesday.
Colorado State expected to hire UConn head coach Jim Mora before move to revamped Pac-12, per report
Jim Mora is going back to the Pac-12.
No. 12 Gonzaga carves up Maryland defense in 100-61 rout at Players Era Championship
Braden Huff scored 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting as No. 12 Gonzaga shredded Maryland's defense in a 100-61 blowout Tuesday night at the Players Era Championship. Emmanuel Innocenti added 15 points off the bench on five 3-pointers for the Bulldogs (7-0). Steele Venters had 14 points, including four 3s, and Graham Ike scored 13.
No. 17 Tennessee upsets No. 3 Houston 76-73 in Players Era Championship
MICHIGAN 102, AUBURN 72 LAS VEGAS (AP) — Roddy Gayle Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg both scored 17 points as Michigan routed Auburn in the second round of the Players Era Championship. It was the second time Michigan (6-0) topped the century mark this season. The Wolverines improved to 2-0 in this event, following a 94-54 win over San Diego State on Monday.
No. 7 Michigan routs No. 21 Auburn 102-72 in Players Era Championship
Roddy Gayle Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg both scored 17 points as No. Michigan routed No. Auburn 102-72 on Tuesday in the second round of the Players Era Championship.
Michigan basketball annihilates No. 25 Auburn in Players Era Festival
Michigan basketball score: For the second night, Yaxel Lendeborg led a dominating performance by U-M at the Players Era Festival tourney in Las Vegas.
Penguins Forward Ville Koivunen Skates With Tristan Broz During Practice, Could Return From Injury On Wednesday
It's been 11 days since Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ville Koivunen last played in a game.
He played in the first NHL Global Series game against the Nashville Predators in Sweden before getting banged up. He was eventually placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and designated as "week-to-week."
Koivunen is back at practice this week and was taking line rushes on the third line with Tristan Broz and Tommy Novak on Tuesday. Assuming Koivunen gets cleared to return on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres, he's excited to get the chance to play with Broz after the two were teammates in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last year and a little bit this year.
"It's a lot of fun to play with him. Of course, we played a lot together last year, so he's a great player. He's great with the puck. He can win some battles, too," Koivunen said after Tuesday's practice.
Koivunen is still searching for his first NHL goal, but it's not for a lack of trying. He has hit multiple posts and has had some other glorious opportunities, but the puck hasn't found the back of the net.
His confidence had been growing since coming back from WBS before he got hurt. Now, he'll try and help the Penguins snap out of their rut since they have lost seven of their last nine games and aren't in a playoff spot going into Wednesday.
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No. 25 Indiana clamps down on Kansas State 86-69
Reed Bailey scored 21 points and No. Indiana limited the nation's leading scorer, P.J. Haggerty, to 12 below his average in an 86-69 home win over Kansas State on Tuesday night. The senior Bailey did most of his work at the line, where he hit 13 of 15 free throws.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson questions free-throw disparity after loss to Tennessee
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson repeatedly referred to the disparity in free throws after his third-ranked Cougars lost 76-73 to No. 17 Tennessee on Tuesday in the Players Era Championship. Houston was 8 of 11. Sampson frequently returned to the topic during the postgame news conference.
Orlando's Jalen Suggs ejected in first half after heated altercation with Andre Drummond, 76ers
PHILADELPHIA — The Orlando Magic’s Jalen Suggs was ejected with 27 seconds left in the first half of Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers after receiving two technicals during a heated altercation between the teams.
Philadelphia’s Andre Drummond squared off with Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. near the Magic’s free-throw line, though no punches were thrown.
Suggs came in and shoved Drummond. Philadelphia’s Jabari Walker got in between the players, and Suggs then took issue with Walker and there was more pushing and shoving.
Drummond, Carter, Parker, and Orlando’s Desmond Bane received technical fouls while Suggs received two.
The Magic dominated the second quarter, outscoring Philadelphia by 26 points in the period to take an 86-60 lead at the break.
Another Dan Lanning pregame speech goes viral; Oregon coach says USC is living off its history, then Ducks win
Lanning also said Oregon was wearing black for a "Trojan funeral" ahead of a 42-27 win that effectively eliminated USC from College Football Playoff contention.
If Lane Kiffin leaves Ole Miss for another job before playoff, his absence ‘could be considered’ by CFP selection committee
Ole Miss is No. 7 in the rankings and currently in line to host a home game in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Michigan, Texas can crank heat on CFP bracket with chaos-causing upsets
How much is a win against an undefeated team worth? That’s what Michigan and Texas must be asking after new CFP rankings.