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Lakers vs. Pacers Preview: Five-game home stand

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 26: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After dropping Thursday’s game to the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers will immediately return to Los Angeles where they will begin a five-game home stand, starting with the Pacers on Friday.

This is the first meeting between the two teams this season.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers

When: 7 p.m. PT, Mar 6

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

The Lakers will be greeted back at Crypto.com Arena by a Pacers team that’s currently struggling. The Pacers are lottery-bound and there’s really no reason for them to aim for anything but a top pick at this point of the season. It’s understood league-wide that this season was a gap year for them after Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in the Finals.

That said, the Lakers will still have to earn this one. In fairness to them, they’ve been performing well on the second night of back-to-backs as of late, winning three of their last four. They should win this one simply because they’re the better team. It’s also the perfect opportunity to quickly bounce back after losing a close game in Denver.

Without Haliburton, Indiana ranks dead last in the league in offense. They average just 111.4 points per game and don’t rebound the ball very well. Outside of Pascal Siakam, they don’t have much of a consistent threat on offense. Their defense doesn’t make up for their offense either because they don’t have the pieces to protect the rim, especially with Ivica Zubac out. More notably, Indiana doesn’t have an answer for Los Angeles’ main guys.

That’s why it would be nice to see the Lakers put together a nice bounceback game, one that will begin this crucial five-game home stand on a strong note. Hopefully, they shoot better than they did on Thursday night, especially if this one goes down to the wire.

The Lakers should be able to feast in the paint even more and defend without fouling so much. It’s the defense’s responsibility to make sure that Siakam, Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard don’t play extraordinary well.

One of the perks of the NBA regular season is that there’s always an opportunity to bounce back, especially after losing such a winnable game. Let’s see if the purple and gold can do just on Friday against the Pacers.

Notes and Updates

  • This is the Lakers’ 11th back-to-back this season. After this one, they will play three more.
  • Since the Lakers played on Thursday, there’s no injury report yet.
  • As for the Pacers, Tyrese Halliburton (Achilles injury), Johnny Furphy (right ACL tear), Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain) are all out.
  • Pascal Siakam (left wrist sprain), Aaron Nesmith (right ankle and lower back sprain) and Andrew Nembhard (lower back and neck soreness) are probable.
  • Luka Dončić was called for his 15th technical foul of the season on Thursday against the Nuggets. If he gets called for one more, he will be automatically suspended for one game.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

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John Carlson trade grades: Who won Capitals-Ducks deal?

The Washington Capitals traded longtime defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks early Friday morning in one of the surprise moves of the NHL trade deadline. At least on the surface.

Carlson, 36, has been a career Capital, appearing in 1,143 games for the franchise over 17 seasons after he was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. He owns basically every major franchise record for a defenseman — games played, goals (166), assists (605) and points (771) — and was a key component of the franchise's breakthrough Stanley Cup win in 2018. He finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting three times, including a runner-up finish in 2019-20.

"Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has exemplified what it means to be a Washington Capital every day,” Capitals GM Chris Patrick said in a statement. “John’s determination, leadership, persistence and skill helped our franchise reach new heights and cemented him as a cornerstone and one of the greatest players in Capitals history. His contributions to our organization and the Washington, D.C., community both on and off the ice have been immeasurable.

"We are incredibly grateful for everything John has given to our team and wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward with Anaheim.”

So ... who won the deal?

Capitals trade grade: A-

Sentimentality aside, getting a first-round pick — either this summer if the Ducks make the playoffs or next year — and third-round pick for a 36-year-old defenseman who will be a free agent this summer is a tidy bit of business. The Capitals are just four points out of the playoffs, but they are tied for the most games played in the conference. They made a shrewd decision to throw in the towel in what seems to be a seller's market, earlier on Thursday trading another veteran in Nic Dowd.

The Capitals now have 22 picks in the next three NHL drafts and clearly have their eyes on the future ... which could also see franchise icon Alex Ovechkin depart this summer with the 40-year-old's contract set to expire. A trade of a franchise icon is never fun, but this move helps set the Capitals up for more winning down the road.

Ducks trade grade: B+

This trade feels very much like a win-win as the Ducks are adding a defenseman who can still get it done, particularly on the offensive end. Carlson has been quite productive again this season, scoring 10 goals and dishing 36 assists for 46 points in 55 games. He carries a plus-11 rating.

He also brings loads of playoff experience for a team that hasn’t played spring hockey in a while, having appeared in 137 postseason contests, winning the Stanley Cup in 2018. That's the last year the Ducks made the playoffs. Maybe you'd like to keep your first-round pick, but getting a player like Carlson comes at a price; plus, Anaheim is already oozing with young talent thanks to its years in the wilderness.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Carlson trade grades for Capitals-Ducks deal

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Deandre Ayton exits Suns game with left knee soreness

DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 5: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a layup against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Ball Arena on March 5, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Swann/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Lakers might just be cursed to always have an injury.

After a short string of games where they had a clean injury report, they came away from Thursday’s game against the Nuggets with plenty of bumps and bruises to go along with their loss. Two starters did not finish the game, one being LeBron, who suffered an elbow injury late in the contest.

The other, perhaps more serious injury was Deandre Ayton, who only played the opening 4:30 of the game before leaving with a knee injury. Ayton was eventually ruled out at halftime.

After the game, head coach JJ Redick said Ayton was dealing with left knee soreness, leading to his early exit.

After being asked to clarify, Redick reiterated that it was left knee soreness. That’s relevant because in early February, Ayton dealt with right knee soreness that limited him to one appearance in the team’s four games prior to the All-Star break.

It’s possible this is the same injury resurfacing, but either way, it’s concerning. As much as Ayton has struggled in recent weeks, when he was at his best early in the season, the team was at its best.

That being said, in his absence, Jaxson Hayes looked fantastic against the Nuggets. Maxi Kleber has also had some solid showings in recent games, though he’s been dealing with a back injury. The Lakers found success in Denver with a small ball lineup as well.

While the Lakers do clearly have options they can turn to, any hit to the team’s depth is a blow, especially as they look to make their playoff push.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Player Grades: Lakers vs. Nuggets

DENVER, CO - MARCH 5: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 5, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Morgan Engel/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Don’t let the score fool you. The Lakers never had a shot in this one.

The Nuggets started the game on an 11-0 and never trailed. Anytime LA made a push, Denver responded and closed the door.

When Deandre Ayton played, he was bad, and when Lakers head coach JJ Redick went to players he hadn’t used in a while like Jarred Vanderbilt, it didn’t work.

Besides LeBron James, few Lakers can hold their heads high when looking back at how they played in this game.

So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

LeBron James

34 minutes, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 7-11 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-2 FT, -10

From the beginning, LeBron was excellent in this game. He was pushing into the paint, attacking the basket, and was an active defensive participant.

His elbow injury in the fourth interrupted his play, but he gave the Lakers everything he had.

Grade: A

Luka Dončić

40 minutes, 27 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, 11-24 FG, 3-10 3PT, 2-4 FT, 0

Luka was offensively aggressive in this game and played at his typical level. It was good to see him taking some shots late, though Marcus Smart took a few that would’ve been nice to see Luka or LeBron attempt. Beyond that, though, he was adequate.

Grade: B

Marcus Smart

32 minutes, 9 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 4 fouls, 3-9 FG, 3-6 3PT, +3

On the one hand, Smart played hard and was one of the Lakers who showed up the entire game. On the other hand, the flopping was a bit much and the threes he missed in the final quarter sealed LA’s fate.

Still, other players underperformed and Smart was the only starter who was a positive in the plus-minus.

Grade: B-

Austin Reaves

38 minutes, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, 6-11 FG, 1-2 3PT, 3-4 FT, -4

It was another slow start for Reaves. He had just four points at the half. Reaves improved in the third and fourth quarters, but this was still another game where he had underperformed. This has been a trend over the past seven games, and an end does not seem in sight.

Perhaps since LA plays Indiana next, he’ll look good in a low-stakes contest.

Grade: C

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Rui Hachimura

29 minutes, 16 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 6-9 FG, 4-5 3PT, +10

Hachimura played well. He had some key threes that helped tilt things in LA’s favor, so it’s hard to be frustrated with what he provided.

Grade: B

Jaxson Hayes

27 minutes, 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, 8-10 FG, 3-5 FT, +7

Hayes was fantastic in this game. He was a great screener, was flushing the ball down the hoop with ease and had his best performance of the season.

Grade: A+

Luke Kennard

20 minutes, 8 points, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 3-6 FG, 2-3 3PT, -7

Kennard did what he was supposed to in this game, and that’s knocking down threes, moving the ball and setting screens.

There’s not much more that can or should be asked of him.

Grade: B+

Jake LaRavia

10 minutes, 2 points, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 1-6 FG, 0-3 3PT, -16

If LaRavia isn’t going to knock down his shots, continue to be passive when he’s open and get burnt on defense, then he can take a seat.

Grade: F

Deandre Ayton, Jarred Vanderbilt,

This pair didn’t play long enough to earn a grade, and if they did, it wouldn’t be positive.

JJ Redick

If the Lakers weren’t ready to start this game, that’s going to fall on the coach. Ayton has been making a case to get benched and he hasn’t been. Before he exited the game with a knee injury, he was terrible. These games are tests for the Lakers and they failed.

Grade: D

Thursday’s DNPs: Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero, Kobe Bufkin, Bronny James

Thursday’s inactives: Maxi Kleber, Chris Mañon, Nick Smith Jr, Drew Timme,

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

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Dallas faces Boston, seeks to break 5-game skid

Dallas Mavericks (21-41, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (41-21, second in the Eastern Conference)

Boston; Friday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Celtics -15.5; over/under is 222

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas comes into the matchup with Boston as losers of five games in a row.

The Celtics are 20-10 in home games. Boston is fifth in the NBA with 12.9 offensive rebounds per game led by Neemias Queta averaging 3.0 offensive boards.

The Mavericks are 7-22 on the road. Dallas is 5-7 in one-possession games.

The Celtics average 114.5 points per game, 3.1 fewer points than the 117.6 the Mavericks give up. The Mavericks are shooting 47.0% from the field, 2.9% higher than the 44.1% the Celtics' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Celtics won 110-100 in the last matchup on Feb. 4. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 33 points, and Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 36 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Derrick White is shooting 39.2% and averaging 17.3 points for the Celtics. Brown is averaging 20.3 points over the last 10 games.

Flagg is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 14.9 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 7-3, averaging 108.5 points, 50.2 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 5.5 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.7 points per game.

Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 110.0 points, 42.7 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 6.7 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.6 points.

INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: day to day (achilles).

Mavericks: Brandon Williams: day to day (quadriceps), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Marvin Bagley III: day to day (neck).

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

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Oklahoma City looks for 50th win this season in matchup with Golden State

Golden State Warriors (32-30, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (49-15, first in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City will try to earn its 50th win of the season when the Thunder play the Golden State Warriors.

The Thunder are 34-9 in conference matchups. Oklahoma City has a 3-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Warriors are 22-19 in conference matchups. Golden State is third in the league with 29.2 assists per game led by Draymond Green averaging 5.2.

The Thunder average 118.9 points per game, 4.8 more points than the 114.1 the Warriors allow. The Warriors are shooting 46.1% from the field, 2.5% higher than the 43.6% the Thunder's opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Thunder won the last meeting 131-94 on Jan. 3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points to help lead the Thunder to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cason Wallace is scoring 8.9 points per game and averaging 3.2 rebounds for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 14.2 points and 3.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Green is averaging 8.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski is averaging 16.7 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 8-2, averaging 113.3 points, 45.2 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.5 points per game.

Warriors: 4-6, averaging 112.3 points, 43.5 rebounds, 31.5 assists, 9.9 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.3 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: Alex Caruso: day to day (hip), Ajay Mitchell: day to day (abdomen), Branden Carlson: day to day (back), Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee), Isaiah Hartenstein: day to day (calf).

Warriors: Kristaps Porzingis: day to day (illness), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Gary Payton II: day to day (ankle), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Moses Moody: day to day (wrist), Seth Curry: day to day (back), Will Richard: day to day (ankle).

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

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Phoenix and New Orleans face off for conference showdown

New Orleans Pelicans (20-44, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (35-27, seventh in the Western Conference)

Phoenix; Friday, 9 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Suns -5.5; over/under is 225.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Phoenix Suns host the New Orleans Pelicans in Western Conference action Friday.

The Suns are 24-18 against Western Conference opponents. Phoenix ranks last in the Western Conference scoring 43.5 points per game in the paint.

The Pelicans are 13-28 in Western Conference play. New Orleans is 10-20 in games decided by at least 10 points.

The Suns are shooting 45.2% from the field this season, 2.5 percentage points lower than the 47.7% the Pelicans allow to opponents. The Pelicans average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 fewer makes per game than the Suns allow.

The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Suns won the last matchup 123-114 on Dec. 28. Devin Booker scored 20 points to help lead the Suns to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Collin Gillespie is averaging 13.5 points and 4.8 assists for the Suns. Jalen Green is averaging 12.9 points over the last 10 games.

Trey Murphy III is averaging 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 4-6, averaging 102.7 points, 46.0 rebounds, 23.3 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 40.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.4 points per game.

Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 118.3 points, 45.6 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 8.3 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.9 points.

INJURIES: Suns: Jordan Goodwin: out (calf), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot).

Pelicans: Dejounte Murray: day to day (reconditioning).

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

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Minnesota takes on Orlando, looks for 6th straight win

Orlando Magic (33-28, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-23, third in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Saturday, 3 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota is looking to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Timberwolves take on Orlando.

The Timberwolves are 22-11 on their home court. Minnesota is seventh in the Western Conference with 50.2 points per game in the paint led by Julius Randle averaging 10.3.

The Magic are 13-16 in road games. Orlando is ninth in the Eastern Conference scoring 114.8 points per game and is shooting 46.2%.

The Timberwolves average 14.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 11.6 per game the Magic give up. The Magic are shooting 46.2% from the field, 0.1% lower than the 46.3% the Timberwolves' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Randle is averaging 21.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 3.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Paolo Banchero is scoring 22.0 points per game with 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 25.1 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 59.1% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 8-2, averaging 116.4 points, 43.4 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 9.7 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points per game.

Magic: 6-4, averaging 112.9 points, 42.4 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.2 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Joe Ingles: day to day (personal).

Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Jonathan Isaac: day to day (knee), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).

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

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Indiana faces Los Angeles, seeks to end 7-game skid

Indiana Pacers (15-47, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (37-25, sixth in the Western Conference)

Los Angeles; Friday, 10:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lakers -10; over/under is 234.5

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana comes into the matchup against Los Angeles as losers of seven games in a row.

The Lakers are 18-12 on their home court. Los Angeles is fifth in the Western Conference with 51.5 points per game in the paint led by LeBron James averaging 11.2.

The Pacers are 5-25 on the road. Indiana is 6-5 in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Lakers are shooting 49.9% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point higher than the 48.9% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers' 45.0% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.5 percentage points lower than the Lakers have given up to their opponents (48.5%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Luka Doncic is averaging 32.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists for the Lakers. James is averaging 18.0 points over the last 10 games.

Pascal Siakam is averaging 24 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Micah Potter is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 5-5, averaging 114.5 points, 39.1 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points per game.

Pacers: 2-8, averaging 114.5 points, 40.1 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.6 points.

INJURIES: Lakers: LeBron James: day to day (elbow), Maxi Kleber: day to day (back), Deandre Ayton: day to day (knee).

Pacers: Pascal Siakam: day to day (wrist), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Aaron Nesmith: day to day (ankle), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).

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

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Atlanta takes home win streak into matchup with Philadelphia

Philadelphia 76ers (34-28, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (32-31, 10th in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Saturday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta hosts Philadelphia aiming to extend its four-game home winning streak.

The Hawks have gone 18-21 against Eastern Conference teams. Atlanta ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 51.8 points per game in the paint led by Jalen Johnson averaging 12.3.

The 76ers are 21-20 against conference opponents. Philadelphia ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 16.5 fast break points per game led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 5.6.

The Hawks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 more made shots on average than the 13.2 per game the 76ers give up. The 76ers average 115.8 points per game, 1.5 fewer than the 117.3 the Hawks allow to opponents.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Hawks won 117-107 in the last matchup on Feb. 20.

TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is shooting 49.1% and averaging 22.7 points for the Hawks. Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Maxey is averaging 28.9 points, 6.7 assists and two steals for the 76ers. VJ Edgecombe is averaging 15.4 points and 5.5 rebounds over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 6-4, averaging 118.2 points, 47.8 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 9.9 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.

76ers: 4-6, averaging 111.4 points, 41.6 rebounds, 22.6 assists, 10.3 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.2 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee).

76ers: Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), VJ Edgecombe: day to day (back), Kelly Oubre Jr.: day to day (illness).

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

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San Antonio faces Los Angeles, seeks 7th straight home win

Los Angeles Clippers (30-31, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (45-17, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Spurs -7.5; over/under is 225.5

BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio will try to keep its six-game home win streak intact when the Spurs play Los Angeles.

The Spurs are 26-13 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio ranks third in the Western Conference with 16.5 fast break points per game led by Stephon Castle averaging 2.9.

The Clippers are 19-18 in Western Conference play. Los Angeles ranks fourth in the Western Conference shooting 36.1% from 3-point range.

The 118.2 points per game the Spurs average are 6.2 more points than the Clippers give up (112.0). The Clippers are shooting 48.1% from the field, 3.1% higher than the 45.0% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Victor Wembanyama is averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and three blocks for the Spurs. Devin Vassell is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Kris Dunn is averaging eight points, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 25.8 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 49.7% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 121.3 points, 45.9 rebounds, 31.2 assists, 8.5 steals and 7.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.8 points per game.

Clippers: 6-4, averaging 113.0 points, 42.1 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 9.6 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Harrison Barnes: day to day (ankle), Mason Plumlee: day to day (reconditioning).

Clippers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), John Collins: out (arm), Darius Garland: out (toe).

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

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Ducks Acquire John Carlson from Capitals

Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026, was a big day for the Anaheim Ducks. First, they locked down speedy forward Ryan Poehling to a four-year contract extension. But their biggest move of the day would come several hours later, when they acquired longtime Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson.

Carlson, 36, is in the final year of an eight-year deal that has an AAV of $8 million. The Capitals are receiving a conditional first-round pick in either the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft and a 2027 third-round pick in exchange for Carlson. There is no salary retention involved in the deal and a contract extension has yet to be discussed. Anaheim was also not on Carlson's 10-team no-trade list.

The conditions on the first-round pick are as follows:

The conditional first-round pick shall be Anaheim’s 2026 first-round pick. If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, then Anaheim will retain its 2026 first-round pick and shall instead transfer its 2027 first-round pick to Washington (subject to the Option below).

If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, then Anaheim shall have the option to transfer its 2026 first-round pick to Washington instead of Anaheim’s 2027 first-round pick. To exercise this option, Anaheim shall notify Washington of the option exercise no later than immediately after the selection of the draft pick preceding Anaheim’s first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Jan 5, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) celebrates with teammates after scoring an empty net goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Jan 5, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) celebrates with teammates after scoring an empty net goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Carlson's acquisition solidifies the right side of Anaheim's blue line, giving them three veterans with substantial playoff experience in Carlson, Jacob Trouba and captain Radko Gudas. Combined, the trio has amassed 267 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Trouba has been to three Conference Finals, while Gudas was part of the Florida Panthers team that lost in the Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. Carlson, of course, won a Cup in 2018 against those Golden Knights during their inaugural season.

"John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a press release. "We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch."

Carlson immediately slides in as the Ducks' No. 1 right-handed defenseman and will help stabilize both the power play and penalty kill. At 5v5, his ability to find teammates with outlet passes will be extremely beneficial for head coach Joel Quenneville's squad, who is at their best when they can get into open ice and create off the rush.

One of the league's top defensemen from the past decade, Carlson concludes his Capitals career as their leader in games played, goals and points among defensemen in franchise history.

Carlson's availability for Anaheim's game against the Montréal Canadiens on Friday is unclear. More will be known following their morning skate.

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Ducks acquire veteran defenseman John Carlson in trade with Capitals

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) in action during the third period.
John Carlson controls the puck during a game between the Washington Capitals and Ducks on Jan. 5. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)

The Ducks bolstered their blueline Thursday night in anticipation of ending their long playoff drought, acquiring veteran defenseman John Carlson in a trade with the Washington Capitals.

In exchange for Carlson, the Ducks will send a conditional first-round pick (2026 or 2027 draft) and a third-round pick (2027) to Washington.

Carlson, who played an integral part of the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup win and is a former Norris Trophy runner-up for the NHL's top defenseman, should bring a veteran presence to a young Ducks team that is on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Read more:Ryan Poehling agrees to four-year contract extension with Ducks

“John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. “We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch.”

Set to become a free agent this offseason, Carlson had 10 goals and 46 points in 55 games with the Capitals this season. He led all Washington skaters in ice time, averaging more than 23 minutes per game.

Carlson, however, has not played since Feb. 5 because of a lower-body injury. It's unclear when he might make his Ducks debut, but was practicing with the Capitals before the trade. When he does get into the lineup, he'll join Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas as part of a formidable right-side defensive trio for the Ducks.

In 1,143 career games over 17 seasons entirely with Washington, Carlson recorded 771 points (166 goals, 605 assists) — ranking him 24th all-time among NHL defensemen. He also had 78 points in 137 playoff games. A two-time All-Star, Carlson played for the U.S. at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games and in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He also scored the winning goal for the U.S. in the 2010 World Junior Championship.

The Ducks are second in the Pacific Division and have won 13 of their last 16 games. They face the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and the St. Louis Blues on Sunday before embarking on a four-game Canadian road trip.

The Carlson deal was finalized roughly 14 hours before Friday's NHL trade deadline at noon PST.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Kings Dominate Islanders As Artemi Panarin Scores First Goal On Kopitar's Historic Night

The Los Angeles Kings (25-22-14) controlled the ice from the opening faceoff Thursday night, outshooting the New York Islanders (35-23-5) 19-5 in the first period and getting Artemi Panarin’s first goal with the franchise in a 1-0 start, prevailing to a 5-3 victory.

Los Angeles led the game for the entire time tonight, forcing 14 Islanders giveaways and sparking an impressive defensive effort to never give the Islanders a chance to make a run. 

Los Angeles, from the opening tip, was very physical and played with tempo, outscoring the Islanders 19-5 in the first period, and defensively were forechecking the puck. It was a quality win by the Kings against an Islanders team that is a top-three team in the Metropolitan Division.  

The start came at 16:43 in the first period when Artemi Panarin scored his first goal as a member of the Kings after finding himself completely unmarked from roughly ten feet from the net. 

Panarin was very patient when he got the puck and shot the puck when there was an open look at the net past Ilya Sorokin to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. 

A big milestone was recorded tonight by Anze Kopitar, who was honored midway through the first period for playing in his 1,500th NHL game. The milestone makes Kopitar just the 25th player in league history to reach 1,500 games and only the eighth to do so with a single franchise.

Panarin's goal continued a long history of success against the Islanders, as he picked up his 19th career goal in 41 games against New York, along with 29 assists. 

Los Angeles kept the pressure throughout the remainder of the period, holding a 1-0 lead to end the first. It should've been a much bigger lead because the Kings were generating a lot of good looks, but the Islanders' goaltender Sorokin was sharp, allowing no stick-on goal in the period. 

In the second period, New York had plenty of power play opportunities to tie the game and even extend a lead, but it was very bad tonight, finishing 0/3, which even gave the Kings a chance to score twice on their power play. 

Midway through the second period, the Kings extended their lead. 

At 5:40 of the second, Samuel Helenius scored his fourth goal of the season, finishing the nice play off the assist from Jeff Malott and Taylor Ward, giving Los Angeles a 2-0 lead. 

The Kings' fourth line was very impressive, giving good offense and energy from their young guys. Defensively, the team was strong tonight as well, led by Brandt Clarke. The Kings' energy was great, with forechecking pressure that made it tough for the Islanders to score. 

Just over a minute after Helenius scored, defender Mikey Anderson got on the board, scoring his third goal of the season to extend the lead to 3-0.  Drew Doughty and Adrian Kempe picked up assists on the goal as Anderson’s shot found its way past Sorokin with Kopitar providing a strong screen in front.

The Islanders, though, finally scored a miraculous goal with under one second remaining in the period, after winning a faceoff, Bo Horvat quickly snapped the shot to score his 26th goal of the season, a defensive breakdown from the Kings, clearly thinking it was off.  

Still, the Kings didn't look fazed at all, and quickly built their lead in the third period after playing a near-perfect second period before giving up that late goal. 

Two minutes into the final frame, Alex Laferriere scored a power-play goal to restore the three-goal lead, going coast-to-coast, snapping his shot inside the post on the blocker side, giving Los Angeles a commanding 4-1 lead. 

The Islanders still kept fighting, answering two minutes later with a shorthanded goal, after a two-on-one rush by Adam Pelech, finishing the play to once again trim the lead down to two.  

It didn't matter because every time the Islanders looked to have gained momentum and trimmed the lead, the Kings would quickly answer back with a big play on the ice. 

At the 8:30 mark of the period, Adrian Kempe tipped a shot in front of the net to make it 5-2 Kings off the nice rush and feed from Clarke and Panarin. Clarke picked up his second assist of the night on the play, while Panarin recorded his second point of the game. 

The Islanders would convert on a late goal after Emil Heineman scored off the deflection by Matthew Schaefer, with just two minutes remaining in regulation. But, the comeback would fall short, as the Kings would hold on down the stretch and secure the 5-3 victory at home. 

Key Stats

Darcy Kuemper finished with 31 saves on 34 shots, finally playing a very good game coming off the Olympic break and injury. Meanwhile, Los Angeles finished with 35 shots to the Islanders' 34 and finished 1/3 on the power play, holding New York to 0/3. 

Panarin and Kempe were both great for the Kings tonight, with each leading the team with two points, one goal, and one assist. Kopitar's milestone was also a great watch for the fans sitting in attendance at Crypto.com Arena, celebrating the historic King for all the great moments he's given to us over the years. 

For Los Angeles, this is a great win because, coming off the Olympic break, they were 1-3 and looking like a team on the verge of giving up on the season, but a win like tonight could spark some momentum for them. 

The Kings' next matchup will be against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, March 7, at 7:00 PM EST. 

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Lakers drop nail-biter to Nuggets to kick off tough stretch of opponents

LeBron James #23 drives to the basket against the Denver Nuggets.
DENVER, CO – MARCH 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 5, 2026 at Ball...

DENVER — Even with both teams eventually down multiple key players, Thursday night at Ball Arena was the Lakers’ biggest test against a potential Western Conference playoff team in nearly a month.

And they learned more about what it’ll take to compete with the other top teams in the West, falling to the Nuggets 120-113 to kick off a stretch in which the quality of competition to picking up.

The Lakers never led on Thursday, with the Nuggets pulling off the wire-to-wire win in a game they led by 15 points.

Nikola Jokić and Austin Reaves watching Luka Dončić after he was hit in the face by the ball. AP

Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 27 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals, making multiple shots to keep his team in the game. 

But the Lakers were outscored 8-2 in the final two minutes to leave Denver with the loss. 

Austin Reaves finished with 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

LeBron James had 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds, including moving ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most made field goals in NBA history, but was dealing with a left elbow injury late in the game after taking a fall on a layup attempt in the fourth. 

Jaxson Hayes stepped up after starting center Deandre Ayton left the game with left knee soreness, with Hayes finishing with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and five rebounds in 28 minutes.

The Nuggets jumped out to a 15-2 lead with the Lakers lacking energy early.

They outscored the Nuggets 110-106 over the final 43 ½ minutes after Ayton subbed out with the knee injury.

“We talked about the sense of urgency, the importance of this game pregame, we talked about our physicality, took us a little bit of time to do that,” coach JJ Redick said. “It’s difficult against good teams to spot them…13 points. Our group showed a lot of resiliency, did some really good things.”

Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds. Jamal Murray added 28 points and seven assists.

LeBron James goes up for a layup against the Nuggets. NBAE via Getty Images

What it means

The Lakers will stay at the No. 6 spot in the West, moving further behind the No. 5 Nuggets (39-24).

They dropped to 37-25 on the season.

Turning point

When Reaves split a pair of free throws with 2:05 remaining.

The Lakers would’ve tied the game at 112 apiece if Reaves made both, but they trailed 112-111 after he missed the second attempt, with Jokic making a driving hook shot on the Nuggets’ ensuing possession to start a 6-0 run. 

Nikola Jokic drives to the basket against the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images

MVP: Nikola Jokic

Even on a night he didn’t play the best, Jokic still had a triple-double and shot 10 of 15 from the field. 

Stat of the game: 15

That’s how many technical fouls Doncic has been assessed this season after picking up another technical in the second quarter on Thursday.

After going almost 1 ½ months across 14 games without a technical foul, Doncic picked up his 14th during Tuesday’s home win over the Pelicans.

Luka Doncic received another technical foul, raising his season total to 15. AP

“He’s aware that he’s close,” coach JJ Redick said ahead of Thursday’s game. “And I think he’s… He’s trying.”

If Doncic is assessed another technical for his 16th of the season, he’ll have to serve a one-game suspension by league rule. 

Up next

The Lakers will close out the back-to-back set when they return to Southern California on Friday.

They’ll host the Pacers at Crypto.com Arena to kick off a five-game homestand.