Ahead of his blockbuster Madison Square Garden clash with Shakur Stevenson on Saturday night, boxing’s most mercurial star reflects on pressure, purpose and parenthood
Teófimo López’s boxing career has unfolded in untidy extremes, and few places have captured those contradictions like Madison Square Garden. It’s the building where he boat-raced Richard Commey inside two rounds to win his first world title aged 22, saw his fast track to superstardom abruptly derailed as a heavy favorite, then returned two years later to dismantle Josh Taylor as the underdog and stamp himself as a two-division champion. Now on Saturday night, when he defends his junior welterweight title against Shakur Stevenson in a clash of arguably the two best American fighters active today, the Garden may finally make it clear which version of López is here to stay.
“It’s the magnitude of it all,” says López, one of boxing’s most charismatic and mercurial personalities, filling my screen with warmth and effortless third-person bravado during the final days of his training camp in Hollywood, Florida. “Who’s going to really set the tone for the sport? You’ve got Shakur Stevenson, who wants that baton, and you’ve got Teófimo López who believes he’s the better representation for boxing.”
Happy birthday to Andre Iguodala, the man who helped the Golden State Warriors unlock a dynasty.
On his special day, with the Warriors scrambling to replace Jimmy Butler and contemplating trading Jonathan Kuminga possibly back to Miami for Andrew Wiggins, there’s no better moment to recognize what we lost when Iguodala retired. Because the truth is simple: the Warriors have been searching for another Iguodala since he retired, and they still haven’t found him.
In July 2013, Andre Iguodala turned down more money from Denver to join the Warriors on a four-year, $48 million deal. That single decision separated the Warriors from “cute story” to “championship contender.” His pedigree legitimized everything Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were building. When an All-Star caliber player chooses your young, unproven team over a bigger payday, people pay attention.
Then he backed it up by winning Finals MVP in 2015, holding LeBron James to 38.1% shooting when guarding him compared to 44% against other defenders. That wasn’t just about defense. That was about identity. The role player who sacrificed his ego won the biggest individual award of the championship run. That was the Warriors Way crystallized. Here’s what made Iguodala special: he came off the bench for Harrison Barnes without destroying the locker room. An All-Star, a franchise centerpiece in Philadelphia, willingly accepted a reduced role because Coach Steve Kerr believed it gave the team the best chance to win.
Most players would have demanded a trade. Iguodala absorbed the tough situation privately, then went out and delivered when the Warriors needed him most. When Golden State fell behind 2-1 to Cleveland in the 2015 Finals, Kerr inserted him into the starting lineup and Iguodala kept LeBron from averaging 80 points, helping the Warriors win three straight games and capture their first championship.
That’s championship DNA. That’s what separates good players from dynasty builders.
When Kevin Durant arrived, the Warriors added otherworldly talent and complicated emotional dynamics. He was the guy Kerr referred to as the adult in the room, a level headed veteran who could lead with both his play on the court and his spirit behind the scenes.
He was the Swiss Army knife alternating between being a highflyer, clutch shooter, and primary playmaker over eight seasons while guarding the opponent’s best player. But his real value was leadership. He mentored young players like Moses Moody, Kuminga, and Wiggins during his final Warriors stint in 2021-23. When the Warriors won their fourth championship in 2022, Iguodala was taking a backseat yet again to his younger teammates. But his presence, his voice, his example carried through the entire run.
Remember when the Warriors retired his jersey last year, making him only the seventh Warriors player to have the honor? He joined Wilt Chamberlain (No. 13), Chris Mullin (No. 17), Nate Thurmond (No. 42), Alvin Attles (No. 16), Rick Barry (No. 24) and Tom Meschery (No. 14) up in the rafters. The cosmic poetry of Jimmy Butler making his Warriors debut on the night Iguodala’s jersey was retired felt like a passing of the torch. Butler, who played alongside Iguodala in Miami, embodied similar qualities: the calm in the chaos, the defensive anchor, the unselfish star.
Butler helped the Warriors get a first round playoff series win in a supporting role to Curry, before his ACL exploded this season. And suddenly Golden State is back to an all too familiar space, desperately searching for someone who can fill the Iguodala-shaped hole in their roster.
Pretty good chance they won’t find him. Not because there aren’t great wings in the league, but because Iguodala’s greatness wasn’t just his skill set. It was his spirit, his timing, his willingness to sacrifice, his ability to lead without needing credit. That’s the standard. That’s what every trade, every signing, every draft pick has been chasing. And that’s what makes Iguodala’s legacy etched in stone, even as the Warriors struggle to find the next wing to carry that honor forward.
Happy birthday, Andre. We’re still trying to figure out how to replace you. We probably never will.
Arrest follows lawsuit and cancelled Jake Paul bout
Gervonta Davis, a three-division world champion and one of boxing’s biggest stars, was taken into custody in Miami on Wednesday, nearly two weeks after police issued an arrest warrant accusing the fighter of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident last fall.
Miami Gardens police said Davis was apprehended following a multi-day surveillance operation conducted across three counties in coordination with the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force. Authorities said he was arrested without incident in Miami’s Design District and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center late Wednesday night.
CLEVELAND — As LeBron James made the trip to Rocket Arena before the Lakers’ Wednesday night blowout loss to the Cavaliers, he couldn’t help but wonder the same thing everyone else was.
Could that have been James’ last NBA game in Cleveland, and should he soak it in even more than usual?
“That’s every road arena that I’ve been in,” James said. “I think [I’ve] talked about that, that I’m just trying to take everything in, not take the moments for granted. Because it could be [my last season].”
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Getty Images
James, who’s 41 years old and playing in his league-record 23rd NBA season, reiterated that he doesn’t know what the future will hold for him beyond this season.
He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
“I obviously haven’t made a decision on the future, but it very well could be [my last season]. So, no matter if it’s here or going to Washington and playing the next game, [Madison Square] Garden, Barclays [Center], on this trip. And obviously it means a little bit more here for me personally because I grew up 35 minutes south of here.”
James, and the Lakers, struggled on Wednesday night.
The four-time league MVP finished with just 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting to go with six turnovers, five assists and three rebounds.
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And the 129-99 final score was the Lakers’ largest margin of defeat in a game this season. They were outscored by the Cavaliers 99-59 in the game’s final 32 minutes, including 72-44 in the second half, after having a 40-30 lead early in the third.
“We got outplayed, you can say, I got outcoached,” coach JJ Redick said. “We just didn’t look like we had all our juice.”
Despite the lackluster performance that dropped the Lakers to 28-18, there was a bright spot outside of the tribute video the Cavaliers had for James in the first quarter: second-year guard Bronny James scoring eight points — a dunk in transition and a pair of 3-pointers in the game’s final 3 ½ minutes after the Cleveland chanted “We want Bron-ny” multiple times during the fourth quarter.
Bronny, 21, was born in Akron, Ohio like his father. He spent many years around the Cavaliers during the elder James’ two stints with the organization from 2003-2010 and 2014-18.
“It was pretty cool just sitting over there and watching him just continue to live out his dream,” LeBron said of Bronny. “Obviously it’s a homecoming for him/ And to see him get that fastbreak dunk, hit a couple shots, get the ovation from the fans – it’s a pretty cool moment for him, for us as a family, for my wife and his siblings. Just super cool.”
LeBron added: “And my mom is here watching her son and her grandson. Like, I don’t even know how to even wrap that all in one in my brain. And yeah, it’s so weird and so cool and so surreal. My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson play in the NBA at the same time. I actually just started to think about how insane that is. That’s awesome.”
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James goes up for a dunk in Cleveland on Wednesday. AP
But regardless of Wednesday’s result, James’ future was always going to be the main focus coming out of the game against the Cavaliers.
“After going to eight straight Finals and with all the energy and all the mental toll and the physical toll that it took on me and obviously my teammates – four in Miami, four [in Cleveland – if you would’ve asked me if I was going to be playing eight years later, I’d have said no,” James said. “It’s just, there’s no way I could have foreseen that. A couple more years? Yeah. I can go out and play at a high level for a couple more years. But eight years? No.”
LeBron James drives to the basket during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. NBAE via Getty Images
Most team and league personnel aren’t expecting for James to retire after this season — though it’s uncertain whether he’d continue his career with the Lakers.
But if James does decide to retire, he would’ve done so without a proper farewell tour.
“I have not even thought to the point of a farewell tour or whatever the case may be,” James said. “Because I haven’t had the conversation with myself and my family on when is it over? So I think that will come after that.”
When James does have his internal dialogues, they come back to why he’s still playing – a question he has a consistent answer for.
“My why has been that I’m still playing this game at a high level and I still love the process,” he said. “The process of putting in the work, inspiring, giving what I got to the game because I’ll have more years in my life without it than with it to be able to inspire. I’m not talking about even me personally. I’ve done well for myself on a personal note.
“Now, obviously, the question gets asked more and the thought creeps in my mind more at 41 years old of when the end is and where’s the finish line for us to hang this thing up. But how much juice can I squeeze out of this orange? I’m in a battle with Father Time and I’m taking it personal, and I’m seeing how many more times I could be victorious over him. I won’t be one of those guys that won’t be able to walk off the court, that’s for sure.”
Memphis Grizzlies (18-27, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (12-37, 15th in the Western Conference)
New Orleans; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Memphis hits the road against New Orleans looking to end its five-game road skid.
The Pelicans are 6-26 against Western Conference opponents. New Orleans is seventh in the Western Conference in rebounding averaging 44.0 rebounds. Derik Queen paces the Pelicans with 7.4 boards.
The Grizzlies are 14-15 in Western Conference play. Memphis ranks fourth in the Western Conference with 34.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Zach Edey averaging 7.2.
The Pelicans average 114.4 points per game, 1.9 fewer points than the 116.3 the Grizzlies allow. The Grizzlies average 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 fewer made shots on average than the 14.8 per game the Pelicans allow.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Pelicans won 133-127 in the last matchup on Jan. 24.
TOP PERFORMERS: Queen is shooting 48.4% and averaging 12.1 points for the Pelicans. Trey Murphy III is averaging 24.0 points over the last 10 games.
Cam Spencer is scoring 11.7 points per game and averaging 2.7 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 21.0 points and 6.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 4-6, averaging 114.3 points, 46.9 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.4 points per game.
Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 110.5 points, 46.4 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 7.3 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.1 points.
INJURIES: Pelicans: Dejounte Murray: out (leg).
Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Santi Aldama: out (knee), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Ty Jerome: out (calf), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Toronto Raptors (29-20, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (24-22, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Orlando, Florida; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Toronto will try to keep its four-game road win streak alive when the Raptors face Orlando.
The Magic have gone 16-17 against Eastern Conference teams. Orlando ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 44.2 rebounds. Paolo Banchero leads the Magic with 8.8 boards.
The Raptors are 22-13 in Eastern Conference play. Toronto ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference scoring 52.3 points per game in the paint led by Scottie Barnes averaging 11.4.
The Magic are shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points higher than the 46.2% the Raptors allow to opponents. The Raptors average 113.6 points per game, 2.0 fewer than the 115.6 the Magic give up to opponents.
The teams play for the second time this season. The Raptors won the last matchup 107-106 on Dec. 30, with Jamal Shead scoring 19 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Banchero is shooting 46.2% and averaging 21.9 points for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 18.1 points over the last 10 games.
Barnes is scoring 19.4 points per game and averaging 8.3 rebounds for the Raptors. Immanuel Quickley is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 4-6, averaging 109.5 points, 43.2 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.2 points per game.
Raptors: 6-4, averaging 111.5 points, 43.8 rebounds, 29.6 assists, 8.0 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.6 points.
INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).
Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: out (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte is looking to keep its four-game win streak intact when the Hornets take on Dallas.
The Mavericks are 14-13 on their home court. Dallas has a 5-5 record in one-possession games.
The Hornets have gone 11-15 away from home. Charlotte scores 116.2 points and has outscored opponents by 1.6 points per game.
The Mavericks are shooting 47.2% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 47.5% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets are shooting 46.4% from the field, 0.2% higher than the 46.2% the Mavericks' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: P.J. Washington is shooting 45.3% and averaging 14.3 points for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 20.3 points over the last 10 games.
LaMelo Ball is shooting 40.6% and averaging 19.0 points for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 117.7 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.2 points per game.
Hornets: 7-3, averaging 119.2 points, 49.6 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.8 points.
INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: out (hand), Klay Thompson: out (knee), Cooper Flagg: out (injury management).
Hornets: Mason Plumlee: out (groin).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Miami faces Chicago in Eastern Conference action Thursday.
The Bulls are 15-16 against conference opponents. Chicago is 13-12 against opponents over .500.
The Heat are 12-13 in Eastern Conference play. Miami is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 28.5 assists per game led by Davion Mitchell averaging 7.2.
The Bulls' 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.7 more made shots on average than the 13.9 per game the Heat give up. The Heat average 119.8 points per game, equal to what the Bulls give up.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Heat won the last matchup 143-107 on Nov. 22, with Kel'el Ware scoring 20 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nikola Vucevic is averaging 17 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Bulls. Coby White is averaging 17.7 points over the last 10 games.
Bam Adebayo is averaging 18 points and 9.7 rebounds for the Heat. Simone Fontecchio is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 6-4, averaging 119.9 points, 43.6 rebounds, 31.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points per game.
Heat: 5-5, averaging 120.9 points, 48.0 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.4 points.
INJURIES: Bulls: Jalen Smith: out (concussion ), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe), Tre Jones: out (hamstring), Kevin Huerter: out (back), Josh Giddey: out (hamstring).
Heat: Tyler Herro: day to day (toe), Davion Mitchell: out (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Portland Trail Blazers (23-25, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (29-18, second in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: New York will try to continue its four-game win streak with a victory over Portland.
The Knicks have gone 18-6 in home games. New York leads the Eastern Conference in rebounding, averaging 46.3 boards. Karl-Anthony Towns leads the Knicks with 11.6 rebounds.
The Trail Blazers are 10-14 on the road. Portland allows 117.4 points to opponents and has been outscored by 1.9 points per game.
The Knicks are shooting 47.0% from the field this season, the same percentage the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 14.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up.
The two teams play for the second time this season. The Knicks defeated the Trail Blazers 123-114 in their last meeting on Jan. 11. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 26 points, and Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 25 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Towns is averaging 20.2 points and 11.6 rebounds for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals over the last 10 games.
Donovan Clingan is scoring 11.3 points per game and averaging 11.2 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 22.6 points and 5.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 5-5, averaging 109.4 points, 48.2 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.8 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 5-5, averaging 111.8 points, 47.6 rebounds, 21.9 assists, 9.2 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.1 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Miles McBride: out (ankle), Mitchell Robinson: out (ankle).
Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson: day to day (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle: out (knee), Robert Williams III: day to day (injury management), Blake Wesley: out (foot), Duop Reath: day to day (foot), Kris Murray: day to day (back), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes Minnesota and Oklahoma City will play on Thursday.
The Timberwolves are 16-14 in conference play. Minnesota ranks fifth in the Western Conference in rebounding averaging 45.0 rebounds. Rudy Gobert paces the Timberwolves with 11.2 boards.
The Thunder are 7-2 against the rest of their division. Oklahoma City has a 2-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Timberwolves make 48.1% of their shots from the field this season, which is 5.1 percentage points higher than the Thunder have allowed to their opponents (43.0%). The Thunder average 6.4 more points per game (120.5) than the Timberwolves allow (114.1).
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Timberwolves won 112-107 in the last meeting on Dec. 20. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 26 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 22.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Timberwolves. Edwards is averaging 21.3 points over the past 10 games.
Chet Holmgren is scoring 17.9 points per game and averaging 8.7 rebounds for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 4-6, averaging 115.3 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 9.1 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points per game.
Thunder: 7-3, averaging 116.8 points, 42.6 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 7.6 steals and 7.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.0 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (foot).
Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (hip), Nikola Topic: out (groin), Jalen Williams: out (thigh), Alex Caruso: out (adductor), Cason Wallace: day to day (hip), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Houston Rockets came into Thursday night’s game boasting the NBA’s best home record at 15-3. Early in the matchup against the Spurs it looked as if the Rockets would be cruising their way to a 16th home win. The Rockets shot nearly 50-percent from the field in the first half. The ball movement was crisp, the Rockets were getting good looks and knocking them down. At one point the Rockets led by 16 points.
The Rockets had gotten Victor Wembanyama into foul trouble, and he was forced to spend most of the third quarter on the bench with 4 fouls. Advantage Spurs. They scored 30 points in the third quarter outscoring the Rockets 30 to 24 trimming the Rockets lead to just two points going into the final period. All of the ball movement and player movement that served the Rockets so well in the first half disappeared as San Antonio’s defensive intensity picked up significantly, thanks in large part to the efforts of Stephon Castle, who spent time guarding Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant.
In the fourth quarter it all fell apart. The Rockets “offense” turned into looking around for Kevin Durant or Sengun to get themselves free to go one-on-five with the Spurs while the others either watched or turned the ball over. The Rockets did not score a single field goal in the fourth until 5:46 to go in the quarter. They would finish having only scored 13 points on 4 made shots from the field. The Rockets shot 28-percent in the second half, ending the game at 39.4 percent. The offensive struggles lead to poor effort on the defensive end. The Spurs finished the game with 72 points in the paint and 38 points off the bench.
Not a single Rockets starter was a positive plus/minus in the game. Alperen Sengun scored 18 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, but he had to work extra hard for all of it. Kevin Durant scored 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting but he also had trouble finding a rhythm in the fourth quarter along with all of his teammates. Amen Thompson was great for three quarters, and then the Spurs switched Wembanyama to his primary defender and he looked flustered and unsure how to respond. He finished with 25 points but only had 2 points in the final quarter.
Wembanyama ended up with 28 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots. Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson both scored 16 and 17 points respectively. For the second time this season the San Antonio Spurs looked like the best team in Texas. The Rockets will continue to deal with the narrative of needing a veteran point guard in order to seriously compete for a NBA title this season, and this game will likely be submitted as evidence supporting that. The Rockets head to Atlanta to take on the Hawks on Friday night for the second game of this back-to-back.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Tyler Bilodeau had 18 points, Eric Daily Jr. had his second double-double this season, and UCLA beat short-handed Oregon 73-57 on Wednesday night to extend the Ducks' losing streak to seven games.
Dailey finished with 14 points and a career-high tying 11 rebounds. Donovan Dent scored 11 of his 15 in the second half for UCLA (15-6, 7-3 Big Ten) and Trent Perry, who was scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting before halftime, added 12 points.
The Bruins have won three in a row and five of their last six.
Kwame Evans Jr. led Oregon (8-13, 1-9) with 24 points, which included four 3-pointers, and nine rebounds. Nate Bittle, Jackson Shelstad and Takai Simpkins — who are first (16.3 per game), second (15.6) and fourth (12.4), respectively, on the team in scoring this season — did not play for the Ducks due to injuries.
Evans made a layup to open the scoring 10 seconds into the game but UCLA scored the next eight points to take the lead for good. Bilodeau scored seven points in a 13-2 run that made it 26-13 with 7:08 left in the first half.
The Ducks, who started 1-of-11 shooting, shot just 25% (8 of 32) from the field, 4 of 17 (24%) from 3-point range, in the first half.
UCLA has won four straight in the series and is 98-42 against the Ducks.
Dailey threw down an alley-oop dunk that gave UCLA its biggest lead at 44-24 with 16:46 left in the game. Evans scored the Ducks' first seven points in a 12-2 run that trimmed the deficit to 10 about 3 1/2 minutes later, but Oregon got no closer.
UCLA made 20 of 23 from the free-throw line, where the Ducks went 6 of 9.
The Golden State Warriors got back in the win column on Wednesday night, with an emphatic 140-124 win over the Utah Jazz. It was perhaps the team’s most balanced win of the year, as nine different players scored at least nine points.
Let’s grade those nine, as well as the rest of the players who donned a Dubs jersey on Wednesday. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Wednesday’s games, league-average TS was 58.0%.
This was a virtually perfect Moody game, in which he blended his expert role player ability with something a little more. He made his presence felt immediately in this game by absolutely going to work, especially in the paint. He was a force to be reckoned with, keeping possessions alive, out-physicaling his opponents, and muscling his way to the rim and to the line.
He kept it going later in the game with a slew of triples and some timely buckets, all while playing completely lock-down defense. One of the best games he’s ever played.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.
A vintage Draymond game! He didn’t score a single point, and yet felt like one of the best players on the court. Awesome defense and tremendous playmaking. I have to dock him for the three turnovers and for taking as many shots as he did without making one, but he was part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Steve Kerr said after the game that Horford will likely stay in the starting lineup going forward (they do have five back-to-backs left, so he won’t be able to start every game). It’s not hard to see why: the Warriors are simply better when Horford is on the court.
I’ve long felt that Horford would be a great match for the Warriors’ systems, and we’re now seeing that in full force. It’s clear that Al is growing more and more comfortable, and thriving as he does. The passes he made in this game were sensational, as was the interior defense, which kept Utah from getting easy looks at the rim, and led to Jusuf Nurkić having a difficult game.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists.
Podz didn’t have a great start to this game, as he made a few sloppy mistakes in the opening minutes. And then he put that behind him and went out and had a spectacular game. There was a bit of Draymond in him, as he flirted with a triple-double, injected the team with energy, and didn’t need to score to be effective (though he ended up with double-digits on excellent efficiency anyway).
He was crafty, he was a beast on the glass, and he set up his teammates all night long. Great game.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.
Curry had some extremely aggravating turnovers in this game, especially early in the contest. And honestly, he didn’t do much in the game other than score.
But my goodness did he score. He scored and scored and scored, and he did so with spectacular efficiency. Most importantly, he seemed to score every time the Jazz threatened to make the score close.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in points.
Melton did a little bit of everything in this game, for better and also for worse. He got the Dubs into their offensive systems. He made some clutch buckets. He played great defense with extremely active hands. He turned the ball over a lot. He played uncharacteristically out of control.
He is perhaps the only player on the Warriors other than Curry who still has a positive impact even when he doesn’t play as well as we expect, because he does so many little things and quarterbacks the team on both ends of the court. He made some great things happen in this game, but he made some pretty bad things happen as well.
Santos did all the little things on the court in this game … and some of the big things, too. It seemed like he was everywhere on the court. Loose ball? Gui is grabbing it. Rebound up for grabs? Gui is knocking some body to the ground and batting the ball to a teammate. Jazz player is driving or passing? Gui is disrupting it.
Doesn’t hurt when you shoot 6-for-7 from the field, either, but Santos’ game was so much more than that. Tremendous performance across the board.
Post may have lost his starting role to Horford, but this was one of his best games in a long time, and I’m excited to watch him develop into a weapon off the bench. His defense, which was so strong early in the year, returned for this game, and he continued to show improvement rebounding the ball. All while making it rain from deep.
Richard’s offense has been mostly nonexistent lately … but not on Wednesday. On Wednesday he was a crucial part of the offense, and his points were as timely as they were efficient. And he did it all while being an absolute pest on defense once more … this was, remarkably, his fourth consecutive game with at least three steals, and he has 15 total during that span.
He’s just such a good player, even though the turnovers were uncharacteristic.
Hield did exactly what he’s paid to do: scored in a flurry when the Warriors needed it. He opened the second quarter with back-to-back threes, and quickly had 11 points in the quarter as the Dubs took total control. A good passing game for him, too.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team.
Spencer is quickly approaching his two-way contract maximum for games played. We’ll see if the Warriors make a deadline trade that will allow them to roster him.
Grade: Incomplete
Wednesday’s DNP-CDs: Gary Payton II
Wednesday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, LJ Cryer, Seth Curry, Jonathan Kuminga
Lakers star Luka Doncic, who's being guarded by the Cavaliers' Nae'qwan Tomlin, suffered a leg injury in the first quarter Wednesday when he slipped off the elevated court in Cleveland, once again raising safety concerns. (Jason Miller / Getty Images)
Luka Doncic grabbed at his left leg. He immediately thought of Dru Smith. The Miami Heat guard’s knee injury suffered in 2023 when he slipped off the side of the Cleveland Cavaliers court haunted Doncic while he winced in pain near the Lakers bench.
The Lakers superstar avoided serious injury after falling off the side of the Cavaliers’ raised court on Monday, but the threat of a player being hurt by Cleveland’s unique 10-inch drop off between the court and the arena floor came into focus again during the Lakers’ 129-99 loss to the Cavaliers.
“It is absolutely a safety hazard,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after Doncic was able to return later in the first quarter. “And I don't know why it's still like that. I don't. You know, you can lodge formal complaints. A lot of times you don't see any change when you lodge a formal complaint.”
Doncic was injured shooting a fadeaway three with 7:58 left in the first quarter. He was hopping on one foot after releasing the shot and hopped right off the platform, grabbing immediately for his left leg. When he hobbled to the locker room, Doncic could barely put any weight on his leg.
But he returned with 1:32 remaining in the first quarter and finished with 29 points, six assists and five rebounds. He didn’t have any additional braces or wraps on his left leg, but he said he didn’t feel quite 100%.
“I kind of got scared,” Doncic said. “It wasn't a great feeling and looking back at the video I think I got a little bit lucky. It hurts obviously more now, but, just, I tried to go."
Smith was injured much more severely in 2023 when he was closing out on defense, landed on a stat sheet and slipped over the edge. He suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament sprain in the accident, and the Heat contacted the NBA to express concerns about the floor at the time.
“It’s tough to see another player get hurt on this court, with the fall, with the drop off,” Lakers guard Gabe Vincent said Monday, “so hopefully something can get fixed with that, but we’re fortunate that [Doncic] is OK.”
Cleveland’s Rocket Arena, which opened in 1994 and was last renovated in 2019, is also home to the Cleveland Monsters, an American Hockey League affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The basketball court is raised to accommodate the ice underneath the floor. But several teams in the NBA, including the Lakers, share their arena with hockey teams and none have a court that drops off like Cleveland’s.
“It's the only court like this so, I guess it's my fault,” Doncic said. “I [gotta] stop jumping like that."
The Lakers have history with concerning courts this year. In November, Doncic said during a postgame news conference that the Lakers’ custom NBA Cup court used during a home game against the Clippers was dangerously slippery. The team flagged the problem to the league and the Lakers did not use the court again because it was not deemed safe for play in time for the other NBA Cup games.
But when asked if there was a way he could bring the latest problem up with the league, Doncic demurred.
“I don’t know,” Doncic said, “don’t involve me in that.”
Similarly, Redick said any changes would be "way above my pay grade.”
After a rare, mid-season extended break from games due to their plane freezing to the runway after their loss to the Lakers, Dallas must get right back to work by hosting the Charlotte Hornets for a game that will be the second night of a back-to-back for both teams.
For Dallas, Cooper Flagg and Klay Thompson missed Tuesday’s matchup against the Timberwolves with what the injury report called a knee injury, but assuming they’re both ready to go for this one, they should be some of the freshest legs on the court. While is good because…
KONNNNNNN!
It’s the Rookie Bowl, people! Both Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel are having rookie seasons that, in most other years, would be runaway unanimous rookie of the year winners. Both are putting up some pretty eye-watering numbers for rookies: 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.3 steals per game for Flagg and 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists for Knueppel. Kon, though, has gotten there by shooting 48% from the field and 42% from deep on nearly eight attempts per game. Crazy efficiency. However, in the recent Rising Star draft, it was Flagg who was chosen first overall by team captain Carmelo Anthony.
This game is just one of two times the Mavs and Hornets will face off, so the head-to-head stats and eventual winner will certainly be on voters’ minds when it comes time to crown a rookie of the year.
Hornets are buzzy
When the New Year ball dropped, Dallas and Charlotte seemed like a couple of fellow travelers — both ecstatic with their young centerpieces, but also quietly resigned to, let’s say, build upon that recent draft success by acquiring another great pick.
However, in January, the Hornets are the NBA’s number one team in net rating. They have the league’s best offense and sixth-best defense this month and seem poised to not just make a run at the playoffs, but be buyers on the trade market before next week’s deadline.
The outcome of this game may help clarify just which direction both these squads tack to for the rest of the season.
3 point battle
Charlotte’s league-leading offense in January is powered in large part by their fantastic shooting beyond the arc. They are shooting 38.2% from deep in January, third-best of all teams, while also attempting 40.9 three point attempts per game over that time, the fifth-most in the league.
Dallas, for their part, hasn’t been slouching this month either. They have the 9th-best record, just a skosh ahead of Charlotte’s 10th-best record, and they’ve accomplished that in no small part by preventing opposing teams from getting too hot from deep.
Dallas’ opponents are shooting a paltry 31.9% from deep in the new year, which is the lowest percentage in the league. How much of that is staunch defensive effort versus lucky shooting variance can be debated, but it seems likely that whichever team wins the three-point battle will have a leg up in walking away with a victory.
