Warriors reveal when De’Anthony Melton could make return from ACL injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors could get a positive reinforcement soon.

Veteran guard De’Anthony Melton, who has been sidelined for more than a year while recovering from a torn ACL, could make his season debut during Golden State’s upcoming three-game road trip that begins Dec. 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers, per an update issued by the team on Saturday.

The Warriors, who currently are in the midst of a five-game homestand, say Melton continues to make good progress and has been a full participant in recent practices, but he won’t appear in the next few games at Chase Center.

Melton also has scrimmed in various settings.

The 27-year-old tore his ACL less than one month into the 2024-25 season and underwent surgery on Dec 4, 2024. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in December but re-signed with Golden State during the 2025 offseason.

In six games with the Warriors, Melton averaged 10.3 points on 40.7-percent shooting from the field and 37.1 percent from 3-point range, with 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes.

His anticipated return comes at a good time for the Warriors, who currently hold a 10-10 record after a frustrating start to the 2025-26 season.

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The Knicks are a team built on consistency. Jalen Brunson is a sure bet to score efficiently almost every night while manipulating his way into scores via pull-up jumpers. Karl-Anthony Towns has recorded a double-double in all but three games. Mikal Bridges has never missed a game in his eight-year career.

Consistency is great. But every now and then, a wild card that can change the pace or tenor of a game is needed. That wild card for the Knicks is Josh Hart. After a slow start to the season, Hart has come on as of late, and it’s helping the team weather injuries on the perimeter to OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet. 

After beginning the season as a reserve, Hart has emerged as a starter, replacing Mitchell Robinson. He brings a jolt of energy to the game with versatility, mad dashes in transition and hustle plays. 

The Knicks’ 118-109 home win over the Bucks on Friday night propelled the club into the knockout round of the NBA Cup tournament. Hart was everywhere in the victory, notching 19 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. With Anunoby out, Hart stepped up to take on the Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive assignment despite a severe size deficit.

The performance against the Bucks has been the norm for Hart. His efficiency has picked up as he’s padded the entire stat sheet. In the last 13 games, he’s averaging 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He has also found the range, shooting 40.1 percent from beyond the arc during that time. 

On the rebound

Hart’s had his ups and downs from outside throughout his career. He still needs to be aggressive as a scorer to keep defenses honest. Teams will sag off him even more if he’s not, mucking up driving lanes for Brunson and Towns.

He has shot better so far this season, but Hart is a career 34.2 percent three-point shooter. To weaken the Brunson-Towns pick-and-roll, many opponents put a wing on Towns while hiding their center on Hart.

In Friday’s win, the Bucks had Myles Turner guard Hart down the stretch while Antetokounmpo checked Towns. The Knicks looked to bring Turner into every Brunson pick-and-roll. As the Bucks blitzed Brunson, it allowed Hart to attack in the short roll.  He had a couple of good opportunities to create. One key play was Hart finding Miles McBride for an open corner three out of a short roll.

Hart’s first four games were a struggle — he scored just 11 points on 4-for-19 shooting. During the spell, he was out of sorts, passing up open looks. 

It’s not a shock that Hart played poorly to begin the season. A back injury kept him out for most of the preseason and the season opener. Anerve injury in his right hand has also been a setback. The start of this season was an adjustment for Hart, who was coming off the bench. He started all 77 games he played in last year. 

One of head coach Mike Brown’s goals with the Knicks was to get them to play faster and create easier scoring opportunities. Hart’s ability to push the pace is an underrated skill that the Knicks could use more often. They average 16.1 fastbreak points per 100 possessions when Hart is on the floor, versus just 12.8 fastbreak points per 100 possessions when he sits, per NBA Stats. 

After the Knicks’ starting five of Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart and Towns crumbled in the playoffs last year, the group has looked better so far in the new season. In 40 minutes, this five-man unit is plus-24.2 points per 100 possessions, per NBA Stats. With the added playmaking from Hart, it might make sense to revisit the starting lineup permanently once Anunoby returns.

Hart can go into prolonged shooting slumps, pile up careless turnovers and make questionable decisions. But he’s been consistently effective over the past month. If Hart continues to play this well, it will be hard to keep him out of the starting five going forward.

Kings get two regular-season games added to schedule after NBA Cup results originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

More Kings basketball is on the way.

The NBA added two regular-season games to Sacramento’s schedule next month following the results of the Emirates NBA Cup.

First, the Kings will host the Denver Nuggets at 7 p.m. PT on Thursday, Dec. 11, at Golden 1 Center. Then they will head to Minnesota three nights later for a matchup with the Timberwolves at 4 p.m. PT on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Sacramento went 0-4 in Cup action in West Group A, having lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz.

Entering Friday’s game against the Jazz, the Kings already were eliminated from advancing in the Cup. They fell to Utah 128-119 and now hold a 5-15 record.

The reigning NBA champion Thunder have a flawless 4-0 record in group play.

After Friday, the eight teams that will advance are set: Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns.

From this point on, it’s a single-elimination tournament featuring the eight remaining teams.

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The Lakers’ new big man went to the free-throw line. The team’s former big man was on the mind of fans.

“I miss you, AD!” a Lakers fan shouted into the silence as Deandre Ayton prepared to shoot a free throw in the first quarter Friday.

Former Lakers star Anthony Davis played his first game in L.A. since being traded to the Mavericks last season, finishing with 12 points, five assists, five rebounds and three blocked shots in the Lakers’ 129-119 win at Crypto.com Arena.

He had an emphatic one-handed block on a shot by former teammate LeBron James in the fourth quarter, but didn’t hold any satisfaction in the play. The Mavericks lost for the fifth time in six games.

“I get pleasure in winning,” a subdued Davis said.

The Lakers (14-4) won their sixth consecutive game, securing home-court advantage for the NBA Cup tournament quarterfinals. The Lakers will host the San Antonio Spurs, who won West Group C, on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.

Read more:Austin Reaves helps Lakers and Luka Doncic notch win over Mavericks

The Mavericks (5-15) lost their third straight as the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to L.A. has only become more lopsided in the 10 months since it shocked the NBA.

Doncic had 35 points and 11 assists for the Lakers. Former Laker guard Max Christie, who was also involved in the trade, had 13 points and has become a starter for the Mavericks.

After two emotional matchups against his former team last year, Doncic said some of the feelings have subsided, but games against Dallas will always have special meaning for him.

Friday’s game was a well-timed return for Davis, who played in his first game after missing a month because of a calf strain. The injury stretched for weeks as the Mavericks fell into the basement of the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have the second-best record in the West. Doncic leads the league in scoring with 35.1 points per game.

Doncic’s continued ascent to superstardom and Davis’ growing injury list has only made the trade more bitter for Mavericks fans. They got their form of revenge when general manager Nico Harrison was fired on Nov. 11, but the change only signaled a new low for the franchise that went to the NBA Finals two seasons ago.

Now the player who was supposed to help fill the void left by Doncic has been included in trade rumors. The Mavericks went 3-11 without Davis.

To ensure Davis stayed in a positive mental state during the time of turmoil for the franchise, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd encouraged him to simply stay focused on getting healthy.

“The train keeps moving,” Kidd said. “No matter of a trade or a dismissal, you got to keep moving. And so for AD, [it] was to focus on his body, come back healthy. … Can’t get everything solved in 24 minutes tonight, but as we go forward, we feel like we have a chance to win when he’s in uniform.”

Read more:Lakers takeaways: What the Lakers are looking for as LeBron James rounds into form

Davis was on a 24- to 27-minute limit Friday. To adhere to the restriction, he had to leave the game with 6:56 left in the fourth quarter with the Mavericks trailing by three points.

Leaving the court hurt, Davis said. He had gotten two blocks, an assist and a basket during the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, then the Lakers went on a 9-1 run after Davis went to the bench.

To Kidd, Davis is still one of the best in the world when he is healthy. The coach pointed to Davis’ impressive play in the Paris Olympics when he averaged 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting 62.5% from the field.

The Lakers didn’t need to be reminded of Davis’ talent. Coach JJ Redick said Davis would get the respect that all star players deserve because of his versatile skill set. But more than the shots he blocked or baskets he scored with the Lakers, Redick valued Davis for his support during Redick’s first year as a head coach.

“Very grateful that I had buy-in from him coming in Day One never had coached before,” Redick said. “So, it’s one of those things like you’re rooting for certain guys. … There are certain teammates you had, there’s always going to be guys that I coached [who] I either root for them after they are not your teammate and they are not one of your players. Just not when they play against us. Not tonight.”

The Lakers played a tribute video last year when Davis was sidelined because of an abdominal injury for his first game back after the trade. Fans showered him with cheers when he was introduced in the starting lineup Friday. James playfully bumped Davis at the center of the court before the game, then they did the same intricate handshake they performed before games as teammates.

After the game, Lakers players lined up to hug Davis. Austin Reaves, who dominated with 38 points on 12-for-15 shooting with eight rebounds and three assists, gave him a two-armed bear hug. Davis grabbed the strap of his jersey and pointed toward Reaves.

“I always liked his game, what he was able to do,” Davis said of Reaves. “Just now he’s doing it on a more consistent basis, putting up elite numbers. … He’s a player who I always knew could play to this level.”

Reaves left the Lakers locker room with Davis’ blue No. 3 jersey signed by his former teammate.

“He’s one of the best players to ever touch a basketball. I don’t know why he wanted my jersey,” Reaves said. “But for me to get his, it’s pretty fun. … From Day One, he was telling me to be myself, don’t be anybody else. Continue to work and really be myself on the court. So I owe him a lot.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Warriors get two regular-season games added to schedule after NBA Cup results originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Get ready for more Warriors basketball, Dub Nation.

Two games were added to Golden State’s 2025-26 NBA schedule due to the results of the Emirates NBA Cup action.

First, the Warriors will host the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7 p.m. PT on Friday, Dec. 12, at Chase Center. Two nights later, they’ll head to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers at 6 p.m. PT on Dec. 14, at Moda Center.

Golden State fell 104-100 against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at Chase Center in the NBA Cup finale. With the Memphis Grizzlies’ win over the New Orleans Pelicans earlier that day, both the Warriors and Rockets were eliminated from the cup before their game ended.

The Warriors are 10-10 on the season and have lost four of their last five contests.

They’ll look to get back in the win column when they host the Pelicans (3-16) on Saturday at Chase Center.

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LOS ANGELES — In one sweeping motion, Luka Dončić threw his former team’s defensive coverage in disarray, leaving him face-to-face with Cooper Flagg — the Mavericks rookie thrust into the spotlight following Dončic’s emotional departure from Dallas nine months ago.

Dončić swung his arms and shifted his body to his right — the side Flagg was desperately attempting to shield — and charged toward the rim. With the Mavericks’ hopes of help defense eliminated, Dončić was presented with a gift — and he opened it with the veracity of a wide-eyed child on Christmas Day. 

In actuality, Dončić’s basket was a muted response to Flagg’s midrange jumper over him a few possessions earlier. Lost amid the high stakes of Friday’s NBA Cup group play finale — the Lakers had already punched their knockout stage ticket while the Mavericks had reached their limit — was the first matchup between Dončić and Flagg, and the first matchup between the Lakers and Mavericks since Nico Harrison’s firing earlier this month.

The intertwining of DNA between both franchises is undeniable, stronger than a late November meeting. Players and coaches have switched sides over the years. And on Friday evening, there were a few other underlying storylines at Crypto.com Arena; a tale of two franchises heading in opposite directions, the juxtaposition of a team with an array of multi-faceted creators and one still searching for stability, and Anthony Davis’ first matchup against the Lakers since being traded. 

But the Dončić-Flagg tilt was the most important affair on the docket.

And to be fair, Flagg didn’t shy away from the moment. On multiple occasions, his aggression and versatility were on display — whether it was going band for band with Dončić, stepping in LeBron James’ way to send the 40-year-old to the ground in a transition-saving play, or trying to make the right reads.

“I think he’s a good player,” Dončić said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with the first pick. He has a lot on his shoulders. But I think he will be a great player.”

Flagg finished with 13 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, but ultimately proved no match for Dončić, who finished with 35 points, 11 assists and 5 rebounds on 10-for-18 shooting in a 129-119 win. 

Such is life these days in the city of angels. The Lakers have historically been a one-name town. Magic. Shaq. Kobe. Kareem. LeBron.

Now, Luka. This is his team, his city.

When Dončić emerges from the tunnel to take the floor for his pregame warmup, the entire arena soars with praise. During player introductions, his name is called last, a privilege routinely reserved for the game’s most important players. When he touches the ball, he’s greeted by an array of defensive coverages — outright blitzes to take the ball out of his hands, early and late rotations, traps, zone and everything thrown his way but the kitchen sink.

There aren’t many NBA players that could reduce James, arguably a top-two player of all time, to a weakside cutter and tertiary playmaker. But such is the marvel of Dončić, leading the way for a scorching-hot Lakers team that has won six in a row and sits in second place in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Dončić entered Friday’s game averaging 38.5 points, 9.3 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game — despite a usage rate that has skyrocketed to a career-high 44.9% since James’ return. That Dončić is churning out production for himself while remaining a central figure for his teammates — assisting on nearly 42% of their shots, per Cleaning the Glass — is nothing short of MVP status. The presence of Deandre Ayton, a mobile, rim-running two-way talent has enabled Dončić to lean fully into his pick-and-roll attack, too.

On Friday, the Lakers finished the game shooting nearly 60% from the field and dished out 27 total assists.

“Over the last two games, we’ve made our shots,” Dončić said. “When we share the ball and play how we need to, we get a lot of good shots and that’s what we need to take.”

It’s Dončić’s gravity that creates room for the rapid rise of Austin Reaves, who finished with an efficient 38 points and looks the part of an excellent release valve and offensive engine in his own right. It’s the fear of Dončić’s pick-and-roll dominance that has given way to Ayton’s resurgence as a screener and finisher. It’s the trust in Dončić as a lead option that allows James to fill in the gaps as a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer finding optimal screening angles and being connective tissue. Head coach JJ Redick has preached about the importance of the scheme, but Dončić is the system.

“I think he’s done a good job throughout the year of finding balance, whether he’s on or off-ball, of hunting 3s and touching the paint,” Redick said. “When he’s in that mode, he’s just really hard to guard. He’s really been in a groove with that balance, particularly late in games.”

Still, the Lakers will tell you they’re far from a finished product. For one, Redick is still experimenting with his Big 3 to find the best usage and synergy. Prior to Friday’s win, the Lakers had somehow been outscored by 18 points in the 55 minutes that Dončić, James and Reaves shared the floor. Last season, that trio barely registered as a net positive.

Simple reads that involve high-level thinkers, such as the opening possession of the game, are a good place to start. When the Mavericks immediately sent a double at Dončić, he sent an over-the-top pass to James, who found Reaves on the wing for an open 3. Given that the Lakers are just 26th in attempted and made 3s (and 21st in 3-point percentage), opening more looks that stem from Dončić, James or Reaves being pressured should result in good processes.

“We play four on three, that’s the easiest basketball we can play,” Dončić added. “I always accept that.”

The Dončić-led Lakers are now owners of the NBA’s fifth-ranked offense. And Dončić has proven himself worthy of a team and system being built in his image. As long as he continues on this path — and Reaves and James maximize their opportunities — there’s no reason why this Lakers team can’t be considered a legitimate threat to the Thunder and the rest of the Western Conference.

LOS ANGELES — In one sweeping motion, Luka Dončić threw his former team’s defensive coverage in disarray, leaving him face-to-face with Cooper Flagg — the Mavericks rookie thrust into the spotlight following Dončic’s emotional departure from Dallas nine months ago.

Dončić swung his arms and shifted his body to his right — the side Flagg was desperately attempting to shield — and charged toward the rim. With the Mavericks’ hopes of help defense eliminated, Dončić was presented with a gift — and he opened it with the veracity of a wide-eyed child on Christmas Day. 

In actuality, Dončić’s basket was a muted response to Flagg’s midrange jumper over him a few possessions earlier. Lost amid the high stakes of Friday’s NBA Cup group play finale — the Lakers had already punched their knockout stage ticket while the Mavericks had reached their limit — was the first matchup between Dončić and Flagg, and the first matchup between the Lakers and Mavericks since Nico Harrison’s firing earlier this month.

The intertwining of DNA between both franchises is undeniable, stronger than a late November meeting. Players and coaches have switched sides over the years. And on Friday evening, there were a few other underlying storylines at Crypto.com Arena; a tale of two franchises heading in opposite directions, the juxtaposition of a team with an array of multi-faceted creators and one still searching for stability, and Anthony Davis’ first matchup against the Lakers since being traded. 

But the Dončić-Flagg tilt was the most important affair on the docket.

And to be fair, Flagg didn’t shy away from the moment. On multiple occasions, his aggression and versatility were on display — whether it was going band for band with Dončić, stepping in LeBron James’ way to send the 40-year-old to the ground in a transition-saving play, or trying to make the right reads.

“I think he’s a good player,” Dončić said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with the first pick. He has a lot on his shoulders. But I think he will be a great player.”

Flagg finished with 13 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, but ultimately proved no match for Dončić, who finished with 35 points, 11 assists and 5 rebounds on 10-for-18 shooting in a 129-119 win. 

Such is life these days in the city of angels. The Lakers have historically been a one-name town. Magic. Shaq. Kobe. Kareem. LeBron.

Now, Luka. This is his team, his city.

When Dončić emerges from the tunnel to take the floor for his pregame warmup, the entire arena soars with praise. During player introductions, his name is called last, a privilege routinely reserved for the game’s most important players. When he touches the ball, he’s greeted by an array of defensive coverages — outright blitzes to take the ball out of his hands, early and late rotations, traps, zone and everything thrown his way but the kitchen sink.

There aren’t many NBA players that could reduce James, arguably a top-two player of all time, to a weakside cutter and tertiary playmaker. But such is the marvel of Dončić, leading the way for a scorching-hot Lakers team that has won six in a row and sits in second place in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Dončić entered Friday’s game averaging 38.5 points, 9.3 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game — despite a usage rate that has skyrocketed to a career-high 44.9% since James’ return. That Dončić is churning out production for himself while remaining a central figure for his teammates — assisting on nearly 42% of their shots, per Cleaning the Glass — is nothing short of MVP status. The presence of Deandre Ayton, a mobile, rim-running two-way talent has enabled Dončić to lean fully into his pick-and-roll attack, too.

On Friday, the Lakers finished the game shooting nearly 60% from the field and dished out 27 total assists.

“Over the last two games, we’ve made our shots,” Dončić said. “When we share the ball and play how we need to, we get a lot of good shots and that’s what we need to take.”

It’s Dončić’s gravity that creates room for the rapid rise of Austin Reaves, who finished with an efficient 38 points and looks the part of an excellent release valve and offensive engine in his own right. It’s the fear of Dončić’s pick-and-roll dominance that has given way to Ayton’s resurgence as a screener and finisher. It’s the trust in Dončić as a lead option that allows James to fill in the gaps as a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer finding optimal screening angles and being connective tissue. Head coach JJ Redick has preached about the importance of the scheme, but Dončić is the system.

“I think he’s done a good job throughout the year of finding balance, whether he’s on or off-ball, of hunting 3s and touching the paint,” Redick said. “When he’s in that mode, he’s just really hard to guard. He’s really been in a groove with that balance, particularly late in games.”

Still, the Lakers will tell you they’re far from a finished product. For one, Redick is still experimenting with his Big 3 to find the best usage and synergy. Prior to Friday’s win, the Lakers had somehow been outscored by 18 points in the 55 minutes that Dončić, James and Reaves shared the floor. Last season, that trio barely registered as a net positive.

Simple reads that involve high-level thinkers, such as the opening possession of the game, are a good place to start. When the Mavericks immediately sent a double at Dončić, he sent an over-the-top pass to James, who found Reaves on the wing for an open 3. Given that the Lakers are just 26th in attempted and made 3s (and 21st in 3-point percentage), opening more looks that stem from Dončić, James or Reaves being pressured should result in good processes.

“We play four on three, that’s the easiest basketball we can play,” Dončić added. “I always accept that.”

The Dončić-led Lakers are now owners of the NBA’s fifth-ranked offense. And Dončić has proven himself worthy of a team and system being built in his image. As long as he continues on this path — and Reaves and James maximize their opportunities — there’s no reason why this Lakers team can’t be considered a legitimate threat to the Thunder and the rest of the Western Conference.

The story still was about Lakers superstar Luka Doncic and Dallas star Anthony Davis, who were part of one of the NBA’s most infamous trades. They forever will be linked after the Mavericks shocked the basketball universe last February by shipping the generational talent Doncic to the Lakers in a deal for the multitalented Davis.

On Friday night, however, Doncic shared the spotlight with Austin Reaves, who continues to be a shining star for the Lakers.

They combined for 73 points during the Lakers’ 129-119 win over the Mavericks, and it was Reaves holding down the leading scorer spot over backcourt running mate Doncic.

Reaves was efficient with his work in scoring 38 points, going 12 for 15 from the field and six for eight from three-point range to go with eight rebounds.

The fans even chanted “M-V-P!” when Reaves shot two free throws midway through the fourth quarter, a sign of how dominant he was.

“I finally made the threes, so that was nice,” Reaves said. “Like you said, Luka draws so much attention. [LeBron James] obviously [is] Bron and they are gonna get the majority of attention. I kind of run around out there and find open spots and make shots, hopefully big shots.”

Doncic also was efficient in dropping 35 points on his former teammates, going 10 for 18 from the field, four for nine from three-point range, and making all 11 of his free throws.

Doncic also had 11 assists and five rebounds to help the Lakers push their winning streak to six.

The emotions of playing the Mavericks aren’t as raw as they were the first time Doncic played in Dallas, and he acknowledged he still has fond feelings for the franchise.

“I would say it’s a little bit easier now,” Doncic said. “But like I said, games against Dallas always have some special meaning to me. I still have a lot of friends there. It’s always special. It’ll always be special for me.”

The Lakers (14-4) improved to 4-0 in NBA Cup Group B play and clinched home-court advantage in the quarterfinals. They will host the San Antonio Spurs on Dec 10.

Next up they have back-to-back games at home, Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans and Monday against the Phoenix Suns, and then they travel to Toronto, Boston and Philadelphia before returning home for the single-elimination game against the Spurs.

“You want to win the games regardless, whether they’re for the Cup or not,” Reaves said. “Just to have the best record that you can.”

Davis, who returned after missing 14 games because of a left calf strain, scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out five assists in his first game in Los Angeles since the trade. Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the draft, had 13 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.

Deandre Ayton scored 17 points with eight rebounds after missing the Lakers’ win over the Clippers on Tuesday because of a bruised right knee, and he was impressed by the way Reaves performed.

“He was making some tough buckets, man, like some mean, aggressive buckets under the rim where us trees [big men] were down there and he was making some tough baskets,” Ayton said. “I’m just like, ‘You a dawg.’ I’m running back telling him, ‘You a dawg. Like, you are making some tough baskets.’ You just got to take your hat off to him. I’ve been seeing it since I got here.”

The Lakers didn’t use their special NBA Cup court after the team flagged concerns that it was too slippery. The court could be repaired and available in time for the quarterfinals.

“I really appreciate the Lakers and the league,” Doncic said. “They did us a favor. I was talking about it, so I really appreciate both of them, just changing the court and [so we can] stay healthy.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.