Nearly after a year after the shocking trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Dončić reminded the NBA how crazy it was for the Dallas Mavericks to deal him away. 

Dončić scored 46 points with 11 rebounds and 7 assists in the Lakers’ 129-118 win over the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Monday night. It was his eighth 40-point effort of the season. 

Per the NBA, Dončić’s performance put him with Kobe Bryant as the only players in Lakers team history to tally 45 or more points, 10 or more assists and five or more 3-pointers in a single game. 

The scoring outburst began with 14 points in the first quarter. After a quiet second, Dončić exploded for 19 points in the third quarter. And he added 13 more during the final 12 minutes of the Lakers’ win. Dončić shot 15-for-25 from the floor, including making 8-of-14 3-pointers. 

Dončić also joined Wilt Chamberlain and Walt Bellamy as the only players in NBA history to total 2,000 points in their first 65 games with a team.

Following the game, Dončić said he wanted to be aggressive in looking for his shot. He joked that JJ Redick would be mad about how many shots he took after he was reminded that the Lakers coach told him to share the ball more.

“I think I was just being aggressive, see what the defense gives you,” Dončić told reporters. “I said, JJ’s probably gonna be mad I took 25 shots. He’ll tell me to pass more … I’m kidding.”

Dončić has scored 30 or more points in four consecutive games and in five of his past six outings. The Lakers have won four of those six games, as well. He currently leads the NBA, averaging 33.8 points per game, and is tied for second in assists with 8.8 per contest. 

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LeBron James added 24 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists, while Rui Hachimura scored 23 points off the bench. The Lakers improved to 28-17 with the win, just a half-game behind the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference’s No. 5 spot.

Coby White led the Bulls with 23 points, along with 5 points and 6 assists. Ayo Dosunmu contributed 20 points off the bench, while Josh Giddey added 19 with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Nikola Vucevic scored 18 points with 11 rebounds and 5 assists.

The defeat dropped the Bulls to 23-23 and missed an opportunity to hop over the Orlando Magic for the No. 8 seed in the East. The Magic lost 118-94 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Donovan Mitchell could not be stopped, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-98 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

Mitchell scored 45 points, shooting 15-of-25 from the floor (including 5-of-8 on 3-pointers). Monday’s performance was his second consecutive 30-plus point game versus the Magic and his third straight overall. He has scored 40 or more points in five games this season.

Monday’s matchup was initially a game of big swings with Orlando outscoring Cleveland 32-22 in the first quarter. The Cavs responded with a 39-24 second quarter as Mitchell found his scoring touch with 15 points in the frame. 

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Orlando cut Cleveland’s lead to 61-60 in the opening minute of the third quarter with Paolo Banchero scoring two straight baskets. Mitchell answered with a scoring burst of seven points to increase the Cavaliers’ margin. Javion Tyson added nine points during the quarter, helping Cleveland go into the fourth with a 91-81 lead. 

In the fourth, the Magic couldn’t get closer than eight points as Cleveland never went into a scoring drought thanks to Tyrese Proctor and Evan Mobley helping Mitchell generate offense. Mobley tallied 20 points with nine rebounds, while Tyson scored 14 and also grabbed nine boards. 

[Get more Cavaliers news: Cleveland team feed]

Cleveland improved to 28-20 and kept hold on the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 2.5-game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the standings. Winners of six of their past seven games (and 11 of 15), the Cavaliers will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

Banchero nearly matched Mitchell with 35 points for the Magic with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Desmond Bane added 19 points, while Anthony Black contributed 15 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. The Magic have lost four in a row and next visit the Miami Heat on Wednesday amid a tight race for the seventh and eighth seeds in the East. 

The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the “New Jersey Americans”.

Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today.

To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise’s jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.

And for today’s article, we will continue with the 14th of 14 people to wear the No. 40 jersey, big man alum Ron Cavenall. After ending his college career at Texas Southern, Cavenall went unselected in the 1981 NBA Draft, playing in other leagues until he signed with the New York Knicks in 1984.

The Beaumont, Texas native left the Knicks after a single season, playing in other leagues until he signed with the (then) New Jersey (now, Brooklyn) Nets for the final 5 games of his NBA career in 1988.

During his time suiting up for the Nets, Cavenall wore only jersey No. 40 and put up 1.2 points per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets jersey history No. 40 – Ron Cavenall (1988)

With the season ending and many believing that former starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will never again take a snap at QB for the Phins, I asked the following question:

What do you want to see your Miami Dolphins do this offseason to address the quarterback situation, be that a permanent answer or just for a guy to get the team by until the right guy comes along in the draft? AKA What would you do if you were the Miami Dolphins’ new General Manager?

Below are some of your answers and thoughts on the question of the day-

Brian C 47 thinks Quinn Ewers should be given a shot at winning the job.

I believe Quinn Ewers Should get a shot.n How many first round quarterbacks would look that good on this team? And he did a very good job.

SuperG! just wants an honest and open competition that dones’t include Tua.

I have no idea. Other than saying Tua is not the future, I’m not sure if it will be a free agent (e.g. Malik Willis), Quinn Ewers, or a draft pick. After today’s presser, I’m expecting a draft pick somewhere but not sure what round. The only thing I want at QB is an honest and open competition and the best QB in camp to win the starting job.

Jptapt wants to let it ride with Ewers and see what we have at the end of the season.

As I said elsewhere, let Ewers start and give him the year to develop. At the end you have either:

1. Your starting QB

2. A seasoned backup

3. Trade bait

If he doesn’t work out, it means they’ll have a not-so-great record and a better 1st round draft pick, and a better QB class to choose from in 2027.

I would even entertain the idea of trading down on this year’s first round pick for picks in 2027-28. It helps the cap and gives you more ammo for getting a QB in 2027, if you need one.

JUK is in on Willis at the right price.

Projections for Malik Willis’ market are all over the place. I’ve seen everything from 8m a year to a 2/3 year deal for 45-50 according to orlovsky.

If it’s the latter there’s no chance but anything under 15m and I think we will be all over him

Alpha6 sees some moving parts to sift through.

What do you want to see your Miami Dolphins do this offseason to address the quarterback situation, be that a permanent answer or just for a guy to get the team by until the right guy comes along in the draft?

I see a trade.

I see a draft selection.

I see Ewers gettin a chance.

AKA What would you do if you were the Miami Dolphins’ new General Manager?

Just as described above.

There are no other avenues.

There’s only one FA, & he ain’t the answer.

If Malik comes on a one yr reasonable contract, then give him a chance also.

MiamiItaliano doesn’t see the money to do much in free agency this season, QB-wise.

It’s looking more like Tua will be gone and the trade market is very low for him, if non-existent. Trading him is around a $45 million dead cap hit. Cutting him post June 1st is $67 million. Add Tyreek’s post June 1st cut and that’s another $15 or $16 million. That’s not including the existing $35.5 million dead cap from previous moves. A possible total of a crippling $118 million dead cap.

So, there is no money for a good free agent QB. They would be lucky to acquire an adequate backup to Ewers. Also, they’ll probably draft a QB in round four or later since Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson will be gone quick in round one.

cyberflea says sign Willis if you can, and then wait to see who they draft.

As it is now, Ewers will likely be the starter next season. The beginning of the end of Tua’s career was when he got benched and now with a new GM and HC the fat lady is done singing. Even Tua knows his career in Miami is over as he has sold his home in Davie.

The million-dollar question is how the Dolphins are going to get him off the books. I would not trade for him if I was a GM and his salary makes it even more difficult unless Tua takes a pay cut. Not only do the Dolphins know that he is not a franchise QB, but other teams do as well. A stop gap or backup at best.

Zach Wilson is a gonner as well and will not be resigned. He is what he is, a first round bust that can’t even be counted on as a backup.

Sully has already confirmed that he will not build the team with a bunch of free agent mercenaries, however QB is the most important position in all of sports. This is where rumors of the Dolphins signing Malik Willis comes in.

A lot of folks on here are not thrilled about Willis, however the Dolphins should absolutely try and sign Willis if he is affordable although there will be a bidding war for his services. He is still in his prime at 26, played very well filling in for Love and showcased that he has possible big upside.

Willis is a dual threat with good arm strength, and the Dolphins can win with him behind center. Willis would be an upgrade, and defenses would have to game plan against his mobility giving the Dolphins offense another aspect for opponents to be concerned about. A poor man’s Lamar Jackson.

Here are his stats in limited starts the last two seasons with the Packers. One of the more important stats is zero interceptions.

2024 Stats:

550 Yds Passing, 74.1 Comp%, 3 TDs 0 INTs, 77.3 QB rating

138 Yds Rushing, 4.6 Yd Avg, 1 Rushing TDs

2025 Stats:

422 Yds Passing, 85.7 Comp%, 3 TDs 0 INTs, 93.1 QB rating

123 Yds Rushing, 5.6 Yd Avg, 2 Rushing TDs

Lastly per Sully’s press conference, you can probably bank on that he will draft a QB in this year’s draft and in drafts going forward even if the team somehow signs Willis.

USMCFinzFreak says, “Why not!”

The team will suck next season, so why not roll with Ewers to see what you got? The worst thing that can happen is they end up with the first pick of the 2027 draft.

Mrmondaynight has an entire plan laid out.

Grab Willis at a reasonable cost with a contractual out for next season or the season after. Draft BPA then NEED. Trade down if possible if your guy isn’t there at 11. Wait till the next draft class. 2027. Trade Tua if possible. Eat some cost if you must. Keep ewers as qb 2. Allow him to compete for qb1 regardless of who you bring in as qb1. Draft a qb late this draft to have as qb3 . by the time 2027 draft class rolls around either keep Willis or draft a qb.fresh books no tua can get rid of Willis if the experiment didnt work out.

Well, that’s our random ten comments for this evening. It seems there is a consensus to either allow Ewers to compete for the gig or go out and get Willis to see what he has as a full-time starter. I guess none of us know what direction this new front office will ultimately lean. Thank you, as always, to those of you who join us most every evening to read and answer our question of the day.