Luka Doncic and LeBron James help fuel late Lakers surge in win over Grizzlies

LeBron James is called for a foul after making contact with Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant while driving to the basket during the Lakers’ 128-121 win Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

There have been good weeks and bad weeks for the Lakers this season.

Ahead of Friday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, they were trending downward after losing four of their last five games.

The Memphis game turned into a microcosm of that trend, with the Lakers building leads through effort and intensity only to see them crumble behind less-inspired play.

In the end, standout performances from Luka Doncic and LeBron James helped the Lakers surge late and hold on for a 128-121 win at Crypto.com Arena.

Read more:Lakers takeaways: Pistons dominate paint as Lakers close out a sub-.500 December

Doncic and James made sure the 15-point lead the Lakers held before it dissolved by the end of the third quarter wasn’t completely achieved in vain. Doncic made 17 of 20 free throws in scoring 34 points with eight assists and six rebounds, and James had 31 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

They got help from Jake LaRavia, who scored 21 points on eight-for-12 shooting in addition to nine rebounds and stellar defense. Marcus Smart had 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Jaxson Hayes scored 12 points off the bench.

The Lakers improved to an NBA-best 11-0 in clutch games — when within five or fewer points of their opponent heading into the final five minutes.

“I think we have a lot of people that closed the game, especially [me], when LeBron, he took over today,” Doncic said. “Vando [Jarred Vanderbilt] hit a big shot. Jake hit a big shot. Jaxson had a big dunk. So, it’s just everybody.”

Lakers center Jaxson Hayes dunks over Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) and center Jock Landale (31) in the fourth quarter Friday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

It was a group effort that helped the Lakers seal the win in the fourth quarter. It also marked the first time since March that Doncic and James scored at least 30 points in the same game.

“It was just playing and playing in rhythm,” James said. “We’re trying to find ways that we can be productive. Obviously, Luka did a great job of getting to the free-throw line. … He made a step-back three, a big-time shot there.

“Myself, just trying to sprinkle in a little bit here, a little bit there. Just trying to be consistent and be super efficient with my play. So we worked well off each other today and we led the group.”

The Lakers (21-11) trailed 110-109 in the fourth quarter before going on a 12-2 run to take the lead for good, highlighted by threes from Vanderbilt and LaRavia.

The teams will meet again here Sunday night.

“We made some big-time plays offensively and we were sharing the ball, and guys made some big-time shots,” James said. “Vando’s three, Jake’s three on the other side of their bench at the end of the shot clock, Jax had a big-time dunk down the middle. So, those are key moments. And then defensively, we were able to get a couple stops, get a couple rebounds. That allowed us to kind of start pushing the lead up.”

Vincent update

Gabe Vincent (lumbar back strain) missed his seventh straight game, but coach JJ Redick said the team hopes he can practice Saturday and that if he does, it will “be modified.”

Redick said Vincent will not play Sunday against the Grizzlies, but the hope is that he can play either at New Orleans on Tuesday or at San Antonio on Wednesday.

“We’ve got to get him exposure to live play, and with the travel day on Monday, that’s gonna be tough,” Redick said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Russell Westbrook passes Oscar Robertson as all-time scoring leader among point guards

Russell Westbrook has another place in the NBA record books.

The former MVP reached 26,711 career points Friday, passing Oscar Robertson to become the NBA’s all-time scoring leader among point guards. Robertson was previously the top scorer at the position with 26,710 points.

Westbrook finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 turnovers in the Sacramento Kings’ 129-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Westbrook was already the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles and in rebounds among guards. He is seventh on the all-time assists leaderboard and is on pace to pass Mark Jackson and Steve Nash for fifth by the end of the season.

Of course, with the scoring record, the point guard distinction is an unofficial one. There are now 14 players ahead of Westbrook on the NBA’s all-time leading scorer list and only three of them are guards: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and James Harden. Jordan and Bryant are both quintessential shooting guards, while Harden has spent his career in more of a combo role.

Russell Westbrook has a unique place in NBA lore. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Thearon W. Henderson via Getty Images

Westbrook has spent his post-Oklahoma City Thunder career as something of a journeyman, joining the Kings this season on a one-year, $3.6 million contract (aka the veteran minimum). He has still averaged double-digit points in every season of his career and currently ranks fourth on the Kings with 14.4 points per game, his highest output since the 2022-23 season.

He also entered Friday shooting 42.3% from the field, his worst mark since 2010, but that’s partially offset by a career high 35.3% clip from 3-point range.

It was a tough night if you hate seeing less-heralded Oscar Robertson records go down, as Giannis Antetokounmpo surpassed him to become the all-time leader in 30-10-5 games. What a time to be alive.

Russell Westbrook passes Oscar Robertson as all-time scoring leader among point guards

Russell Westbrook has another place in the NBA record books.

The former MVP reached 26,711 career points Friday, passing Oscar Robertson to become the NBA’s all-time scoring leader among point guards. Robertson was previously the top scorer at the position with 26,710 points.

Westbrook finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 turnovers in the Sacramento Kings’ 129-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Westbrook was already the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles and in rebounds among guards. He is seventh on the all-time assists leaderboard and is on pace to pass Mark Jackson and Steve Nash for fifth by the end of the season.

Of course, with the scoring record, the point guard distinction is an unofficial one. There are now 14 players ahead of Westbrook on the NBA’s all-time leading scorer list and only three of them are guards: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and James Harden. Jordan and Bryant are both quintessential shooting guards, while Harden has spent his career in more of a combo role.

Russell Westbrook has a unique place in NBA lore. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Thearon W. Henderson via Getty Images

Westbrook has spent his post-Oklahoma City Thunder career as something of a journeyman, joining the Kings this season on a one-year, $3.6 million contract (aka the veteran minimum). He has still averaged double-digit points in every season of his career and currently ranks fourth on the Kings with 14.4 points per game, his highest output since the 2022-23 season.

He also entered Friday shooting 42.3% from the field, his worst mark since 2010, but that’s partially offset by a career high 35.3% clip from 3-point range.

It was a tough night if you hate seeing less-heralded Oscar Robertson records go down, as Giannis Antetokounmpo surpassed him to become the all-time leader in 30-10-5 games. What a time to be alive.

Knicks lament season-worst three-point shooting in loss to Hawks: ‘We just didn’t have it’

The Knicks have now learned the hard way that both superb and pitiful shooting displays from three-point range can be found in losing streaks.

Just two days after draining a monstrous 22 threes in a New Year’s Eve road loss to the Spurs, New York posed no threat from beyond the arc, missing a ghastly 33-of-42 shots from deep in a flat 111-99 home loss to the Hawks.

While the Knicks played shorthanded, ultimately lacking the size and scoring threats to keep pace with Atlanta, the rough performance at Madison Square Garden couldn’t have been anticipated. 

They shot a season-worst 21 percent from three, and were held below 100 points for the first time.

To make matters worse, the Knicks struggled once again to defend with ample physicality and energy. They allowed the Hawks to score 58 points inside the paint, and by committing 15 total turnovers, another 19 points were tacked on in transition.

“If the shot’s not falling, where else are we going to hang our hat? It has to be on the defensive end of the floor,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said. “We didn’t get it done throughout most of the game tonight… I thought we had some good looks that we normally knock down with the guys that are taking them, but you can’t take away from what Atlanta did.”

The absences of Karl-Anthony Towns (illness), Josh Hart (ankle), and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) on Friday placed pressure on Jalen Brunson to pull more weight than usual. And while the Knicks’ captain embraced the challenge, scoring a game-high 24 points, he contributed to the three-point swoon, making just one on eight attempts.

“We just didn’t have it tonight. I know that’s a terrible, lame-ass excuse, but we let shot-making affect our overall gameplay,” said Brunson, named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December. “That includes our pace, sense of urgency, everything. Just wasn’t our solid basketball today.”

Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby were fruitless from deep, too, finishing a combined 4 for 17. Miles McBride, thrust into the starting lineup, made a pair of quick first-quarter threes but then missed eight of nine from there.

“There’s no excuse, we’ve just got to be better,” Bridges said. “It is what it is, you’ve got to learn from it and get ready for tomorrow. Obviously we’re missing three key guys, but we’ve got everybody else in this locker room to come in and step up.”

The Knicks’ low energy through three quarters of action prompted boos from fans, and Brown acknowledged their noise and frustrations. They’ve now dropped back-to-back games for the first time since losing three straight in late October.

Watch Giannis Antetokounmpo throw down game-winning alley-oop, Bucks top Hornets 122-121

Two nights before, the Milwaukee Bucks had the kind of loss a team trying to climb back into the playoff picture can’t afford when CJ McCollum hit the game-winner for the Wizards.

Friday night looked like it could be another one of those games, but then Giannis Antetokounmpo did this.

In a wild game where the lead changed hands three times in the last 10.5 seconds, that shot proved to be the game-winner, and Milwaukee got the 122-121 victory at home.

Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds on the night. Ryan Rollins had had another big game for Milwaukee with 29 points and eight assists, while Bobby Portis added 20 points.

Rookie sensation Kon Knueppel led the Hornets with 26 points, while Miles Bridges scored 25, and Brandon Miller added 19. LaMelo Ball had 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, with seven assists.

Knicks’ Josh Hart doing light court work, to be reevaluated in one week

The Knicks will be shorthanded a bit longer. 

The team announced following Friday’s disappointing loss to the Atlanta Hawks that Josh Hart has begun doing some light court work, and he will be reevaluated in one week. 

Hart, of course, has missed the last four games due to a sprained ankle suffered during the fourth quarter of the Christmas Day victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He did not travel with the team during their recent road trip and was still being evaluated. 

Though Hart will be out a bit longer, it’s a good sign that he’s able to get back on the court in some capacity. 

The veteran small forward was enjoying his best stretch of the season prior to the injury, averaging 14.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists over his last 13 games. 

New York has received nice boosts in his absence, but they could certainly use his high-energy all-around play. 

Golden State Warriors jersey history – No. 34 – Shaun Livingstone (2014-19)

The Golden State Warriors have had over 600 players don the more than 60 jersey numbers used by their players over the more than 75 years of existence the team has enjoyed in its rich and storied history.

Founded in 1946 during the Basketball Association of America (BAA — a precursor league of the NBA) era, the team has called home the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Oakland, and even San Diego.

To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Warriors Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. For this article, we begin with the 19th of 19 players who wore the No. 34 jersey for the Warriors.

That player would be Golden State guard alum Shaun Livingston. After ending his high school career, Livingston was picked up with the fourth overall selection of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Peoria, Illinois native played the first three seasons of his pro career with the Clips. He also played for the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Brooklyn Nets before he signed with the Dubs in 2014 for the last five seasons of his career, where he won three titles.

During his time suiting up for the Warriors, Livingston wore only jersey No. 34 and put up 5.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors jersey history – No. 34 – Shaun Livingstone (2014-19)

Brooklyn Nets jersey history No. 34 – Wenyen Gabriel (2021)

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 15th of 15 people to wear the No. 34 jersey, big man alum Wenyen Gabriel. After ending his college career at Kentucky, Gabriel went unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft, instead signing with the Sacramento Kings.

The Khartoum, Sudan native played the first 11 games of his pro career with the Kings. He also played for the Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans before he signed with Brooklyn in 2021. His stay with the team lasted until he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers later that year.

During his time suiting up for the Nets, Gabriel wore only jersey No. 34 and put up 1.0 rebounds per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets jersey history No. 34 – Wenyen Gabriel (2021)

AEW TBS Champ Willow Nightingale Reportedly Expected To Attend Big International Show

AEW referee Aubree Edwards holds up the hand of Willow Nightingale, as she holds up the TBS Championship, after defeating Mercedes Mone on “AEW Dynamite.” – AEW/Lee South

New AEW TBS Champion Willow Nightingale is reportedly among the many AEW talent set to attend NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 20 at the Tokyo Dome on Sunday. According to PWInsider Elite, Nightingale, who defeated Mercedes Mone to become a two-time TBS Champion on “AEW Dynamite: New Year’s Smash,” is expected to be in attendance at the show.

According to the outlet, there is currently no word if Nightingale is going to appear on the show in official capacity, or if she is just there to witness the final match of NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi’s career against arguably his biggest rival in AEW’s Kazuchika Okada. NJPW revealed on its official website that both Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, who has been off AEW television due to neck surgery, will also be in attendance.

In addition to “The Ace’s” final bout against “The Rainmaker,” which will main event the show, Wrestle Kingdom will also feature a Winner Takes All double title match between Konosuke Takeshita, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and Yota Tsuji, IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. Saya Kamitani and Syuri will also face off in another Winner Takes All match for the IWGP Women’s Championship and the Strong Women’s title. Aaron Wolf, former Olympic judoka gold medalist, will make his professional wrestling debut at the event, as well.

Wrestle Kingdom 20 is set to be NJPW’s biggest event in quite some time, as the promotion has struggled with attendance numbers post-pandemic. Dave Meltzer confirmed the show is set to be the biggest event in the Tokyo Dome in nearly 25 years. On December 12, Fightful reported the event is officially sold out.

Read more: AEW Stars: Meet Their Spouses & Partners

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Two-Part Series: Senior writer Willie Ramirez reveals the Top 5 favorite stories he wrote in 2025

UCLA Bruins guard Kiki Rice (1) dribbles the ball up the court during an NCAA basketball game against Long Beach State, Saturday December 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.

This is the first part of a two-part series, reviewing Willie Ramirez’s Top 5 women’s sports stories he wrote in 2025 and the Top 5 women’s sports storylines he’s looking forward to in 2026.

Here are Willie’s Top 5 favorite stories he wrote in 2025:

5. Five newcomers each played pivotal roles throughout Aces championship run Covering the Aces all season, Willie captured the highs and lows, from their 14-14 start, a record-breaking loss and the run to another championship. And as much as he wrote about A’ja Wilson’s historic season, he also featured many of the key pieces surrounding the team. His championship recap gave credit to the new faces who played a pivotal role in the team’s incredible run.

4. L.A. native Noelle Quinn is building her own culture in the WNBA Former Seattle Storm coach Noelle Quinn is a Los Angeles native who was legendary in the area at both Torrance High School and UCLA. Though Quinn and the Storm parted ways after the 2025 season, she’s built a reputation and respect across the league that should find her back on the sidelines in the future. Quinn is currently in Miami as one of the coaches at Unrivaled.

3. Kelsey Plum ready to spark another rebuild back home When the Los Angeles Sparks played in Las Vegas for the first time during the 2025 campaign, it meant the return of fan favorite Kelsey Plum. The beloved spark plug left after the 2024 season, opting into free agency and chose to return home, to Southern California, where she wanted to help rejuvenate one of the most storied franchises in the WNBA. Willie was the first member of the Southern Nevada media Kelsey granted a 1-on-1 with since becoming a Spark.

2. Aces find peace and solace by attending chapel pregame For some of the Aces’ pregame routine, it meant spending time in chapel with pastor Heiden Ratner. It was a moment to gather their thoughts and bring themselves to a calm they needed before putting their game faces on. Willie spoke to several of the players about their walk with faith and what it meant to their mental health and overall well-being.

1. Kiki Rice is the heart and soul of UCLA women’s basketball: When she was a freshman, UCLA star Kiki Rice sat down with Willie for a 1-on-1 for The Sporting Tribune during the Pac-12 Tournament. It was then she revealed she chose to play for the Bruins because she wanted to help bring UCLA its first national championship. With help from her, the Bruins have gotten closer each season she’s been there. In November, Willie reunited with Kiki, now a senior, for another 1-on-1, as the Bruins look to return to the National Semifinals.

Honorable Mention:

USC-commit Jazzy Davidson ready to ‘Fight On’ after winning U19 gold

Aces rookie Aaliyah Nye’s work ethic and dedication on display early

Jewell Loyd rekindles passion and joy she established at Drake Park