標籤: James

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. However, both teams are struggling with injuries. For the Lakers, LeBron James is among the players dealing with injury concerns.

The Lakers are proceeding with caution when it comes to the 41-year-old’s availability. He is currently battling a right hip injury and arthritis in his left foot.

Everything we know about James’ status for tonight’s game vs. the Bulls.

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Lebron james injury status vs bulls

According to the NBA’s injury report, James is listed as questionable for Thursday night’s game.

The Lakers are 40-25 and are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, while the Bulls are 27-38 and are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. LA is ready for a big game, but the team would love to have LeBron available.

As far as the question of whether LeBron James is playing against the Bulls tonight, the answer is probably.

lakers injury report

The Lakers have four players listed on the injury report.

• Jackson Hayes (back pain): Probable
• LeBron James (right hip injury, left foot arthritis): Questionable
• Maxi Kleber (lumbar sprain): doubtful
• Marcus Smart (right hip injury): questionable

oxen injury report

There is an injury report for 12 Bulls players.

• Matas Buzzellis (right ankle sprain): Probable
• Josh Giddy (right ankle sprain): probable
• Jalen Smith (left calf strain): probable
• Isaac Okoro (right patellofemoral pain syndrome): doubtful
• Colin Sexton (left fibular head contusion): doubtful
• Patrick Williams (sprained left ankle): Questionable
• Guershon Yabusele (pain in left foot): doubtful
• Zach Collins (right toe surgery): out
• Noah Esengue (left shoulder surgery): out
• Jaden Ivey (left patellofemoral pain syndrome): out
• Effernie Simmons (left ulnar styloid fracture): out
• Mac McClung (G League two-way): out

The New York Knicks got back into the win column on Wednesday with a road win over the Utah Jazz, but it still wasn’t an inspiring win over a tank opponent. Previously, the Knicks had suffered two consecutive uncompetitive losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers on their West Coast trip, and the team is currently in third place in the Eastern Conference.

One person who believes the Knicks have everything they need to compete for a championship this year is none other than team owner James Dolan, who has put the organization on notice with his bold comments recently.

“We want to go to the finals,” Dolan said, per WFAN via ESPN.com’s Vincent Goodwill. “And we must win the final. This is sport and anything can happen. But to reach the final, we definitely have to do that.”

Many speculated that the Knicks might try to shake things up at last month’s NBA trade deadline amid a difficult stretch for the team, but it seems New York is mostly back on track since then, with emphatic wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets last week being some of the highlights of the season.

On paper, the Knicks have as much talent as anyone, and they’ve made several win-now moves over the past few seasons to build their roster into a contender. However, concerns still remain regarding the team’s two best players, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, both of whom have been markedly negative on the defensive side of the ball, and most recently, there have also been major questions raised about Mikal Bridges’ reliability to perform with consistency in what has been a disastrous road trip for him.

The Knicks will hope they are able to get back to form before the NBA Playoffs, which begin in just over a month.

Desmond Benn proved on Wednesday why he’s worth a trade to the Memphis Grizzlies. The new Orlando Magic sharpshooter stifled James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers from deep threes, ending a rally in the process.

Bane executed this clutch catch-and-shoot dagger that ended the Cavs’ late run. He threw the ball over Keon Ellis to put Orlando ahead by five before securing the 128–122 win.

Desmond Bain in clutch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Pyv9efi8Cs

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 12 March 2026

Even more adventurous was Ben’s Basket time. Cleveland could not challenge the Magic’s poor passing, which Harden even tried to dispute. Harden is also heard talking to the referee to explain his case.

“on my life!”

James Harden to the referee😭😭 pic.twitter.com/GwDaWc4c25

– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) 12 March 2026

Still, Ben showed the magic that made him worth a deal.

Desmond Bain looking at the Magic trade that led to Wednesday’s moment

Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were part of the blockbuster summer deal. But there were more than just giants there.

Four unprotected first round picks came with the Bain deal. Orlando still landed one of the league’s top perimeter shooters, which kept the Magic out of last season’s playoffs.

The 27-year-old is proving his shooting ability, averaging 20.4 points per game, including shooting 38.7% from long range. He especially lit up Cleveland for 35 points on 12 of 19 field goal shooting.

Bane has now added his 12th 30-point game of the season in his arrival to Orlando. His current best is 37 which he dropped over the Chicago Bulls (in a 125–120 win on December 1) and the Detroit Pistons (in a 112–109 road win on November 28).

Ben’s shooting has ignited a five-game winning streak for a Magic team seeking a return to the postseason. And maybe the Cavs-Magic will be the No. 4 and No. 5 pairing in the Eastern Conference.

LOS ANGELES – LeBron James has been out of the Los Angeles Lakers lineup for three consecutive games due to a groin injury heading into Tuesday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. James has been dealing with some ailments, but Lakers head coach JJ Redick isn’t really surprised that the Lakers star needs some time off this week.

Before the Lakers’ game against the Timberwolves, JJ Redick reported that the team was always looking to give LeBron James some rest this stretch. That plan got a little intense after he collapsed on the court during the Lakers’ loss to the Denver Nuggets last Thursday.

Redick said during his postgame press conference, “We obviously want him in the lineup. As we’re approaching this stretch, and you look at six days in eight nights and two back-to-backs last week, you never know how his body will react to a game and how his foot will react.” “So that doesn’t mean I expected him to miss a game, it wouldn’t surprise me if he needed a day or two to let his body heal.

“The truth is that he collapsed in Denver, he’s just trying to move on. He wants to be there, and so do we, and hopefully he’ll be back soon.”

Redick reiterated that James is currently day-to-day, but that could mean anywhere between two days and five or six days. James has battled foot injuries all season, but was recently listed on the Lakers’ injury report with both elbow and hip soreness. Elbow and hip problems were caused by a fall against the Nuggets.

James drove to the basket and was hit by Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic. No foul was called and he was briefly out of the game before returning.

James is in the midst of a historic 23rd season in the NBA. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. James has appeared in 44 games this season, and his streak of consecutive All-NBA teams will end at 21 seasons.

James was selected to his 22nd All-Star appearance this year, while he averaged 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.1 steals, including 50.4 percent shooting from the field, 31.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line, and 74.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is on social media after Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo went out for an astonishing 83 points on Tuesday.

Adebayo scored in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards and broke Lakers icon Kobe Bryant’s record for the second-highest scoring game in league history.

While many were celebrating Adebayo’s historic accomplishment, some also mocked James, saying he had predicted a career night for the Heat star.

To recall, James once said in an interview that he knew Bryant was going to explode that night when he scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.

@CookedByMatt said, “LeBron predicted Bam’s 83-piece.”

@MrEggyWeggy said, “LeBron called it! He predicted this performance earlier today.”

@iam_johnw echoed, “LeBron will come out and say he predicted Bam’s 83-point game.”

@Jasonb9990 wrote, “I’m sure LeBron predicted this before the game even started.”

“Do you guys think LeBron predicted Bam’s 83 points?” asked @artoftheleague.

@realhenryobrien posted, “Since the Lakers haven’t hinted yet, LeBron can say he watched the Heat-Wizards game and predicted Bam would score 83 points.”

James probably didn’t anticipate that he would be the butt of jokes on Tuesday. They should blame Adebayo.

The three-time All-Star, James’ teammate on Team USA, finished with 20 of 43 field goals and 36 of 43 free throws on what was arguably the most random night in league history. Even Nostradamus with advanced analytics couldn’t have predicted Adebayo’s 83-point special.

Well, perhaps the best way for James to counterattack is to score 84 points when he returns to action.

The entire NBA world is stunned by Bam Adebayo’s historic scoring in the Miami Heat’s 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Adebayo, who entered the night averaging just under 19 points per game, made it his goal to destroy the Wizards’ defense. Buoyed by 31 points in the first quarter, the Heat star finished with 83 points on the night – surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81 points, becoming the proud owner of the second-highest single-game scoring tally in NBA history.

Adebayo was brilliant from the start and the Wizards defense stood no chance. And by carving his name in the record books, he caught everyone’s attention — including Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who reacted to Adebayo’s epic scoring night with a post on his official X account.

“Bam bam bam 💥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥,” James wrote.

It’s the kind of scoring performance that leaves anyone speechless, and as for James, he can only celebrate Adebayo’s historic effort using the onomatopoeia of the Heat star’s nickname. And at this point, words can’t even explain how unlikeable this game was.

Heat star Bam Adebayo shocked the NBA

Adebayo can score the Rock, and he has stepped up his game so much that he has become a comfortable scorer at all three levels. But no one expected him to surpass Bryant and become second in the list of highest-scoring games in NBA history.

The Heat star’s previous career high was 41 points in a game – in one game, he doubled that number and then some. He is averaging 16 points per game in his career. The Wizards were triple-teaming him from the backcourt. But none of that mattered, because Adebayo just had a laser and was automatic for stretches.

Congratulations to Heat Star for this wonderful achievement.

LOS ANGELES – Lakers star LeBron James will miss Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the third consecutive game he will miss after collapsing during last week’s game in Denver.

“He probably still needs a couple more days,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “It’s still day-by-day.”

That leaves it uncertain whether James will return on Thursday against the Chicago Bulls or on Saturday against the Denver Nuggets. James completed pre-game warmups ahead of Sunday’s win over the New York Knicks and Wednesday’s matchup against Minnesota. But the Lakers currently report the 41-year-old James is suffering from a right hip injury and left foot arthritis. Redick said James suffered a hip injury after a fall in Denver last Thursday, the same game in which he also suffered a left elbow injury.

“He’s trying to move forward,” Redick said. “He wants to be there. We want the same. Hopefully he’ll be back soon.”

The Lakers (39-25) are fifth in the Western Conference and a game behind Minnesota (40-24) and the Houston Rockets (40-24). The Lakers are 2-0 against Minnesota and lost to the Rockets on Christmas Day. The Lakers will face the Rockets in a two-game trip on March 16 and March 18.

The Lakers are 9-2 in games with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves without James amid various injuries. But the Lakers have rejected any suggestion that the Lakers are better off without James. He missed all of training camp and the first 14 games while nursing right sciatica. Following the Lakers’ loss to Houston on Christmas, Reaves missed 19 consecutive games with a left calf strain. Nonetheless, the Lakers have gone 11-7 with Doncic, James and Reaves.

“We’re starting to get it,” Reddick said. “There’s a clear pecking order when Luka and AR are on the floor with guys who are low-usage players. That’s the nature of it. That’s the nature of every Big 3 that has ever existed. We’re going to get there. I think we’ve seen some positive signs. I think LeBron recognizes the importance of keeping Luka as an engine. He really wants to have an impact on wins. We’re going to get there.”

Mark Medina is an NBA contributor for SportsNut. follow him x, blue sky, Instagram, Facebook And threads.

NBA Insider for Sportsknot. Former NBA writer for NBA.com and USA TODAY, Warriors writer for The Mercury News, Lakers… More about Mark Medina

As of Sunday afternoon, Evan Mobley had played only a handful of roles as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lone big man and James Harden was running the show. But since Jarrett Allen has been out the last two games due to knee tendinitis, Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson has taken a closer look at the Harden-Mobley tandem, and he’s intrigued by the prospects.

“I want them to come together and work on it more,” Atkinson said after Cleveland’s 115-101 win over the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers. “I think it could be a really lethal combination. Obviously, with JA, it’s a little different because JA is kind of a lob guy. Evan is a little more controlled in the role.

“I’ve talked to James about it, just to get the two of them together and talk to Evan — how he wants the screening angle, when he wants her to slip, when he wants her to hold him down. With Evan, you can even mingle in pops. But as those guys get a better relationship, go to the gym together a little bit more, I’m excited about it.”

As Atkinson noted, there are plenty of differences between each of the Cavs’ big men in the 5. Allen is one of the best screeners in the NBA, in addition to being one of the fastest rollers in the game. That’s why he and Harden have instantly formed a good rapport.

Mobley usually has to play him when both he and Allen are in the game. He’s more in the dunker spot, or he’s cutting from the corners. There’s still another layer to big-time passing in those situations, out of the pocket catches, or engaging in the high-low action that made the “Tower City” duo so dangerous when they first started playing together in a pick-and-roll heavy offense. But what happens when Alan isn’t there?

“The difference is just distinct,” Atkinson said. “Donovan [Mitchell]Already have rapport and have played one-on-one with Ivan, so with James, it will be something new.

“But who knows? Game 3, first round of the playoffs, you might have to go with a big. You might have to go with Evan as your only 5. It’s great that we’re getting reps in there. I hate to have JA out, but the positive is that James and Evan can get some synergy with that single-big lineup.”

Operating without his frontcourt partner, in the little time he spent with Harden, Mobley had to adapt to his traditional pick-and-roll game to fill the void. Atkinson shared that the two talked about it during Monday’s game.

“He’s got to be even better,” Atkinson said of Mobley. “Teams surround him when he gets into the paint, and he has to be able to read those things fast. But I like when he gathers himself, makes two plays. [feet]. But you still have to read: are they coming, are they staying at home? I’m glad he and James are getting reps in this; Ivan is not used to rolling all the time. I think James can help them perform better. I think Ivan is good, but he can be much better.”

“I have to dominate the paint,” Mobley said during practice last week. “Jarrett plays a big role in it and helps me with it. And if he’s in or he’s out, I have to be that guy to keep the paint down, and set good screens offensively, to make it easier for James to get into that role and be aggressive offensively as well.”

When asked what it took to get used to the new point guard, Mobley pointed to instincts such as when, where and how to set those picks. It helps that he’s been watching Harden “for most of his life,” so nothing surprises him. However, it’s one thing to watch it on television and another to react to it on the floor.

“He’s very confident,” Mobley said. “Not really fast, plays at his own pace. So if there’s a blitz, he’s big, he’s strong, so he can throw it over the top. He throws good passes behind the bigs. He’s not afraid to take risks. There are a lot of advantages with the way he controls the game.”

So far, the Harden-Mobley combination has played 140 possessions without Allen, according to Cleaning the Glass. It’s not a huge sample size, and it’s been a mixed bag of competition, but early returns say Cleveland can get to the free-throw line at will and take care of the basketball with the best of them. The problem is a poor offensive rebounding percentage and an effective field goal percentage of 47.7% which ranks second in the NBA.

Is the eFG% figure distorted by a very poor second quarter performance against the Boston Celtics? Definitely. Despite the missed shots, the offense has not been at its best since losing Allen. Also, defensively, the Cavs are allowing a 33.0 opponent free-throw rate, which is as bad as any, along with a 55.7% eFG%.

Cleveland’s most-used non-Allen quartet has shared 40 possessions with Mobley under center: Harden, Mitchell, Sam Merrill and Dean Wade. This has easily been the most effective; Plus, this is the lineup that beat a shorthanded, undersized Philadelphia 76ers group a day after the C’s took it to the cleaners.

It is not an easy assessment due to the polar ends of the competition on back-to-back days. This does not mean that no lessons have been learned from these last two matches.

Cavs’ James Harden, Evan Mobley want to create advantages for each other

Harden already has priorities in mind to strengthen their on-court bond.

“I’m trying to figure out, ‘How can I be aggressive and make the team better?’ Because that’s a plus, but also putting him in a better position,” Harden said. “Depending on who is guarding us, like if it’s his big safety and they’re in like a drop coverage, try to get down and hit him in the pocket.

“Or if they’re switching and they have two guys of similar size, or I think they have a mismatch, he’s got to get the ball into a better position closer to the rim where he can make a move or two and he’s at the rim. It’s literally going to be possession by possession. The more opportunities we can get on the court, the better we’ll be.”

Conversely, Mobley also believes it is on him to put Harden in spots where he can succeed.

“That pick-and-roll, just hitting my screen hard,” Mobley said. “They’re going to put the best guard on him, [so] Making sure we keep him away from James, get him into space, and maybe get the switch. And then roll hard, make yourself a threat so it will be easier for him to land.”

While taking nothing away from his versatility, Mobley is not in the same company as Allen when it comes to screening defenders. He is more successful as a ghoster or brusher than attacking an opponent and stopping him in his tracks. He’s also more of a baseline lob threat than he is over the top on a straight line.

Cleveland should utilize Mobley’s strength off the dribble handoffs with Harden, as it does with Merrill on the break. This could generate some momentum to turn the corner on either side of the half court, allowing the veteran star to go down with less need to break down his opponent. As Harden mentioned, this could potentially create a mismatched relationship for both of them to exploit.

Lately, Harden has also had a penchant for playing out of the post with his back to the basket; Maybe Mobley could do some cutting like movement wing when he’s drawing defenders on the block? The seven-footer may elect to spot up for a triple, then attack off the dribble after a pump fake.

Or maybe they continued linking up on the 70-foot alley-oop, because that last one seemed too easy.

Whatever route the Cavs choose to go, these are invaluable reps for Harden and Mobley as the season begins to wind down.

With playmaking guard Dejounte Murray sidelined for most of the season recovering from an Achilles injury and role players cycling in and out of the lineup, it has been nearly impossible to establish a clear offensive chain of command. Fortunately, the now fully healthy New Orleans Pelicans are making progress playing without the pressure of finishing the season. Zion Williamson, Saddiq Bey and Trey Murphy III are taking turns seeing what works while James Borrego largely stays out of the way.

This may not sound like very good coaching at first, but drawing on his years of experience as an assistant with Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs, Borrego knows exactly what a functional hierarchy looks like. The 23-year NBA coaching veteran with two championship rings also knows it doesn’t happen overnight. Williamson, Bey and Murphy III need reps with Murray to sort everything out themselves.

“I think the best teams in the league, the teams that are chasing titles, winning titles, advancing in the playoffs, they have a clear pecking order in general,” Borrego insisted. “The teams I’ve been a part of, it was obviously Duncan, Ginobili and Parker. Now, that order may vary at some point throughout the season or in different games. Through different seasons or different playoff series, it may vary there.”

Those Spurs teams became the gold standard for consistency and offensive clarity. Duncan often served as the foundational piece inside, while Ginobili and Parker served as dynamic perimeter creators who could take over extensions when the matchup demanded it.

However, unlike those famous Spurs, these Pelicans are still in development years after drafting Williamson and Murphy III.

“Our group, we’re not quite there yet,” Borrego confessed. “We’re trying to figure it out. I think the luxury right now is that we don’t really know, and our competitors don’t know.”

That uncertainty can be a double-edged sword. While that lack of clarity can sometimes lead to confusing turnover, Borrego is choosing to see it as a competitive advantage. This work-in-progress roster is learning the ropes with a fluid system that lets the hot hand direct the offense rather than a rigid star system.

It’s working wonders for Murphy III, Bey and Williamson, judging solely on individual hooping stats. Murray has settled into the starting lineup like an All-Star. The next step is to make the whole greater than the sum of the parts. He’s on Borrego.

Borrego stressed, “We’re going to find the right matchups; it’s my job to help them get that advantage. But people are recognizing it, they’re counting on it.” “You know, assuming it’s not my time, so let’s play through Saddiq here. Let’s play through Murph here. Let’s play through Zion here. Because I think great players, when they find a rhythm, they want to stay in that rhythm. And it’s the same thing as a team. When you get some rhythm, you want to stay in that rhythm. I think we’ll get there at some point. I think That luxury right now is that we can play through multiple guys.”

It’s a bit silly to talk about the unknown as a luxury this season. Yet, despite a 21-45 record that has left them well out of the playoff picture, the Pelicans have shown signs of life, going 6-4 after the All-Star break. However, fans should take that news with a grain of salt. Borrego has defeated one of the top six in 2026 and just three since taking office. So, whether that luxury becomes a long-term asset or another sign of a team that is still searching for an identity will depend on how quickly these Pelicans find their version of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are set to face off on Tuesday night. LeBron James is dealing with injury concerns, so will he play tonight?

Despite James’ absence, the Lakers defeated the New York Knicks on Sunday with a final score of 110-97. Despite this, Los Angeles is still hoping for the future Hall of Famer to return as soon as possible.

Here’s everything we know about LeBron James’ injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Timberwolves.

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LeBron James’ injury status vs. Timberwolves

James is questionable at this time, as the NBA injury report lists him with a right foot injury and left foot arthritis.

The Lakers will enter the game with a 39-25 record. They are ranked fifth overall in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the 40-24 Timberwolves are in third place in the Western Conference.

Tuesday’s game should be a competitive contest. James’ final position will be crucial to determining the outcome of the game. When it comes to the question of whether LeBron James is playing against the Timberwolves tonight, the answer is probably.

Lakers injury report

The Lakers only have one player on the injury report for Tuesday night’s game.

• LeBron James (injured right foot, arthritis in left foot): Questionable

timberwolves injury report

The Timberwolves have four players listed on the injury report for the contest.

• Kyle Anderson (right knee soreness): doubtful
• Jon Beringer (G League on assignment): out
• Enrique Freeman (G League Two-Way): Out
• Zion Pullin (G League Two-Way): Out

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander brought his A-game in a big matchup against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. The Oklahoma City Thunder lost some key players, but in the end, Gilgeous-Alexander’s best performance was enough to defeat the Nuggets.

Try as Denver might, Gilgeous-Alexander was too much to handle, as he scored 35 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished the rock 15 times to go along with the game-winning triple and secure a 129-126 victory for OKC.

The Nuggets were a little conservative with their coverage of Gilgeous-Alexander, and the MVP made them pay as a result. In fact, Gilgeous-Alexander was so calm and so in control that he didn’t turn the ball over once all night, even though he was handling the rock on almost every possession on the floor for the Thunder.

In doing so, according to ESPN Insights on X, Gilgeous-Alexander became the second player in NBA history to record at least 35 points and 15 assists in a single game without turning the ball over. He joined LeBron James (2018) as the only players to do so during a league span that also includes postseason games.

Many will say that the 2018 version of James is his peak, and who knows, maybe when people look at the 2026 version of the Thunder star, they will also see that he was still at his best at that time.

no one can stop the thunder

The Thunder may have shown some signs of weakness early in the season, but it hardly matters now. They now know what it takes to win, and it’s always helpful to have the best player on the field playing for your team every night.

OKC remains the team to beat, and it’s thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander that the Thunder will be extremely difficult to dethrone.

Kenny Atkinson praised James Harden’s career milestone of scoring 29,000 points following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

Harden has been in the NBA since 2009, making him one of the league’s greatest scorers of all time. Heading into Cleveland’s clash with Philadelphia, he had scored 28,996 regular season points in his entire career. He needed # of points to reach the milestone of 29,000 points, to get closer to the great achievement of 30,000 points.

Harden accomplished the feat with a stellar performance during his 29 minutes of action. He finished with a stat line of 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and one block. He made 6 of 11 shots from the field, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Atkinson reacted to Harden’s milestone via reporter Paris McGee Jr. after the game. The head coach hailed the moment as a testament to the veteran star’s longevity as an elite scorer in the league.

“It’s a testament to his resiliency. It’s very hard to do that consistently for so long in this league. This version of James we’re seeing, you don’t just think about scoring, I think about this complete player… When they announced it today, I was in shock, 29,000. Wow. Incredible,” Atkinson said.

Kenny Atkinson called James Harden’s milestone of 29,000 career points a testament to his longevity and elite level of flexibility.

Video: Paris McGee Jr., cleveland.com pic.twitter.com/KNkEFrC6TV

– cleveland.com Cavs (@PDcavsinsider) 10 March 2026

James Harden, how the Cavaliers played against the 76ers

It’s clear that Kenny Atkinson is proud to see James Harden make history as one of the best veteran scorers in the league. He is now eager to see Harden aim for the 30,000-point milestone.

Six players scored in double figures for Cleveland in the win over Philadelphia, including Harden. Keon Ellis proved to be a big spark off the bench with 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting overall, including 4 of 7 from downtown. Donovan Mitchell came next with 17 points and six assists, Evan Mobley had 15 points and eight rebounds, Dean Wade put up 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaylon Tyson provided 11 points.

Cleveland improved to a 40–25 record on the season and finished fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic, while trailing the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

The Cavaliers look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will take on the Magic as tip-off takes place on March 11 at 7:30 pm ET.

The Charlotte Hornets’ 10-game winning streak ended after a 111–99 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Charlotte had not lost on the road since January 17 against the Golden State Warriors, but suffered losses at the hands of Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Collin Gillespie, who scored 30, 24 and 24 points, respectively.

For Charlotte, LaMelo Ball had 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists, going 9-19 from the field. That performance means Ball is now only the 8th player in the NBA to average at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in 100 games before the age of 25, which is the most in franchise history, according to a post on X by ESPN Insights.

LaMelo Ball has 100 games scoring at least 20 PTS, 5 REB and 5 AST, the most in Hornets history.

He is only the 8th player in NBA history to play 100 such games before the age of 25.

Others include LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Oscar Robertson, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Magic… pic.twitter.com/T3KLyL8lJ2

– ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) 9 March 2026

Others to accomplish this feat include some current and future greats, including LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Oscar Robertson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Magic Johnson, meaning Ball finds himself in truly elite company. Despite this, the Hornets started the game fast, making 9 of their first 11 shots and shooting 36% from the field for the rest of the game.

Booker had a double-double, as well as adding 10 assists despite shooting only 1-6 from beyond the arc. He converted all 15 of his free throw attempts while the Hornets made 10 of their 15 free throw attempts on the night.

Rookie Rasheer Fleming added 16 points off the bench, including four three-pointers. Phoenix has now won four of its last five games, despite Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams and Grayson Allen being sidelined with injuries.

Kon Knueppel had a particularly poor game from the three-point zone, making only two of his eight attempts and finishing with 15 points and four assists. For Charlotte, the other leading scorers were Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller, who had 16 and 11 points, respectively.

The loss pushed the Hornets below the .500 mark with a 32–33 record, good for No. 10 in the Eastern Conference. Their next match will be against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Meanwhile, the Suns improved to 37-27 for the season and will next visit the Milwaukee Bucks.

On Sunday afternoon, the Boston Celtics continued their winning ways with a relatively comfortable road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was the second game back from an Achilles injury for star Jayson Tatum, who scored 20 points in a defensive clinic for Boston.

Before tipoff, Cavs star James Harden hugged Tatum as he took the stage, and ESPN cameras caught Harden’s kind message to the Celtics star.

“Proud of you, brother. Congratulations,” said Harden, formerly of Ax, on Twitter, according to SportsCenter.

“Proud of you brother. Congratulations.” ❤️

James Harden makes a great gesture towards Jayson Tatum before the game as he completes his return from his Achilles injury 🙌 pic.twitter.com/f8nj1VUNed

– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) 8 March 2026

Tatum completed one of the quickest recoveries from an Achilles injury the NBA has ever seen, suffered during Boston’s playoff loss to the New York Knicks last May.

In his absence this season, the Celtics have been one of the most surprising stories in the NBA, currently sitting in the number two spot in the Eastern Conference, with Jaylen Brown receiving some minor consideration for the league MVP award for his play so far this year.

However, any legitimate chance the Celtics have to compete for a second championship in the modern era depends on the health of Tatum, who has looked solid so far in his two games since returning from injury. Although efficiency and explosiveness will need some time to return, Tatum’s shooting form certainly looks smoother than before the setback, and he has shown little hesitation in putting the ball on the floor and looking for his shot.

He also looks to be able to move his feet relatively well on the defensive end of the floor, even though it may take him some time to fully regain his athletic ability and burst.

In any case, the Celtics will next take the field on Tuesday evening for a tough road game against the San Antonio Spurs.

After the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference clash, Jayson Tatum got props from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden for recovering from his concussions, returning to the field and immediately making a big impact on the game.

“He looks good,” Mitchell said in his postgame interview following the Cavs’ 109–98 loss to the Celtics. “I think naturally there’s some hesitation. I mean, it’s been 300 days. But you can see how he started the game. Even the slow start against Dallas, it just takes a few moves — it could be an Achilles, a groin injury — you just need a few moves to be like, ‘Okay,’ and then you get back at it.”

“But he looks really good for someone [that missed] 10 months. It’s impressive.”

Tatum finished the game with 20 points, three rebounds and two assists to only one turnover in 27 minutes. He started the game by getting to his spot on the drive and finding his way to the free-throw line and, despite a slight cold, finished the day strong in the fourth quarter.

“Getting to your spots, making shots,” said Harden, who acknowledged Tatum before the matchup. “Obviously, it’s important for them to keep them in the mix, but they just do an incredible job of creating advantages; a well-coached team, and they played well today.

“I just told him, you look at a young guy, especially of that caliber, who has had a lot of success and won championships, and then, boom, adversity comes along. That mentality of not letting anything slow him down and stop him, and then he comes back, first game back, he plays well; tonight, he plays well. I think that’s a motivation in itself.”

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson treated this meeting with the Celtics as if Tatum was fully healthy, admitting that it would be difficult to evaluate where he is now versus where he could be in a month or two in the postseason.

With this result, Boston increased its record to 43–21, and moved closer to the East’s top seed, the suddenly slipping Detroit Pistons. The Celtics added to their lead over Cleveland, now leading by four in the standings.

With Tatum back in the mix, and plenty of firepower around him and Jaylen Brown, there’s no telling how far they can take this. The Cavs will definitely be preparing for this.

“He changes the game,” Evan Mobley said. “He’s a great player. Instead of just focusing more on Brown, you have to focus on both now. It’s definitely a different dynamic, and we’ll be ready for it.”

Harden even said that Cleveland could look to Boston as a prime example of who it should aspire to be in the postseason.

“I told everybody, that’s the standard,” Harden said. “That’s standard. Part of the game of basketball is missing and making shots, but, like, our competitive nature to a game, our competitive spirit — whether we’re making shots or not — that’s what we do. And we forced the game to take over. And I think in the second half, we found something in ourselves.

“Being in my 10th or 11th game here, this is the level we’ve got to get to, Boston. And once we get there – because I know we’re good enough, we’ll get there – then we’ll be a better team. If we’re making shots, we’re going to shut teams out. Tonight we didn’t make shots, and we still gave ourselves chances. So it’s that simple.”

The Los Angeles Lakers face the New York Knicks without LeBron James as he battles multiple injuries. According to ESPN’s Malik Andrews, the most recent injury he suffered came in his latest matchup against the Denver Nuggets, where he suffered an elbow injury, but it doesn’t seem like that’s the injury that’s particularly holding him back.

Andrews said, “He was taken out of the game an hour before tip. I’ve been told it’s more the foot than the elbow, which is something that’s going to be day-to-day.”

🚨Malika Andrews says LeBron’s status tonight was determined more by his foot injury than his elbow pic.twitter.com/odJ2Tv3hmi

– ReavesMuse (@MuseReaves) 8 March 2026

James was able to warm up the day before the game, but he may not have been good enough to play in the game. Additionally, the Lakers want to be cautious of James, which is something they have tried to do during the season.

It is uncertain how many more games James may miss or whether he will return in the next game. The Lakers can afford to be without James for a few games with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves playing good basketball this season, but having someone like James on the court makes everything a little easier.

With about 20 or so games left in the regular season and the Lakers still fighting for seeding in the Western Conference, staying healthy will be important. The fact that James was able to get some work done before the game shows that he shouldn’t be out long, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he returns sometime next week.

For now, the Lakers will have to rely on Doncic to lead them to victory, which he has no problem doing. If other key players like Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart can step up, the Lakers should be in good shape as James continues to recover.

On Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Lakers will take the field at home for a marquee matchup against the rolling New York Knicks. LeBron James’ injury report for this game is currently listed as questionable due to both a left elbow injury and left foot arthritis. Here’s everything we know about James’ injury status and how he plays on Sunday vs. the Knicks.

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LeBron James’ state of play vs. the Knicks

Given his questionable designation on the injury report, there is currently some doubt as to whether LeBron James will be able to play against New York on Sunday. James missed the Lakers’ last game, Friday night, against the Indiana Pacers, for the same reason and has already missed being eligible for the All-NBA team this year.

Along with James, the injury report for the Lakers also includes wing Maxi Kleber, who is questionable with a lumbar back strain, as well as his son Bronny James, who is out due to dealing with the G-League.

For the Knicks, Landry Shamet is questionable for this game due to a cervical sprain.

The Knicks are coming into this game flying high, having defeated the Denver Nuggets the last time they took the floor this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have been picking up some wins against lesser competition in recent weeks, but lost to the same Nuggets team the night before the Knicks destroyed them, which is certainly not a good look as both teams are now set to match up.

Luka Doncic continues to put up monster stat lines on a nightly basis for the Lakers, but the fit between him, Austin Reaves and LeBron James has been put into further question now that all three players are relatively healthy.

Still, Lakers fans will expect James to be on the court on Sunday at 3:30 PM ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers are coming into Sunday’s clash with the New York Knicks having won four of their last five games. They are in the middle of a home stand that will carry them through the upcoming week. And it’s possible they have reinforcements on the way. LeBron James was upgraded on the Lakers’ injury report after missing the team’s win against the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

LeBron James was officially listed as questionable on the Lakers’ injury report for the team’s game against the Knicks. While he has been dealing with foot problems all season, James suffered a hard fall last Thursday against the Nuggets and the team reported it as a left elbow injury.

In addition to James, backup center Maxi Kleber was also upgraded to questionable. Kleber also missed the Pacers game due to a back strain. Starting center Deandre Ayton, who was sidelined for the Pacers’ win with a knee injury, no longer appeared on the injury report.

While the Lakers have managed to pick up some wins in recent games, they have struggled against teams with winning records. The Knicks pose such a challenge as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Having James potentially back in the lineup is a big boost.

He is in his unprecedented 23rd season in the NBA, and was selected for his 22nd consecutive All-Star appearance. He recently passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most field goals made in NBA history. However, one thing that will elude James this season is his continued pursuit of making the All-NBA team. He would fall short of the NBA’s new minimum of 65 games played to be eligible for postseason honors.

James has appeared in 44 games, a little over 33 minutes per game. He averaged 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from the 3-point line and 74.5 percent from the free-throw line.

All-NBA conversations typically belong to well-established suspects, brand-name stars who have captured the discussion for the better part of two decades, even if those All-Stars are having a bad year. LeBron James and James Harden still remain at that level of talent. However, James Borrego’s new-look New Orleans Pelicans need to make a run for Trey Murphy III to join the club. The 25-year-old has been quietly building a statistical argument that rivals and surpasses the usual suspects in many areas.

This is not an exaggeration. This year’s figures show that it is time to make room for the Trigga tray. Designated stars with all-world resumes can act as one-man shows, shooting lights out and protecting the ball. Murphy III’s production, 22.6% of his field goals are unassisted, is going well. The swingman is shooting 38.6% from three-point range, sporting a 59.8 true shooting percentage, and can boast a 2.53 assist-to-turnover ratio on a 25.4% usage rate since New Year’s Day.

On the season, Murphy III is contributing 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals. In 2026, he is averaging 24.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.9 steals. Only 12 other players can say they are 22-5-4 over the last eight weeks. Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant and Cade Cunningham top that list. Exactly 22 players have averaged 21 points and 3.5 assists, making teammates better, and have played more than 45 games this season, further breaking down the All-NBA list.

The Pelicans have nothing to lose by gushing about Trey Murphy III’s speed during March Madness. If Trigga Trey is named to the All-NBA Third Team, his next contract and the city’s reputation will get a significant boost. If not, the Pelicans have four potential All-Stars returning next season with something to prove in Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray and surprisingly great Saddiq Bey.

More than a few coaches will be calling the front office wanting to work with that core. Each of them will have to explain how they will maximize Trey Murphy III’s prime years. His All-Star potential eventually developed into All-NBA expectations.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will miss Friday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers after suffering a left elbow injury in Thursday night’s 120-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets, the team announced.

In the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game in Denver, James suffered a hard fall on a layup attempt. LeBron’s left elbow landed awkwardly and he lay on the ground writhing in pain before the ball went out of bounds and the game was stopped.

The team says LeBron James (left elbow injury) has been listed out for tonight’s game against the Pacers.

LeBron suffered an injury after a hard fall in the final minutes of Lakers-Nuggets game on Thursday night.pic.twitter.com/FILh742gJY

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 6 March 2026

After being helped up and walking to the team’s bench, James was still grimacing and holding his elbows in apparent discomfort. Although James returned to the game after being immediately examined on the bench, his elbow was badly wrapped in ice during the team’s postgame media session in the locker room.

James said he would be dealing with the injury “day by day” and that it was a “funny situation, but it’s more serious.”

The Lakers did not provide any official update on his elbow specifically and did not say whether James had further testing for his injury. The good news is that his injury is being listed as an “elbow injury” and he is not expected to miss any length of time.

His next chance to play will be on Sunday at home against the New York Knicks.

Although the Lakers lost in Denver on Thursday night, LeBron had 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting and eight assists. With his third shot of the contest, James recorded the 15,838th shot of his career, passing Kareem–Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) for the most field goals made in NBA regular season history.

“At the end of the day, just being added, and having my name mentioned with some of the greatest guys to ever play this game, it’s always humbling and pretty cool,” James said after the game. “I grew up watching, reading, analyzing a lot of great guys. If I ever got away from the NBA, I wanted to put myself in a position to do something like them and put my name up there with some of the greats.”

“So that’s awesome.”

LeBron is also closing in on another record, as once he plays six more games this season, he will surpass Robert Parish (1,611) for most games played in league history.

In 44 games this season, LeBron is averaging 21.4 points, 7.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor. Friday night will be James’ 19th missed game of the season, his most since missing 27 games during the 2022-23 season in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Lakers left Thursday night’s loss to the Denver Nuggets with a lot of disappointment. LeBron James expressed anger after a tough play involving Nikola Jokic that led to a possible injury. The moment came late in Los Angeles’ 120-113 loss in Denver. Under the arena lights, James absorbed contact from Jokic while completing a layup. There was no whistle. Moments later, the Lakers star walked away, rubbing his left elbow.

This sequence soon became the biggest talking point of the night.

With 4:05 remaining in the fourth quarter, James hit the floor with his elbow. The collision occurred when Jokic challenged the play at the rim. Officials allowed the game to continue. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers forward felt the effects immediately.

“It’s pretty sore right now,” James said after the game. “It felt like it was one of those weird situations, but much more intense.”

James returned after some time. Still, the uneasiness persisted. He fouled out again and missed the final 22.3 seconds. After the game, he iced the elbow while longtime trainer Mike Mancias placed a compression sleeve on his left arm for the team’s flight back to Los Angeles.

Lakers star LeBron James angry with Jokic’s no-call

When reporters asked for an explanation from officials, James did not hold back. The Lakers veteran seemed more irritated by the decision involving Nikola Jokic than the injury.

“It’s what it is—,” James said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “‘Marginal.’ It’s the same s—. …They keep saying that it is ‘marginal’. I’m so tired of that word. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Meanwhile, Lakers coach JJ Redick said James iced his elbow after the game because the discomfort prevented him from finishing. His status for the next match remains uncertain.

That night still holds history. James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most career field goals in NBA history. Yet the accomplishment faded into the background as the Nuggets rode 28-point performances from Jokic and Jamal Murray.

A question now looms over Los Angeles. Will the Lakers get their superstar back soon, or will LeBron James’ injury saga intensify before the next tipoff?

LeBron James has spent more than two decades rewriting the NBA record books, but his latest milestone holds a special kind of significance. On Thursday night at Ball Arena, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar officially became the league’s all-time leader in field goals, surpassing the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Entering the game needing only two buckets to claim the throne, James wasted no time. With 8:12 remaining in the first quarter, he added his signature 14-foot turnaround jumper to tie the record. Moments later, he passed Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 15,837 with his 15,838th career field goal. Despite the hostile Denver crowd, the game stopped briefly as the accomplishment flashed in the Jumbotron, marking another chapter in the “Kings'” career.

“At the end of the day, just being added, and having my name mentioned with some of the greatest guys to ever play this game, it’s always humbling and pretty cool,” James told Spectrum SportsNet after the game. “I grew up watching, reading, analyzing a lot of great works.”

LeBron James makes the most field goals in NBA history 🗣️

“At the end of the day, just being added, and having my name mentioned with some of the greatest guys to ever play this game, it’s always been humbling and pretty cool. It’s a great thing. I grew up watching,… https://t.co/7XAXtJ1OV8 pic.twitter.com/1ZU3Qk3vur

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 6 March 2026

While the history was perfect, the game itself was a war. The Los Angeles Lakers struggled early against a surging Denver Nuggets team, falling 16–3. James finished the night with 16 points on 7 of 15 shooting, adding five rebounds and eight assists before exiting prematurely due to an elbow injury. Luka Doncic led the Lakers scoring with 27 points, but it was not enough to overcome the balanced Nuggets attack.

Nikola Jokic dominated with a triple-double, posting 28 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists, while Jamal Murray added 28 points to secure a 120–113 victory for Denver. The loss drops the Lakers to 31-31, leaving them in a tight race for a postseason berth.

Even in defeat, the night belonged to James. At 41, he continues to bridge the gap between the legends he once studied and the history he is currently making.

The Los Angeles Lakers were giving the Denver Nuggets everything they could handle on Thursday night, even if their starting center Deandre Ayton had to leave after just four minutes with a knee injury. This made the Nikola Jokic matchup more difficult.

The Lakers almost had to deal with being shorthanded even more, because at one point in the fourth quarter, it looked like LeBron James was going to chase Ayton into the locker room with an early exit of his own.

With about four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, James made a hard layup in Jokic’s grill. However, the Lakers star didn’t go down easily; Actually, while doing this he fell on the ground and got injured in his left elbow.

California Post price via Khobi:

LeBron James was holding his left elbow after the fall. He is currently on the bench being tended to by his longtime coach. pic.twitter.com/Oy676TN19U

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 6 March 2026

James slammed his elbow into the camera, and was slow to get back to his feet. The Lakers then committed a foul to stop the game and then called a timeout to remove James from the field.

But with 2:05 remaining in the period, James returned to play, checking in for Rui Hachimura, with the Lakers trailing the Nuggets by just one, 112–111. In the end, the Lakers didn’t have enough to overcome the Nuggets. The good news is that James escaped serious harm.

Lakers can’t hit shots in tough times vs. Nuggets

The Lakers gambled that they would play short and make enough shots to counter the Nuggets led by Jokic. And it worked to some extent, as LA came back and made it a close game vs. the Nuggets. However, with the Lakers trailing by only three (114-111), they could not hit open shots – Marcus Smart hit two triples on back-to-back possessions.

It was Jokic who scored the dagger in the end, as he made a routine floater to give Denver a five-point lead that proved to be enough for a 120–113 victory.

LeBron James is the new king of all-time list.

Already the all-time leader in points in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar forward broke another record previously held by L.A. legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he made a comeback victory late in the first quarter of Thursday night’s showdown in the Mile High City against the Denver Nuggets.

“LeBron passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for making the most FGs in NBA history with a fadeaway jumper from the baseline (15,838). LeBron has held the scoring title for several years, having more FTs than Kareem, and certainly by a larger margin than 3s (Kareem made a career 3),” as noted by Spectrum Sportsnet’s Mike Trudell.

Stop for a moment to watch this moment where LeBron James finally surpasses the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar again.

With his passing, LeBron James has passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most FGM cases in NBA history.pic.twitter.com/4Hj8z0vkaya https://t.co/7XAXtJ1OV8

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 6 March 2026

It wasn’t an easy shot for the 41-year-old James, as Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji was on top of him during that game, but the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player was not going to be denied that historic basket.

James, playing in his 23rd season in the NBA, entered the Nuggets game needing only two more buckets to tie Abdul-Jabbar and three more to break the record. He previously held the No. 2 spot, surpassing Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone, who had 13,525 field goals.

Every James basket should be cherished by true basketball fans, because he will not play forever, no matter how he wins his battle against Father Time.

Cooper Flagg made his winning return to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday after suffering a recent foot injury. Not only did he come back, but he also came back with a vengeance.

According to Dallas Mavericks PR, Flagg scored his 1,000th career point against the Orlando Magic, putting him among players like LeBron James. It came on his first basket of the game.

Not only this, Flagg became the second youngest player to reach 1,000 points at the age of 19 years, 74 days. The last person to do so was LeBron James at 19 years, 41 days.

Cooper Flagg scored 1,000 career points with his first basket of the game tonight in Orlando.

At 19 years, 74 days old, the Montverde Academy (FL) alumnus became the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach the 1,000-point plateau, behind only LeBron James (19 years, 41 days). pic.twitter.com/aUSYLeZAQ5

— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) 6 March 2026

Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker round out the top five. Flagg has played in 49 games this season. Furthermore, he is averaging 20.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Before Thursday, Flagg had missed eight games.

Meanwhile, Flagg remains the top rookie scorer in the NBA. Additionally, he has left his mark on the NBA landscape by achieving feats unseen from rookies. In December, Flagg became the youngest player to score 40 points in a game, scoring 42 points against the Utah Jazz.

Additionally, Flagg cemented his place among players like Michael Jordan and LeBron and became the third player to collect 750 points, 150 assists, 50 steals, and 30 blocks in his first 40 games.

In February, Flagg was selected to play in the NBA Rising Stars Game during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. However, he had to pull out due to injury.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are 21-40 on an eight-game losing streak and have lost eight of their last ten games.

勒布朗·詹姆斯可能不再是他曾经的那种运动现象，从“原始力量”成长为一个更加“有节制的破坏性”的球员，就像他一直以来作为得分手一样熟练地担任组织者。正如詹姆斯本人喜欢指出的那样，这也是因为他是一名高智商、善于思考的球员，如果队友有更好的投篮机会，他总是愿意把球传给他们。

虽然演员蒂莫西·柴勒梅德可能不再是以前那种失控的怪胎，尤其是在他职业生涯的早期，但他发现自己和这位洛杉矶超级巨星有相似之处。查拉梅在《Mind the Game》节目中接受詹姆斯采访时，将自己的演艺生涯比作两名球员的职业生涯。

“我觉得在我的职业生涯中，我感觉自己像布兰登·罗伊，你知道，就像默默无闻的，有时我感觉像勒布朗一样被选中，我感觉处于这种二分法中。它摇摆不定。我觉得我有原始天赋。我觉得我做得很好的第一个角色，比如《请以她的名字呼唤我》或《美丽男孩》，都是原始天赋。没有真正的过程，但这只是一种天赋。我认为这花了几年的时间，而且还经历了名声的冲击、关注度和强度，”他说。

柴勒梅德有效地声称，虽然他也觉得自己是一位才华横溢的演员，特别是回顾他早期的作品，但直到后来他才发展出一个“真正的过程”。查拉梅表示，在职业生涯初期，他感觉自己更像是布兰登·罗伊这样的默默无闻的天才。

“我可以看看勒布朗和他的职业生涯。在克利夫兰的头几年，我没有一个过程，没有办法处理它。“我感觉自己像“完全未知”和“马蒂至尊”。这是我第一次真正拥有一个过程和一种方式，我不想说是一个艺术过程。我不想低估我的其他工作，但这是我第一次真正大规模地锁定，”他说。

当然，虽然他早期在《美丽男孩》等电影中的表现也令人印象深刻，并为他赢得了赞誉，但直到后来，查拉梅才真正锁定了自己的位置。他还将这种情况与詹姆斯早年在克利夫兰的情况进行了比较，当时他更多地是一个得分现象和运动怪物，而不是他最终发展成为的组织者和得分手的混合体。

虽然这种比较可能不是最直接的，但人们肯定可以看出查拉梅的出身，以及他对詹姆斯的尊重程度。

LeBron James is probably not the athletic phenomenon he once was, having graduated from ‘raw force’ to a more ‘measured destruction’ type of player, as skilled a playmaker as he has always been as a scorer. This, as James himself likes to say, is also a result of him being a high-IQ, thinking player who is always ready to pass the ball to his teammates when they have a better shot.

And while he may not be the out-of-control freak he once was, especially early in his career, actor Timothée Chalamet sees similarities between himself and the L.A. superstar. Speaking to James on Mind the Game, Chalamet compared his acting career to the two players’ sports careers.

“I feel like in my career I felt like Brandon Roy, you know, it was unheard of and sometimes I felt like LeBron was picked on, and I feel in that duality. It oscillates. I felt like I had that raw talent. I think the first roles I played that were good like ‘Call Me By Her Name’ or ‘Beautiful Boy’ were all raw talent. There was no real process to it. But it was just kind of a mess. And I think it took a few years and the onslaught of fame and attention and intensity,” he said.

Chalamet effectively claimed that although he also felt like a talented actor, especially looking at his earlier work, it was only later that he developed a ‘real process’. Chalamet said that early in his career, he felt like an untapped talent like Brandon Roy.

“I can look at LeBron and his career. The first few years in Cleveland and I had no process or way to deal with it. ‘I feel like ‘A Complete Unknown’ and ‘Marty Supreme.’ It’s the first time I really had a process and a method, I don’t want to say an artistic process. I don’t want to ignore my other work, but this is the first time I’ve really worked on a large scale,” he said.

Of course, while his early work in films like Beautiful Boy was also influential and earned him praise, it was only later that Chalamet really took off working. He also compared the situation to James’s early days in Cleveland, where he was a scoring phenomenon and an athletic monster, rather than the playmaker-scorer hybrid he eventually developed into.

Although the comparison may not be the most straightforward, one can definitely see where Chalamet is coming from, and how much respect he has for James.

The Los Angeles Lakers won their third consecutive game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, 110-101. A win that was reminiscent of how the Lakers started the season when they had to come from behind.

The Lakers outscored the Pelicans 34-23 in the fourth quarter. In the process, they managed to achieve something that had not been seen since 2009. He had seven blocks in the fourth quarter.

According to Spectrum Sportsnet, LeBron James fired back at the reporter when asked if the Lakers have made progress in that area.

“We have?” James asked. “think so.”

Let’s talk LeBron James (8/12 FG, 7 REB, 21 PTS on 7 AST) @RealAClifton And the media is following him #lakers Third consecutive win. pic.twitter.com/jExD46fFMB

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 4 March 2026

James finished the game with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. As a result, Los Angeles is now 37–24 and remains in 6th place in the Western Conference standings.

James is averaging 21.6 points, 7.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game.

This wasn’t even the first confusing question after the game. Luka Doncic was asked if the momentum of star players including James and Austin Reeves is continuing. Doncic wasn’t having it when he responded: “Are you guys going to ask me this question every night?”

Doncic finished the game with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

In 2009, Los Angeles defeated the Orlando Magic in five games to win their first NBA championship since 2022.

On Thursday, Los Angeles will take the field to play against the Denver Nuggets. Then, they have five consecutive home games starting Friday against the Indiana Pacers. Next, they will play against the New York Knicks (March 8), Minnesota Timberwolves (March 10), Chicago Bulls (March 12) and Nuggets (March 14).

For the first time since Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James hosted “The Decision” to announce his contract with the Miami Heat, the future of the 22-time All-Star remains uncertain. Although his option to join the Heat was unclear at the time, staying with the Cleveland Cavs felt like a viable option, whereas this time it is different. Despite having the sixth-best record (37–24) in the Western Conference, the Lakers have not shown signs of a long-term commitment to James.

Given LeBron’s age, the second tax apron and the need to build a roster around Luka Doncic for the future, the Lakers will have to make some tough decisions in the summer. James, meanwhile, continues to play at a high level even at this stage of his career. LeBron, 41, played in his 22nd consecutive All-Star Game. Even at this old age his talent is not in question; However, which team will he play for in 2026-27.

Even if the Lakers can make an unexpected championship run this season, it’s hard to envision James’ NBA career heading into the sunset. There’s a lot left in the tank. A reunion with the Cleveland Cavs is a possibility, and would be a unique storybook for LeBron, who led the Cavs to their only championship in 2016.

With All-Stars Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and James Harden, James and the Cavs will emerge as favorites to win the Eastern Conference and NBA titles in 2027.

Lakers reported ‘Plan A’ for LeBron James’ future

If the Lakers can add another All-Star talent during the offseason to complement Luka Doncic and LeBron James, they are all in on that plan. According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, Austin Reaves’ upcoming free agency will impact James’ future and whether the Lakers can find a team like the Bucks willing to agree to a package deal centered on their All-Star forward.

“The Lakers are one of the few teams this summer projected to have significant space under the cap to pursue top-tier free agents or pursue a star like Giannis Antetokounmpo via a lopsided trade,” Pincus wrote. “The $54-$80 million in cap room won’t be much if James returns to his $58 million max salary. Plan A for the Lakers appears to be to build around Luka Doncic, a young star, moving on from James, according to competition executives and player agents.

“Scouts across the league are skeptical that L.A. can defend well with a core of Austin Reeves, Doncic and James. Reeves is expected to opt out of his $14.9 million cap in his final year, so he may attempt to re-sign for closer to the maximum he can get (about a $41.5 million starting salary).”

James and the Lakers defeated the Pelicans 110-101 on Tuesday.

The Lakers were able to pull off a thrilling win over the Pelicans as they set their sights on the Nuggets on Thursday to snap a three-game winning streak. After the game, Doncic got a question he’s answered many times before.

Since the All-Star break, there has been talk about whether the Lakers’ “Big Three” LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will be fit. There has been increased conversation in the media, especially when statistics show that lineups with LeBron James and only Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves have a better Net Rating. Likewise, lineups with just LeBron on the floor and Doncic and Reeves on the bench have a better Nets rating.

As there is strong debate over whether the three Lakers stars are actually a fit, Luka signaled his disdain for the conversation in a post-game interview following the win over the Pelicans.

“Are you guys going to ask me this question every night?”

Although reluctant to continue speaking further on the topic, he responded.

“I think that’s what everybody sees. We’ve obviously won three in a row. We’ve been playing together since the All-Star break… Obviously we’re going to have chemistry every day, every game.”

The Lakers are currently 37-24, holding the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They are two games ahead of the seventh-seeded Suns in the play-in tournament. Their game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday is important, as Denver is just one game ahead of Los Angeles in wins.

After a season in which all three stars missed significant time, the Lakers finally feel like they have a relatively healthy roster as they head into a very important stretch of games that includes matchups against playoff teams like the Nuggets, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Rockets.

Few eras of sneakers redefined a genre like Nike Basketball did during the 2010s, promoting the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant all at the peak of their powers. Debuting at the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend, the Nike Basketball “Galaxy” Pack remains one of the most iconic sneaker drops in history. Recently, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers paid homage to the iconic colorway with his Nike LeBron 23 PE.

Check out our sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game was iconic in many ways, but it’s arguably one of the most nostalgic moments for sneakerheads due to the slate of heavy-hitting releases at the time. Silhouettes like the Nike Kobe 7, Nike LeBron 9, Nike KD 4 and the “Galaxy” Nike Air Foamposite created a frenzy fueled by a classic All-Star Game featuring the NBA’s best.

The Nike LeBron 9 “Big Bang” particularly made an impression, opting for a bright safety orange scheme reminiscent of a space suit minus the distinctive galaxy print. The sneakers are revered as one of Nike basketball’s greatest creations, so LeBron James himself paid homage to the iconic sneaker with an inspired colorway with his current Nike LeBron 23.

Nike LeBron 23 “Big Bang”

☄️ @KingJames Nike LeBron wears a 23 inspired by his “Big Bang” 9 worn in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game! #NBAKicks pic.twitter.com/J3ypXTa8VE

– NBA Kicks (@NBAKicks) 1 March 2026

LeBron debuts the Nike LeBron 23 “Big Bang” PE against the Warriors this weekend ☄️

Did they do Ozzy justice? 🤔

Our description: https://t.co/3OaAtQtJud pic.twitter.com/J5P4yJILsj

– Sneaker News (@SneakerNews) 2 March 2026

The latest “Big Bang” LeBron 23 PE offers the same cues as the LeBron 9 original, namely an all-over dark orange colorway, which is complemented by light orange piping along the main panel. The LeBron 23 also features an icy translucent outsole mimicking the original release. The main difference comes from the space gray Nike Swoosh on the LeBron 9, which is traded for a black Swoosh with the same gray outline on the updated LeBron 23.

The final detail, and perhaps the most notable, comes in the form of the tongue logo, which is the same logo Nike Basketball designed for the 2012 All-Star Collection. Whether or not this pair will release to the public is still undecided, but fans can expect a potential release as both Nike and LeBron James have been generous with the drop so far.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and James Harden were nearly dealt a season-deciding injury blow on Wednesday. An X-ray of the star point guard’s right thumb revealed he suffered a non-displaced fracture against the New York Knicks on Tuesday. While the injury usually requires surgery, Harden never considered it an option.

“It’s too much time,” the Cavaliers star said after Sunday’s 106-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets. “Thought about playing the last game, thought about playing in Milwaukee. There’s going to be some discomfort, so just figuring out ways to fight. There’s no other option.”

James Harden asked if he’s considering surgery on his broken thumb:

“No. It’s too much time… there’s going to be some discomfort, so just figuring out ways to fight it… I have no other choice.” pic.twitter.com/PG2qe37o07

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 2 March 2026

Harden’s injury could have been a devastating blow to Cleveland’s title hopes. After a disappointing start to the season, the Cavaliers traded an injured Darius Garland for the 36-year-old Harden at the trade deadline. The availability of the latter was a driving force in its acquisition.

However, after injuring his thumb, it was unclear whether Harden would be able to play during the stretch run to end the regular season. With Donovan Mitchell also out with a groin injury, Harden missed the first two games of Cleveland’s road trip, suffering tough losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.

The Cavaliers arrived in New York on Saturday and Harden went to the NBA Players Association gym to get his thumb tested.

“See if I can dribble,” he said of the goal of the workout. “If I can dribble, I can play. I still couldn’t dribble the way I wanted to, but it was good enough.”

Initially listed as questionable, Harden took the field against the Nets on Sunday.

James Harden playing for Cavaliers despite broken thumb

To the relief of Cavs fans, he broke through in the game and played well enough to earn the win. Harden logged 36 minutes, posting 29 points on 5 of 9 shooting from the field, 4 of 7 from three and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line, along with nine rebounds, eight assists and five turnovers.

“Too many turnovers,” he said of his performance. “Not being able to handle the ball properly. After this game, hopefully I’ll take a few days to rest and let it heal and then go from there.”

While Harden finished with a near triple-double, Kenny Atkinson noticed that he was not his usual self.

“You could see in the first half that he wasn’t 100%, obviously,” Atkinson said. “Just tipping the ball. Some of those turnovers weren’t his. Then I noticed he was tipping the ball a few times while bringing it up. Which he never does. Just probably needed to give it a break. It’s tough, especially for a guy who handles it as much as he does.

“I thought in the second half, we had that stretch where we were struggling and he kind of took over. Got to the free-throw line and then hit a couple threes. He’s a gamer. Kind of made it tough… We needed him. He played handicapped. But he still played well.”

The Cavaliers are currently the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference standings, two games ahead of the Toronto Raptors and 1.5 games behind the New York Knicks. Their next two games include two of their toughest tests since acquiring Harden.

Cleveland returns home for a rematch with the Pistons on Tuesday. They will then have four days off to rest Harden before back-to-back home contests against the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.

Harden’s thumb will continue to be one of the top stories surrounding the Cavaliers in the coming weeks. However, the 11-time All-Star is adamant that he will do whatever it takes to remain on the court during his 36-year-old season.

“I love playing basketball even with no money,” Harden said. “Basketball is a thing that we do, and it’s a safe place. As you get better and start studying the game and start learning more and get comfortable, it’s the same with anything, you just get used to it. I’ve been fortunate to play in this league for as long as I have, and I’m still doing it at a high level. Even now, as I’ve gotten older. When I was younger, I’ve always been It felt like that, but I still realize I have a few more years left to play basketball, so I definitely cherish them and have no regrets about playing.

When it comes to professional sports, no one is immune to the influence of Father Time. Every human being slows down eventually, even those who appear to be immortal (like the great LeBron James). And Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden, who is currently dealing with a thumb injury that caused him to miss 22 points in Sunday’s 106-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets, knows that the sports grim reaper is coming for him someday.

However, Harden is still playing at a high level; He may be 36, but retirement isn’t exactly imminent for a man who averaged nearly 25 points per game this season and more than eight assists per contest. However, the Cavs star loves basketball so much that he wants to keep playing it as long as he canEspecially when he still has an elusive championship ring to compete for and, hopefully, win.

“I know [retirement is] coming soon. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, but it is a reality. Everyone has to go through this sometimes. I’m just trying to keep my body fit and play well. We’ll see what happens over the next few years. Take one game at a time and cherish the moments,” Harden said, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

James Harden on how long he wants to play: “I know it’s going to be sooner rather than later. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, but it’s a reality. Everybody has to go through this sometimes. Just trying to keep my body in shape and play well. We’ll see what happens over the next few… pic.twitter.com/BPvW7Fwtfj

– Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) 2 March 2026

James Harden and the Cavs’ last stand at the title?

The Cavs know their title-rival’s time is short, so rather than risk Darius Garland’s health, they went out and acquired Harden, who is more than 10 years Garland’s senior.

Harden has dealt with his injury troubles in recent years, battling hamstring issues, but he has been quite durable and has been very reliable, especially during the regular season. The playoffs, of course, are where Harden will be tested, and whether or not he can be a part of this team that is finally looking to bounce back from the loss.

Sunday night brought some relief for the inconsistent Los Angeles Lakers, as they faced a terrible Sacramento Kings team on their home turf. As expected, the Lakers won a very easy 128–104 victory, with no suspense whatsoever, as the Purple and Gold essentially blew the game away in the first quarter, and ended the period with an 18-point lead (36–18).

The Lakers’ dominance paved the way for head coach JJ Redick to limit the minutes of his best players, including LeBron James, who played only 27 minutes on the night. This also opened up some trash-time minutes for fan favorite Bronny James, who draws oohs and ahhs every time he enters the game.

But while millions of people around the world cheer whenever Bronny gets some playing time, the 21-year-old guard has no bigger fan than his father, LeBron. And Sunday night, LeBron was in dreamland Bronny scored on a three off a dribble handoff from Edou Thirou as he was celebrating his son’s shot on the bench.

Lebron was loving this brony threesome 🔥 pic.twitter.com/v9SW4LJufe

– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) 2 March 2026

These were Bronny’s only three points in six minutes of play of the night. He went 1-3 from the field and missed his only two-point field-goal attempt of the night for the Lakers.

The Lakers could take it a little easier right now…

The Lakers know every win matters, especially in the bloodshed of the Western Conference playoff picture. But they can at least take it a little easier the next few days, especially with the game coming up against the hapless New Orleans Pelicans.

Not a single Lakers player played 30 minutes or more on Sunday, and they’ll have to take more care of that kind of business, as their tendency to play high-leverage games increases the wear and tear on their star players.

It’s no secret that LeBron James is chasing another ring before riding off into the sunset. While the Los Angeles Lakers are having a tough campaign, they are still in the fight, and it is never wise to bet against a team featuring James and Luka Doncic.

James has willingly taken a back seat to Doncic to allow the talented guard to become the focal point of the Lakers. The 41-year-old James, who has lost his quickness, explosiveness and athleticism over the years, is smartly readjusting his game to remain effective.

On “The Bill Simmons Podcast”, NBA analyst Max Kellerman revealed that James’ agent Rich Paul envisions the future Hall of Famer playing a more specific role for the Purple and Gold.

Kellerman, who co-hosts a podcast with Paul, said, “Rich likes the idea of ​​playing as LeBron’s roller. Becoming Karl Malone. I like that idea too. A smarter Karl Malone. He’s the same size. 6-foot-8, 260 (pounds), and he can shoot from outside.”

However, Simmons was skeptical of the idea.

“I think it’s very hard. I know you’ve talked to Rich about this, and all three of us have talked about it. Taking somebody who was the best of all time at their job and telling them, ‘Now you are this,'” Simmons replied.

Malone had to stay in Los Angeles for a season in 2003 as he tried to win a championship. But even joining the powerhouse unit of Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Gary Payton wasn’t enough to earn him a ring. He retired at the end of the season.

Malone, who was 40 at the time, averaged 13.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 42 games with the Lakers.

James distanced himself from Paul after he talked about the Austin Reeves trade, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he does it again.

The New Orleans Pelicans continued their improved play as they earned their fourth straight win with a 115-105 win against the Utah Jazz on Saturday. However, one of the major concerns after the game was the status of Pelicans star Zion Williamson, who left the game due to injury. According to ESPN, Pelicans head coach James Borrego had no update on Williamson’s status moving forward.

“Hopefully it’s nothing serious, and we’ll have him back very soon,” Borrego said.

James Borrego also said it was an ankle injury that occurred when Zion Williamson turned it slightly during the second quarter of the Pelicans’ win against the Jazz. Williamson exited the game and did not return. He finished with four points, one rebound and two assists in only 11 minutes of play. He was 1 of 2 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line.

Although Williamson has struggled with injuries throughout his NBA career so far, he has remained relatively healthy this season. Since he was forced to opt out of the 2021–22 season due to injury, Williamson has played more than 30 games in a season only once. It was in 2023–24 when he appeared in a career-high 70 games. This year, he had already played in 45 games before the latest injury.

The Pelicans are on the second night of a back-to-back against the LA Clippers on Sunday, and the final update on Williamson’s status likely won’t come until just before game tip-off.

Williamson was playing nearly 29 minutes per game, averaging 21.5 points. He never averaged less than 20 points per season. He also averaged 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals while splitting 58.5 percent shooting from the field, 25 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 71.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Brooklyn Nets, and there is a possibility that they may get one of their key players back. James Harden has missed the last few games after being diagnosed with a fractured right thumb, but he is expected to return game-to-game. It doesn’t appear that Harden will have surgery, and it may be a matter of enduring the pain if he returns to the court.

Luckily for the Cavs, they’ll be playing the Nets, a team that hasn’t had much success this season. This could be a game in which they let Harden sit out so he can continue to recover.

Anyway, here’s Harden’s position for the game.

*Watch NBA games live with fuboTV (free Trial)*

Injury status of James Harden vs. Nets

Harden is listed as questionable against the Nets, which means he is likely to play.

The latest update on Harden wasn’t the best when thinking about a return soon, as head coach Kenny Atkinson shared that the guard was having difficulty dribbling.

“I know he was struggling a little bit with his dribbling this morning,” Atkinson said. “If you have difficulty dribbling and catching [it’s tough to play]. Jarrett Allen went through this early in the season. We tried to bring him back. He wanted to hurry, and then we had to go back and give him some time.

“I know James is different… We have to get feedback from James… There is no one stronger in the league. There is no one else available. No one wants to play more.”

If Harden is struggling trying to dribble, there is no way he can play. At this point, listing him as questionable is probably just putting opposing teams on edge so they don’t know whether they should prepare for him or not.

Things change fast in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate a 129-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center, with LeBron James leading the way with 20 points in the first half.

Luka Doncic, who celebrated his 27th birthday on February 28, top-scored with 26 points, while Austin Reeves had 18 points to lead the team to a comfortable win in the absence of Stephen Curry. However, at least that much attention went to LeBron’s 11-year-old daughter, Zuri James, who took heartwarming photos with her dad before the game.

“It’s special, it’s special, it’s definitely softened me over the last 11 years. I had two boys in the beginning but having her is special. It’s a different kind of love between girls and boys. It’s tough love when it comes to my boys. I yell at them and do anything, you know they take it, they know how to take it, it’s different, I soften a little bit when I have my daughter,” James said in a clip on According to said. Bronemuse talks about the impact his daughter has had on him.

“It’s special. It’s definitely mellowed me out over the last 11 years”

– LeBron on being a father to a girl. 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/MgnecIIr3J

– BronMuse (@BronMuse) 1 March 2026

Zhuri mirrored his father’s dribbling exercises in the session and successfully sank a backward over-the-head trick shot from the free-throw line after several attempts and some coaching from the 41-year-old. According to SeattleP, the conversation culminated with Zhuri alley-ooping James, 41, for a pre-game slam, followed by their signature handshake and an exchange of “I love yous” before tipoff.

When Zhuri was asked how he made the basket, he said, “I don’t know. I tried to make sure I was in front of the basket.”

Regardless, fans will be glad LeBron isn’t going soft on the court as he’ll arguably have better answers to questions about his shooting, considering he went 7-13 on the night, contributing nicely to the Lakers’ 53.3% overall efficiency. They shot an astonishing 46.1% from three-point territory, compared to the Warriors’ overall efficiency of 45.1% and 27.3% from beyond the arc.

For the Warriors, Gui Santos top-scored with 14 points, while Moses Moody and Gary Payton II added 12 points each, the latter coming off the bench. The Lakers ended their three-match losing streak and will now face the Sacramento Kings in their next match.

LeBron James continues to rewrite the record books, and his latest milestone puts him in rarest company in Los Angeles Lakers history. During Saturday night’s 129-101 win over the Golden State Warriors, “The King” officially joined Kobe Bryant as the only players to record 1,000 three-pointers in a Lakers uniform.

James needed only one triple to enter the contest, and he didn’t keep the fans at Chase Center waiting long. They started the game strong and reached 1,000 points after trailing by three in the first quarter. By the time the final buzzer sounded, James sat at 1,002 career triples for the franchise, trailing only Bryant’s famous mark of 1,827.

The 41-year-old superstar finished the night with an impressive 22 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. He hit 7 of 13 shots from the field, including 4 of 6 from downtown. While Luka Doncic handled most of the scoring with 26 points, James provided a steadying veteran presence that allowed Los Angeles to surge ahead in the second half.

The win was a collective effort for the Lakers, who improved to 35–24 on the season. DeAndre Ayton dominated the paint with four points and 10 rebounds, while the team’s perimeter defense limited the Warriors to just 27% shooting from deep.

Reaching this milestone further cements James’ legacy in the Purple and Gold. While he is already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, achieving this specific feat with the Lakers highlights his continued excellence and adaptation since arriving in 2018.

As the Lakers push to clinch a higher seed in the Western Conference, they will need this version of James, who can still dominate play from beyond the arc, to make a deep playoff run.

KNThe Cleveland Cavaliers will need less time for their showdown against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Friday as star guard James Harden has been sidelined with a thumb injury, according to the team. Harden was the Cavs’ major trade deadline acquisition in hopes of making a jump in the East standings and making a push into the postseason.

James Harden initially suffered the injury during the Cavs’ win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, and has been sidelined since. Shortly after the Cavs traded for the former All-Star guard, the team won five consecutive games before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder last weekend.

The Cavs lost 118-116 against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday with Harden out due to injury. Overall, the Cavs have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games, and are currently in fourth place in the East standings. They are 37-23, and only a half-game behind the No. 3 Knicks.

Since the deal, Harden has appeared in seven games at a rate of just over 32 minutes per game. He averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists with splits of 49.4 percent shooting from the field, 48.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line. It’s a small sample size, but if those field goal and 3-point shooting percentages hold up, they’ll be career highs for the 17-year veteran.

Before the trade, Harden had spent the previous three and a half seasons playing for his hometown LA Clippers. He was acquired by the Clippers in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers at the beginning of the 2023–24 season.

随着对洛杉矶湖人队和超级巨星勒布朗·詹姆斯的大量猜测，体育分析师科林·考赫德对球队和球员之间的关系给出了直率的看法。由于考赫德过去曾在某些方面抨击过湖人队，因此他会在球队的情况与好莱坞业务之间进行有趣的比较。

不可否认，詹姆斯正处于职业生涯的最后阶段。无论本赛季是否是最后一季，它都会发生得宜早不宜迟。考赫德会提到詹姆斯已经 41 岁了，一些统计类别如何显示他的年龄，这位球星最初搬到洛杉矶是一场“好莱坞婚姻”，以及如何以焦点转移到卢卡·东契奇为结局。

“勒布朗 [James] 41岁了，他的场均上场时间是他职业生涯中最少的，是自新秀赛季以来场均得分最少的，而且他是整个联盟中第二慢的球员，”考赫德说。“勒布朗在NBA有21年的影响力。 22年了，一切都枯竭了。让我们对勒布朗和湖人队说实话。这一直是一场好莱坞婚姻，两个炙手可热的明星。你知道好莱坞发生了什么；其中一位明星最终开始与更年轻的人​​约会。那是卢卡。”

勒布朗和湖人队即将走向好莱坞离婚💔 @colincowherd pic.twitter.com/VHpimdYaet

— Herd 和 Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) 2026 年 2 月 27 日

尽管如此，詹姆斯场均贡献 21.5 分、7 次助攻和 5.7 个篮板，投篮命中率为 49.8%，虽然过去的其他赛季表现更好，但考虑到他的年龄，有些人可能会说今年仍然令人印象深刻。无论情况如何，毫无疑问，湖人队已经在东契奇身上找到了球队的下一个面孔，他以场均 32.7 分领先全联盟，场均贡献 8.6 次助攻和 7.8 个篮板，投篮命中率为 47%。

随后，詹姆斯和洛杉矶队希望球队取得34胜24负的战绩，排名西部第六。

When the 2026 offseason arrives, the future of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will be up in the air. The 23-year-old veteran has not yet decided how long he wants to continue playing until his current contract with the Lakers expires. Of course, if James wants to continue his career he can always re-sign with the Lakers. But count former Laker Byron Scott as someone who doesn’t believe it should be that way.

During a recent appearance on Los Angeles radio station Power 106, Scott talked about why he thinks LeBron James should not be included in the Lakers’ future after this season.

Scott said, “Coming from one of the greatest players to ever play the game, I thought it was ridiculous that it’s harder to play now than it was then.” “I’m a fan, but I don’t mince words. I think this should be his last year here. You don’t have to go home, but you have to get out of here.”

Looking at Scott’s comments, it seems like his argument is based more on emotions rather than James’ talent and fit with the current Lakers team. It doesn’t look like the debate between players and fans over the strength of the era will end any time soon.

What is not debatable is how the Lakers’ acquisition of James helped bring the franchise out of irrelevance following Kobe Bryant’s retirement. After signing with the Lakers as a free agent in the 2018 offseason, James led the organization to its first championship in a decade and helped keep the Lakers a relevant playoff contender in the following years.

This season, James has appeared in 40 games, a little more than 33 minutes per game. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.1 steals on 49.8 percent shooting from the field, 29.9 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 74.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

PHOENIX – Before Rasheer Fleming’s NBA campaign began, there was one player he wanted to protect.

“LeBron James,” Fleming said emphatically during a Phoenix Suns fan event before the season started.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix have met three times, Fleming has never had a chance to guard James or Doncic. He has spent those games either with the Valley Suns (Phoenix’s G-League affiliate) or playing trash.

Due to frequent injuries, he has seen his workload increase. Being mostly a defender, his offensive game has increased rapidly.

He may not surprise anyone yet, but confidence is building. Fleming’s athleticism, wingspan and defense make him a worthy addition to the rotation.

The emerging offensive game—and the 3-point shot in particular—has intrigued fans as well as the Suns’ coaching staff.

Head coach Jordan Ott matched Fleming up against Boston Celtics guard Peyton Pritchard on Tuesday, where the latter shot 1 of 11 from the field.

Two days later, the coach spoke about the rookie’s responsibility to guard “some of the best players in the world”, in reference to James and Luka Doncic. The starry nature was not disturbing him at all.

“I think later,” Fleming said when asked about matching up with James and Doncic. “Like, I’m going to go home and maybe think about it more. But during the game, I’m too competitive to focus on it.”

I asked Rasheer Fleming if he gets starstruck in the middle of a game or does it happen after.

He’s been guarding Luka Doncic regularly and had his eye on LeBron James tonight.

“I think later. Like, I’m going to go home and maybe think about it more. But during the game, I also… pic.twitter.com/KVcKFD89Wx

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 27 February 2026

Suns teammates see Rasheer Fleming’s emerging potential

Fleming has all the tools to become an elite NBA defender. But an elite offensive player? Apart from his colleagues, this thing has not come to the mind of many people.

He has been hired for Valley Sons, and is reaping the rewards of his labor. There can be slight fluctuations between G-League and NBA games, sometimes on the same day.

But it’s all part of the process and Fleming took it seriously. Since the start of the new year, his work ethic and commitment to being prepared has paid off.

In the second half, Ott replaced the starters with the second unit, of which Fleming was part. He hit two 3-point shots and fired up the Phoenix crowd.

His aggressive play further increased his influence.

While he sat on the bench cheering, it was another game for Fleming in the eyes of Colin Gillespie, who raved about his rookie’s potential for about 30 seconds after the game.

“We always tell him he doesn’t know how good he can be,” Gillespie told reporters.

“He can be so, so good. I don’t even think he’s (close to) his ceiling. He probably doesn’t even know what the ceiling is. I don’t even know what his ceiling is. He still has a lot to discover offensively, but defensively, just on the ball, his length, deflections. He does everything.”

With injuries plaguing the team, this could be a legitimate opportunity for Fleming to fully integrate himself onto the Phoenix Suns roster.

NBA insider Mark J. Spears said Wednesday that he would choose LeBron James over Luka Doncic as the Los Angeles Lakers’ closer in late-game situations, citing James’ versatility and track record in tough times.

Speaking on NBA Today, Spears pointed to the final sequence of the Lakers’ 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, when Los Angeles had 6.7 seconds left and a chance to win. James inbounded the ball to Doncic, who then gave James an open look for a contested fadeway 3-pointer over Jonathan Isaac on the left wing.

“There aren’t a lot of players in the NBA who close out games better than LeBron James and in a one-to-two minute span, Luka made three shots, Austin made three shots. LeBron James is standing on the sideline and Desmond Benn is guarding him, he’s taller than Desmond Benn, fifty pounds heavier, and he’s there when they’re doing that one-on-one. And I think as great as Luka is, I want the ball. In LeBron James’ hands because he can take the ball to the basket, pass out to Luka, pass out to Austin, I don’t think he should have taken the ball out at the end of the game… and he’s too close and he didn’t get a chance to pass.

“I think as great as Luca [Doncic] I want the ball to be in LeBron James’ hands because he can take the ball to the basket, pass out to Luka, pass out to Austin [Reaves]…He’s too close and didn’t get a chance to close.

– Mark J. spearspic.twitter.com/WTkSYy3lio

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 25 February 2026

LeBron James, Luka Doncic’s stat lines fuel Lakers close debate

James finished with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 32 minutes. He shot 8 for 13 from the field and 3 for 4 from the free-throw line, while also knocking down two 3-pointers.

Doncic recorded 22 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds in 38 minutes but struggled with efficiency. He shot 8 of 24 from the field, 2 of 10 from 3-point range, and 4 of 9 from the free-throw line.

The late-game decision has fueled discussion about the roles played on key possessions for the Lakers, who fell to 34-23 with the loss and lost their second consecutive game. A four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP, James has long been considered one of the league’s most reliable finishers, especially in playoff settings. Doncic, meanwhile, has built a reputation as a high-usage playmaker capable of creating shots under pressure.

The Lakers are now trying to regroup as they begin a two-game road trip against the Phoenix Suns (33-26) on Thursday night starting at 6:00 pm PT. With competition tight in the Western Conference standings, clarity in late-game execution could prove crucial as Los Angeles enters the final stretch of the regular season.

The Detroit Pistons emerged victorious in a highly anticipated battle of the NBA’s top two teams on Wednesday as they defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 124-116 at Little Caesars Arena.

Cade Cunningham was a big contributor for the Pistons, who improved to 43-14, including 23-7 at home. He scored 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting, four rebounds, 13 assists, three steals and three blocks. However, they had a game-high eight turnovers.

Nevertheless, his all-round effort was enough to lead Detroit to the victory. He has now had three blocks in each of his last three games. When asked about it, Cunningham pointed to LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The two-time All-Star said, “I’ve always enjoyed knocking things down and getting blocks. I watched LeBron a lot growing up, so I think it’s something I’ve always been very good at.”

“You know, a little bit of playing hoops and stuff, so that’s always been a part of my game, and it’s finally coming to the NBA.”

“I watched LeBron a lot [James] “Growing up.”

Cade Cunningham speaks on his 3 block against the Thunder tonight

(via @nba)
pic.twitter.com/1xycibUjUY

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 February 2026

Of course, James is known for his pursuit disapproval, and he should be thrilled to know that Cunningham was inspired by his trademark move.

The 24-year-old Cunningham is averaging 25.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.5 steals, along with a career-best 0.9 blocks this season. He has really become a well-rounded player over the last few years, knowing he needs to step up to help the Pistons climb out of the basement.

Cunningham, who was recently asked about his aura, has often acknowledged his responsibilities as Detroit’s go-to man, and it is not within him to contribute much on defense.

The Cleveland Cavaliers head to take on the Milwaukee Bucks in the second night of a home-road match on Wednesday. James Harden is listed as questionable due to a broken thumb, while Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley will be out of action. Meanwhile, the Bucks will not have Giannis Antetokounmpo available for the matchup.

Here’s everything we know about James Harden and Donovan Mitchell’s playing status against the Hornets, in addition to their teammates.

*Watch NBA games live with fuboTV. Get access Save $30)

Injury status of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell for Cavs vs. Bucks

When it comes to the question of whether James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are playing in tonight’s Cavs vs. Bucks matchup, the answer is probably for Beard and not Spida.

Cleveland announced this afternoon that Harden suffered a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx of his right hand against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. Luckily for both him and the team, it’s the thumb of his non-shooting-hand. It appears he plans to play despite the injury, which could keep him out in Milwaukee, depending on whether the Cavs want him to play through it soon.

Mitchell is listed out with a right groin strain, while Mobley is also sidelined with a strain on his left calf. With the Detroit Pistons next on the road on Friday, and the Cavs coming off a five-game-in-seven-night finish, it’s not surprising both are sitting out this one.

Max Strus has yet to make his season debut after recovering from left foot surgery, but Kenny Atkinson provided an encouraging update on his condition moving forward.

The Bucks will be without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the 13th consecutive game due to a calf injury.

Cavs injury report

James Harden: Questionable (fracture in right thumb)

Donovan Mitchell: Out (right waist stretch)

Evan Mobley: Out (Left calf injury maintenance)

Max Strus: Out (left leg surgery)

Tristan Enaruna: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Darius Brown II: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Riley Minix: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

bucks injury report

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Out (right calf strain)

Alex Antetokounmpo: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Taurean Prince: Out (neck surgery)

The Cleveland Cavaliers got a big win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night, 109-94. Unfortunately, it appears that James Harden was a casualty in that win, as he has been confirmed injured.

Harden, who is 36, is said to be suffering from a thumb fracture. The organization announced his injury. He is considered questionable for Wednesday’s contest against the Milwaukee Bucks, and an update on his status will be provided before the start of that game.

“Cavaliers guard James Harden injured his right thumb in last night’s 109-94 win over New York,” the franchise said. “A post-game examination by the Cavaliers’ medical staff, followed by X-rays taken today, confirmed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx. Harden will be treated and continued to be evaluated and will be listed as questionable for tonight’s game against Milwaukee. An update on his status will be provided as appropriate.”

Despite the injury, the 11-time All-Star still played 32 minutes in the Cavaliers’ win over the Knicks. He finished the contest with 20 points, two rebounds and four assists while shooting 44.4% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the three-point line. Despite suffering a thumb injury, he was one of the main contributors in the competition.

Although he is dealing with a fracture, it is a good sign that Harden is still considered questionable to play in Wednesday’s game against the Bucks. His situation suggests that, even if he misses time, it could be a short stint. Either way, the Cavaliers will monitor the injury closely. Especially considering that James Harden was brought in to help make the club more competitive in the playoffs.

NBA great and basketball analyst Dwyane Wade recently wrote an article for athletic Highlighting the three best leaders he has played with in his career. This piece stays true to his Heat roots, as he highlights Pat Riley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Udonis Haslem.

But missing from the list was LeBron James, who is often considered one of the great leaders in the NBA and was Wade’s co-star when the two won two championships in 2012 and 2013. Regarding Pat Riley, Wade talked about Pat’s attention to detail and ability to remain calm under fire.

“Where Pat was great was his attention to detail. That’s something I try to pride myself on, even now… A lot of times, as a player, your mind, your emotions, your anxiety are all over the place. You make some mistakes, and you start thinking too much. He was a cool guy. Whenever I went over to him during the game, he would put his hand on me and give me a calm feeling and reset me.”

Speaking about Shaq, he talked about his defensive ability and the mentor role that O’Neal played in his early career en route to his first championship.

“He showed me tricks. He showed me how to be a superstar on and off the court. He even gave me the nickname “Flash.” He sat down and talked to me about authenticity and making sure my DNA was in everything I did. It changed the way I went into meetings, it changed my brand and the way I thought about myself.

And as for Udonis Haslem, whom Wade often praises when talking about his Heat tenure, he talked about his ability as a leader and his respect for his voice.

“UD was never one of the top guys when it came to stardom, but he still had the loudest voice in the locker room. When he talked, everyone listened because we knew it wasn’t coming from a selfish place at all. It was coming from a guy who would give everything in his body for you in any game. He’d take penalties for you. He was making the least money as an undrafted guy, but he cared. No. He made sure everyone in the locker room followed the rules, even when LeBron James and Chris Bosh came in.

This article was less about the chemistry on the court and more about his unique experience with these locker room leaders. But Wade has spoken highly of James in other places, and James has spoken candidly about how his partnership with Wade was important to his career.

In comments received after Wade and James’ final game against each other in December 2018, LeBron talked about Wade and their successful pairing.

“I personally think I would have been a lot more successful in this league without D-Wade,” LeBron said. “But I really needed him to accomplish what I wanted to accomplish in this league, and that is to win at the highest level. And that’s when I made the jump, and what he did for me when I went to Miami, I appreciate more than I can express in words. You have to think about how I spent the first 25 years of my life in Akron, Ohio. I spent 18 years in high school, and then the first seven years of my professional career I’m still “I was living in Akron, Ohio, so that’s all I knew.”

On Tuesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered their second consecutive loss with a close home loss to the Orlando Magic. The Lakers had a chance to win it late, but Luka Doncic missed his dribble and was forced to pass to LeBron James, whose turnaround heave from beyond the arc hit the backboard and the rim.

Much has been said about the Lakers’ perceived roster shortcomings in recent weeks, and now, ESPN NBA analyst Brian Windhorst has added more fuel to the discussion.

“When Luca [Doncic]lebron [James]and Austin Reeves play together, they’re not a good team… when it’s appropriate [Austin & Luka] The Lakers are an excellent team out there,” Windhorst said on First Take, according to X, formerly of NBA Courtside on Twitter.

In fact, James, Doncic and Reeves in many ways have skills that cancel each other out, none of them are good defenders and they all need the ball to perform at their best offensively.

Many have floated the idea that the Lakers will either let James walk or bring him back on a more team-friendly deal this offseason in order to build a more viable roster around Doncic, similar to the Dallas Mavericks team that made the Finals in 2024 before the team inexplicably traded him to Los Angeles.

Doncic and Reeves have created a lethal one-two punch in games played together without James, but when all three are in the lineup, none of them have been able to be their full producers on offense, and the team’s defense has faltered.

Yet, despite this, the Lakers are 11 games above the .500 mark at 34-23, and are not out of position to secure home court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The Lakers next play on the road against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday evening.

周二晚上，洛杉矶湖人队在主场险胜奥兰多魔术队，遭遇连续第二场失利。湖人队在最后时刻有机会赢得这场比赛，但卢卡·东契奇放弃了运球，被迫传球给勒布朗·詹姆斯，后者在三分线外的转身击中了篮板和篮筐。

最近几周，人们对湖人队的阵容缺陷进行了很多讨论，现在，ESPN NBA 分析师布莱恩·温德霍斯特 (Brian Windhorst) 为这一讨论增添了更多的火上浇油。

“当卢卡 [Doncic]勒布朗 [James]，和奥斯汀·里维斯一起打球，他们并不是一支优秀的球队……当它只是 [Austin & Luka] 湖人队是一支出色的球队，”Windhorst 在 X（前 Twitter）上的 NBA Courtside 的 First Take 节目中说道。

事实上，詹姆斯、东契奇和里维斯在很多方面都拥有相互抵消的技能，他们都不是优秀的防守者，而且他们都需要球才能发挥最佳进攻能力。

许多人提出这样的想法：湖人队要么让詹姆斯离开，要么在这个休赛期以一份对球队更加友好的交易让他回归，以便围绕东契奇构建一支更可行的阵容，这类似于达拉斯小牛队，后者在2024年重返总决赛，之后球队莫名其妙地将东契奇交易到洛杉矶。

东契奇和里维斯在没有詹姆斯的情况下并肩作战的比赛中，形成了致命的二过一拳，但当三人都在阵容中时，他们都无法在进攻上充分发挥自己的作用，球队的防守往往会陷入困境。

尽管如此，湖人队仍以 34 胜 23 负的战绩领先 0.500 大关 11 场，并没有排除在西部季后赛首轮确保主场优势的可能。

湖人队接下来将于周四晚上客场对阵菲尼克斯太阳队。

在周二與奧蘭多魔術隊的對決中，勒布朗詹姆斯在 Crypto.com Arena 為球迷演奏了一些最精彩的歌曲。在上半場突破了他標誌性的追擊蓋帽後，他在第三節與洛杉磯湖人隊隊友奧斯汀·裡維斯聯手扣籃，點燃了觀眾的熱情。

詹姆斯進行二打一快攻，將球傳給奔跑中的里維斯，後者將球傳出，獲得四次 NBA 總決賽 MVP 和四次常規賽 MVP。他再一次挑戰了41歲的年紀。詹姆斯隨後在比賽後期突破扣籃，為湖人隊贏得了艱苦的主場勝利。然而，小溫德爾卡特和魔術隊卻有其他計劃，因為洛杉磯隊在瘋狂的比賽中落敗。

洛杉磯演出時間！

奧斯汀·裡維斯 (Austin Reaves) 向勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 過渡 😤

pic.twitter.com/07Lc9V9b3k

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 2 月 25 日

詹姆斯在以110-109輸掉比賽的最後幾秒鐘錯過了致勝一球，但他仍然13投8中得到21分，外加6個籃板、4次助攻和2次蓋帽。此外，這位歷史得分王提醒球迷，他是NBA史上進攻籃框時最激動人心的球員之一。由於高吊球威脅賈克森·海耶斯腳踝受傷，湖人隊完成空中接力的選擇有限。幸運的是，詹姆斯願意擔任這個角色。

不幸的是，對於洛杉磯來說，這並不足以刺激球隊取得勝利。紫金軍團在過去的六場比賽中輸掉了四場，目前排名西部第六。勒布朗·詹姆斯和他的同伴將重新集結，前往沙漠參加週四晚上與菲尼克斯太陽隊的比賽。

這位傳奇前鋒將在他的深奧技巧中保持雙手，並嘗試拿出一些可以幫助湖人隊（34-23）重新回到勝利行列的東西。

在周二与奥兰多魔术队的对决中，勒布朗·詹姆斯在 Crypto.com Arena 为球迷演奏了一些最精彩的歌曲。在上半场突破了他标志性的追击盖帽后，他在第三节与洛杉矶湖人队队友奥斯汀·里维斯联手扣篮，点燃了观众的热情。

詹姆斯进行二打一快攻，将球传给奔跑中的里维斯，后者将球传出，获得四次 NBA 总决赛 MVP 和四次常规赛 MVP。他再一次挑战了41岁的年龄。詹姆斯随后在比赛后期突破扣篮，为湖人队赢得了一场艰苦的主场胜利。然而，小温德尔·卡特和魔术队却有其他计划，因为洛杉矶队在疯狂的比赛中落败。

洛杉矶演出时间！

奥斯汀·里维斯 (Austin Reaves) 向勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 过渡 😤

pic.twitter.com/07Lc9V9b3k

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 2 月 25 日

詹姆斯在以110-109输掉比赛的最后几秒错过了制胜一球，但他仍然13投8中得到21分，外加6个篮板、4次助攻和2次盖帽。此外，这位历史得分王提醒球迷，他是NBA历史上进攻篮筐时最激动人心的球员之一。由于高吊球威胁贾克森·海耶斯脚踝受伤，湖人队完成空中接力的选择有限。幸运的是，詹姆斯愿意担任这个角色。

不幸的是，对于洛杉矶来说，这并不足以刺激球队取得胜利。紫金军团在过去的六场比赛中输掉了四场，目前排名西部第六。勒布朗·詹姆斯和他的同伴将重新集结，前往沙漠参加周四晚上与菲尼克斯太阳队的比赛。

这位传奇前锋将在他的深奥技巧中保持双手，并尝试拿出一些可以帮助湖人队（34-23）重新回到胜利行列的东西。

The Cleveland Cavaliers made a stir during trade season when they traded Darius Garland, an original member of the team’s core four, to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden. Harden is playing much more spectacularly than Garland this season, and he’s healthy, too. But an underappreciated part of bringing Harden in as a more consistent member of the starting lineup was unlocking the best from Jarrett Allen.

For almost his entire career, Harden has made life much better for his pick-and-roll partners. Clint Capela played his best basketball with Harden. Ivica Zubac did the same. And now, Allen is following suit. Since the Cavs brought The Beard in, Allen has averaged an impressive 20.4 points and 11.3 rebounds on 76.7 percent shooting from the field – numbers, suffice it to say, are absolutely insane.

The Cavs have been playing exceptional basketball lately, and Allen’s improved play as a result of Harden’s arrival is a big reason why. Cleveland sped up its competitive deadline by bringing in Harden, but this move seems smart given the early returns.

Allen had another double-double, 19 points and 10 rebounds in the Cavs’ 109-94 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

James Harden makes life easy for the Cavs

If there’s one thing Harden has going for him, it’s that his track record of excellence in the regular season is nearly unmatched. He is a regular season winning machine, and the Cavs have been humming since they brought him in via trade.

Harden reduced the burden on offense on Donovan Mitchell. He should make life easier for Alan and Evan Mobley in terms of getting good looks. And he reduced the need for Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson to rely on more inconsistent players to try to partner with Mitchell in the backcourt.

The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled a lot on the defensive end this season, but from time to time they show flashes of greatness on that end of the floor. On Tuesday night, LeBron James once again showed that age is just a number, as he soared to the sky to deny an easy layup in transition from Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black.

The game began with a James turnover, as his pass to Austin Reaves was deflected by the Magic guard. Black then took the ball in transition where he is usually prolific, and it looked as if he only had Reeves to beat. Reaves did enough to distract Black, giving the Lakers star enough time to look behind and to the sky for an epic chase-down block. he is made His signature move.

Blocks were chased by LeBron James and Marcus Smart! pic.twitter.com/ZmYneUTgfg

– Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) 25 February 2026

However, it was troublesome when the Magic had three players to the Lakers’ two – with Paolo Banchero rebounding Black’s blocked shot. But then the Lakers retreated to defend the fastbreak, and Marcus Smart made a timely attempt to deny the Magic a field goal by deflecting Banchero’s attempt.

The sad part was that the Lakers couldn’t take advantage of these incredible defensive plays, as James proceeded to turn the ball over again on the ensuing possession.

LeBron James sets the tone for Lakers vs. Magic

James came out of the gate facing the Magic on Tuesday night with a fire in his eyes; Currently, James has 12 points in 14 minutes of play, leading up to his epic block of Black early in the second quarter.

The Lakers star has been slowing down lately, but perhaps with the battle for position in the West being so heated he is speeding up again.

Once Evan Mobley put together an All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the standard was set. Teammates, coaches, fans and the media were talking about the seven-foot-tall player all summer long and tossing his name into MVP conversations without hesitation. So, in turn, any lack of meeting those expectations is considered a failure by some, and perhaps, based on how steadfast the praise was at last year’s All-Star Game and Mobley’s own words, that’s justified.

Now that Darius Garland is in Los Angeles, it appears the microscope has zoomed in a lot on the 24-year-old forward. People crank that dial when the Cavs lose, and especially on national television.

Although he had a catch-and-drive dunk and a jump hook, Mobley missed a few threes in the final 3:20 of the game when his team was still within striking distance. And despite holding Chet Holmgren to an average scoring game, OKC’s power forward grabbed 15 rebounds compared to Cleveland’s two. They weren’t face-to-face every minute of the game, but that’s a worrying discrepancy.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had all 13 offensive rebounds from Sunday.

Where do you think the fault lies? pic.twitter.com/eXb19FU7GD

-RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) 23 February 2026

Mobley deserves criticism for that part of the contest. Even if he’s out of position on most Cavs possessions due to the switch-heavy scheme defensively, recording two total rebounds at that size is absolutely unacceptable. Track the ball and catch it. When you have it in your hand, be strong with it, hold it high, and don’t let the opponent take it away from you.

Should he really be to blame for most of the Thunder’s extra chances? No, there were three examples, maybe fourWhere Mobley could have done a better job on the defensive glass was unrelated to the back-iron misses that found OKC’s perimeter players away from the paint.

• At 7:26 of the second quarter, he hung up on Jaylin Williams to make sure he didn’t miss a three; However, when Jared McCann’s floater went haywire, he waited too long to mingle with his teammates, who should have done so themselves due to the 3-on-2 advantage.
• Similarly, at 9:19 of the fourth, Mobley did not want to let a red-hot Cason Wallace get a free look in the left corner, so he tried to set up a contest time on Holmgren through the middle while driving; This forced a miss that rolled off the rim, but neither he nor Donovan Mitchell came up with it.
• Although with a strong position, Mobley was outclassed by Hartenstein at the 2:30 mark of the final frame, allowing Lou Dort to push him back to the top of the floor.

Evan Mobley’s frequently changing Cavs responsibilities

Let’s step away from the rebounding thing for just a minute and turn to Mobley’s extensive offensive game. The Cavs put the ball in his hands early in a point-forward type role in the first few weeks of the year. It was experimental because that’s what you do in the regular season. He was bringing it up and getting started, and when he didn’t have it, he was pulling up the floor. It was more dribble drives, separation, self-composition and kicking out than off-ball work.

Then, as the campaign progressed, Cleveland wanted to put Mobley in a better position to succeed with less management, as in 2024–25. That meant using him as a mid-floor hub, putting him in screens-and-slips, and getting him close to the bucket. Mobley burst onto the scene in early December and recorded four consecutive double-double performances before going down with a left calf injury. He was sidelined for five short games, then returned at Christmas.

After finding his footing again, Mobley enjoyed a solid month of January, including his best game of the season. He scored 29 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks in 35 minutes against the Sacramento Kings. He did not turn it over even once and walked out of the field after scoring 13 runs out of 24. Unfortunately, after another solid performance in Game 2 of the home-and-home series with the Orlando Magic, Mobley experienced more pain in the same calf. He missed the entire season through January 28 during the NBA All-Star break.

Returning to a very different team, James Harden is now their point guard, which changes the calculus for what Mobley needs to do. At best, on this team, he is the third scoring option. It was different a few months ago, so there needs to be an adjustment on his (and Harden’s) part.

Jarrett Allen is already the quintessential pick-and-roll partner for Harden, so where does that leave Mobley? Well, for one, Cleveland needs to get him into the dunker spot right this very moment. He should have plenty of opportunities to capitalize on the seriousness he possesses as both a ball-handler and roller. In particular, alley-oops from Harden or Allen should be common.

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson noted that Mobley’s popping could also be used as a weapon. They sure as heck aren’t shooting the three well right now, which may be due to a lack of lift from the shin, but he’s still a confidently capable mid-range shooter. If opportunities arise, he will have to take them. Atkinson also sees opportunities to quickly find mismatches at small forwards and guards in double-big lineups. When that happens, Harden can be counted on to feed him.

We’ll also see Mobley without Harden and Allen on the floor with Mitchell. The staggering choice allows for optionality in terms of style of play. Both of them had a lot of success last year and a good chemistry has been established between them, which will give both of them a chance to be as successful as ever. Adding Schroder to that mix also helps as his downhill nature forces defenses to stop the ball.

painting the whole picture

Many people are casually leaving out Mobley’s defensive skills when evaluating his game. Being a top-tier tackler who shuts down driving lanes, runs to the corners to compete, and replaces all shots in a single possession doesn’t make a highlight reel unless you’re a coach. It’s a tough business to be in, as in that department, Mobley is one of them. Find another player his size who covers as much ground, switches seamlessly, and recovers just like him.

Sadly, making lots of money also comes with noise. Mobley has had a poor offensive season, and it shows in his season-long production numbers. Does this mean that he has performed well as a basketball player? no way. He will turn 25 in mid-June. Given Cleveland’s push and pull with his offensive responsibilities, a troublesome calf that kept him out twice, and readjusting to life with a new floor general, it’s understandable that Mobley doesn’t have everything figured out at this point.

However, the Cavs have exaggerated the timeline. He was originally crowned after an undefeated extension of the trade-deadline. Garland, his old core four two-man-game partner, has moved to the West Coast. The Giants are in the building now, hardening the locker room significantly so the team can really prepare for the playoffs.

Expectations are sky-high for this fresh-wine-and-gold group, so anything less than greatness will receive a scathing response, whether that’s warranted long-term or a momentary reaction in the heat of battle. That means Mobley will have to quickly adapt to what is being asked of him and take on a role that has once again changed.

Whether that’s fair or not, that’s just the reality of the situation.