News Lakers Team Notes

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Signing Drew Timme To Two-Way Contract & Waiving Christian Koloko

The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t done as well drafting at the top of the NBA Draft, but they’ve managed to find several gems either in the second round or in undrafted free agency.

Famous Lakers success stories include Austin Reaves, Alex Caruso and Ivica Zubac, though they can also claims wins with Max Christie, Kyle Kuzma, Larry Nance Jr. and Josh Hart. The scouting department, formerly led by Jesse Buss, deserves its credit for finding so many NBA-level players, but the organization still lacks young talent that they can confidently say is part of their long-term future.

In recent years, the Lakers have done well taking fliers on players through their G League affiliate the South Bay Lakers. Recently, Drew Timme earned G League Player of the Week in his first week with South Bay and that seemed to give the organization enough confidence to sign him to a two-way contract while waiving Christian Koloko to make space, via Shams Charania of ESPN:

The Los Angeles Lakers are signing center Drew Timme to a two-way NBA deal from their South Bay team, agents Deddrick Faison and Rich Gray tell ESPN. Timme played for the Nets to finish last season and then joined Lakers' G League, averaging 25.5 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists. pic.twitter.com/c3COTc8tl3

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 25, 2025

The Lakers are waiving center Christian Koloko to create roster space for Timme, sources said. https://t.co/X6LCmeXx4D

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 25, 2025

Waiving Koloko made the most sense as the young center failed to make a lasting impact with the Lakers despite several opportunities to do so over the last couple of seasons. At this juncture, Timme is a much more intriguing bet to be a contributor for the parent team because of his combination of size, skill and shooting.

Timme averaged 30 points, seven rebounds and 4.7 assists per game in his first week with South Bay and while he won’t be asked to produce like that for the Lakers, it speaks to his ability that he can dominate G League competition. Timme comes in more experienced than most two-way players as he spent the end of last season with the Brooklyn Nets and averaged 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds in nine games.

As of now, head coach JJ Redick seems content with his center rotation of Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, but Timme could mix in on nights where the team is shorthanded, especially with Ayton recently suffering a knee contusion. It’s a low-risk, high-reward signing that has the potential to pay off long-term for L.A.

Because of when the Lakers are signing Timme, he will be eligible to suit up in 40 games for the Lakers and would need to be upgraded to a standard contract to play in the postseason.

Having LeBron James at practice was unbelievable experience for South Bay Lakers​

LeBron James was able to return to the Lakers lineup and part of his return-to-play process included a practice with the South Bay Lakers. South Bay head coach Zach Guthrie called it an unbelievable experience to have James practice with the G League affiliate and believes the group can learn a lot from him.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-signing-drew-timme-to-two-way-contract-waiving-christian-koloko/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Deandre Ayton Ruled Out Vs. Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers are listing center Deandre Ayton as out for Tuesday’s Emirates NBA Cup game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Ayton left Sunday’s victory over the Utah Jazz in the second quarter with a right knee contusion and did not return.

Ayton has missed just one game so far this season and has provided everything the Lakers could have hoped for when they signed him this offseason. The big man is averaging 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 69.6% from the field and providing a physical presence defensively.

In his absence on Sunday, head coach JJ Redick turned to Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber, both of whom provided some strong minutes. In particular, Kleber garnered a ton of praise from his teammates for his strong performance in the fourth quarter with Austin Reaves saying he was one of the Lakers’ best players on the night while Luka Doncic called it a “10 out of 10” performance from the veteran.

While the Clippers have been struggling mightily this season having lost four of their last five and 10 of their last 12 games, they do still have one of the best and most physical centers in the league in former Laker Ivica Zubac. Not having Ayton to battle down low with him will put a lot of pressure on Hayes and Kleber, though both have stepped up when called upon.

Aside from Ayton, the rest of the Lakers’ injury report is clear as the team is finally healthy for the most part. LeBron James is back and working to build up his stamina while Gabe Vincent has returned from his sprained ankle.

The Lakers and Clippers are currently tied atop West Group B in the NBA Cup standings at 2-0, though the Lakers do hold the tiebreaker due to point differential. Should the Lakers win this game they will clinch Group B and be guaranteed a spot in the knockout stage as they would then hold head-to-head victories over both the Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies.

After winning the inaugural NBA Cup, the Lakers will be looking at reclaiming their title and could take a big step in that direction with a win on Tuesday night.

LeBron James not worried about Lakers’ 3-point shooting struggles​

Something that would certainly help the Lakers pick up a victory whether Deandre Ayton plays or not is an improvement in their 3-point shooting. The Lakers are one of the worst shooting teams from deep in the league, but LeBron James isn’t concerned with that right now, feeling things will ultimately average out.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-report-deandre-ayton-ruled-out-vs-clippers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Hopes Chris Paul Gets Happiness Out Of Final Season

Now in his 23rd NBA season and nearing 41 years old, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is the oldest active player in the NBA. And the second oldest player in the league is James’ good friend Chris Paul, who is also 40 years old and currently the backup point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Paul recently announced that this year, his 21st in the league, would be his final one as he will be retiring at the end of the season. This of course has led to many coming out and reflecting on what has been an outstanding career that will see Paul inducted into the Hall of Fame once he is eligible.

Paul surely has some goals and ideas in mind for what he wants out of this final year, but LeBron does too. And most of all, the Lakers’ superstar simply wants Paul to get as much joy and happiness as he can out of this final run, as seen on Spectrum SportsNet:

“Happiness. Just be as happy as he possibly can. Don’t wanna look back when you’re done and be like ‘I was angry’ or ‘I didn’t take full advantage of’ your last year and things of that nature. I know he’s happy being back in L.A. with his family, seeing little CP, seeing his daughter, seeing what they’re doing I know that’s pretty special to him so I hope he can just get joy out of this final year. Like you said, we’ve known each other forever so, hell of a player, hell of a career. I could go on and on and on, but it’s awesome. He has nothing to hang his head about, he’s done pretty much everything that this league had to offer. Yeah, I just hope he just takes it all in. This is his last hoorah so we’ll never get this moment again once you’re done to be able to go out and be in an arena.”

As James noted, you never want to look back and wish you had done things differently or didn’t enjoy everything as much as you could have. This will be the last time Paul will be able to experience these things and he should really embrace these moments.

Of course, many are wondering when that final season is coming for LeBron and whether this year with the Lakers could be his last. But he has yet to reveal his intentions and with the level he continues to perform at, that final season could still be a couple years down the line.

Lakers coach JJ Redick discusses evolution of relationship with Chris Paul​

Another member of the Lakers who has a close relationship with Chris Paul is head coach JJ Redick, who was a teammate of his with the Clippers for many years. But Redick revealed the two actually hated each other when Redick first entered the league, and broke down the evolution of their relationship that now has him considering the point guard as family.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...hris-paul-gets-happiness-out-of-final-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves & LeBron James Dominate Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Clippers have fought for territory in the city for well over a decade now, and while the rivalry has died down a bit it’s still theater whenever the two teams meet.

The Lakers hosted the Clippers for an Emirates NBA Cup group play game on Tuesday night, but the implications for both teams were huge. A win for the Lakers would clinch the group, while a Clippers win would have given them a shot to clinch it for themselves. Both teams entered the primetime matchup 2-0 in group play, so the Lakers knew they’d have a fight on their hands despite the Clippers’ paltry regular season record.

As is the case in almost every game between the two L.A. squads, neither side was able to pull away. Defense was almost non-existent as the Lakers and Clippers scored almost at will so the game naturally came down to the fourth quarter.

Fortunately for the purple and gold, the “Big 3” showed up in crunch time and the Lakers went on to win 135-118. The Lakers won West Group B and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup with the victory.

Luka Doncic was riled up from the start as he was seen barking at the Clippers bench. The chirping ignited Doncic from the get go as he caught fire from the beyond the arc. While the Clippers managed to build a lead, Doncic made sure the Lakers stayed within striking distance by hitting shot after shot.

The Clippers found ways to slow down Doncic in the second half, though the latter still found ways to affect the game as a playmaker. Overall, the Clippers simply had no answer for Doncic who turned in a massive stat line of 43 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds.

Austin Reaves sat back and watched Doncic score in the first half, but he came alive in the fourth quarter with his co-star on the bench. Like Doncic, Reaves seemed to get more into the game after having calls go against him and he made the Clippers pay with several baskets in a row.

Reaves was the perfect complementary scorer to Doncic as he poured in 31 points to go along with nine rebounds and three assists.

LeBron James rounded out the star trio’s performance with a strong showing of his own. James continues to show improvements physically as he got up and down the floor well, making plays on both ends.

James pitched in with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday in their final Emirates NBA Cup group play game before seeing the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-highlights-luka-doncic-austin-reaves-lebron-james-dominate-clippers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Willing To Pay Jaxson Hayes’ Fine For Having His Back Against Clippers

Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to another impressive win, this time against the L.A. Clippers.

The Lakers beat the Clippers 135-118 to win West Group B and advance to the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals, with Doncic recording a near-triple-double of 43 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds. It was a brilliant offensive performance from Doncic, who scored 32 points in the first half before taking more of a playmaking role in the second half.

While Doncic added another strong win to his budding MVP case, the game still had its contentious moments. With the Lakers well ahead, Kris Dunn shoved Doncic, which the latter took exception to. Doncic confronted Dunn and had words for him before the Clippers guard shoved the basketball at the Lakers star.

Jaxson Hayes retaliated by shoving Dunn, which Doncic later said he appreciated and even offered to cover his teammate’s fine.

“Of course, I appreciate it,” Doncic said when asked if he’ll pay the fine. “I told him right away, thanks for having my back. That says a lot about him. That says a lot about this team. So, everybody got each other’s back.”

Luka went on to explain what happened on the play and why he took exception with Dunn.

“Well, I was waiting for the rebound. I got a cheap shot in my back. So, I’m not going to just stand. I ain’t afraid of nobody. I’m just going to stand and let it go,” Doncic added.

“The ref was right there. I don’t understand how we could have caught a foul on that one. But, you know, that’s what the game is about. Sometimes it’s going to get physical. There’s a lot of trash talking. I live for that, so I love it.”

Dunn was ejected from the game while Hayes was assessed just one technical foul, allowing the Lakers to build on their lead and never look back. Dunn was one of the few two-way bright spots on the Clippers, so his absence to close the fourth quarter was definitely felt.

Hayes and Doncic have developed a close relationship in the past calendar year, and it was good to see Hayes stick up for the Lakers star. Doncic had a real gripe with Dunn since the Clippers guard shoved him first, but the officials didn’t call a foul.

It was impressive that Luka did try to initiate some sort of altercation first given the situation, but regardless Hayes did the right thing defending his teammate. Hayes has shown he isn’t afraid to mix it up when needed, playing the enforcer role that every team needs.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is how connected this Lakers group seems to already be. The players have openly talked about how tight-knit the locker room is, so Hayes defending Doncic seems to support that notion.

That level of chemistry and camaraderie is a key ingredient in winning teams, so it’ll be exciting to see how many more wins the Lakers can stack up.

Jaxson Hayes explains why he wants to play with Luka Doncic for Slovenia​

Jaxson Hayes and Luka Doncic have gotten so close that the big man wants to team up for Slovenia. Hayes explained he wants to play for Team USA, but because they don’t do open tryouts he’ll do whatever it takes to play on the national stage.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...es-fine-for-having-his-back-against-clippers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Rob Pelinka Encouraged By Lakers’ Depth So Far This Season

Some felt the Los Angeles Lakers needed to make big moves in the offseason in order to become a true contender this year. However, Rob Pelinka and the front office didn’t do so, instead opting to bring in some role players whom they felt would make an impact and improve this team on the fringes.

Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia were the team’s free agent additions and so far, the results have been encouraging for the Lakers as they have gotten off to a 13-4 start and are tied for the second-best record in the Western Conference.

In speaking on the additions the Lakers made this summer, Pelinka discussed how important it was to add depth to the roster, and feels the results have been encouraging so far this season, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“We talked a lot about how we wanted to get younger with the roster and then more depth to your point, that was something we really focused on in July. If you look around the league at the successful teams, they’re young. Everyone’s playing fast, everyone’s playing physical. When we went out and added Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia and brought in Marcus Smart we really felt like that would fill out our depth and to see that happening in real time, proof of concept has been encouraging.”

Perhaps more impressive is that the Lakers have played so well despite missing star players LeBron James and Luka Doncic for many games. And Pelinka feels that stretch allowed for some players to really gain a confidence boost:

“I think we had a stretch of games without Luka and LeBron and for guys like Jake and Austin Reaves to step up, it kinda created a vibe and energy around our team where it was like different guy, different night. And early on some guys you didn’t think would have confidence early in the season emerged and got that. So in some sense the absence of a player in as big a magnitude as LeBron maybe helped some of those other guys get some early season confidence and we’re seeing that play out as well.”

The Lakers have gotten big contributions in different games from players like Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber and Nick Smith Jr. when called upon and that says a lot about the depth of this team. Pelinka has garnered criticism in the past, but he has done an excellent job in putting this roster together and his moves are paying off.

LeBron James believes defense will decide how great Lakers can be this year​

Whether or not the Lakers can have a real playoff run as currently constructed is unclear. But LeBron James believes that it will be the defense that decides just how great this team can be.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/rob-pelinka-encouraged-by-lakers-depth-so-far-this-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Austin Reaves Having Fun Playing Unselfish Basketball With Luka Doncic & LeBron James

Austin Reaves has steadily risen up the NBA ranks and should now be considered a star on a Los Angeles Lakers team that also features Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

Reaves had already taken a leap the season prior, but the 2025-26 season represents his best campaign yet as he’s been one of the best offensive players in the league by almost every metric.

The budding star guard put on a show in the Lakers’ recent win against the L.A. Clippers, dropping 31 points with most of it coming in the fourth quarter.

Doncic and James also had huge scoring nights and Reaves attributed all of their success to playing basketball the correct way.

“We just played the right way, took open shots, just stuck to schemes and got the ball where we wanted to get it and made shots,” Reaves said.

He added that the team hasn’t done anything differently since James rejoined, but are simply making the right reads on the floor.

“No, I think you just pass to the open person,” Reaves said. “Especially with LeBron and Luka, they demand such a double team a lot of the game and that means someone is gonna be open and we can play 4-on-3 basketball. I think it’s just pass it to the open person and play basketball.”

Against the Clippers, the Lakers knocked down 13 of their 29 3-point attempts and Reaves acknowledged it felt good for him and the team to finally see them go down.

“Yeah, I think so. I think that’s the third time we’ve shot over 40% from 3. It feels good.”

Reaves also emphasized how the collective unselfishness from the stars makes it a fun environment for the Lakers to play in.

“I feel great,” he said. “Me and Bron have a great friendship, me and Luka deal with each other on the court. It’s fun though. We’ve been talking about it, we’ve got three guys that can make plays and are unselfish at the same time… If you’re in the right spot, everybody should eat off that so it’s really fun.”

By the looks of it, it does feel like the Lakers’ “Big 3” is starting to gel on the floor and the role players are fitting in right behind them. There’s still a lot of regular season left to go, but the purple and gold should be taken more seriously as a contender.

JJ Redick challenging Austin Reaves to step up as a leader​

Head coach JJ Redick has done a great job of getting the most out of Austin Reaves and he’s now challenging his new star guard to step up as a leader despite LeBron James and Luka Doncoc both being on the team.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...ish-basketball-with-luka-doncic-lebron-james/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Praises Jaxson Hayes’ Growth As Playmaker

With how well Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has been playing to start the season, most teams eventually come to the same conclusion and that’s that they need to blitz him on pick-and-rolls to get the ball out of his hands.

When that happens, it creates a 4-on-3 advantage for the Lakers with the screener often needing to playmake out of the short roll. That is a tough skill to develop for most centers, but Jaxson Hayes, in particular, has made big strides in that regard.

With Deandre Ayton out of the lineup, Hayes got the start against the L.A. Clippers on Tuesday night and turned in one of his best performances of the season with eight points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block.

After the dominant victory for the Lakers, head coach JJ Redick gave praise to Hayes for the growth he has shown as a playmaker.

“I thought that group to start the fourth quarter and then when Jaxson [Hayes] was out there with Luka, that execution offensively was high level,” Redick said. “Jaxson made multiple pocket decisions against the blitz. [He made] every type of read you can make, rim, corner, corner cut and slot. He threw the lob to Rui [Hachimura]. So, it just a high-level game from him.”

Hayes also discussed Doncic getting blitzed and what he is trying to accomplish when that happens.

“I just try to do my job,” he said. “When they’re in a drop I try to roll as quick as possible and get out of there and when they start blitzing Luka, I know I gotta short roll and just playmake out of there because I know most likely teams are gonna be pulling in because they don’t want me to get a free dunk so I just gotta make my reads from there and then if they’re not pulling in then I got a free dunk. If not, kick out for a 3 or a lob.”

With Ayton and Hayes, the Lakers have two big men that can not only score inside, but can also create shots for others, making the team’s offense awfully difficult to stop when everything is going right.

Luka Doncic willing to pay Lakers teammate Jaxson Hayes’ fine​

Luka Doncic got in a bit of an altercation with Kris Dunn late in the Lakers’ win over the Clippers and Jaxson Hayes stepped in and shoved Dunn to have his teammate’s back. Doncic appreciated that and even offered to pay Hayes’ fine after he was given a technical foul.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-jj-redick-praises-jaxson-hayes-growth-as-playmaker/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Mavericks Vs. Lakers Injury Report: Anthony Davis & Deandre Ayton Return, Marcus Smart Ruled Out

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that Deandre Ayton (right knee contusion) will return to action on Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks after a one-game absence. Marcus Smart (back spasms) has been ruled out after originally being listed as questionable.

On the Dallas side of things, Anthony Davis returns to the lineup after missing the last 14 games with a calf injury. This will be Davis’ first time playing against the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena since being traded for Luka Doncic last February and he is expected to play between 24 and 27 minutes, according to Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.

The Mavericks have a back-to-back against the Lakers and L.A. Clippers on Friday and Saturday, respectively, but Davis made it clear that he preferred to return against his former team.

It remains to be seen how much Davis will be able to play after missing 14 games, but the Lakers having Ayton back in the lineup to help slow him down will be a big boost. In 15 games for the Lakers this season, Ayton has averaged 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 69.6% from the field.

Without Smart in the lineup, others like Gabe Vincent, Jake LaRavia and perhaps Dalton Knecht will need to step up off the Lakers’ bench.

L.A. is going for its sixth straight win and can clinch home-court advantage in the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals with a victory over the Mavericks.

LeBron James pleased with Lakers’ additions of Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia​

The Lakers are used to dealing with players going in and out of the lineup at this point and a big reason for that has been their depth. They added Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia this past offseason, and LeBron James was complimentary of what all three have brought to the team.

“Listen, we could sit here and talk about how unbelievable Luka and AR have been so far. It has not surprised me. Those guys are just super, ultra talented. What they bring to the game, we already know. But what I love is what DA and Jake and Marcus have brought to the team. Another level of toughness, another level of playmaking. The other night, Marcus having seven steals in a game, DA been dominant on the glass and being very efficient offensively and also before last night I think he was top 10 in defensive percentages contested at the rim. And Jake, who is number 12 is what they were saying I think in the Minnesota game, the crowd was like who is number 12 and Ant was like I don’t know. Guys know him now. I’m just proud of what the team has been doing and being able to watch from a far. It’s great, I think we have something really good going. It’s a long season obviously, we want to continue to play good basketball. That’s most important. But I like the pieces that we added.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/mavericks-...-deandre-ayton-return-marcus-smart-ruled-out/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: Austin Reaves & Luka Doncic Erupt Against Mavericks

The Los Angeles Lakers went into the final night of NBA Emirates Cup group play without much pressure as they had already clinched West Group B after their win against the L.A. Clippers.

However, the Lakers’ final group play game was far from the usual as they hosted the Dallas Mavericks. Los Angeles and Dallas will forever be linked after the blockbuster trade that included Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis. This was the first time Davis played his former team back in Los Angeles, making it an emotional affair for all the parties involved.

The Mavericks have largely struggled this season due to injuries and a lack of offensive talent, but they remain a stingy team defensively. While the Lakers were considered major favorites, they had to work on both ends for all four quarters.

Dallas didn’t give up an inch despite the talent disparity, but L.A. ultimately ended up winning 129-119. The Lakers went undefeated in group play and will now host the San Antonio Spurs in the quarterfinals of the knockout round.

Austin Reaves has taken the leap that the purple and gold were hoping for after his strong close to the 2024-25 season. Dallas was intent on ensuring that Luka Doncic didn’t get off to a hot start as they blitzed and doubled him, opening up more room for Reaves to operate in the half court.

Reaves was at his best driving with the basketball in his hands, but the guard also took advantage of all the open looks he got because of the defensive attention Doncic got. Reaves made the Mavericks pay every time they rotated away from him, knocking down 3-pointer after 3-pointer to keep the Lakers close.

Reaves continued his hot scoring in the fourth quarter as well, coming up with big buckets when the team needed it. Reaves led all scorers with 38 points but he also added eight rebounds and three assists on an efficient 12-of-15 shooting.

It took a little bit for Doncic to get going offensively, but he eventually found his groove picking on mismatches. Doncic used his size and handle to get to his spots, punishing Dallas for every mistake.

Doncic was no slouch compared to Reaves as he had 35 points including a perfect 11-of-11 showing from the free throw line. He also recorded 11 assists and four rebounds.

Deandre Ayton returned to the lineup and was efficient, scoring 17 points on eight-of-nine shooting from the field.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday before they see the Phoenix Suns the next night on Monday in a back-to-back set at home.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-highlights-austin-reaves-luka-doncic-erupt-against-mavericks/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round Bracket Set As Lakers Host Spurs In Quarterfinals

The Los Angeles Lakers finished group play of the Emirates NBA Cup on a high note, beating the Dallas Mavericks 129-119.

The Lakers had already clinched West Group B with their win against the L.A. Clippers earlier in the week, but their win against the Mavericks locked them into the No. 2 seed of the West bracket of the Knockout Rounds. Both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Lakers finished with perfect 4-0 records, but the former snagged the No. 1 seed by virtue of their +75 point differential.

With group play over, the knockout round is scheduled to start in December. The Thunder will host the Phoenix Suns, who claimed the Wild Card spot, while the Lakers will host the San Antonio Spurs. Both the Suns and Spurs finished with 3-1 records and will be tough outs.

In the East bracket, the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors won their respective groups with perfect 4-0 records, while the New York Knicks and Miami Heat will join them in the next round. The Magic earned the No. 1 seed and will host the Heat while the Raptors enter as the No. 2 seed and will host the Knicks.

For Los Angeles, they might catch a break hosting San Antonio as Victory Wembanyama has been out of the lineup due to a calf injury. While the Spurs have managed well enough in his absence, the Lakers would figure to be favored if the superstar big man is unable to return. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City will be massive favorites to win out against Phoenix due to their collective star power and defense.

In the East, Orlando has been surging though Miami shouldn’t be counted out after Tyler Herro returned. Lastly, Toronto’s been the surprise of the Eastern Conference and has a good chance of advancing despite New York’s experience.

The Emirates NBA Cup should be considered a success as teams have taken a liking to the extra competition. The prize money for each player also doesn’t hurt, but the biggest takeaway is that fans are resonating with the event and it should be exciting to see all eight teams face off once the knockout rounds begin.

The quarterfinals will be played in home arenas on Dec. 9 and 10 before the tournament shifts to Las Vegas for the semifinals and finals on Dec. 13 and 15, respectively. Considering the Lakers’ NBA Cup court was slippery and they didn’t use it on Friday against the Mavericks, it will be interesting to see if it’s ready to go by Dec. 10 or if they again use their normal court.

Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round bracket​

Eastern Conference Bracket​

(4) Miami Heat vs. (1) Orlando Magic, Tuesday Dec. 9, 3 p.m. PT
(3) New York Knicks vs. (2) Toronto Raptors, Tuesday Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m. PT

Western Conference Bracket​

(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (1) Oklahoma City Thunder, Wednesday Dec. 10, 4:30 p.m. PT
(3) San Antonio Spurs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m. PT

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/emirates-n...et-set-as-lakers-host-spurs-in-quarterfinals/