The Los Angeles Lakers appear to have struck gold by acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz. After dazzling fans with his impressive dunking display on opening night, Kessler once again captured their attention during Friday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. Kessler’s steal-and-slam dunk combination in the first quarter of Friday’s game was just […]
The post Lakers fans fall further in love with Walker Kessler after steal-slam dunk combo appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Eddie A. Johnson has called out Draymond Green before. But this time the issue stemmed when the Golden State Warriors veteran defended his rookie teammate’s action against Luka Doncic. That defense has led to a war of words that has jumped from one social media platform to another. The Los Angeles Lakers were clinical in […]
The post “You Jumped on Steph’s Back”: Suns Icon Eddie Johnson Claps Back at Draymond Green for Calling Him a Clown appeared first on EssentiallySports .
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers seemingly avoided a major blow during their season opener against the Golden State Warriors when Jake LaRavia was forced to leave the game early due to an ankle injury. He was ruled out for the team’s game against the LA Clippers on Friday, but head coach JJ Redick […]
The post JJ Redick hopeful for quick Jake LaRavia injury return appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Lakers host the Clippers on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET in the first Battle of LA of the 2026‑27 season. The game airs on Spectrum SportsNet (ClipperVision) and streams free on DIRECTV. Both clubs enter unbeaten: L.A. opened with a 127‑105 win over Golden State, highlighted by Luka Doncic’s 28 points and Walker Kessler’s perfect 12‑for‑12 night; the Clippers beat Sacramento 121‑96 behind Darius Garland’s 30 points. With LeBron gone and Kawhi departed, the matchup showcases each team’s new‑era stars.
The Warriors’ home openers have turned into party‑crashers for Golden State. After a 127‑105 loss in LA, the team heads to Chase Center on Oct. 23, 2026, to face the Memphis Grizzlies—a matchup that echoes past opening‑night defeats. In the Curry era (2009‑2021), the Warriors are just 8‑9 in their first home game, with notable losses to the Rockets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Spurs, and a wild 141‑122 loss to the Clippers in 2019. Highlights include Steph Curry’s debut (14‑point night), Klay Thompson’s 38‑point record in 2013, and Curry’s 45‑point burst in 2021. The article recaps each opener, showing a pattern of opponents stealing the spotlight.
The New York Knicks officially sign former Laker small forward Dalton Knecht to a two‑way contract, opening a roster spot by waiving fellow two‑way player Kevin McCullar Jr. Knecht, the 25‑year‑old 17th‑overall pick from the 2024 draft, was waived by Los Angeles after a disappointing sophomore season (4.2 pts, 1.2 reb per game, 45.5% FG). He can appear in up to 49 NBA games this year while also playing for the Westchester Knicks. McCullar, also 25, spent his third straight season on a Knicks two‑way deal, appearing in 21 games last year and earning a championship ring before being released.
The Sixers enter Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks with a 2‑0 start, but LeBron James is listed as questionable due to a back injury. He could join Dean Wade (ankle sprain), Ariel Hukporti (Achilles tear), Tacko Fall (quad sprain) and Dominick Barlow (back stress) on the inactive list. Joel Embiid remains healthy, logging 67 minutes in the first two games. While James, averaging 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6 assists, may sit to preserve his health, the roster—featuring Tyrese Maxey, Embiid and Jaylen Brown—can still compete. The article weighs the risk‑management strategy ahead of Sunday’s Pistons matchup.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said "greatness fatigue" will prevent Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić from winning an NBA MVP.
Yaxel Lendeborg scored 12 points in the Golden State Warriors’ 127-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21, but his NBA debut drew attention for his heated exchange with Luka Doncic. The No. 11 pick received a technical foul in the second quarter after going back and forth with the Lakers star, who […]
The post Draymond Green Sees a LeBron James Connection in Luka Doncic’s Heated Clash With Yaxel Lendeborg appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia will miss Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers due to an ankle injury. The post Lakers Make Decision on Jake LaRavia After Ankle Injury appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Luka Doncic has never won an MVP award, and he isn’t pretending it doesn’t matter to him. The Los Angeles Lakers star made his ambitions clear ahead of the new season, even as an unverified claim from The Athletic’s Sam Amick put his exit from Dallas back in the spotlight. Speaking to California Post reporter […]
The post Luka Doncic Makes Feelings Clear on MVP Ambitions Amid Shocking Mavericks Trade Report appeared first on EssentiallySports .
The Golden State Warriors opened up the 2026-27 NBA season with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on the road. But the bigger story that came out of the game was Yaxel Lendeborg talking trash to Luka Doncic and receiving a technical foul in the process. Following the game, Draymond Green came to his […]
The post Draymond Green calls Yaxel Lendeborg’s technical foul vs. Luka Doncic ‘weakest s*** ever’ appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Draymond Green is defending Yaxel Lendeborg after the Golden State Warriors rookie received a technical foul late in the second quarter for trash-talking Luka Dončić during the Los Angeles Lakers' 127-105 win on Wednesday night.
The Warriors host the Grizzlies for their home opener, but both teams grapple with key injuries. Golden State lists center Charles Bassey (right patellar tendinopathy) out, while veteran bigs Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody remain sidelined after ACL and tendon surgeries, respectively, and Kristaps Porziņģis is not with the team. Rookie guard Brandin Podziemski is a probable, expected to debut after back soreness, offering needed playmaking beyond Steph Curry. Memphis faces its own setbacks: Cedric Coward (left wrist sprain) is doubtful and Isaiah Stewart (left ankle sprain) is questionable, potentially limiting their front‑court depth. The game tips off at 7 p.m. PT at Chase Center, with both squads hoping to secure a season‑opening win despite the roster holes.
Collin Sexton finally gets cleared to debut for the Los Angeles Lakers in Friday's matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers after missing the preseason and the season opener with a calf strain. Meanwhile, rookie forward Jake LaRavia is listed as questionable with a right‑ankle sprain after spraining it in garbage time against Golden State, though the injury may be short‑term. With Sexton available, the Lakers retain the same six‑man rotation despite LaRavia's status, while the Clippers enter the game with a longer injury list that includes Bradley Beal and Brandon Ingram.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic isn't afraid to proclaim that his team will bring maximum effort on a nightly basis in 2026-27.
The 2026‑27 NBA season kicks off with drama across the league. The Boston Celtics stumble, surrendering a big lead in a 0‑1 opening loss to Detroit, while the Philadelphia 76ers pull off a historic comeback win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, highlighted by Tyrese Maxey’s clutch play. Tyrese Haliburton returns for Indiana, dropping 23 points and 12 assists, and the Lakers dominate the Warriors, making Yaxel Lendeborg’s rookie debut memorable. Other early storylines include Kyrie Irving’s critique of the NBA’s evolution, Kristaps Porzingis trade rumors, and major contract extensions for Oso Ighodaro, Cason Wallace, Brandon Miller and Jaden McDaniels.
Kevin McCullar Jr. received a championship ring with the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. Three days later, his place on the roster was set to go to Dalton Knecht, the former Los Angeles Lakers forward joining New York on a two-way contract. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Knicks will waive McCullar to make […]
The post Knicks Cut Ties With NBA Champion to Make Room for Recently Waived Ex-Lakers Star appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Throughout his NBA career, LeBron had never overcome a deficit of more than 27 points. The Sixers' home opener changed that.
Evan Cohen believes LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers are becoming the team NBA fans love to hate.
The Los Angeles Lakers should consider making a minutes adjustment in their frontcourt if Kevon Looney's going to look like this.
Mike Gansey showed up to the home opener wearing this: Honestly, it takes guts to show up in the plaid jacket. Not everyone can pull it off. Not everyone has the cajones to even try. But I think the consensus is that if you played a role in bringing in Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Dean […]
The post Some Thoughts on Mike Gansey’s Blazer appeared first on Crossing Broad .
An anonymous NBA executive believes Golden State Warriors rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg gave Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Dončić some added motivation during their season opener this week.
Yaxel Lendeborg spent his NBA debut trying to get under Luka Doncic’s skin. One rival executive thinks the Warriors rookie did Lakers coach JJ Redick a favor. “Oh man, JJ had to absolutely love that. He owes [Lendeborg] a steak dinner,” a Western Conference executive told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “Any time Luka is focused on […]
The post NBA exec: JJ Redick owes Yaxel Lendeborg ‘a steak dinner’ for Luka Doncic trash talk appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers are riding high off their 127-105 win over the Golden State Warriors. Warriors rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg exchanged verbal blows with Dončić all night, but it didn’t stop the 27-year-old superstar from dropping 28 points. Lendeborg is known for not having a filter, and he expressed his frustration […]
The post The NBA Gifts Lakers Easy Schedule to Begin 2026-27 Season appeared first on The Lead .