Deandre Ayton is the X-factor for the Los Angeles Lakers as they prepare for their first round series against the Houston Rockets. Head coach JJ Redick has been clear about that all season, but it became especially true when Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) were […]
Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves are upset that Edwards isn’t eligible for any individual honors under the 65-game award rule, even though Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham are eligible despite playing 64 games each. An “Extraordinary Circumstances” appeal filed by Edwards and head coach Chris Finch was denied. Nevertheless, Edwards received an encouraging message […] The post Anthony Edwards gets message from Kevin Garnett after award challenge denied appeared first on ClutchPoints.
As much as there is a conversation about what the Los Angeles Lakers are going to do without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the first round, many are still thinking beyond that. When the Lakers’ season wraps up, everyone’s eyes will be on the future of LeBron James and what he plans to do […] The post NBA rumors: Why LeBron James could return to Lakers despite Cavs, Warriors, Clippers buzz appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Luke Kennard was the Los Angeles Lakers’ lone trade deadline acquisition, but it has paid off much more than anyone expected. The Lakers sent out Gabe Vincent’s expiring deal for Kennard and the sharpshooting guard became an immediate boost for the group offensively. Kennard even excelled in an on-ball role following injuries to Luka Doncic […]
LeBron James will be under the spotlight anew as he tries to lead the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves likely to miss the entire series. The obvious question is, can James still carry a team at 41 years old? In […] The post Lakers’ JJ Redick suggests what LeBron James is ‘addicted to’ ahead of series vs. Rockets appeared first on ClutchPoints.
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out, the Lakers’ 2026 playoff run now depends entirely on LeBron James.
The post Real Madrid powers past Crvena Zvezda as Doncic and Djokovic watch from courtside appeared first on TalkBasket.net.
The NBA on Thursday ruled in favor of the appeals of Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic regarding the 65-game rule, making them eligible for the individual awards despite not meeting the minimum threshold. The league cited the “extraordinary circumstances” clause in the collective bargaining agreement in its decision. […] The post How Pistons’ Cade Cunningham becoming award eligible could cost Jalen Duren appeared first on ClutchPoints.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant meet again in the NBA Playoffs as the Lakers face the Rockets. A look back at their 19-year rivalry, 46 head-to-head matchups, and what’s at stake now.
The post Draymond Green takes stance on Doncic and Cunningham award eligibility appeared first on TalkBasket.net.
Earlier in the 2025-26 season, it looked as though the Houston Rockets had all the makings of a pretender despite adding Kevin Durant into the mix. Fans have gotten so frustrated towards the Rockets for their poor execution in crunch time, and their offense can get clogged at times due to the lack of spacing. […] The post Why Rockets will smash Lakers in 5 games with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves injured appeared first on ClutchPoints.
When Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) suffered their regular-season-ending injuries April 2, with just 2 ½ weeks before the NBA playoffs started, coach JJ Redick immediately made the Lakers’ mission clear.
The Los Angeles Lakers will face a monumental challenge in their first-round series against the Houston Rockets. With both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out due to injury, the onus falls on LeBron James and the Lakers’ supporting cast to rise up to the challenge as they take on a talented Rockets team led by […] The post Lakers’ Marcus Smart refuses to let Houston punk LA in playoffs appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets will begin their best-of-seven first-round matchup in the playoffs on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. The main question on everybody’s mind: Can LeBron James still carry a heavy load? All eyes will be on James as he tries to lead the Lakers sans Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, […] The post Lakers’ JJ Redick refutes relying solely on LeBron James vs. Rockets in playoffs appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The post JJ Redick: Doncic and Reaves “out indefinitely” ahead of Rockets series appeared first on TalkBasket.net.
Austin Reaves shot free throws with his teammates after Lakers practice on Tuesday. Luka Doncic was going to rejoin the team Friday after going to Madrid for injections on his strained hamstring.
As the Los Angeles Lakers gear up for a high-stakes 2026 NBA playoff opener, one poundit has shifted the spotlight from X’s and O’s to legacy-defining stakes. Kendrick Perkins, in particular, has raised the temperature. The former champion turned analyst delivered a blunt ultimatum surrounding LeBron James and the never-ending GOAT debate. If LBJ beats […] The post Kendrick Perkins is done with GOAT convo if LeBron’s Lakers beats Kevin Durant, Rockets appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The Lakers are set to open their first-round series against the Rockets on April 18. They will likely have to do it shorthanded. Both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been sidelined since early April, but there are at least some updates on each. Doncic recently traveled to Spain for treatment on his left hamstring […] The post Lakers’ Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves sidelined ‘indefinitely’ as playoffs begin appeared first on Hoops Wire.
The Lakers won’t have Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves anytime soon. Head coach JJ Redick made that clear Tuesday, saying neither guard is close to returning and that no formal update is expected before Game 1 of the team’s first-round series, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “They’re out indefinitely,” Redick said. “I’m not going to […] The post Lakers coach JJ Redick offers updates on Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves appeared first on Hoops Wire.
If LeBron James carries the Lakers past the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, it would be his greatest achievement yet. The Lakers are missing their two top players in Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique). They’re down 60 points a game. The good news? Their third option is James. The bad...
