Charles Barkley has no problem putting the players on notice if they disrespect the game. On Sunday night, the NBA had two and a half billion dollars of combined salary sitting on the bench.
After an exhausting, long NBA season, it was nice to go about Sunday’s game stress-free. There were some stakes involved as the Lakers could still finish either the third or fourth seed.
JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers are set to face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Lakers secured the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference after a 131-107 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
And just like that, the 2025-26 NBA regular season has come to an end. The Lakers battled injuries and are currently playing without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, but thanks to some great games from LeBron James, they’ve managed to earn the fourth seed in the West.
NBA history is full of players who were perfectly of their era, possessing the right skills and attributes to thrive during their time. There are also plenty of guys whose careers might have played out differently had they been born years later.
Despite the Nuggets’ best efforts over the weekend, the Lakers will remain the No. 4 seed and play the Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The opening game between the teams will be on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m.
Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton each posted 22-point, 10-rebound double-doubles on Sunday to help the Los Angeles Lakers earn a 131-107 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz in the regular-season finale.
The Lakers closed the regular season with a 131-107 blowout victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night. The team played the first half at full strength, but sat LeBron James and Luke Kennard for the second half.
The Los Angeles Lakers finished the 2025-26 season as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference after beating the Utah Jazz and will take on the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
The Los Angeles Lakers took the court for the 82nd and final time in the regular season on Sunday evening when they hosted the Utah Jazz. There was a lot at stake for L.A.
LeBron's career can't go on forever, can it? If it were to end tomorrow, it would be the greatest run of sustained excellence the league has ever seen.
LOS ANGELES – During a recent episode of the ‘Mind The Game’ podcast, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James revealed a conversation he had with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves about how to play when he was on the court.
The Los Angeles Lakers released an updated injury report for Sunday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz and LeBron James (left foot injury management) is available.
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into the final game of the regular season already shorthanded, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined. One more name just got added to that list.
Kenyon Martin is not a believer in the Los Angeles Lakers heading into the playoffs. The retired former NBA All-Star Martin made waves this week with his comments about the Lakers on Gilbert Arenas’ “Gil’s Arena” show.
Injury challenges have struck the Los Angeles Lakers at the most critical moment, just as the postseason looms. The once-dominant duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who led the team to impressive wins last month, now faces injury setbacks.
The Los Angeles Lakers announced they have signed guard Nick Smith Jr. to an NBA contract. On the year, the 21-year-old guard is averaging 6.0 points, 0.8 rebounds and one assist on 43.3% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.
This NBA season did not follow the script for the Los Angeles Lakers. Injuries kept recurring and changed the team’s plans night after night. Yet somehow, they achieved something that no basketball team has ever done in the century.
The Los Angeles Lakers waived guard Kobe Bufkin to open a roster spot, and fans had been waiting to see who would fill it with the playoffs just days away.
The Los Angeles Lakers have gone through quite the rocky road this season. Initially, as the team struggled with consistency, Luka Doncic gave a glimpse of his greatness in March.
Due to untimely injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, Luke Kennard finds himself in an entirely new role for the Los Angeles Lakers. Previously, Kennard was a spot-up or movement shooter, and now he is a primary initiator alongside LeBron James.
Everyone seems to have an opinion on the Los Angeles Lakers right now, and most of them are not good. With Luka Doncic out and Austin Reaves unlikely to suit up for Game 1 heading into the 2026 NBA Playoffs, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins decided to say out loud what a lot of people are thinking.
The real story centered on the connection between James and Kennard, a pairing that continues to develop as the Lakers navigate through roster limitations.
The Los Angeles Lakers enter the final weekend of the 2025-26 NBA regular season in a vulnerable position, short-handed due to significant injuries. With star guard Luka Doncic sidelined by a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and key contributor Austin Reaves out with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury, the team sits at 51-29, holding the No.