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After going 1-4 on their road, the Los Angeles Lakers finally returned home to host a shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers team.
The Lakers struggled with their play on both ends of the floor, so it was a relief to see them take care of business against the 76ers. Los Angeles got back in the win column with a much-needed 116-106 victory over Philadelphia, improving their record to 5-4.
Head coach JJ Redick made a change to the starting lineup, benching D’Angelo Russell in favor of Cam Reddish. With Russell starting the game on the bench, it opened up more touches and shot opportunities for Austin Reaves, who made the most of them. Reaves was an offensive spark plug in the first half, routinely knocking down shots from deep to give the Lakers a solid lead.
While he cooled off in the second half, Reaves still played a role on the offensive end as a playmaker. Although Reaves fell one 3-pointer shy of his career high, he still shot 6-of-10 from deep en route to 20 points. He also added seven assists and six rebounds.
Anthony Davis returned to the lineup after missing the previous game against the Memphis Grizzlies and dominated the smaller 76ers front court who was missing Joel Embiid. Davis picked up where he left off, dominating the painted area and even hitting a couple of 3-pointers.
Davis led all scorers with 31 points and shot an efficient 11-of-20 from the field. He narrowly missed out on a double-double as he has nine rebounds, but he did well protecting the rim as he blocked four shots.
LeBron James, coming off a season-high 39 points against the Grizzlies, was able to assume more of a facilitator role against the 76ers as he was more than happy to dish the basketball to his teammates. James picked his spots offensively and ramped things up in the second half to help seal the win.
James was excellent in every area of the floor and recorded another triple-double with 21 points to go along with 13 assists and 12 rebounds.
As mentioned earlier, Russell came off the bench but responded well to the move as he had his best offensive game in a while. Russell was aggressive attacking the paint and led the bench in scoring with 18 points. He also had three assists and two rebounds.
What’s next for Lakers
The Lakers will continue their home stand with a rematch against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
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Lonzo Ball Makes Bold Claim About Lakers' Anthony Davis Trade
The Los Angeles Lakers are multiple iterations and an NBA championship removed from current Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball's stint with the team, but the 28-year-old UCLA product still has thoughts about how his exit went down. The Lakers made a blockbuster trade involving Ball early in the 2019 season, sending Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for star power forward/center Anthony Davis. Los Angeles won a title during its first season with Davis. Davis, of course, has since made his own exit in one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, but his five-and-a-half seasons in Los Angeles did result in the aforementioned 2020 ring and a second Western Conference Finals appearance in 2023. Regardless, Ball feels that he could have made his mark on the franchise. “Unpopular opinion probably though I feel like I could have played with D’Angelo Russell honestly. I think they should have just maybe just kept all these picks and just see how it would have went but I mean they still got the ring so, you know, worked out for them,” Ball said on the Ball in the Family podcast with Lonzo and Gelo Ball on YouTube. Ball's proven he can be a major contributor on the court, averaging 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists in his second season in New Orleans, but his struggles with injury complicate his argument about what could have been with the Lakers. Lonzo Ball's Health Struggles The 6-foot-6 pro has struggled to stay healthy since suffering a meniscus tear in January 2022, missing the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. He played 35 games last season for the Chicago Bulls coming primarily off the bench before he was traded to the Cavaliers over the offseason. Through 15 games in Cleveland this season, Ball is averaging 24 minutes per game, recording 6.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. He will get the chance to see his former team in January, when the Lakers travel to Cleveland for a mid-season matchup. Davis joined Ball as players to be sent on a one-way trip out of Los Angeles last February, with the Lakers getting star guard Luka Doncic in return. Doncic, who is just 26, offers the Lakers a bright future even after star forward LeBron James retires. If the path to acquiring Doncic meant parting ways with both Ball and eventually Davis, the Lakers are probably content with their decision.
NFL legend Jason Kelce refuses to apologize to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones
NFL legend Jason Kelce has made his opinion of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones very clear. To be more specific, the Philadelphia Eagles icon shared his brutally honest view on how Jones’ big move before the NFL trade deadline transformed the Cowboys into a much more formidable team. Kelce had a lot to say about Jones and the Cowboys on a recent episode of his “New Heights” podcast alongside his brother, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. Jason Kelce praised Jones for bringing in Quinnen Williams in a blockbuster trade deal, but the legendary center is adamant that he will not be apologizing for his take on the Cowboys and their 83-year-old owner. For what it's worth, Jones had an outrageous claim himself recently. “New Heights” released a new episode on Wednesday, and as usual, the brothers discussed developments in the NFL. One of the topics they covered was that the Cowboys have gone undefeated since the trade deadline, when Jones pulled the trigger on a blockbuster deal with the New York Jets for All-Pro defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. However, when asked if he believes he owes Jones an apology, Kelce was confused. “Do we owe Jerry an apology? Who owes Jerry an apology? What do I have to apologize for?” Kelce asked. “They [expletive] sucked! What are we talking about? Their defense was horrendous. “So good job! What do we owe an apology for? Hey, your car doesn't work. Oh, I went and got it fixed. Oh, we owe you an apology for saying your car [expletive] broke down and didn't work on the side of the road? I don't owe [expletive] an apology.” The Cowboys have gone 3-0 since Williams’ arrival, including Sunday’s massive comeback victory against Jason's former team, the Eagles, and their Thanksgiving win over Travis' Chiefs. While Kelce has refused to apologize to Jones, he admitted that the Cowboys owner deserves praise for his decision to bring in an elite-caliber player in Williams. “We owe Jerry Jones a clap of approval,” Kelce said. “I'll say this, and I'll stand on this, and I think the guys will back me. When Jerry said we were gonna make a trade, I think everybody's expecting an edge player to replace Micah [Parsons]. When they said it was Quinnen, immediately, I thought this is better for that defense. “Because for years, they have lacked the raw, man strength, big power in the heart of that defense. They have lacked that type of presence, and Quinnen brings that. I just think for moving forward, this is a great piece to build around. I think it's a great move by Jerry. “I don't think I owe him a [expletive] apology, but I'll say great [expletive] job.”
Packers announce head-turning roster move one day after 2025 Lions sweep
Fresh off a Thanksgiving win on Thursday against the Detroit Lions on the road at Ford Field in Detroit, the Green Bay Packers made a notable move to reunite with kicker Lucas Havrisik. Green Bay parted ways with Havrisik just before the Lions game, but on Friday, the team announced that he’s back in the fold after getting signed to the practice squad roster. Via Green Bay’s official website: “The Green Bay Packers signed K Lucas Havrisik (HAVE-ruh-sick) to the practice squad. General Manager Brian Gutekunst announced the transaction Friday.” Lucas Havrisik insurance for now for the Packers It can be recalled that Havrisik saw action in three games in the 2025 NFL season for Green Bay in place of the then-injured Brandon McManus. In those games, the former Arizona Wildcats kicker went 4-for-4 on his field goals, including a franchise record-setting 61-yard make in Week 7’s 27-23 win in Glendale over the Arizona Cardinals. He was also 7-for-9 on extra-point attempts, with both misses happening in Week 11’s 27-20 victory against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. McManus is healthy and perfect in the two games since he returned to action, so there is no reason for the Packers to give his spot to someone else so Havrisik will just be insurance for now for Green Bay, which has a Week 14 date with the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.
Alex Bregman sends message to Cody Bellinger after Yankees report
Both the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees enter 2026 with well-positioned rosters capable of making a run, but each faces the challenge of addressing two high-profile free agents. Outfielder Cody Bellinger and infielder Alex Bregman are both in need of new deals or replacements. Both are represented by agent Scott Boras as they look to secure contracts this offseason. Each is coming off a strong year. Bellinger posted a .272 batting average, a .334 on-base percentage, an .813 OPS, 29 home runs and 98 RBI across 152 games while providing elite defense in the outfield for the Yankees. Bregman, in his 2025 season with Boston, recorded a .273 batting average, .360 on-base percentage, .821 OPS, 18 home runs and 62 RBIs in 114 games. Both Bellinger and Bregman joined their respective teams in 2025, and with free agency now underway, last season could prove to be their only year in pinstripes or with the Red Sox. As Bregman and Bellinger enter the offseason, their focus has shifted toward staying healthy and sharpening their skills for 2026. Neither player is on an active roster, yet both have made it clear they are committed to maintaining peak condition while navigating free agency. In recent weeks, the two stars have been spotted training in Arizona, appearing to work out together or at least at the same facility. Their offseason program has been highlighted by sessions with Nemesis Baseball, a sports performance community that promotes itself on Instagram as “Sports Performance community for those who seek to reach their full potential / Built By Athletes For Athletes.” Bregman and Bellinger recently shared photos of their workouts, giving fans a glimpse into the intensity of their preparation. The posts quickly drew attention, not only for the training itself but also for the interaction between the two free agents. Bregman responded to Bellinger’s post with a simple message, “Dialed .” This interaction comes after a report from Mark Feinsand of MLB.com predicting Bellinger's next team. According to Feinsand, "New York is the clear favorite to sign Bellinger." While the Yankees appear positioned to retain their star outfielder, Bregman’s future is less certain. The Red Sox have expressed interest in bringing him back, but they have not yet been identified as clear front-runners, leaving open the possibility that Boston could lose its veteran infielder after just one season. Over the course of their careers, both players have built impressive track records that place them among the most decorated stars of their era. Bregman has been named to three All-Star teams, won two World Series titles with the Houston Astros, collected a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger and earned All-Star Game MVP honors. Bellinger’s accolades include National League MVP, Rookie of the Year, two All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, two Silver Sluggers and a World Series championship with the Dodgers in 2020. His best years came in Los Angeles, while Bregman’s peak was with the Astros. Both were key figures in the 2017 sign-stealing scandal, yet that chapter appears behind them, as they now train together and show genuine camaraderie.
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