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Jalen Green scored a game-high 33 points, Amen Thompson posted a double-double in his return from suspension and the Houston Rockets held on for a 119-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Green scored on consecutive possessions late in the fourth quarter after the Lakers closed to within 112-108 on two free throws from Anthony Davis. Thompson paired 23 points on 11-for-19 shooting with a career-high 16 rebounds after missing the previous two games.
The Lakers trailed by 22 points in the first half but were within four on Davis' 3-pointer with 1:11 to play before cutting that deficit to 117-115 when LeBron James made a driving layup with eight seconds left. But Houston forced two turnovers inside the final six seconds, with Fred VanVleet stealing an inbounds pass intended for James before Davis was whistled for an offensive foul with 4.1 seconds left.
Davis totaled 30 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks while James (21 points, 13 rebounds) and Austin Reaves (21 points, 10 assists) also posted double-doubles. James added nine assists.
VanVleet finished with 15 points and three 3-pointers. Steven Adams added eight points and nine rebounds off the Houston bench.
James took over in the Lakers' 40-point third quarter and had a hand in every point during a 16-4 run that narrowed the deficit to 75-70 at the 5:55 mark. James scored eight points in that stretch and assisted on 3s from Reaves and Davis in addition to feeding Davis for an alley-oop. Davis closed the period with four free throws that sliced the margin to 91-89.
Green controlled the first quarter and scored eight points during the Rockets' 13-2 close to the period. He made 7 of 8 shots and scored in a variety of ways, drilling three 3-pointers and converting a dazzling three-point play after absorbing a foul from James on a driving layup.
Houston carried a 36-22 lead into the second after Jae'Sean Tate nailed a buzzer-beating corner 3 and extended that margin to 22 points after Alperen Sengun made a 16-footer with 5:20 left in the half. Davis scored on three successive possessions to help the Lakers close to within 57-44, but the Rockets reclaimed a 67-47 lead when Thompson led a one-man fast break that resulted in a VanVleet 3-pointer late in the first half. Houston held an 18-point cushion at the break.
-Field Level Media
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Report: Teams reluctant to discuss key offseason move with Bulls
After an impressive debut season with the Chicago Bulls, you could have been forgiven if you believed Josh Giddey's restricted free agency was a mere formality. The playmaking guard established himself as a key member of Billy Donovan's rotation. Furthermore, he ended the season looking like the cornerstone of the team's rebuilding efforts. Instead, Giddey and the Bulls have been at an impasse throughout the summer. If reports are to be believed, the issue is that Giddey is seeking a deal in the region of $30M per year. Chicago, on the other hand, is working in the $20M per year range. According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, that impasse has led some teams from around the league to register their interest in Giddey. However, any potential move to sign him would need to be a sign-and-trade. Unfortunately for Giddey, those teams are "reluctant" to enter negotiations with Chicago, as they've become a notoriously difficult franchise to deal with in trade discussions. "Sources say Giddey has managed to attract some external interest from rival teams since free agency began, with multiple Eastern Conference teams contacting Giddey's representation to register sign-and-trade interest," Fischer reported via The Stein Line Newsletter. "Yet it's likewise true that more than one rival front office has indicated a reluctance to try to engage the Bulls in sign-and-trade discussions, sources say, with Chicago having messaged for some time that it is not eager to discuss such scenarios." For Chicago, the interest in Giddey should be a wakeup call. His unique style of play and ability to impact a game in a host of different ways should make him borderline indispensable. At 22, he's likely to continue improving for the best part of a decade. Chicago can't let such a talent slip through its fingers. As such, the Bulls must try to meet Giddey closer to where he's at. A deal in the region of $25M or $27M per year would likely go a long way to getting him back to the negotiating table. If other teams are starting to test the waters, Giddey could be tempted to sign his qualifying offer. That would make him an unrestricted free agent and all but ensure his time in Chicago is short-lived. The Bulls front office must act now after Giddey has proven himself. While his contract requests are undoubtedly high, the Bulls would be securing his future, and that alone is worth paying a premium for.
Standout performances from Week 1 of NFL preseason: Rookie, backup QBs shine
The first week of the 2025 NFL preseason is officially in the books. Even though the games and results do not matter, there is still reason to pay attention to standout performances from around the league. Here are some of the best from this week's games. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots The Patriots need some game-changers on offense, and they may have found one in second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson put on an immediate show in the Patriots' preseason opener, returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, rushing for 18 yards on his only carry and catching three passes. Skylar Thompson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers Thompson is not likely to make the Steelers roster, but that doesn't mean he can't find a spot on another team. Especially if he puts together a strong preseason performance. He did exactly that on Saturday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, completing 20-of-28 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns. With Aaron Rodgers unlikely to play in the preseason and Will Howard injured, Thompson should get plenty of reps to audition for other teams. Tanner McKee, QB, Philadelphia Eagles Following the offseason trade of Kenny Pickett, McKee is now pretty much cemented in as the Eagles' backup, and he had to give them a lot of confidence in his ability following his preseason performance against the Bengals. McKee torched the Bengals defense to the tune of 20-of-25 passing for 252 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. It is a nice continuation for McKee following his promising debut a year ago when he threw for 323 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in his two appearances. Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams The Rams already have a starting running back in Kyren Williams, but there is nothing wrong with having a second productive player at the position. Corum didn't make the expected impact in his rookie season, but he had a promising preseason debut this year with two touchdowns in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys. Rookie quarterbacks Cleveland's Shedeur Sanders got the week off to a promising start by throwing two touchdowns against Carolina, taking a big step forward in his quest to win the team's starting quarterback job and to silence the critics following his slide in the draft. Jaxson Dart, one of the Giants' first-round picks, also had a strong showing by going 12-of-19 with 154 yards and a very impressive touchdown pass. Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, also had a strong debut by leading a touchdown drive and developing an instant connection with veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Abdul Carter, DE, New York Giants Carter did not play a ton of snaps for the Giants, but he was a force when he did play. He recorded a quarterback pressure on all three of his pass-rush snaps and showed the type of quickness and speed that made him one of the best players in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Cam Little, K, Jacksonville Jaguars Look, when you kick a 70-yard field goal, you deserve to get some added recognition, whether it counts as an official league record or not. Little made all four field goal attempts, as well as an extra point, in the Jaguars' preseason debut.
Seahawks CB Riq Woolen turning heads, but can Seattle keep him?
After a down 2023 season, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen re-established himself last season as one of the team's more reliable defenders. In training camp, the 26-year-old seems to be picking up where he left off. “Riq’s locked in this year,” Seattle third-year cornerback Devon Witherspoon said, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. “He just continues to be better. Riq’s got a lot of stuff to show a lot of people.” But can Seattle keep him? Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Woolen will make $5.4 million this season (h/t: Spotrac). Per Over The Cap, the Seahawks are projected to have roughly $61M in cap space in 2026, but they also have other players to sign. Seattle soon will give a top-tier contract to Witherspoon, a two-time Pro Bowler. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and offensive tackles Charles Cross and Anthony Lucas also may merit bigger deals soon. The Seahawks won’t have a lot of salary cap space left if they want to extend most of their top young players. In training camp, Woolen frequently defends against Smith-Njigba, who is one of the more dynamic route-runners in the league. The Seahawks are labeling him as one of the top performers in training camp. Woolen could be one of the top options by the trade deadline later in the season. He could give a team a much-needed upgrade in defending against the passing game. The Seahawks could get a good package in return if they are unable to extend to a longer contract.
Packers Roster Projection After Preseason Loss to Jets
The first preseason game is out of the way. It was sloppy, to stay the least. The good news for the Green Bay Packers is nothing counts for the standings and there’s plenty to correct between now and their second preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. During his halftime interview, coach Matt LaFleur called his team effort uninspired and asked for his players to show “some fight.” After the 30-10 loss to the Jets, he said his team got its “ass kicked.” This team should not be judged by preseason results. Individual roster battles, however, will be judged by preseason performances. With that as a backdrop, here’s a look at who we believe will be on the 53-man roster that general manager Brian Gutekunst has to select on Aug. 26. Quarterbacks (2) Jordan Love, Malik Willis. Analysis: This one is pretty straight-forward. Jordan Love is the starter. Malik Willis, who helped the Packers win three games last year, is the backup. Neither of the potential options for the third quarterback, Sean Clifford or Taylor Elgersma, have done anything to distinguish themselves as a potential option on the roster. With some of the competition at the back of the roster, a third quarterback is likely a waste of a roster spot, anyway. While it might not have looked like it on Saturday, Love and Willis form one of the best quarterback rooms in football. Running Backs (3) Josh Jacobs, Marshawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks. Analysis: This position group is interesting because of injuries to Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson. Both sat out Saturday’s game, and it’s unclear when they’ll return. Coach Matt LaFleur said after Lloyd’s injury that he did not think it was a long-term situation, but he has yet to practice since he got hurt. Wilson said he dodged a bullet after thinking he tore his ACL when trying to adjust to an off-target pass. He has not returned to practice, either. With the injuries and how much the Packers like to run the ball, they’ll need bodies on the roster behind Jacobs. Nonetheless, the guess is they will pass on keeping a fourth back, with Brooks keeping the role as a do-it-all role player behind the top tandem. Receivers (5) Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams. Analysis: These five are stone-cold locks, with Christian Watson likely to start the season on the physically unable to perform list due to last year’s knee injury. The only real battle is for the sixth receiver spot, if the Packers choose to keep that many. After the first preseason game, however, the veterans leading the battle did more to lose a roster spot than to take hold of one. Malik Heath had two drops. Mecole Hardman had one drop, displayed poor judgement in fielding one punt and muffed another. With some of the competition on the back of the roster at other positions, the sixth receiver is likely someone who would be released as soon as Watson is ready. Part of the calculus here is that four of Green Bay’s receivers are hobbled by an injury. If any of those injuries extend into the end of training camp, the Packers could keep an extra body here. For now, Heath and Hardman have played their way off the roster. Tight Ends (3) Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, John Fitzpatrick. Analysis: Kraft and Musgrave look to be big parts of the offense, with Musgrave getting some time with Jordan Love and the first-team offense on Saturday and throughout training camp. Apart from him, Fitzpatrick has taken more snaps than Ben Sims. This will come down to special teams, where Fitzpatrick landed ahead of Sims to close the 2024 season. He made a nice play for Malik Willis when the reserves took over on Saturday night. Offensive Line (9) Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom, Jordan Morgan, Anthony Belton, Donovan Jennings, Jacob Monk. Analysis: The first seven players on that list are locks to make the team, with the first five being the projected starters and Morgan and Belton being first- and second-round picks, respectively. Travis Glover was in line to be one of the top reserves but was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Monk remains on the roster in this projection, but his first action of preseason football was forgettable to say the least with three holding penalties. There isn’t anyone that has outplayed him to this point. The Packers should have plenty of competition open for the last couple of spots on the offensive line. Defensive Tackles (6) Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson. Analysis: Wooden might be the last guy to make the roster, but he was really active on Saturday night. With some injury questions at other spots on the roster and some physical teams on the early portion of the season, the Packers might want to go heavier on the defensive line Stackhouse feels like he’s more likely to make the roster than he isn’t, which is saying a lot considering he was an undrafted free agent. Brinson had a slow start to camp but has strung together a few solid days. He’s also a draft pick of Gutekunst, which means he’ll likely stick on the roster. Defensive Ends (6) Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox, Collin Oliver, Kingsley Enagbare. Analysis: Gary and Van Ness will start. Van Ness has been active during camp and looks poised to fill some of the expectations the team had for him when they picked him 13th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Sorrell has been getting rave reviews, including by defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on Sunday following a strong preseason debut. Cox has taken a jump as a third-year pass rusher, as well. Oliver has not been cleared for camp activities, but Gutekunst usually likes to keep his draft choices, so if he is healthy by the end of camp, he’ll likely make the roster. Enagbare did not make our initial prediction to make the roster, but was impactful on Saturday. The Packers typically like to lean younger, but there’s no harm in keeping Enagbare around as a rotational pass rusher. Linebackers (5) Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper, Isaiah Simmons Analysis: For the first time in a while, the Packers have to feel good about their depth at linebacker. Simmons has drawn rave reviews from his coaches and Hopper a third-round pick last year, looks like a player who has made the leap as a second-year player. That does not even include Kristian Welch, a special teams ace who the Packers re-signed this offseason. He is one of the team’s best special-teamers. Last year that was not enough to keep him on the roster, and this time around he was our final cut from the roster. Cornerbacks (5) Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, Corey Ballentine. Analysis: The top three will play pivotal roles, with Hobbs and Nixon set to start and Valentine being the next man up. The back of the depth chart? That’s a huge question mark. Bo Melton is the best story of the offseason, and was one of the top reserves off the bench on Saturday. Melton playing cornerback is not just a gimmick. It appears to be a legitimate option. With his prowess on special teams and ability to fill in at receiver in a pinch, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which he does not make the team. Kalen King, a seventh-round pick last year, has performed well in camp and had two big snaps in the red zone on Saturday. His versatility to play on the boundary and in the slot could earn him a chance on the back end of the roster. Micah Robinson, a seventh-round pick this year, has had some nice moments, as well. The last spot, however, goes to Ballentine, who the Packers re-signed last week following Hobbs’ knee surgery. He’s played good football in Green Bay and is a good special-teams player. Assuming the injury he suffered against the Jets is not too serious, he would get the nod. Safeties (6) Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, Kitan Oladapo, Zayne Anderson, Omar Brown. Analysis: The first three in this group is pretty clear. Xavier McKinney is a star. Assuming he’s ready for Week 1, he’ll be one of the key cogs of Jeff Hafley’s defense. Javon Bullard and Evan Wlliams are both going to play roles. As of now, it looks like Bullard will be more of an interchangeable chess pieces as he moves to the slot in the team’s nickel package. Williams has largely been the starter next to McKinney, and had a strong rookie season. Zayne Anderson is a staple of the special teams units, and appears to have dodged a bullet with the knee injury he suffered in the team’s preseason opener. Omar Brown has been one of the stars of camp, capped off by his three interceptions during the team’s family night scrimmage. Specialists (3) Brandon McManus, Daniel Whelan, Matt Orzech. Analysis: This one is easy. McManus was a savior for the Packers last season and has been lights out during training camp. Whelan and Orzech, meanwhile, are flying solo through camp. Combined, this is a high-quality battery.
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