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Austin Reaves had 31 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to help the Los Angeles Lakers earn a 134-127 victory over the host Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.
Luka Doncic recorded 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers (45-29), who won their second game in three outings and wrapped up a four-game road trip . LeBron James added 25 points, eight dimes and six boards, while Gabe Vincent contributed 15 points off the bench, starter Rui Hachimura scored 13 and reserve Dorian Finney-Smith chipped in 11.
Memphis (44-30), playing in its first game since firing head coach Taylor Jenkins on Friday, was led by Desmond Bane's 29 points. Assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo is serving as interim head coach.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 24 and Ja Morant recorded 22 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Reserve Scotty Pippen Jr. added 16 points, starter Zach Edey tallied a 14-point, 11 -rebound double-double, and starter Jaylen Wells had 11 points as the Grizzlies lost their fifth game in six tries.
After trailing by 11 at halftime, Memphis opened the third quarter on a 16-4 run, with Bane's 3-pointer giving the Grizzlies their first lead of the game. Reaves' trey, Doncic's three-point play and James' layup then gave the Lakers an 84-77 edge with 7:38 left in the third.
With just over a minute remaining in the quarter, Reaves' fifth 3-pointer extended the Lakers' cushion to eight. Morant's floater in the final seconds pulled the Grizzlies within three entering the final quarter.
A Hachimura trey gave the Lakers a 107-105 edge, but Jackson, Morant and Edey each recorded baskets to give Memphis its largest lead at four with 8:35 remaining. James' stepback jumper and thunderous dunk then began the Lakers' 13-4 run to take a 120-115 advantage with 4:08 left.
Hachimura's layup and Reaves' three-point play at the 1:21 mark sealed Los Angeles' victory.
Los Angeles finished the first quarter on an 8-2 run -- including Jarred Vanderbilt's dunk and Finney-Smith's 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 39-28 lead.
Edey's dunk cut the Grizzlies' deficit to nine to start the second quarter, but Vincent knocked down back-to-back triples to begin the Lakers' 11-0 run, pushing the lead to 50-30.
Trailing 57-39, the Grizzlies used an 8-0 spurt, stamped with Pippen 3-pointer, to pull within six at the 5:16 mark. Doncic then scored five of Los Angeles' 9-0 run, as the Lakers built a 72-61 halftime-lead.
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Five NBA teams that aced the offseason
After an eventful offseason, the majority of the NBA is on vacation until training camp. So it's finally time to assess which teams aced their summers. Here are the five that did exactly what they were supposed to do: Houston Rockets Is it possible to have too many good players on a roster? Seriously, the Rockets probably have the deepest roster in the NBA after their incredible offseason that saw them trade for Kevin Durant without giving up any of their main core pieces or future draft capital, steal Dorian Finney-Smith from the Lakers, sign Clint Capela, sign Josh Okogie and re-sign Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet to reasonable extensions. After finishing with the fourth-best defensive rating in the league last season, they should be even more stout on that next season. So long as Durant stays relative healthy, and at least a few of their young studs like Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason make a leap, they should also significantly improve upon their 13th-rated offense. The Rockets made the jump from being a happy-to-be-there playoff team to a serious title contender. Denver Nuggets After a second consecutive second-round exit from the playoffs, the Nuggets went to work this summer on addressing their biggest issue: depth. Last season, the Nuggets were a plus-10.5 when Nikola Jokic was on the court and a negative-8.5 when he was off the court. Aiming to fix that, Denver traded sharpshooter Michael Porter Jr. for another great shooter with a better defensive reputation in Cameron Johnson. They also signed three legitimate rotation players in Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas, which should allow them to ease Jokic's burden, especially in the regular season. When you have the best player in the NBA, you should always be doing everything you can as a franchise to win a championship. The Nuggets had cut some corners in recent years, so this offseason should reinvigorate a title contender in Denver. Atlanta Hawks The Hawks have made four decisions this offseason that should bode well for them in the future. First, they acquired Kristaps Porzingis, giving them a legitimate stretch-5 who can perform on both ends in the playoffs (when healthy). Second, they acquired one of the best assets in the league — the Pelicans' unprotected 2026 first-round pick in a draft that is projected to have a handful of franchise players. Third, they signed the top three-and-D wing on the market, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and one of the top shooters on the market, Luke Kennard. Finally, they did not hand Trae Young a massive contract (yet, at least). Young is an excellent point guard and could opt out of his contract next summer, but if he's making the max, the team's ceiling is capped at Eastern Conference Finals contender due to his defense. If the Hawks can find a way to shave his deal down a little to give them more flexibility, then with some development of their young studs like Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, they could be contenders before we realize it. Los Angeles Lakers What a difference a month can make. Early in free agency, the Lakers seemed to be at war with LeBron James, were rumored to be hesitant to make any big moves until the summer of 2027, weren't sure if Luka Doncic was going to sign an extension, lost Finney-Smith and hadn't signed any marquee free agents. Fast forward to this month, and the LeBron tension appears have have dissipated, Doncic signed a three-year extension and Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart were added to the team despite not being free agents when the summer began — both were bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards, respectively. That's about as good a summer as they could have hoped for given their limited cap flexibility and roster heading into free agency. Now comes the important part — what trade does Rob Pelinka do to round this very solid roster into a bona fide title contender? They're probably one three-and-D wing away from being able to match any team in the league in terms of high-end talent and depth. Orlando Magic The Magic kick-started the offseason during the NBA Finals by trading for the rugged, but sweet-shooting Desmond Bane. They gave up quite a lot (four first-round picks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony), but Bane provides the elite shooting they've been desperately craving for years around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Over the past four seasons, Bane has averaged 20.2 PPG, 5 RPG, 4.3 APG to go along with 47-41-89 shooting splits and is squarely in his prime at 27 years old. The Magic also capitalized on Michigan State star Jase Richardson's mini fall in the draft. The super crafty, way-less-athletic son of two-time dunk champion Jason Richardson has a whole lot of game and seems like an ideal off-guard to play with Banchero, Wagner and Bane. Don't be surprised if the Magic make a leap and are in the Eastern Conference Finals next spring.
Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell Sends A New Eye-Opening Cryptic Message
The Pittsburgh Steelers have reshaped their running back room for the 2025 NFL season. With Najee Harris leaving in free agency and Cordarrelle Patterson released, Jaylen Warren is the lone returning back from 2024. Warren has totaled nearly 1,300 rushing yards over the past two years and is widely expected to assume the RB1 role following Harris’ departure. Competition is emerging however, as several newcomers are making strong cases for the starting job, and one running back recently sparked speculation with a cryptic post to Steelers fans on X. The Steelers signed Kenneth Gainwell to a one-year deal worth $1.79 million in March. Gainwell is entering his fifth year in the NFL out of Memphis, spending his first four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles backing up Miles Sanders, De'Andre Swift, and Saquon Barkley. Gainwell has always been a serviceable backup and third-down weapon, but he wants to be more than that in Pittsburgh. Gainwell took to X on Friday morning when rumors were conveniently swirling about who will be the Steelers' RB1 when they face the New York Jets in two weeks. "They gone find out real soon!!" Gainwell said via X. It's important to remember that Gainwell could be referring to many things here. The Steelers' running game has showed promise this offseason, but many pundits would argue there's still plenty of room for improvement. Gainwell could simply be referring to the room as a whole taking the league by storm in 2025. However, it would be no surprise if he were referring to himself as being the player to look out for in the Steel City. He has shown his capability of being an impact player so far in his NFL career and has a competitive spirit. Gainwell has rushed for 1,185 yards with 12 touchdowns in his career, to go along with 102 receptions for 721 yards. During his four seasons with the Eagles, Gainwell carved out a reputation as a reliable dual-threat option. Though often used in a rotational role, Gainwell proved that he was capable of producing in high-leverage moments. Steelers fans might recall the nasty spin-move that he put on Donte Jackson during Pittsburgh's 27-13 loss at Philadelphia last December. So is Gainwell now a candidate for the Steelers' starting running back spot in 2025, that's the real question. With recent rumors swirling of Warren being in danger getting benched due to ball security issues, the idea of someone else leading the Steelers' running back room doesn't seem so unrealistic. Warren has seven fumbles in his career so far, including four in 2023 alone. In the Steelers' recent preseason win over the Panthers, Warren put the ball on the ground during Pittsburgh's opening drive. Warren might be the most talented running back that the Steelers currently have, but with turnovers being a potential issue, it might not be a terrible idea to turn elsewhere to lead the way. Even if Warren does get benched however, does Gainwell take his place? The Steelers spent a third-round draft pick on Kaleb Johnson in April, and the expectations for him are sky high. Johnson rushed for 2,779 yards in three years at Iowa, and he did show some promise during the preseason, rushing for 94 yards on 23 carries. One area of uncertainty with Johnson's game is his pass protection abilities, simply due to the fact that Iowa did not throw the ball much while Johnson was there. Pass protection is an area where Gainwell could separate himself from Johnson in terms of competition. It will be key for the Steelers to protect four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers in 2025. With some uncertainty on the offensive line, the Steelers' running backs will need to be helpful in the pass protection game. Durability will also play a factor. Gainwell has remained relatively healthy throughout his career, only missing one game due to injury so far. Steelers' Gainwell Brings Experience And Success To Pittsburgh Along with pass protection and durability, Gainwell brings experience and success. The Eagles made it to two Super Bowls during Gainwell's tenure, winning one last season. The Steelers are looking to replicate the playoff success that Gainwell experienced in Philadelphia, and he could potentially help them reach that threshold.
Dallas Stars lock up one of the league's best players with massive extension today in hockey history
The Dallas Stars have had many defining moments in their history, but few symbolize loyalty and leadership like Mike Modano's contract extension in the early 2000s. On August 21, 2003, the Stars officially locked up their franchise icon with an extension that cemented his role as the face of hockey in Texas. The move wasn't just about keeping a superstar forward, it was about keeping the identity of the Stars firmly tied to one of the most respected players in the game. Mike Modano's extension showed his loyalty and lasting impact on the Dallas Stars At the time, speculation lingered about whether Modano might test the waters elsewhere. Instead, he reaffirmed his commitment to Dallas, the franchise that had drafted him first overall back in 1988 when they were still the Minnesota North Stars. "This team, this city, it means everything to me. Staying here was the only choice that felt right," Modano said during the press conference announcing the deal. Those words resonated with fans, as his decision represented stability during an era when star players often left in search of bigger contracts. The extension also ensured that Modano would continue climbing the NHL record books in a Stars uniform. He went on to become the all-time American-born leader in goals and points, a record that defined his Hall of Fame career. Looking back, the August 21 signing stands as a cornerstone moment in Dallas Stars history. I think it was one of the smartest moves the franchise ever made, keeping Modano in green not only secured wins on the ice but also preserved a legacy that still inspires players today.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur Takes Notice of Tucker Kraft’s Transformation After TE’s Award
There are high hopes for Green Bay Packer tight end Tucker Kraft to take another leap in the 2025 NFL season. After improving on his 2023 rookie numbers during the 2024 NFL season, Kraft appears to have the potential to be the first tight end ever in the history of the franchise to amass at least 1,000 yards. It remains to be seen whether he could live up those expectations, but off the field, the former South Dakota State Jackrabbis star tight has recently turned heads when he was honored with the 2025 community service award during Green Bay’s annual Green Bay Chamber of Commerce “Welcome Back Packers Luncheon” on Friday, according to Mike Spofford of the team’s official website. Green Bay Packers TE Tucker Kraft’s charity gets appreciated Kraft earned the award for his charitable gestures in Wisconsin and back home in South Dakota. The 24-year-old tight end has been a supporter of the Cheyenne River Youth Project, a local nonprofit, which has helped give over a thousand toys to kids. After accepting the award, Kraft offered a short but meaningful speech. “Where you’re from can never set a limit on where you want to go,” Kraft said. Meanwhile, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur shared a special message about his appreciation for Kraft. “It’s an honor to work with a guy like that each and every day,” LaFleur said. “To watch the maturity and growth, not only as a person but as a player … he does a great job representing what we want to be about with his actions on the field as well as off the field. “Tuck, we can’t have enough guys like you on our football team.”
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