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The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs, which begin on Saturday.
The Lakers finished the season as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference after making a blockbuster midseason trade for Luka Doncic to give LeBron James a new co-star in Los Angeles. As the franchise chases its 18th championship, the first step is a matchup with Anthony Edwards and No. 6 Minnesota.
Only 15 players can make the final roster for the NBA playoffs, leaving the Lakers to make some difficult decisions amid a looming concern about losing team chemistry in the postseason.
While rarely-used rookie Bronny James and injured forward Maxi Kleber made the 15-man squad, there was no room for centers Trey Jemison III and Christian Koloko, who were on two-way contracts.
But that wasn't the end of the story for Jemison and Koloko.
According to ESPN NBA reporter Dave McMenamin, the two playoff roster casualties practiced with JJ Redick's team on Tuesday and "will be with the team for the playoff run" despite being ineligible to play in any postseason games.
McMenamin reported on X that the Lakers “liked the chemistry of the group” during the regular season, which included Jemison and Koloko, and wanted to keep that dynamic together for the playoffs.
team chemistry through the roof omg https://t.co/ANTFMQZgiq
— beez (@BeezRogue) April 16, 2025
Koloko appeared in 37 games during the regular season, while Jemison played just 22. Both averaged less than three points per game, but their retention in the practice squad reflected the positive impact they had on the team beyond the court.
The move signaled that Redick's preference for small-ball lineups around Rui Hachimura will continue in the playoffs. It also provided hope among fans that Kleber may return from his right foot injury sooner rather than later.
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LeBron James and Anthony Davis share the same cryptic quote on social media
It has been roughly six months since the Los Angeles Lakers made one of the most stunning blockbuster trades in NBA history, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis appear to still be missing one another. Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in February as part of the deal that sent Luka Doncic to L.A. The 10-time All-Star has since spoken about how he remains close with LeBron, and some strange social media activity on Tuesday seemed to illustrate that. LeBron and Davis both shared the exact same cryptic quote on their Instagram stories on Tuesday. They each posted the quote at around the same time of the day, too. The quote said, “Becoming the best version of yourself comes with a lot of goodbyes.” Fans were left a bit confused. The move looked like one a high school couple might pull after a breakup, but a lot of time has passed since Davis was traded. Some people speculated that LeBron might be sending some sort of message to the Lakers, as there have been rumblings that the 40-year-old is unhappy with his current situation. James and Davis were teammates on the Lakers for five-plus seasons and won an NBA title together. One report claimed LeBron had grown frustrated with Davis prior to the trade, and James had a very enthusiastic response to that. For whatever reason, the two pals felt the need to share the same cryptic quote.
Milwaukee Brewers Force Paul Skenes Into Unfiltered Admission About Brew Crew After 14-0 Beatdown
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes was no match for the Milwaukee Brewers – again. The former LSU Tigers star pitcher got lit up on the mound by the red-hot Brew Crew on Tuesday night, as he allowed four earned runs on six hits (including two home runs) while issuing two free passes and striking out four Milwaukee hitters across four innings of work. The Brewers eked out a 14-0 victory to win the series and move just a win away this Wednesday to sweep the Pirates and extend their win streak to 12 games. Skenes’ start tied his shortest thus far in the 2025 MLB regular season. The last time he pitched for only four innings was against the Brewers as well on June 25, when he surrendered four earned runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in a 4-2 loss, also at American Family Field. Skenes is now 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA in three starts this season versus the Brewers. Skenes speaks up on Milwaukee Brewers after 14-0 loss The reigning National League Rookie of the Year opened up about his thoughts on the Brewers and his performance against the streaking Milwaukee side. “They’re obviously hot right now,” Skenes said of the Brewers, per Rich Rovito of MLB.com. “I got in positions that weren’t very advantageous to me to where I had to be perfect, and I didn’t have my best stuff. I couldn’t really count on any singular pitch to be executed and get guys out. “I had some 3-2 pitches that caught too much of the plate and didn’t execute two-strike pitches as well as I should have. They did a good job capitalizing on it.” The Brewers improved to 75-44 with their win over the Pirates, while Pittsburgh dropped to 51-70.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur makes a telling comment about Jordan Love
The Green Bay Packers always had a vision for Jordan Love. That's why they shocked the world by taking him in the first round, even if that meant infuriating Aaron Rodgers. Fast forward to today, and Love has proved to be up to the task of being a starter, and he's even looked like a potential star at times. That's why, despite some inconsistencies and questionable decision-making, head coach Matt LaFleur still has the utmost confidence in him. "I’d hate to put a ceiling on him because I think he can be one of the elites in this league," LaFleur told The Athletic. Love took some pages out of Rodgers' book. He's been great at making the most of free plays, and his sidearm throws are just too similar to No. 12. What he didn't get from his mentor, however, was the consistency and the ability to take care of the football. Even so, Love knows he has what it takes to be among the best of the best. "What those guys do at such a high level is just consistency with everything," Love said. "I know I’m just as good as those guys and can be even better, so I think it comes down to going out there and making those plays on Sunday." Love is currently out with an injury that will most likely keep him sidelined until Week 1. The Packers wide receiver corps has been the most decimated in the league, and with sky-high expectations for the season, all eyes will be on Love in 2025.
Perhaps Superman Paul Skenes has found his kryptonite
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes may continue to be one of the top contenders for the National League Cy Young Award, but there is one place where he has appeared mortal this season. On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Brewers did to Skenes what they have done to plenty of MLB pitchers in 2025 ... put up big offensive numbers. For the second time this season (Skenes also pitched in Milwaukee on June 25), the Brewers forced him from the game after just 4.0 innings on Tuesday night, logging six hits and four runs during his time on the mound. Both of those performances came at Milwaukee's home stadium (American Family Field) and both are now Skenes' shortest outings of the season. While another NL Central team has put up more runs against Skenes this season (the St. Louis Cardinals nicked him for five runs in 6.0 innings on April 8), no other team has had the same kind of success over multiple starts by Skenes in 2025 as have the Brewers inside their home stadium. In all this season, Skenes has given up 10 hits and eight runs in 8.0 innings in Milwaukee. It was his third career outing on the road against the Brewers, with his lone 2024 start representing arguably the best outing of his rookie season. On July 11, 2024, Skenes struck out 11 and didn't allow a hit over 7.0 innings as the Pirates would eventually post a 1-0 victory. Tuesday's short outing was highlighted by a pair of Milwaukee home runs, including a leadoff solo shot by Sal Frelick that quickly set the tone for the Brewers. While Milwaukee's hit parade helped raise Skenes' ERA on the season to 2.13, it's hardly any reason for concern in a season where the 23-year-old right-hander is still a heavy favorite (-600) to win the NL Cy Young Award, per BetMGM. Skenes struggling in Milwaukee is likely more yet another stamp of approval on the Brewers' potential to be a threat once the postseason arrives. With an 18-4 record since the All-Star break entering Tuesday, Milwaukee has taken over the NL Central race from the Chicago Cubs. So what's the good news for Skenes? This is Pittsburgh's last trip to Milwaukee this season and the next-to-last series for the Pirates against the red-hot Brewers. Milwaukee will visit PNC Park for a three-game series on Sept. 5-7, and if Skenes gets a chance for revenge against Milwaukee, there couldn't be a better place for him to take the mound. This season, in 11 starts covering 68.2 innings, Skenes has a 1.70 ERA in the Steel City.
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