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The Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers will be facing each other in the championship game of the NBA In-Season Tournament tonight in what should be a fun matchup. Both teams come into the game undefeated, so something will need to give.
Lakers star LeBron James has been playing out of this world during the tournament so far, and he has a great shot at winning the MVP if LA were to win. He has defied what many believed was possible for someone at his age, and it has been incredible to see.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton actually grew up idolizing James before he was drafted into the NBA. He said that he followed James around the league, changing his fandom as James moved around.
This will be a special moment for Haliburton, but as soon as they step onto the court, it's game time. Haliburton is a competitor himself, and he would love nothing more than to be able to knock James and the Lakers off.
Containing Haliburton will be the key for LA in this game, and they will need to try to make others beat them instead. Haliburton will get his own points, simply because of how great he is, but it's the role players that will need to beat LA.
The focus for the Lakers has to be on the defensive side of the ball in this matchup. Indiana loves to play fast while running up and down the court, so communication and getting back on defense will be crucial.
LA would be honored to win the first-ever trophy for the NBA In-Season Tournament, adding more to their historic franchise. They have been motivated from the start to win this tournament and are just one victory away from completing their mission.
More must-reads:
- Celtics' ownership move should concern Lakers governor Jeanie Buss
- Four-time All-Star's contract status puts pressure on Hawks in 2025-26
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green could factor into future Phoenix Suns trades
The Phoenix Suns have made no secret of their ambition to remain in the NBA championship conversation. Two players who could quietly shape the team’s next roster shift are newcomers Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. The Suns’ front office has shown a willingness to adjust the roster by balancing the urgency to win now with the flexibility to retool quickly. Whether the team is eyeing another blockbuster trade to add another star or a strategic move to bolster depth, Brooks and Green provide two very similar trade profiles. For Suns fans, their presence is about more than just the current rotation for the upcoming season. It’s about keeping the door open for deals that could reshape the Suns’ path to a title. In a league where the right midseason trade can define a playoff run, Brooks and Green may be the keys to the Suns’ next big move. Could the Phoenix Suns move on from Jalen Green and Dillon brooks this early? With Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green now on the roster, the Phoenix Suns face a big decision. Keeping the pair as part of their core or flipping them in a trade to fit the team’s long-term vision is a question the Suns are facing. Brooks brings elite defensive intensity, and a strong defender that can guard the opposing team’s best scorer. His toughness and edge can set a tone for the entire roster, and his playoff experience makes him valuable for a contender. Green, meanwhile, offers youth and explosive scoring upside. At just 23, he averaged 21.0 points per game last season and has the athleticism to grow into a premier offensive weapon. On the other hand, keeping them could provide a defensive anchor and a future star, balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term flexibility. Though if the opportunity does arise to get a star point guard to pair with Devin Booker, Phoenix might just have to pull the trigger.
Jackson Merrill Reveals How Closely Padres Are Watching Dodgers
In 15 career games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill has a .351 batting average, .377 on-base percentage and .509 slugging percentage. His 20 hits against Los Angeles are more than any team Merrill has played since his 2024 debut. As the Padres try to chase down the Dodgers in the National League West standings, the 22-year-old center fielder has been instrumental in the hunt. The teams are separated by one game through Monday. “Of course, we see it, but we’re playing our own game, not really trying to think about it right now,” Merrill told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Just play our own game and it’ll come.” It's a boring answer, but it's revealing of the focus that allowed the Padres to trust Merrill with a nine-year, $135 million contract extension that runs through 2034 (with a team option for 2035). The extension, signed in April, kicks in next year. The Padres made Merrill their everyday center fielder as a 21-year-old rookie a year ago. His superlative 2024 season ended with a Silver Slugger Award, a ninth-place finish in National League MVP voting, a place in the All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas, and a runner-up finish for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Merrill began last year as the Padres' No. 9 hitter, but worked his way up to No. 5 by season's end. This year, he's most frequently found himself batting fourth, behind Manny Machado. Although his batting statistics have slipped (.261/.320/.406 through Monday, a 101 OPS+), he remains a plus defender in center field. Only Fernando Tatis Jr. (4.9), Machado (3.7) and Xander Bogaerts (2.3) have been worth more Wins Above Replacement than Merrill (1.7) through Monday, according to Baseball Reference. After playing the Giants Tuesday and Wednesday in San Francisco, the Padres will enjoy an intrastate travel day Thursday. Friday, they will host the first of three games against the Dodgers with the National League West at stake. The Dodgers have finished first in the National League West each of the last three seasons. The Padres finished second in two of those years (and third in 2023). The act of chasing down the Dodgers has become a ritual at Petco Park. They revived the tradition last October in the National League Division Series. Los Angeles came back from a two-games-to-one deficit in the best-of-five series to advance to the NLCS. The Padres and Dodgers had never met in the postseason before 2020, but now have done so three times in the last five years. Merrill would be forgiven for salivating over a rematch, as many fans are, but he is resisting the temptation to look ahead. Latest Padres News For more Padres news, head over to Padres on SI.
Jon Gruden 'looking forward to having the truth come out' amid lawsuit against NFL
Jon Gruden sent another warning shot toward the NFL after scoring a major win in court. On Tuesday, Gruden welcomed a ruling that will force the NFL to litigate the circumstances of his firing in court rather than closed-door arbitration. The former Las Vegas Raiders coach made clear that he intends to continue his legal challenge to the NFL to ensure that they are held accountable. “I’m looking forward to having the truth come out, and I want to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Gruden said in a statement provided to ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. “The league’s actions disrupted the whole season. We were leading the division at the time and they completely blindsided me and the team.” The Raiders were 3-1 in 2021 when Gruden was forced to resign after some offensive emails that he sent between 2011 and 2018 were leaked. Gruden has alleged that the NFL leaked the emails to force him out of a job after obtaining them during an investigation into the Washington Commanders. The NFL is set to appeal Monday’s ruling, but if that appeal fails, the league may be forced into public discovery. One alternative would be to offer Gruden a settlement, but he has not said whether or not he would be interested in such a resolution. Gruden has not held an NFL coaching job since the Raiders forced him out. He has recently spoken about possibly making a return to coaching at the college level.
Najee Harris may have role reduced after fireworks accident
Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris still has yet to return to action after a July 4 fireworks accident, and it sounds like he does not necessarily have a job guaranteed to him when he does. Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman admitted Tuesday that the team is planning a steady rotation at running back whether or not Harris is available to play in Week 1. First-round draft pick Omarion Hampton, however, is the player who has part of the rotation locked down, not Harris. The Chargers likely intended to use Harris as a part-time back no matter what. However, he certainly cannot have helped himself with his eye injury. The issue was described as superficial after it happened and Harris was expected to be ready for the season, but he is still on the non-football injury list and has yet to participate in a full practice. Harris, 27, is entering his first season with the Chargers after signing with them in March. He can earn up to $9.25 million on his one-year deal, but that will require him to remain part of the rotation with Hampton.
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