Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Has Darvin Ham Lost the Locker Room (Again), as Lakers Get Ready for Huge Game vs. Bucks.

There was A LOT to unpack following Wednesday's epic, and extremely costly, collapse against the Sacramento Kings at the Crypt, one that fundamentally changed the arc of the season for the Lakers. A win didn't guarantee anything, but would have been a big boost to aspirations of finishing higher in the Western Conference, whether at the good end of the play in bracket, or even moving up to a top six position.  With that loss, those dreams are basically shot. The Lakers could, with a strong ...

Lakers Blow Early Lead, Anthony Davis Disappears, LeBron Injured in 130-120 Loss to Kings.

The Lakers didn't just lose to Sacramento by 10 at home Wednesday night at the Crypt. They played almost the exact opposite game as the other night against Oklahoma City, getting up by as much as 19 in the first quarter before giving up the lead and much, much more.  It's the basketball embodiment of the "How it started, how it's going" meme.  By the time the game reached the half, the Lakers were down 15, and never put it back into single digits.  After, LeBron James pointed to Anthony D...

Kings-Lakers Preview: A Must-Win Game To Avoid Play-In. Plus Gabe Vincent Back in March?

The Lakers may not have been playing truly inspired basketball, the kind that gets fans and media fired up and primed for the postseason, but they have, save that putrid stretch following the In-Season Tournament, won more than they've lost. Now, coming off a very impressive home win over the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers face another test against a playoff-caliber team.  But this time, the Sacramento Kings come in weaker than LA, having been in a weeks long semi-slum...

Davis, Russell, Defense Dominate as Lakers Blow Out Thunder 116-102

For about six minutes Monday night at the Crypt, it looked like the Lakers were in a world of trouble, hosting the West-best Oklahoma City Thunder. But then they stopped turning the ball over (or at least not as much), started hitting some shots, moving the ball, and most importantly, playing some high level defense.  By the 1:32 mark of the first quarter, the game was tied, and from there the Lakers never trailed. By halftime, they were up nine. After the break, they won the third quarter ...

Lakers Need Anthony Davis To Bounce Back vs. Thunder After Passive Night in Nuggets Loss..

Saturday's loss to Denver was a frustrating one for Lakers fans (and Lakers players, and Lakers coaches) because it followed a pattern that has been well-established in games between LA and Denver - namely one where the Lakers play well, stay close, and then get totally outclassed in the final five minutes of the game.  It's super annoying!  But with the Lakers staring down another six consecutive games against playoff caliber opponents (including the high seeded and/or red hot variety) it...

BONUS EPISODE: LeBron James Reaches 40,000 Points, but Lakers Lose to Denver

The NBA saw a bit of history, as LeBron James, who sets a record with every bucket, became the first player in league history to score 40,000 points.  It was a good night overall for James, who finished 26 points, nine dimes and three steals. Rui Hachimura was fantastic offensively, scoring an efficient 23 points (10-15 shooting). Austin Reaves had 19 points and a career high 14 dimes. Overall, the Lakers got some production from D'Angelo Russell, as well.  But where they fell short in a 1...

Lakers Beat Wizards 134-131 in OT, led by Anthony Davis' 40 pts... Now Face Brutal Stretch of Games

Well, they won.  That's about the only big positive free to take from Thursday's 134-131 OT win over the Wizards at The Crypt. Anthony Davis had 40 points to go with 15 boards and three blocks, LeBron was great in the OT and throughout, really, finishing with 31/4/9, along with a crucial chase down block on Jordan Poole. D'Angelo Russell kicked in with 22. But Washington came into the game (and left it) winless in Feburary, and have now lost 12 straight.  Needing an extra bit of hoop time ...

LeBron James Scores 19 in Fourth Quarter, Fuels Lakers' 116-112 Comeback Win Against Clippers

Well, that was amazing.  The Lakers were thoroughly outclassed for three-quarters of Wednesday's "road" game against the Clippers at the Crypt. After Mason Plumlee scored the opening points of the fourth, the Lakers were down 21 points, and seemingly out of it. Nobody told LeBron James, however.  He went absolutely bonkers from there, finishing with 19 points and five three's in the final quarter to eat up the deficit and more. Overall, the Lakers outscored the Clippers 39-16. It started w...

Lakers-Clippers Preview: Paul George: Out. Anthony Davis (Probably) In. Plus, Bronny/LeBron's Future

Is Darvin Ham The Most Unpopular Lakers Coach Ever? (Plus, Improving the 3-Point Defense)

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The Lakers Suffer Critical 123-113 Loss to Suns, Darvin Ham Makes Many Strange Decisions.

Earlier in the season, the Lakers had a habit of falling behind big early thanks to terrible first quarters. As the weeks have gone on, it's become less of an issue.  Not Sunday in Phoenix. The purple and gold fell behind by as much as 20 points in the opening quarter, finishing it down 17 after surrendering a putrid 45 points en route to a 123-113 loss. They spent the rest of the game playing uphill, trying to find a way to get ahead of the Suns, who have regularly blown leads of late but ...

The Lakers Fall 128-110 to the Warriors, Hopeful LeBron will Play Friday vs. Spurs.

With no LeBron James, the Lakers were already set to paddle upstream against a resurgent Golden State Warriors that's looking to pass them in the standings. Combine that with an absolutely unconscious Steph Curry to open the game, early foul trouble for Anthony Davis, and a collectively cold shooting night from the supporting cast, and paddling upstream became the equivalent of trying to paddle across the entire Pacific Ocean using a golf club. A strong opening quarter and change from the La...

LeBron James (ankle) Out Tonight vs. Warriors. Should he have Sat Out of the All-Star Game?

The Lakers kick off the second half of the season tonight in San Francisco against the Warriors, and they'll do it without LeBron James. He was downgraded to "out" on Wednesday with a bum ankle, well ahead of tonight's tip. It was something that LeBron himself foreshadowed at the All Star Game, noting that his treatment is ongoing and could keep him out. Could has become will. Does this mean he'll be available for Friday's game vs. San Antonio? We'll find out soon enough. It's an injury th...

Will Darvin Ham Keep the Same Lakers Rotation, Even as Players Return From Injury?

The Lakers managed to turn some bad mojo into good vibes heading into the break, and not surprisingly it was built at least in part around not just consistency in the rotation, but a type of consistency that played towards the preferences of the players on the roster. Of course, all (or at least much) of this happened with certain guys, namely Max Christie and Cam Reddish (let alone Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent) unavailable. That simplifies things for Darvin Ham. But they won't stay s...

LeBron James Says He's Happy With the Lakers, Hopes He Finishes His Career in Los Angeles

In the wake of an All-Star Game for the ages—not in a good way—it's important to remember that for Lakers fans, the most important thing to come from the weekend wasn't anything related to the competition, but things LeBron James said. Talking to the media ahead of the game, James made it clear that he's happy in L.A., happy being a Laker, has been happy being a Laker for the last six seasons, and (assuming nothing drastic changes, and not being able to see everything in the future) anticip...

What the Warriors Trying to Trade for LeBron Says About His Lakers Future—Short and Long Term

Earlier this week, the story broke that Warriors owner Joe Lacob gave Jeanie Buss a ring, asking whether or not the Lakers would trade LeBron James. (And if so, maybe to Golden State?) Jeanie said they weren't interested, but they could run it past Team LeBron, as a courtesy, because if James wanted out, they'd try to honor the request. The answer was no, LeBron isn't interested, and with that, the episode ended. But the intrigue? ONLY BEGINNING! For starters, the context of the conversat...

Davis (37 pts), Hachimura (36 pts) Fuel Lakers' 138-122 Win over Jazz. Warriors Wanted LeBron Trade!

Have the Lakers finally, mercifully, found themselves? They seem to think so, at the least. That's what Rui Hachimura was talking about following his career high 36 points, which helped the Lakers to a first half-ending win over the Jazz in Utah. Hachimura, who has bounced back in a big way from his 2-point, 38 minute outing against Denver last week, talked about comfort and continuity and guys feeling good about each other. Certainly the Lakers have a lot to feel good about, as they've wo...

BONUS CROSSOVER EPISODE: The Warriors Reportedly Tried to Trade For LeBron at the Deadline.

Andy Kamenetzky and Cyrus Saatsaz host a crossover episode to discuss the shocking news broken this morning by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne that the Golden State Warriors reached out to the Los Angeles Lakers to discuss a potential blockbuster trade that would've traded superstar LeBron James to the Warriors. Talks never got particularly far, beyond it reaching ownership level, with Joe Lacob speaking directly to Jeanie Buss, who said she'd only sign off on a deal involvin...

Anthony Davis Has Six Blocks in Lakers' win 125-111 vs. Pistons! Spencer Dinwiddie Debuts!

The Lakers, don't look now, have started to put some wins together. Seven of 10 now, factoring in Tuesday's 125-111 win over the Pistons at the Crypt. The starting lineup that swapped Rui Hachimua for Taurean Prince, has won five straight. The offense is flying around, the passing has elevated and turnovers are trending in the right direction. So with that in mind, and with the addition of Spencer Dinwiddie (who made his Lakers debut Tuesday), is there reason to crank up the optimism aroun...

Spencer Dinwiddie Scouting Report with Locked On Nets: What Does He Bring to the Lakers?

Monday we reacted to the weekend signing of guard Spencer Dinwiddie. Today, it's a deeper dive into what exactly Dinwiddie can bring to the Lakers, with Adam Armbrecht, host of Locked on Nets and a man present for both of Dinwiddie's stints in Brooklyn. He's a guy with tremendous variance in his output, often seemingly tied to the context in which he's playing. Is it an environment where winning is an option? Is he surrounded by players that can enhance his skill set, and limit his usage to...

Lakers Sign Spencer Dinwiddie: Does He Fit With Reaves, Russell? More Good Buyout Options Available?

The Lakers didn't make a deal at Thursday's trade deadline, but that doesn't mean they didn't ultimately improve the team. Over the weekend, they made the signing of former Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie official. The Lakers will have to figure out how they want to deploy him at a position of relative strength (at least among the starters) but he'll provide badly needed depth in the backcourt, and allow Darvin Ham to always have a true PG on the floor at all times. It could, as well, let Aust...

Five Lakers Score 20+ Points in 139-122 Win over Pelicans... With Spencer Dinwiddie at the Game!

The last 24 hours have been consumed by questions about whether the Lakers effectively gave up on the season by standing pat at the trade deadline. Well, in their first game following the deadline, the Lakers didn't look like a team that had packed it in. They put on an impressive offensive display and controlled their game against the visiting New Orleans Pelicans throughout and won TK-TK. Balance among the starters was the big story. All of them had more than 20 points, led by D'Angelo Ru...

Lakers Lose 114-108 to Nuggets, Stand Pat at the Deadline, Unveil Kobe Bryant Statue

Man alive, Thursday was busy. It started with the NBA's trade deadline. Over the last few days, it started to look more and more like the Lakers wouldn't be major players on Thursday. And it turned out, they weren't players of any kind. They didn't make a move at all. GM Rob Pelinka said the team worked hard to find a way to upgrade, but couldn't match the right player with the right price. "You can't buy a house that's not for sale," he said. Should the Lakers have done more? Been willing...

NBA Trade Deadline Bonus Episode: Lakers Make No Moves. Missed Opportunity? Buyout Market Coming?

Much ado about nothing, in the end, though the writing was really on the wall. The Lakers saw Thursday's NBA trade deadline come and go, and stood on the sidelines the entire time. The biggest names on the market, including Dejounte Murray, Bruce Brown and Dorian Finney-Smith, weren't traded anywhere. But a lot of smaller names shuffled around. Still, there wasn't, at least in the mind of Rob Pelinka, a player the Lakers could acquire that they felt was worth the asking price. Are they rig...

NBA Trade Deadline Day! What if the Lakers Do Nothing? Plus, Kobe Bryant Statue Unveiling

Wednesday was a very quiet day on the NBA trade market. A couple minor deals, none of which had anything to do with the Lakers. Meanwhile, those with their ears to the rumor mill seemed to come away with the feeling that the odds of a significant deal going down for the Lakers are diminishing. To some degree, that's a reflection of the market. There aren't a lot of high profile players left to deal. Dejounte Murray from the Hawks, still very much tied to the Lakers, is the headliner. After ...

Can LeBron Pressure the Lakers into a Big Trade at the Deadline? Will D'Angelo Russell move?

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, and for the time being at least things are looking kinda quiet. The Lakers are still connected to just about every player on the market (Atlanta's Dejounte Murray, Toronto's Bruce Brown, Chicago's DeMar DeRozan, Brooklyn's forward combo of Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale) but that doesn't necessarily mean there will be much action. It's a seller's market, and the prizes aren't automatically worth a major premium. In a perfect world, the Lakers coul...

Lakers Beat Hornets 124-118, Finish Road Trip 4-2. Plus, Jarred Vanderbilt Injury Update!

It wasn't more than a week ago that things looked desperate for the Lakers. They lost in back-to-back blowouts, and their star players looked very, very shaky from a health standpoint. Then they won in Boston, without LeBron James, Anthony Davis and (in the second half) Jarred Vanderbilt. Then they won in New York. And then Monday, they finished off the trip with a victory over the 10-win Hornets in Charlotte. Final score, 124-118. And while the game got a little closer than the Lakers wou...

How Does Jarred Vanderbilt's Injury Change the Lakers' Rotation, and Plans at the Trade Deadline?

It's a very, very busy week in the NBA with the trade deadline coming up on the 8th. And, of course, that means the Lakers tied to any available player on the market, because that's how this works. But while before the chatter was built mostly around Atlanta guard Dejounte Murray, the Lakers now have to fill a massive hole left by the injury to Jarred Vanderbilt. The Lakers now have a gaping hole to fill, in addition to any improvements they want to make in the backcourt, or anywhere else. ...

The Lakers, Sparked by Huge Fourth Quarter and Anthony Davis' Defense, Beat Knicks 113-105.

Thursday in Boston, the Lakers shocked the NBA world, beating the Celtics without LeBron James or Anthony Davis, and with Jarred Vanderbilt missing the second half with a foot injury. Saturday in New York, they had Davis and LeBron back (Vando will miss weeks, at least), facing a Knicks squad down Julius Randle and OG Onunoby, but nonetheless on a nine game win streak. It was a grind and it wasn't necessarily easy, but the Lakers played with the same level of defensive intensity and held Ne...

Report: Jarred Vanderbilt Out Several Weeks (At Least) With Foot Injury. What Now for the Lakers?

On Thursday, the Lakers went into Boston without the services of Anthony Davis and LeBron James, and managed to come out with a fairly shocking win. Part of the underdog story, though, was the absence in the second half of forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who left the game late in the second quarter with an injury to his right foot. News on the injury following the game was light. Negative x-rays (which frankly doesn't mean much, except nothing was broken), but not much else. Friday, the news ca...

Without LeBron and Anthony Davis, Lakers Upset Celtics in Boston 114-105, led by Reaves, Russell.

According to our friends at FanDuel, the Lakers were double digit underdogs for Thursday's game in Boston, and that was BEFORE the news broke that Anthony Davis and LeBron James would both be out with injuries. That bumped the line up over 15. Whatever! The Lakers shocked the world, taking an early lead over the Celtics and never giving it up, winning 114-105 in a game that, for a night at least, changed the vibes around the team in a very positive way. Austin Reaves scored 32 points, and ...

LeBron Tweets "Hour Glass" emoji. Who is out of time? Darvin Ham? Rob Pelinka? The Lakers?

For a while, it looked like the most important Tweet to come from a Laker Tuesday in Atlanta would be Christian Wood's, where he "lol"'d right after the Lakers announced a starting lineup that included Jaxson Hayes instead of him, filling in for Anthony Davis. After the game, Wood said it was just a wayward QT. Nothing to see here. Nobody believed him. But all of that was soon eclipsed by LeBron James, who simply sent out a near-empty hourglass. That clearly put people on notice. Was he t...

Without Anthony Davis, the Lakers Lose Big vs. Hawks. And did Christian Wood Subtweet Darvin Ham?

The Lakers were walloped in Houston Monday, and had to turn around Tuesday to play the Hawks in Atlanta. This time, though, they'd take the floor without Anthony Davis, who had to miss the game after aggravating his hip/groin injury. It didn't go well. The Lakers were dominated by the Hawks, 138-122, a score that doesn't really capture how Atlanta controlled the game after the first seven minutes or so of the game. D'Angelo Russell played his worst game in a while -- bad timing considering...

Darvin Ham Plays LeBron James Deep Into Lakers' 135-119 Loss in Houston. Coaching Malpractice?

The Lakers had a double overtime game in San Francisco, in which their primary players generally cracked the 40-minute barrier, or even significantly higher. Anthony Davis aggravated the hip/groin thing that's been bugging him most of the year. So it's no surprise the Lakers came out flat, especially defensively, in Monday's game against the Rockets. Stuff happens. Disappointing? Sure! But it happens. But while Lakers fans (understandably) focus on Darvin Ham's choices with the starting li...

Has Darvin Ham Discovered His "Death Lineup" for the Lakers? (i.e., D'Lo/Reaves/Vando/Lebron/Davis)

In the wake of Saturday's ultra-intense, ultra-exciting double OT win over Golden State in San Francisco, there was plenty to discuss. The superlative performances of LeBron James and Stephon Curry. The continued excellent play, including one of the most shockingly ballsy 3-pointers in recent history, from D'Angelo Russell. And, of course, the incredible shot in the arm provided by Jarred Vanderbilt. But most prominent among Lakers fans was probably the combinations in which all of those p...

Lakers Beat Golden State Warriors 145-144 in Double OT, LeBron puts up 36/20/12!

The Lakers kicked off a six-game road trip against the Warriors in epic fashion, outlasting Steph Curry and the fellas 145-144, in a contest that could have been incredibly deflating rather than exhilarating. After all, they got housed to begin the third quarter, which turned everything into a dogfight, and there were failed opportunities to close out the fourth quarter and the first bonus period. And beyond the practical implications of a loss for this scuffling team, it would have been ter...

Vanderbilt, Russell Lead the Lakers to an Important Win Over Chicago, 141-132

The Lakers have been a very, very hard team to understand over the course of the season, and Thursday's 141-132 win over the Bulls at the Crypt, welcome as it is, only adds to the confusion. A team with a reputation for lousy shooting went ballistic from beyond the arc, hitting 20 3's at an almost 62% clip. An offense that has been questionable shot over 60% from the floor. Every player who played more than 10 minutes hit double digits in scoring, save Christian Wood. Anthony Davis recovere...

Dejounte Murray Scouting Report: Is he an Upgrade for the Lakers over D'Angelo Russell?

The Lakers have a big decision coming. They are, by most reports, the frontrunners to acquire Atlanta guard Dejounte Murray. The 27 year old is enjoying arguably his best season as a pro, averaging over 21 points a game, on 47.1% shooting and 39% from beyond the arc (both career highs). Reputationally, at least, Murray is a solid defender. No question in his first few years in the league, he built a high end reputation on that side of the ball. So would he improve the Lakers, should the ru...

Without LeBron James, the Lakers Lose to the Clippers, 127-116. Can a Trade Actually Fix the Team?

The Clippers have been as good as any team in the NBA over their last 30 games or so, and had already lost to the Lakers twice this season (which makes 'em mad). So with LeBron James on the sidelines thanks to his lingering ankle issue, beating the Clippers on their home floor Tuesday night was a tall order. They gave it a hearty effort, but ultimately they just couldn't keep up with the Clippers, especially Kawhi Leonard, who posted a triple double (25/11/10). Overall, the Clippers shot 59...

Should the Lakers Trade D'Angelo Russell? Plus, are "Vibes" a Problem Again for the Lakers?

Despite Sunday's win over Portland, the social media universe was filled with photo after photo and clip after clip of sad, sad Lakers players. Guys who didn't seem to be happy they won. At the center of the conversation, of course, was D'Angelo Russell. There was the picture of him "crying" on the bench. The on-court interview with sideline reporter Mike Trudell. His postgame media session, in which he seemed down and introspective after scoring a team-high 34 points. The "it'll be ok, we...

Lakers Bounce Back, Rout Trail Blazers 134-110, D'Angelo Russell Puts up 34 Points

Friday's embarrassing loss at home to Brooklyn doesn't disappear from the record, but the Lakers were in many ways granted a do-over Sunday, facing a really bad Portland team, once again at the Crypt. This time, they did it right, taking control early and (in a nice twist) not letting the Blazers back in. And certainly not collapsing in the third quarter. As a result, they started the week with a 134-110 win, and got to keep the minutes for LeBron James (31) and Anthony Davis (26:22) deligh...

Lakers Collapse at Home Vs. Nets, Lose 130-112. Darvin Ham says "It's Over For the Excuses."

For most of the season, the Lakers have been frustratingly unwilling to accept opportunities as they are presented. Friday, they kicked another gift horse in the mouth, suffering an embarrassing loss to a bad Nets team that had barely won over the last month. Final score, 130-112. It started off just fine, but then the Lakers lost their focus, and in the third quarter were absolutely steam rolled by Brooklyn. Give Anthony Davis (26 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three steals, two blocks...

D'Angelo Russell Is the X-Factor for the Lakers. Plus, is this Darvin Ham's Permanent Rotation?

One reason the Lakers have managed to play more competitively over the last few games, including wins in four of six, is the improved play of D'Angelo Russell, who looks a lot more like the guy who was the Lakers best player not named Anthony or LeBron for the first month of the season. Russell's 29 points against Dallas on Wednesday was a reminder that whether you see him as the team's third best player, fourth best, or maybe even something after that, he's got certain skills that aren't ea...

Lakers Blow Out Dallas Mavericks 127-110 Behind a (Near) Triple-Double From Anthony Davis

Just when you think you're out, they pull you back in. The Lakers, coming off a very good win over Oklahoma City raised it up a level on Wednesday against Dallas, using a big third quarter to turn a close game into a blowout, beating the Mavericks TK-TK. The Lakers continued to build on the offense that had been so shoddy over the course of the season, getting big contributions from Anthony Davis (28 points), LeBron James (25 points) and D'Angelo Russell (29, to lead the team). The Lakers a...

Lakers Midseason Report: Grade for Darvin Ham. Biggest Surprise? Disappointment? Key Trade Targets

Tonight's game at the Crypt (an unusual 5:30 start) is the 42nd for the Lakers this year, meaning they're at the halfway point of the schedule. And at 20-21 heading in, it's fair to say this year hasn't gone the way anyone wanted or expected. It's been a disappointment on multiple levels. So halfway through, it's time to hand out some evaluations of the 2023-24 LA Lakers. It starts with the biggest surprise. The answer might seem unexpected, until you really stop to think about it. How abo...

Anthony Davis, LeBron James, New Starting Lineup Lead Lakers to Critical 112-105 win over Thunder

The Lakers badly needed a win after absorbing a few tough losses, and Monday night played one of their better games of the season, beating Oklahoma City 112-105. Anthony Davis (27/15/5) and LeBron James (25/6/5) led a balanced and efficient Lakers attack (six players in double figures, 44-84 from the floor). But what got people's attention first and foremost? Another new lineup for the Lakers. Darvin Ham, seeking to put as much playmaking around James and Davis, went with D'Angelo Russell a...

Bonus Pod: LeBron James-less Lakers Lose 132-125 To Jazz, Fall to 11th in the Western Conference

The Lakers, once again, came into Saturday's game in Utah (the hottest team in the NBA) with disruption to the lineup. LeBron James sat with the ankle problem that's been bothering him all year. Rui Hachimura was back... but on a minutes restriction. Once the game started, Cam Reddish once again had to leave early, playing only 11 minutes. Continuity, she has been incredibly hard to find. And it's possible more changes are coming, because D'Angelo Russell's 39 points, on top of solid play ...

The Lakers Gets Scorched by Suns 127-109, with Bad Games from LeBron, Davis, Reaves.

The Lakers put two victories together heading into Thursday's nationally televised game against the Suns, but clearly aren't yet "healed" as a group. That became abundantly clear about two minutes into Thursday's game. Phoenix was all over the Lakers early, falling behind only once (7-6) in the entire game. Frankly, the game wasn't as close as the 127-109 score might indicate. The Lakers were sloppy, turning the ball over five times in the first quarter and 18 times overall. The Suns, mean...

Is D'Angelo Russell Sending a Message to the Lakers By Not Speaking to the Media?

For the past two games, D'Angelo Russell has left Crypto.com Arena without speaking to the media. Sunday against the Clippers, it was after playing pretty well over 31 minutes, and then on Tuesday after another solid showing, but this time in only 17. So what gives? Is Russell expressing displeasure at a role that has fluctuated pretty significantly since he was removed from the starting lineup? Is he trying to avoid conversations about the trade deadline, where his name is, and will remai...

Anthony Davis Dominates Early and Late as the Lakers Beat Raptors, 132-131

If the Lakers were, say, eight games over .500, Anthony Davis would be squarely in the conversation for league MVP, given how he's played throughout the season on both sides of the ball. Tuesday's 132-131 over the Raptors at the Crypt would be front and center on his resume. 41 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. He hit 13 of 14 free throws, including all of them down the stretch. And while Davis only had one block, it came in the final minutes against Toronto forward Scotty Barnes and hel...