Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić go miss one game after im collect im 16th technical foul for dis season during di match wey dem play against Brooklyn Nets for Friday night. Di incident happen for third quarter wen Dončić and Nets forward Ziaire Williams get small quarrel wey make referee give dem double technical fouls. If dem no cancel di technical foul, di six-time All-Star no go play for Lakers next match against Washington Wizards for Monday.
For di same match, LeBron James and im pikin Bronny James write history as di first papa and pikin wey go assist each other for NBA game. Bronny pass ball give LeBron for top of key, but LeBron return am give Bronny wey shoot three-pointer to cut Nets lead to 44-42 for second quarter. Dis na another record after dem don already become first father-son duo to play together for NBA for October 2024.
Bronny James, wey dem pick for second round of 2024 NBA draft from USC, don play 27 games last year. For dis 2025-26 season, im don play 33 games with Lakers and 13 regular season matches with G League South Bay Lakers. Even though im no dey get plenty time for NBA, im dey perform well for G League with average of 14.8 points, 3.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Lakers dey return to Southern California with good feeling after dem win five of six games during dia 11-day trip, wey help dem hold dia No. 3 position for Western Conference. But with just over two weeks and nine games remain for regular season, coach JJ Redick talk say dem still get plenty work to do as dem dey push for playoffs.
One of di main areas wey Lakers need to improve na defensive rebounding. After dem rank seventh for defensive rebounding percentage before All-Star break (70.3%), dem don drop to 17th (68.9%) after break, including 22nd (68%) for dia 14 games for March. Coach Redick talk say dem need to dey more aware of who dey crash board.
Luka Dončić dey get plenty talk for MVP consideration because of im outstanding performance for March. Dončić dey average 36.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.3 assists for di month, including career-best 11 straight games with at least 30 points. Im don reach as high as No. 2 for NBA.com MVP ladder before coming down to No. 4 for Friday edition.
LeBron James dey continue to break records, recently passing Robert Parish for most regular-season games played. James dey close to another record with 1,226 career combined wins for regular season and playoffs, just two behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar all-time record of 1,228. Abdul-Jabbar still hold record for most regular-season wins (1,074), but James already get most playoff wins (183).
Lakers dey control dia own destiny to clinch No. 3 seed for Western Conference playoffs. Coach Redick talk say dem go try win games but dem go dey smart about managing players injuries. Starting guard Marcus Smart no play against Nets because of right ankle contusion, while Rui Hachimura (right calf injury management) return and starting center Deandre Ayton play after missing previous game because of back soreness.
With 47-26 record entering Friday, Lakers need to win 6 of dia last 9 games to get dia most wins for season since 2010-11 wen dem win 57 games. Lakers no get back-to-back regular seasons of winning at least 60% of dia games since 2009-2011.
Jake LaRavia fit play all 82 games dis season, one feat wey don become less common for NBA. LaRavia be one of 19 players wey dey on track to play all 82 games dis season.
Austin Reaves dey have one of di most efficient scoring seasons for guard for league history. Reaves 64.2% true shooting percentage rank ninth among guards for league history wey average at least 20 points and play at least 45 games for season. Only Steph Curry (four times), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (dis season), Reggie Miller (twice) and Damian Lillard get more efficient high-scoring seasons than Reaves.
Lakers don beat every Western Conference team at least once except defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder. Dem get two more chances to beat Thunder dis season: Thursday for Oklahoma City and April 7 for Crypto.com Arena.
Lakers dey projected to host either Houston Rockets or Minnesota Timberwolves to start dia first-round playoff series. Dem don win regular-season series against both teams.
For di Nets match, longtime Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter no dey present as im dey recover from health matter. Jason Barquero stand for am. Lakers organization talk say dem dey wish Tanter quick recovery and dem dey look forward to welcome am back soon. Tanter, 76, don be Lakers PA announcer since 1982-83 season.
Lakers broadcast analyst Stu Lantz also no dey for Friday game because im no well, with five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher stand for am.
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