LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the one player who could swing the playoffs for the Lakers

Luka and LeBron are constants. But in a loaded West, Austin Reaves might be the difference between a deep playoff run for the Lakers and an early exit.

Comments

Basketball news

Carrington hits game-winner as time expires to lift Wizards past play-in bound Heat

Carrington hits game-winner as time expires to lift Wizards past play-in bound Heat

Bueckers has had busy week since helping UConn win national championship

Bueckers has had busy week since helping UConn win national championship

Antetokounmpo and most other top Bucks resting for regular-season finale with Pistons

Antetokounmpo and most other top Bucks resting for regular-season finale with Pistons

The NBA's playoff chase will end Sunday. Here's a look at what's happening

The NBA's playoff chase will end Sunday. Here's a look at what's happening

The NBA's playoff chase will end Sunday. Here's a look at what's happening

The NBA's playoff chase will end Sunday. Here's a look at what's happening

Paige Bueckers is projected to go No. 1 in WNBA draft to Dallas Wings

Paige Bueckers is projected to go No. 1 in WNBA draft to Dallas Wings

Rebuilding Mystics prepare for WNBA draft after several stars opt out

Rebuilding Mystics prepare for WNBA draft after several stars opt out

Betting was up in men's NCAA Tournament and during women's basketball season

Betting was up in men's NCAA Tournament and during women's basketball season

Dowtin scores career-high 30 points as 76ers snap 12-game skid with win over Wizards

Dowtin scores career-high 30 points as 76ers snap 12-game skid with win over Wizards

Willard vows to maintain culture Wright built while trying to turn around Villanova

Willard vows to maintain culture Wright built while trying to turn around Villanova

James becomes first professional male athlete to have likeness depicted in a Ken doll

James becomes first professional male athlete to have likeness depicted in a Ken doll

Villanova title game hero Jenkins sues NCAA to recoup lost income

Villanova title game hero Jenkins sues NCAA to recoup lost income

Texas' Tre Johnson declares for NBA draft after his stellar freshman season

Texas' Tre Johnson declares for NBA draft after his stellar freshman season

Nuggets fire coach Malone, won't extend GM Booth in stunning move as postseason looms

Nuggets fire coach Malone, won't extend GM Booth in stunning move as postseason looms

Houston's Sampson saw his first national title slip away against Florida

Houston's Sampson saw his first national title slip away against Florida

Siakam has 24 points, 10 rebounds as Pacers beat Wizards for fifth straight win

Siakam has 24 points, 10 rebounds as Pacers beat Wizards for fifth straight win

Florida shows up late for NCAA title celebration on campus

Florida shows up late for NCAA title celebration on campus

It's the last week of the NBA regular season. It's time to talk awards, and the MVP race

It's the last week of the NBA regular season. It's time to talk awards, and the MVP race

Walter Clayton Jr.'s defensive stop gives Florida its 3rd national title with 65-63 win over Houston

Walter Clayton Jr.'s defensive stop gives Florida its 3rd national title with 65-63 win over Houston

WNBA draft guide: Paige Bueckers and the Valkyries get ready for their big night in New York

WNBA draft guide: Paige Bueckers and the Valkyries get ready for their big night in New York

Reeling Nuggets cling to hope they can straighten themselves out this week with the playoffs looming

Reeling Nuggets cling to hope they can straighten themselves out this week with the playoffs looming

The NBA's playoff chase enters its final week. Here's a look at what's happening

The NBA's playoff chase enters its final week. Here's a look at what's happening

Fudd stars as Connecticut wins women's NCAA Tournament

Fudd stars as Connecticut wins women's NCAA Tournament

Smart gets in shouting match with fan in his return to Boston with Wizards

Smart gets in shouting match with fan in his return to Boston with Wizards

UConn returns to top of women's basketball, dominates South Carolina to capture 12th NCAA title

UConn returns to top of women's basketball, dominates South Carolina to capture 12th NCAA title

Florida makes push all the way to NCAA title game, will face Houston team that pushes others around

Florida makes push all the way to NCAA title game, will face Houston team that pushes others around

Cedric Dempsey, the former NCAA president who led in time of transition and growth, dies at 92

Cedric Dempsey, the former NCAA president who led in time of transition and growth, dies at 92

Florida makes push all the way to NCAA title game, will face Houston team that pushes others around

Florida makes push all the way to NCAA title game, will face Houston team that pushes others around

The NBA's playoff chase enters its final days. Here's a look at what's happening

The NBA's playoff chase enters its final days. Here's a look at what's happening

Houston rallies to beat Duke in Final Four, will face Florida for NCAA title

Houston rallies to beat Duke in Final Four, will face Florida for NCAA title

Strong, Fudd help UConn blow out UCLA in Final Four as Bueckers moves 1 win from elusive title

Strong, Fudd help UConn blow out UCLA in Final Four as Bueckers moves 1 win from elusive title

Towns scores 30 points as hot-shooting Knicks overwhelm Hawks 121-105 and await Brunson's return

Towns scores 30 points as hot-shooting Knicks overwhelm Hawks 121-105 and await Brunson's return

Clayton leads Florida to NCAA title game, scoring 34 points in win over SEC rival Auburn

Clayton leads Florida to NCAA title game, scoring 34 points in win over SEC rival Auburn

Anthony, Howard, Bird, Redeem Team highlight Basketball Hall of Fame's 2025 class

Anthony, Howard, Bird, Redeem Team highlight Basketball Hall of Fame's 2025 class

Duke's Flagg, USC's Watkins win John R. Wooden Awards as nation's top college players

Duke's Flagg, USC's Watkins win John R. Wooden Awards as nation's top college players

Final Four has multiple fifth-year starters again in a farewell to an uncommon era

Final Four has multiple fifth-year starters again in a farewell to an uncommon era

Defending champion South Carolina returns to title game with rout of Texas in Final Four

Defending champion South Carolina returns to title game with rout of Texas in Final Four

Celtics set NBA record for 3-pointers in a season, passing Warriors' mark from 2022-23

Celtics set NBA record for 3-pointers in a season, passing Warriors' mark from 2022-23

Auburn's Pearl and St. John's' Pitino share AP coach of the year honors, 1st tie in history of award

Auburn's Pearl and St. John's' Pitino share AP coach of the year honors, 1st tie in history of award

AI vs. pro gambler's $1 million March Madness bet coming down to Duke and Houston

AI vs. pro gambler's $1 million March Madness bet coming down to Duke and Houston

NBA fines Grizzlies' Ja Morant $75,000 for continued finger-gun gestures, after warning him to stop

NBA fines Grizzlies' Ja Morant $75,000 for continued finger-gun gestures, after warning him to stop

USC star JuJu Watkins is the AP Player of the Year and just the fourth sophomore to earn that honor

USC star JuJu Watkins is the AP Player of the Year and just the fourth sophomore to earn that honor

Delle Donne retires after 11 seasons, 2019 WNBA title with Mystics

Delle Donne retires after 11 seasons, 2019 WNBA title with Mystics

Final Four coaches Pearl, Sampson, once outcasts, now reflect changes in college game

Final Four coaches Pearl, Sampson, once outcasts, now reflect changes in college game

Banchero has 33 points, career-best 18 rebounds as Magic beat Wizards

Banchero has 33 points, career-best 18 rebounds as Magic beat Wizards

The NBA's playoff chase enters its final days. Here's a look at what's happening

The NBA's playoff chase enters its final days. Here's a look at what's happening

Poole, Wizards pull off rare win with victory over Kings

Poole, Wizards pull off rare win with victory over Kings

Who me? Willard downplays criticism by unhappy Maryland as he takes Villanova job

Who me? Willard downplays criticism by unhappy Maryland as he takes Villanova job

Timberwolves sale to A-Rod, Lore will go forward

Timberwolves sale to A-Rod, Lore will go forward

Connecticut returns to a Final Four with three top seeds and a Cinderella

Connecticut returns to a Final Four with three top seeds and a Cinderella

LOVERRO: Tune in for a new season of 'Real Coaches of College Park'

LOVERRO: Tune in for a new season of 'Real Coaches of College Park'

Maryland introduces Williams as coach after Kevin Willard's messy departure

Maryland introduces Williams as coach after Kevin Willard's messy departure

Maple hardwood, the very foundation of the Final Four, is ingrained with basketball's rich history

Maple hardwood, the very foundation of the Final Four, is ingrained with basketball's rich history

Jokic scores career-high 61 points, plays nearly 53 minutes in 140-139 double-OT loss to Wolves

Jokic scores career-high 61 points, plays nearly 53 minutes in 140-139 double-OT loss to Wolves

There's no one-and-done path in women's college basketball. And NIL money makes that a good thing

There's no one-and-done path in women's college basketball. And NIL money makes that a good thing

As the Celtics near NBA record for 3s in a season, a look inside the numbers from beyond the arc

As the Celtics near NBA record for 3s in a season, a look inside the numbers from beyond the arc

Maryland announces Buzz Williams as new men's basketball coach, replacing Kevin Willard

Maryland announces Buzz Williams as new men's basketball coach, replacing Kevin Willard

As the Celtics near NBA record for 3s in a season, a look inside the numbers from beyond the arc

As the Celtics near NBA record for 3s in a season, a look inside the numbers from beyond the arc

Rutgers freshman star Harper declares for NBA draft

Rutgers freshman star Harper declares for NBA draft

Heat get 55 points from Herro, Adebayo to roll past Wizards for fifth straight win

Heat get 55 points from Herro, Adebayo to roll past Wizards for fifth straight win