LOS ANGELES — To LeBron James, triple-doubles are not a goal. They are only a side effect of the consistent, brilliant all-around play he has been dishing out for 17 NBA seasons, with no slowdown in sight. Triple-doubles also don’t mean much to LeBron without wins attached to them, so...
Lakers Beat Warriors 120-94, Improve to 9-2
LOS ANGELES — No Anthony Davis for the first time this season, no problem for the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James had 23 points and 12 assists in three quarters, Kyle Kuzma and JaVale McGee dominated the middle, and the Lakers rolled past the hobbled Golden State Warriors 120-94 on...
Raptors End Lakers' 7-Game Winning Streak in 113-104 Victory
LOS ANGELES — The centerpiece of the Toronto Raptors' championship team works at Staples Center now. Two more key components of last season's sublime roster got injured right before the Raptors arrived in Los Angeles for the reunion. In the opening weeks of life after Kawhi, the defending champs are...
LeBron James No Longer King James for Hong Kong Protesters
HONG KONG — When the ball smashed into a photo of LeBron James' face stuck above the hoop and dropped into the basket, the Hong Kong protesters cheered. They also trampled on jerseys bearing his name and gathered in a semicircle to watch one burn. James' standing among basketball fans...
Dwight Howard Returns to Lakers 6 Years After Departure
LOS ANGELES — Dwight Howard rejoined the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, six seasons after his acrimonious departure. The eight-time All-Star center and 15-year NBA veteran is the Lakers' improbable choice to fill the sudden roster vacancy created by DeMarcus Cousins' knee injury. Howard spent one memorable season with the...
LeBron, Carmelo, Chris Paul Courtside for Wade's Last Game
NEW YORK — Dwyane Wade had some superstar fans on hand for his final NBA game. LeBron James, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony were all sitting courtside in Brooklyn on Wednesday night to watch Miami's game against the Nets. Wade punctuated his career with one last triple-double, finishing with 25 points,...
LeBron Rallies Lakers to 111-106 Victory Over Rockets
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James knows that he needs to turn up his intensity if the Los Angeles Lakers are going to make the playoffs. He certainly did that on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets when his team needed it the most. James scored 16 of his 29 points...
LeBron James’ Move to Lakers Could Cost Him $20 Million in Taxes
Gov. Jerry Brown has gotten a lot of credit for California’s fiscal rebound. When he came to office, the state budget was running a deficit of $27 billion; now, as Brown leaves office, he’ll leave his successor, Gavin Newsom, with a $15 billion rainy day fund. Thanks, Jerry! But Californians actually...
He Promised: LeBron James Is AP’s Male Athlete of 2018
LeBron James went to the NBA Finals for the eighth consecutive year. He changed addresses again, leaving his Cleveland home for the second time to join the Los Angeles Lakers in the biggest move of free agency over the summer. He remained arguably the dominant player in the basketball, adding...
As NBA Season Opens, Will It Be Warriors-Celtics at the End?
Opening night last year delivered a good forecast of how the NBA season would turn out. Cleveland edged Boston in the opening game before Houston ruined Golden State's championship ring celebration with a victory over the Warriors in the nightcap. Those teams ended up as the last four standing in...