StadiumPosts Logo
Stay upto date with notifications from Stadiumposts
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences

NBA CUP CLASH LOOMS WITH LUKA DONCIC’S LAKERS COMEBACK POSSIBLE

Lakers stars Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart are listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Grizzlies. Their potential return is a welcome sight for Austin Reaves, who has shouldered a heavy load during their injury absence.

NBA Cup clash looms with Luka Doncic’s Lakers comeback possible
Luka Doncic might rejoin Lakers for key Grizzlies game - COURTESY/PHOTO

Austin Reaves made a request when asked about having to lead the team while LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and several other role players are out after the Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-115 with a buzzer-beating floater, capping a successful week of individual play.

"Please return, everyone, not just them [Doncic and James]," Reaves urged.

It appears that Reaves' wish might come true as early as Friday.

Doncic and Marcus Smart, who were both classified as questionable on the Lakers' Thursday night injury report, may return to action on Friday when they play the Memphis Grizzlies on the road.

Adou Thiero (recovering from surgery on his left knee), Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain), Maxi Kleber (abdominal muscle strain), and LeBron James (right sciatica) are still out.

Due to a lower left leg contusion and a sprained left finger he sustained during the first quarter of a home victory over the Timberwolves on October 24, Doncic missed the last three games: a victory over the Timberwolves on Sunday, a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, and a victory over the Sacramento Kings on the road.

Five days after the medical update and one week after the finger injury, the team said prior to the game against the Kings that Doncic will be reevaluated in approximately a week.

Before Wednesday's victory, coach JJ Redick stated that Doncic's left middle finger swelling has decreased and that the contusion is "probably" a "day-to-day" occurrence.

Redick went on to say, "The oedema has somewhat decreased." It appears that he no longer has two fingers on his finger, but only one and a half. Thus, he is making progress. And we hope that we will get the chance to get him back into the starting lineup, perhaps in the next few games.

The 26-year-old Slovenian star opened the season with two dominant performances: 43 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, and two steals in the season-opening defeat to the Golden State Warriors, and 49 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists against the Timberwolves on October 24.

Before sustaining a quadriceps injury against the Kings, Smart, a 31-year-old veteran guard the Lakers signed in the offseason, averaged 7.7 points, two assists, and a steal in his three games (24.7 minutes).

In addition to the Lakers' other ailments, Reaves stepped up and averaged 40 points when Doncic was out. Doncic missed three games but finished with 10 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals.

"I place a lot of responsibility on myself, even when [Doncic and James] are playing," Reaves stated. Since they contribute so much to our team, it is clear that they have various roles. However, the responsibility shifts when we are without them.

Although it is a little more physically demanding, I am constantly trying to think of ways that I can support them both with and without the two. Therefore, it is unquestionably different in terms of how I have to play and behave.

The Lakers' first of four NBA Cup Group Play games is scheduled for this Friday.

The Lakers' other three Group Play games are against the Dallas Mavericks at home on November 28, the New Orleans Pelicans on November 14, and the Clippers at home on November 25.

WHY LAURA WOODS FELT FORCED TO SPEAK OUT ON BOXING GENDER ROW

TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods risked career "cancellation" to speak out on the Imane Khelif boxing row, saying she felt a deep "injustice" over the debate.

top-news
Laura Woods Felt "Injustice" Over the Imane Khelif Controversy

Laura Woods recently opened up about her worries about potential backlash after sharing her views on the gender debate that surrounded the 2024 Olympic Games. The heart of the issue was Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's participation and her gold medal in the women's welterweight division at the Paris Olympics.

A year prior, Khelif and China's Lin Yu-ting were barred from the World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA). This organization, backed by Russia and not well-regarded, claimed blood tests proved Khelif wasn't eligible to compete against women.

The IBA didn't give any real proof to back up their claims. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) didn't think the tests were believable. They let both athletes compete in the Games.

Woods, a TNT Sports presenter, publicly supported a Telegraph article that said the IOC's choice to let Khelif (who had been incorrectly called transgender) and Lin compete put female athletes at risk.

Woods told the newspaper that she feared speaking out could have gotten her canceled. Woods, 38, said she felt like there was a big injustice happening.

She was angry that anyone who wanted to talk about it was made to feel like they were wrong.

She added that it still bothers her because Khelif got a lot of sympathy, but the women around her didn't.

She was shocked that even questioning it could have led to being canceled. After beating Yang Liu in last year's final, Khelif plans to compete at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

This is in response to President Donald Trump's plan to ban biological men from women's sports and his false statement that Khelif was born male. The boxer addressed these claims earlier this year.

Khelif told ITV Sport that she is not transgender. This does not concern her, and it does not intimidate her.

She said the scrutiny she faced last year really hurt her mental and emotional well-being. She felt discouraged, but she knew what was going on.

During the Paris Olympics, she had a team of doctors who supported her. Without them, she might have become depressed.

After Khelif's second-round win over Italy's Angela Carini, she received lots of backlash. She beat Carini in just 46 seconds, and Carini reportedly said, "It's not fair," after Khelif punched her.

FELONY CHARGES: SHERRONE MOORE SCANDAL FORCES KEY RECRUITS TO ABANDON MICHIGAN

The fallout from Sherrone Moore's firing and felony charges deepens: four-star TE Matt Ludwig and OL Bear McWhorter have both decommitted from Michigan.

top-news
Assault Allegations & Recruits Backing Out Rock Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines are dealing with more fallout after the firing of head coach Sherrone Moore.

Moore was dismissed on Wednesday for an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and later detained for an alleged assault in Ann Arbor.

Following the scandal, two football recruits have backed out of their commitments to Michigan.

Matt Ludwig, a highly rated four-star recruit, was released from his national letter of intent after Moore's firing.

Ludwig, a tight end from Billings West High School in Montana, had planned to start at Michigan in January.

But after Moore's firing, he was allowed to back out of his agreement.

Ludwig's high school coach told USA Today that he was really devastated and shocked—all the emotions—by the news.

Ludwig has since committed to Texas Tech and will join the Red Raiders in January.

Also, offensive lineman Bear McWhorter announced on Friday that he is backing out of his commitment to the Wolverines.

McWhorter, a three-star prospect, committed to Michigan in February and signed with the school last week.

He called it a difficult decision in a post on X, adding that he is grateful to the staff at U-M for everything they've done.

The university started an investigation after getting a tip about Moore's relationship with a staff member.

The initial inquiry found no evidence of a relationship, as both Moore and the woman denied the claim.

Moore, 39, allegedly threatened to kill himself and make a woman watch after breaking into his assistant's apartment after his fired from Michigan.

Moore and his wife, Kelli, have been married since 2015 and have three daughters.

The school hired an outside law firm for more information. The Wall Street Journal reported that the woman contacted the firm on Wednesday to change her story, saying she and Moore had been involved for two years until 2024.

The school fired Moore on Wednesday, according to the Journal, which did not name the woman.

On Friday, Moore was charged with breaking, home invasion, and stalking after allegedly entering his assistant's apartment, terrorising a woman, and threatening to harm himself.

Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski said Moore and the woman had been in an intimate relationship for years. Magistrate Odetalla M. Odetalla forbade the court from identifying the alleged victim. The 911 call that led to Moore's arrest was made from an apartment belonging to his executive assistant, Paige Shiver.

Police and prosecutors said Moore entered a residence unarmed through an unlocked door and engaged in a verbal argument with the victim that escalated. He then allegedly grabbed knives and scissors and threatened to harm himself.

"I'm going to kill myself," Moore told the woman, according to prosecutor Kati Rezmierski on Friday. I'm going to make you watch. My blood is on your hands. You ruined my life.

Moore allegedly left before police arrived. He was arrested on Wednesday evening at a church parking lot. He has since been released on bond, according to court records.

If convicted, Moore could face up to six and a half years in jail and $3,500 in fines, according to the county's statement on Friday.

He was granted a $25,000 bond and ordered to wear a GPS device while continuing mental health treatment. His next court appearance is January 22.

Defence attorney Joe Simon said there is no evidence to suggest that his client is a threat to the public while out on bond.

Premier League Standings

WhatsApp Read More News