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Lakers limping into game vs. Blazers with no Luka Doncic

AP The Lakers are limping into Portland, and this time it is not just about the previous loss. After falling at home to Charlotte, the Lakers will be without the league’s leading scorer on Saturday night. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports that Luka Doncic will sit out with left groin soreness. The injury report does not stop there. Centers Jaxson Hayes and Deandre Ayton are both listed as questionable, Hayes with left hamstring tendinopathy and Ayton with left knee soreness. The backdrop is a defensive performance that raised eyebrows inside the locker room. According to Janis Carr of The Orange County Register, Marcus Smart did not mince words after the Hornets torched Los Angeles for 137 points while shooting over 53 percent from the field. “When they play us, everything goes through the roof,” Smart said. “We have to figure it out.” Now the Lakers (24-15) try to do exactly that, short-handed and on the road, with urgency suddenly more than a buzzword. The post Lakers limping into game vs. Blazers with no Luka Doncic appeared first on Hoops Wire.

22 minutes ago

NBA Notes: Grizzlies, Ja Morant, Suns, Dillon Brooks, Kings

Getty Grizzlies The Grizzlies expect trade chatter around Ja Morant to pick up once he is back on the floor. That could come Sunday in Berlin, where Memphis faces the Magic. Morant has been sidelined since Jan. 2 with a right calf injury, but head coach Tuomas Iisalo said the star guard went through a full practice Friday. “There’s a good chance he plays,” Iisalo said, via the Associated Press. “He went through the full practice today and now we’ve just got to see how his body responds.” Morant has appeared in just 18 games this season, slowed by injuries and a one-game suspension in early November. He is averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 assists in 28.3 minutes while shooting a career-low 40.1 percent from the field and 20.8 percent from three. Iisalo insists the two are aligned. “We have a very good working relationship,” he said. That has not stopped daily speculation. The Timberwolves, Kings, Heat, Bucks, Raptors, Nets, and Mavericks have all been mentioned as potential suitors. None of those talks are believed to be serious yet. Morant has two years left on his five-year, $197.2 million deal, and his value has taken a hit amid declining production and off-court noise. Suns In a feature for ESPN, Tim MacMahon detailed how Dillon Brooks has helped reshape culture and drive winning in Phoenix after his exit from Memphis. Brooks admitted he felt written off after the 2023 offseason. “I didn’t want to fall off,” Brooks told ESPN. “I love this game, and I play it because I really love it.” The Suns are seeing the payoff. At 24-17, they have already surpassed last season’s win pace after finishing 36-46 a year ago. “He’s in the gym more than anybody that I know,” guard Collin Gillespie said. “You might not like it sometimes if he’s getting on you, but it makes you a better player.” Owner Mat Ishbia echoed that sentiment, praising Brooks’ toughness and leadership. “He’s exactly the type of player we want to be,” Ishbia told ESPN. “He’s been even better than expected.” Kings Kings forward Precious Achiuwa is embracing his current role at power forward, telling The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy that it feels natural. “This is how I’ve always played,” Achiuwa said. “Playing the four is my natural position.” Achiuwa said the role allows the offense to flow more freely and gives him room to impact the game without feeling boxed in. “For me, it’s a better sense of freedom,” he said. That comfort level is something Sacramento is hoping translates into consistency as the season grinds on. The post NBA Notes: Grizzlies, Ja Morant, Suns, Dillon Brooks, Kings appeared first on Hoops Wire.

22 minutes ago

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