LeBron James questionable vs. Nuggets with left ankle injury

LeBron James was a superhuman against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday and played the following night versus the Wizards, helping the Lakers win both back-to-back games.

 

LeBron playing in both matchups was far from a foregone conclusion. The 21-year veteran has been plagued with an ankle injury most of the season and missed the matchup versus the Phoenix Suns last week because of it.

So, it’s no surprise that James is back on the injury report listed as questionable for the Lakers’ upcoming matchup against the Denver Nuggets.

With the Western Conference standings as tight as ever, the Lakers desperately need LeBron to play if he’s healthy. L.A. can’t figure out how to beat the defending champs with the King, as they’ve lost seven in a row versus the Nuggets, including last season’s Conference Finals sweep. If he’s out, it’ll only make a hard matchup that much more difficult.

LeBron being listed as questionable is commonplace and what his status has been for most of the season. Even so, it is a downgrade from being available and if he misses the game versus Denver, it’ll raise concerns for fans about how serious this ankle injury is.

The injury bug has never fully left this Lakers squad.

Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent have been out for weeks, Christian Wood is currently down with left knee effusion and Colin Castleton is also out with a fractured wrist; the Lakers have reacted by reportedly signing Harry Giles to a two-way contract. To make room for Giles, the Lakers will reportedly waive Dylan Windler.

A win versus Denver would not only be impressive, but it would get that demon off Los Angeles’ back and prove they can, in fact, beat Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets.

Hopefully, the Lakers will get the result regardless of who is suited to play, but James being available is undoubtedly the best-case scenario. If not, then the Lakers will have to take a ‘next man up’ mentality and hopefully, Darvin Ham can inspire the team with an Any Given Sunday-esque speech pregame.

As the NFL landscape eagerly awaits the next wave of talent, Isiah Pacheco has emerged as a name to watch following his remarkable performance at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. The Rutgers running back showcased a blend of speed, agility, and raw athleticism that turned heads and left a lasting impression on scouts, analysts, and fans alike.

Isiah Pacheco’s on-field prowess was on full display at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he left observers in awe with his electrifying speed and agility. Whether it was the 40-yard dash or agility drills, Pacheco’s ability to accelerate and change direction quickly set him apart from the competition. His performance in these drills positioned him as a standout prospect in a deep pool of talent.

Versatility in Position Drills:

Beyond the measurable drills, Pacheco’s versatility was evident in position-specific workouts. As a running back, he showcased crisp route running, reliable hands, and an understanding of pass protection – attributes that underscore his potential impact as a multifaceted offensive weapon at the professional level. Scouts took note of his well-rounded skill set, which could make him a valuable asset to any NFL team.

The physical measurements recorded at the Combine further enhanced Pacheco’s draft stock. His size, strength, and overall athleticism met or exceeded expectations, solidifying his status as a well-rounded prospect. Teams looking for a dynamic running back capable of making an immediate impact found much to be excited about in Pacheco’s Combine performance.

Positive Reception from Analysts:

Analysts covering the Combine were quick to praise Isiah Pacheco for his standout showing. His performance in various drills and workouts garnered positive reviews, with many highlighting his potential to be a difference-maker at the next level. Pacheco’s stock rose as discussions about his draft prospects gained momentum in the aftermath of the event.

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Impact on Draft Stock:

Isiah Pacheco’s performance at the NFL Scouting Combine undoubtedly had a positive impact on his draft stock. His blend of speed, agility, and versatility positions him as a desirable prospect for teams seeking an explosive playmaker in the backfield. As the NFL Draft approaches, Pacheco’s name is likely to be called early as teams recognize the potential he brings to the table.

Social Media Buzz:

The buzz surrounding Isiah Pacheco’s Combine performance reached a crescendo on social media platforms. Fans, analysts, and even NFL insiders shared their excitement and admiration for the running back’s impressive showing. Pacheco’s name trended as discussions around his potential landing spots in the draft gained traction.

Future Outlook:

Isiah Pacheco’s standout performance at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine sets the stage for an exciting journey as he transitions to the professional ranks. With heightened anticipation surrounding his draft day fate, Pacheco’s combination of skills and athleticism suggests that he is poised to make a significant impact in the NFL, adding another chapter to his football journey.

Conclusion:

Isiah Pacheco’s presence at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine left an indelible mark, capturing the attention of scouts and football enthusiasts alike. As the NFL Draft approaches, Pacheco’s name is firmly etched in the conversation surrounding the next generation of NFL stars. His remarkable showing at the Combine sets the foundation for a promising career at the professional level, and the football world eagerly awaits his journey in the league.

Why Fаnѕ Love Wаtсhіng Pаtrісk Mаhomeѕ аnd Iѕіаh Pасheсo Plаy Together

Pаtrісk Mаhomeѕ аnd Iѕіаh Pасheсo hаve quісkly beсome аn exсіtіng duo for Kаnѕаѕ Cіty Chіefѕ fаnѕ.

The ѕtаr quаrterbасk аnd rookіe runnіng bасk сomрlement eасh other рerfeсtly on the fіeld whіle ѕhаrіng а рoѕіtіve energy аnd teаm-fіrѕt mentаlіty off іt.

Here аre the toр reаѕonѕ fаnѕ love wаtсhіng them рlаy together:

On-Fіeld Exсіtement

Mаhomeѕ’ аrm tаlent аnd аbіlіty to extend рlаyѕ іѕ the рerfeсt сomрlement to Pасheсo’ѕ exрloѕіveneѕѕ, рower, аnd reсeіvіng аbіlіty. Theіr сontrаѕtіng ѕkіll ѕetѕ keeр defenѕeѕ on theіr toeѕ аnd сreаte bіg рlаy oррortunіtіeѕ.

Fаnѕ hаve аlreаdy ѕeen thіѕ dynаmіс duo сonneсt for ѕeverаl hіghlіght-reel рlаyѕ, from long touсhdownѕ to сlutсh fіrѕt downѕ. Mаhomeѕ’ рreсіѕіon раѕѕіng аnd Pасheсo’ѕ ѕрeed іn oрen ѕрасe hаve the ѕtаdіum on the edge of theіr ѕeаtѕ.

Theіr сontrаѕtіng ѕtyleѕ – Mаhomeѕ’ саlm demeаnor аnd сontrol verѕuѕ Pасheсo’ѕ energetіс раѕѕіon – mаke them muѕt-wаtсh TV. Fаnѕ аre fаѕсіnаted to ѕee how theіr раrtnerѕhір сontіnueѕ to develoр.

Poѕіtіve Energy

Both Mаhomeѕ аnd Pасheсo аre known for theіr іnfeсtіouѕ enthuѕіаѕm аnd рoѕіtіve аttіtudeѕ, whісh trаnѕlаte to the fаnѕ wаtсhіng аt home.

They ѕeem to genuіnely enjoy рlаyіng аlongѕіde eасh other, whісh аddѕ to the overаll enjoyment of wаtсhіng them. Theіr сhemіѕtry аnd саmаrаderіe аre evіdent іn how they іnterасt on аnd off the fіeld.

Deѕріte theіr іndіvіduаl tаlentѕ, Mаhomeѕ аnd Pасheсo рrіorіtіze teаm ѕuссeѕѕ аbove аll elѕe. They сelebrаte eасh other’ѕ ѕuссeѕѕeѕ аnd work together to асhіeve сommon goаlѕ.

Theіr unѕelfіѕh, teаm-fіrѕt mentаlіty reѕonаteѕ deeрly wіth Chіefѕ fаnѕ who аррreсіаte рlаyerѕ who buy іnto the teаm сonсeрt.

Future Potentіаl

Mаhomeѕ іѕ аlreаdy аn NFL ѕuрerѕtаr whіle Pасheсo іѕ off to а рromіѕіng rookіe ѕeаѕon. Aѕ one of the NFL’ѕ youngeѕt duoѕ, fаnѕ аre exсіted to ѕee theіr раrtnerѕhір develoр аnd evolve over the next ѕeverаl yeаrѕ.

Theіr dynаmіс on-fіeld сonneсtіon hаѕ fаnѕ dreаmіng of the bіg рlаyѕ аnd vісtorіeѕ they сould рroduсe together іn the future.

In ѕummаry, Pаtrісk Mаhomeѕ аnd Iѕіаh Pасheсo сheсk аll the boxeѕ for whаt fаnѕ love to ѕee: exсіtіng рlаyѕ, рoѕіtіve energy, teаm ѕріrіt аnd future рotentіаl. Theіr сontrаѕtіng ѕtyleѕ аnd ѕkіll ѕetѕ hаve сreаted аn іnѕtаnt on-fіeld ѕynergy thаt іѕ а joy for Chіefѕ fаnѕ to wаtсh. Aѕ theіr раrtnerѕhір сontіnueѕ to grow, fаnѕ wіll be on the edge of theіr ѕeаtѕ wаtсhіng thіѕ dynаmіс duo іn асtіon.

Lakers News: LeBron James Now 9 Points Away From Becoming NBA’s First 40K-Point Scorer

After another impressive showing from Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, he is just a few points after from reaching another legendary milestone. James scored 31 points against the Washington Wizards to help the team get the win, inching him closer to the 40,000-point mark across his 21 NBA regular seasons. He currently has 39,991.

 

No player has come close to this accomplishment, and James is now only nine points away. Barring anything major happening, James will break the 40K mark on Sunday against the Denver Nuggets. What James has accomplished in his career is nothing short of incredible, and his longevity speaks to that. He has dominated the NBA for over 20 years and is still going strong in year 21 of his career.

He is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, adding more to his resume with each passing day. Hitting the 40K tally will be a special moment considering he will stand alone as the only player to do so. It’s taken him this long to reach this point, with strong play each season. If anyone is to surpass him down the line, it would take another herculean effort of a career Of course, the biggest thing on James’ mind is getting the team set up for the stretch run.

While these individual accomplishments are awesome for him, he is all about winning titles. James would love nothing more than to finish his career off with at least one more NBA title, and the Lakers have started to play a little better of late.

LA has won two games in a row, and is 7-3 across its last ten contests. Once this milestone is met, likely on Sunday, the team can fully focus on getting themselves into a strong position for the playoffs.

Pelicans’ difficult path to playoffs features LeBron James, Stephen Curry threats

 

The NBA Season is about three-quarters finished and the sprint to the postseason, or draft lottery, is now in top gear for every franchise. The Boston Celtics are running away with the regular season title but the NBA Playoffs are the true prize. Unfortunately for the New Orleans Pelicans, their schedule down the stretch appears tougher than most expected at the start of the season.

The Pelicans were reminded of their late-game meltdowns on their first nationally televised game since the NBA All-Star break. A loss to the Indiana Pacers dragged New Orleans back into the NBA Play-In Tournament morass. Willie Green’s then fifth-placed group had an opportunity to close the gap to fourth but instead fell back to just a half-game above the seventh-placed Dallas Mavericks.

Willie Green’s Pelicans needed a win in a March 1 home rematch against the Pacers to again jump the Phoenix Suns for fifth. Much like Matt Damon’s Mike McDermott in Rounders, New Orleans is doing a lot of rough work to just wind back up where they started. The Big Three of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum also have a lot of All-World competition in trying to avoid the Play-In elimination rounds.

Pelicans fighting for fifth, home court advantage in sightGary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Pelicans are playing standings musical chairs with six franchises trying to find a way to land in one of the two secured seats. The fifth- and sixth-placed teams will get a week-long break before starting a seven-game series. Seventh through tenth will fight tooth and nail in the shorted elimination Play-In rounds. Thankfully for New Orleans, the franchise has a small advantage over the field over their last 22 games.

The Phoenix Suns have the most challenging end-of-season slate to navigate. Kevin Durant has to drag his new franchise through four back-to-back sets and 13 road games in the next six weeks. Bradley Beal is likely to be unavailable for at least half of those matchups, if not more. New Orleans should be able to leapfrog the Suns under those circumstances.

Chasing down the Los Angeles Clippers is also a possibility. A home-court advantage in the four vs. five series means more for less experienced teams like the Pelicans. Kawhi Leonard is healthy but L.A. has six back-to-back sets over the next six weeks. Facing the 12th-toughest remaining schedule, Ty Lue will look to limit his All-Star’s miles before the postseason.

The Pelicans do not have the resume to rest on their laurels. Leonard does, especially if Paul George and James Harden keep the Clippers comfortably in fourth place.

Pelicans playing with NBA Play-In fire

The Pelicans, flaws and all, do not have to worry about the other teams if they take care of business. Protecting home court and closing out games against lottery teams have been issues all season though. New Orleans has squandered 17 double-digit leads already. If they had won just half of those games, the Zion Williamson-led team would be sitting in first place in the Western Conference.

The Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors are occupying the NBA Play-In spots as of March 1. Facing Luka Doncic, LeBron James, or Steph Curry in an elimination game is not ideal for any coach looking to calm postseason nerves. The Kings, with six back-to-back sets, and the Lakers, who get 12 home games to nine road, both have more difficult schedules.

The Mavericks are a half-game behind the Pelicans. The Warriors are three games below the Play-In cutoff line. Golden State has the seventh easiest schedule but Andrew Wiggins just took a leave of absence

Curry’s aging dynasty likely has to drive through five back-to-backs and 14 road games plus two elimination games just to get to the first round. They are five games ahead of the Utah Jazz sitting in 11th, so there is almost no chance the Warriors drop below the 10th seed.

Sacramento is starting to falter, losing their last two games of February. They have 15 home games to just nine on the road but the Pelicans also hold the tiebreaker of the Kings. The Lakers have only three back-to-back sets but just 21 games to make up ground. They are also 9-21 on the road.

New Orleans has six games against teams in the middle of the Western Conference. A March 15 visit from the Clippers is the only matchup in March though. The Suns come to the Smoothie King Center on April Fools. The Orlando Magic (April 3) and San Antonio Spurs (April 5) follow at home.

Four of the next five Pelicans games come against the Suns, Kings, Warriors, and Lakers. There is an April 9 trip to Portland in between.

The regular season finale at home against Lebron’s Lakers could have huge seeding ramifications. It’s also the only home game in the last week. Trips to Phoenix (April 7), Sacramento (April 11), and Golden State (April 12) will test the Pelicans mettle going into the postseason.

Letting a few of the games against lottery teams slip away will put the Pelicans in a far worse position, playing just to survive and advance. Handle business and Green can get selective with some rotational rest.

Still, this is a tougher-than-expected road for the Pelicans. One or two underperforming teams dropping into the back half of the bracket is normal. Not many would have thought that one-named stars like Luka, KD, Steph, Fox, Zion, and LeBron would all be playing for their NBA Playoffs lives this late into the season. Considering the road ahead, Green’s locker room can earn some on-court respect by grinding out a top-six finish.

Lakers Highlights: LA Beats Washington In OT Thriller As LeBron James Recreates Historic Block

On the second night of a back-to-back, the Lakers have defeated the Wizards in overtime 134-131.

It wasn’t exactly a game to be proud of, as Washington is an abominable 9-50, but a win is a win nonetheless as the Lakers improve to 33-28.

Behind 40 points and 15 rebounds from Anthony Davis, as well as 31 points and nine assists from LeBron James, LA overcame arguably their worst defensive performance of the season to avoid embarrassment on their home floor. LA is now running hot, sitting at 9-3 for the month of February.

 

LA will square off with the reigning NBA champion and conference rival Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

LeBron James scores 34 points, leads Lakers’ rally from 21-point deficit in 116-112 win over Clippers

 

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, center, reaches for a rebound with Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, left, and center Daniel Theis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James scored 19 of his 34 points during a brilliant fourth quarter, leading the Los Angeles Lakers back from a 21-point deficit for a dramatic 116-112 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.

Kawhi Leonard missed a 12-footer with five seconds to play, and James threw a long pass to Cam Reddish for a dunk that punctuated a stunning victory for the Lakers in the rivals’ final regular-season game as co-tenants of their downtown arena.

The 39-year-old James was the center of it all, hitting five of his season-high seven 3-pointers while outscoring the Clippers by himself in the fourth quarter (19-16). He either scored or assisted on 11 of the Lakers’ 13 baskets in the final period.

“It’s just a feeling when you feel like everything you put up is going in,” James said. “I just kept it consistent. I wasn’t taking ill-advised shots. I stayed in the course of the offense. My teammates did a great job of continuing to find me, and I just tried to dictate the tempo, dictate the game. … It’s just a zone. Can’t really describe it. Wish you could stay in it forever.”

Leonard scored 26 points and James Harden had 23 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who lost back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 23 after committing seven turnovers and allowing 39 points in that calamitous fourth quarter. The Clippers played without All-Star Paul George, who missed his second straight game with a sore left knee, and starting center Ivica Zubac, who was ill.

“It’s one game,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Played well for three quarters. Didn’t finish the game. I never let one loss or a bad loss take away from what we’ve been doing and what we’ve built. It’s a tough loss because we were up 21 points, but this is a good team, and when you don’t take care of the basketball and you don’t do what you’re supposed to do, you lose.”

The Clippers led 98-77 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but James led a 29-8 run in just 7:34. Anthony Davis’ free throws tied it at 106- with four minutes to play, and James found Rui Hachimura for a go-ahead 3-pointer moments later.

D’Angelo Russell’s 3-pointer put the Lakers up 114-108 with 1:12 to play before Harden and Leonard scored on drives to the hoop while James missed a pair of shots for the Lakers. But Leonard’s last shot was off target, and James found Reddish for the capper to the delight of the thousands of Lakers fans in attendance at a “road”

Lakers News: What LeBron James Told Anthony Davis After Insane Rally Vs Clippers

Your Los Angeles Lakers picked up one of their more impressive wins on Wednesday evening, pulling off a massive comeback over the rival Los Angeles Clippers. Los Angeles entered the fourth quarter looking like a sunken squad, but superstar LeBron James refused to back down.

 

He helped rally the club to outscore the Clippers 39-16 in the final quarter. James scored or assisted on 11 of the 13 field goals that Los Angeles had in the final frame, showing he is still capable of putting the team on his back at times.

After the contest, James linked up with co-star Anthony Davis, telling him that this was a familiar feeling that they’re used to. It was nice to see both players smiling after a big win, and the hope is they can keep up the winning ways.

This win over the Clippers was the type of win that could help propel a team like the Lakers. They currently are fighting for a play-in spot within the Western Conference standings, so every win counts.

With the season starting to ramp up toward the finish line, Los Angeles can’t afford any big slip-ups. James made sure that his team didn’t drop this contest, throwing back the clock a little bit, as Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times writes.

“Just got to do what I gotta do,” James said. “If I’m in a lineup, if I’m on the floor, I got to make plays. Sometimes I got to make even more plays. And tonight was one of those moments where I had to make even more plays in order for us to even get back into the game and then ultimately win the game.”

Even with the good vibes from the win, the Lakers can’t count on James doing this often, so they will need to clean things up. They won’t always be able to come back from a major deficit, but for now, they can take what worked in the fourth quarter to help push them forward to their next game.

LeBron scores 34 points, leads Lakers’ rally from 21-point deficit in 116-112 win over Clippers

LeBron James scored 19 of his 34 points during a brilliant fourth quarter, leading the Los Angeles Lakers back from a 21-point deficit for a dramatic 116-112 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.

 

Kawhi Leonard missed a 12-footer with five seconds to play, and James threw a long pass to Cam Reddish for a dunk that punctuated a stunning victory for the Lakers in these Los Angeles rivals’ final regular-season game as co-tenants of their downtown arena.

The 39-year-old James was the center of it all, hitting five of his season-high seven 3-pointers while outscoring the Clippers by himself in the fourth quarter (19-16). He either scored or assisted on 11 of the Lakers’ 13 baskets in the final period.

Leonard scored 26 points and James Harden had 23 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who have lost back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 23. The Clippers played without All-Star Paul George, who missed his second straight game with a sore left knee, and starting center Ivica Zubac, who was ill.

The Clippers led 98-77 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but James led a 29-8 run in just 7:34. Anthony Davis’ free throws tied it 106-106 with four minutes to play, and James found Rui Hachimura for a go-ahead 3-pointer moments later.

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D’Angelo Russell’s 3-pointer put the Lakers up 114-108 with 1:12 to play, but Harden and Leonard scored on drives to the hoop while James missed a pair of shots for the Lakers. But Leonard’s last shot was off target, and James found Reddish for the capper to the delight of the thousands of Lakers fans in attendance at a “road” game.

The Lakers won three of four over the Clippers this season, winning the season series for the first time since 2011-12.

Davis had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, while Russell had 18 and Hachimura added 17.

The Clippers and Lakers moved into the building long known as Staples Center — along with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings — when it opened in 1999. The NBA franchises shared their home for the next 25 years, usually facing each other four times annually in a rivalry known as the Hallway Series because their locker rooms are about 100 feet apart in the same corridor.

The era ends this fall when the Clippers move into Intuit Dome, owner Steve Ballmer’s lavish new arena in Inglewood. Ballmer decided the Clippers needed their own home to complete their move out of the shadows of the Lakers’ 17 NBA championships and the accompanying banners on the walls of the shared arena, and the billionaire quickly got it done.

The balance of power in Los Angeles still tilts completely in the Lakers’ direction, but the Clippers have made progress: They’ve finished with a better record than the Lakers in 10 of the last 11 seasons, failing only in 2020 when the Lakers won their 17th title.

The teams could always meet in a playoff series, but that’s never happened.

Reddish returned from a 14-game absence due to a sprained right ankle,

The Clippers built a 17-point lead shortly after halftime while the Lakers struggled, missing 15 of their first 18 3-point attempts and shooting only two free throws in the first half. Harden torched the Lakers for 18 points in the first half, noticeably again asserting himself as a shooter when one of his high-scoring teammates is out with an injury.

When Lakers’ LeBron James is favored to score 40,000th career point

 

LeBron James doesn’t have any individual accolades or accomplishments left to garner. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is broadly considered a top-two player of all-time, has won four championships with three different franchises and last season became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Coming off a surprise run to the 2023 Western Conference Finals, it’s safe to say James is much more concerned with helping the Lakers climb the standings from 10th heading into the postseason than further burning his impeachable personal resumé. But that reality certainly won’t stop Vegas from capitalizing on basketball’s obsession with round numbers, prompting betting lines for James to reach the 40,00-point mark of career points scored.

James enters Wednesday’s battle with the Los Angeles Clippers having racked up 39,926 points. Barring the highest-scoring game of his career, The King won’t net his 40,000th point against the Lakers’ cross-arena rivals.

FanDuel Sportsbook has placed +4500 odds on James reaching that threshold on Thursday against the Washington Wizards, +195 odds he’ll do it March 2nd against the Denver Nuggets and +125 odds he’ll hit that mark two days later against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Los Angeles’ March 6th tilt with the Sacramento Kings is at +320 odds, with the team’s March 8th matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks coming in at +1100 odds.

The Thunder game really does seem like James’ best chance of hitting 40,000 points. He’s averaging 25 points per game this season and has a history of playing his best in big games, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if James sat out of the second leg of the Lakers’ back-to-back Thursday against Washington.

LeBron James needs 74 points to get to 40,000. He can easily do that in three games, right? If he doesn’t against the Thunder, it’s likely because James will have made that largely meaningless round-number history versus Nikola Jokic and the defending champs 48 hours earlier.