NBA Fans Hype Steph Curry-Damian Lillard Duel with Giannis Out for Warriors vs. Bucks
Feb 10, 2025
Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard might be getting closer and closer to the end of their careers, but the two legendary point guards continue giving fans battles for the ages.
On Monday, they added another fun matchup to their list of exciting duels.
As the Milwaukee Bucks faced the Golden State Warriors without star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Curry went shot for shot all night. Lillard had 18 first-half points while Curry put up 15 of his own.
The matchup was reminiscent of some of the exciting playoff meetings between Lillard's Trail Blazers and Curry's Warriors years ago and had fans hyped on social media.
Dame v Steph will never get old. Gotta cherish these matchups.
While Curry and Lillard aren't the same players they once were, the two are still playing at a high level. Curry is putting up 23 points, 6.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this year while Lillard is averaging 25.5 points, 7.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.
While Golden State's season hasn't gone the way it hoped, the Warriors are looking to turn things around with the addition of Jimmy Butler. Meanwhile, Lillard's Bucks will look to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference without Antetokounmpo, who will be sidelined until after the All-Star break with a calf injury.
Unrivaled 2025: Scores, Top Highlights and Reaction from Monday's 1 vs. 1 Bracket
There were several intriguing results, headlined by two-time WNBA MVP and Mist BC forward Breanna Stewart suffering a shocking 12-0 loss to Aaliyah Edwards.
Stars including Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Aliyah Boston were also involved in the action.
Players competed in single-elimination games to 11 points in order to advance, attempting to remain in contention for the ultimate $200,000 prize that will be given to the tournament winner.
The runner-up will receive $50,000 and semifinalists will earn $25,000, with each of the winner's Unrivaled teammates taking home $10,000.
Here's a look at the results from each contest as well as some highlights from Monday's matchups.
The first game of the day featured a clash between former UConn teammates Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson. Collier took an early 8-0 lead over Samuelson, but the Phantom BC forward cut the deficit to 10-6 before the reigning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year closed out the win.
Phee wins 12 - 6 against Lou in the first 1 on 1 matchup 🦉👑
Shakira Austin's victory over Chelsea Gray represented the first upset of the day, as she was the No. 7 seed and Gray was the No. 2 seed entering the tournament. Austin remained a force in the paint throughout the clash, repeatedly finishing at the rim to secure her win.
Meanwhile, Kahleah Copper came from behind to take down Aliyah Boston. After Boston took an early 6-4 lead, Copper scored seven straight points to wrap up the contest.
Rhyne Howard struggled to find any type of scoring rhythm against Lexie Hull, but she emerged victorious due to a strong two-way performance. Howard picked up two blocks to go along with her 12 rebounds, clinching a five-point win with a turnaround shot off the glass.
Rhyne Howard wins it with bank shot agaisnt Lexie Hull 12💿 - 7🌹
Skylar Diggins-Smith didn't have any trouble with her shooting, heating up from behind the arc against Dearica Hamby. Diggins-Smith hit three of her six attempts from three-point territory.
She only held a 5-3 lead to start the game, but she quickly closed out the win with back-to-back triples.
Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada traded buckets to start their first-round battle, initially tied at 4-4. Gray pulled away by scoring twice inside the arc before nailing her first three-pointer of the contest to reach 11 points.
Rickea Jackson was unstoppable offensively, jumping out to an early 7-0 lead over Jackie Young before cruising to an 11-3 victory. Jackson shot 5-8 from the field and connected on one of her two three-point attempts.
The only shutout of the day occurred during a matchup involving two Mist BC teammates, Breanna Stewart and Aaliyah Edwards. Stewart, an Unrivaled co-founder, missed all three of her shot attempts while Edwards caught fire, shooting 5-7 from the field and 2-3 from behind the arc.
Aaliyah Edwards finishes it with a 3️⃣ against Breanna Stewart 12😶🌫️ - 0 🌫️
Tournament play will continue on Tuesday starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Dirk Nowitzki to Attend Luka Doncic's Debut with Lakers: 'Had to Come Support My Guy'
Feb 10, 2025
Dirk Nowitzki is synonymous with the Dallas Mavericks, having spent 21 years with the team, but he'll be cheering on a different team on Monday.
The Mavericks legend will be in attendance for the Los Angeles Lakers matchup against the Utah Jazz on Monday to see his former teammate, Luka Dončić, debut for his new team.
"I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy 77 [Dončić] in the first game of his new chapter!" Nowitzki wrote on social media.
I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy 77 @luka7doncic in the first game of his new chapter!
Marc Stein first reported that Nowitzki would attend the game.
Nowitzki, drafted by the Mavericks in 1998, was with the organization until he retired in 2019. His tenure in Dallas briefly intersected with Dončić's, as he was in his final year during Dončić's rookie season.
As Stein pointed out, until this week, the Mavericks hadn't played a game without either Nowitzki or Dončić on the roster since April 1998.
Dirk Nowitzki, I’m told, will attend tonight’s game in Los Angeles to be present at the Laker debut of his close friend and former teammate Luka Dončić.
It seemed like Dončić was going to follow in Nowitzki's footsteps and be a Maverick for life, but Dallas had other plans. The team dealt Dončić to the Lakers in return for Anthony Davis in one of the most shocking trades in NBA history last Saturday.
Now the former face of the Mavericks franchise will suit up in purple and gold after six and a half years in Dallas. Dončić hasn't played since Christmas Day when he suffered a calf strain, but he'll make his debut on Monday.
While he's played just 22 games this year, Dončić has been his usual productive self when he's on the court. He's averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game and will look to continue that production with his new team.
Lakers Rumors: Luka Dončić 'Handpicked' Mark Williams Trade Before Rescinded Deal
Feb 10, 2025
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 8: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Crypto.com Arena on February 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers newest star reportedly had a major say in a trade that ultimately fell through.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported on SportsCenter Monday that Luka Dončić "handpicked" Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams.
"Williams was a guy that Luka Dončić, when the Lakers brought some names to him that they could potentially pursue at center, he signed off on that name, he handpicked it," McMenamin said. "So after they rescinded the trade, I'm told by my sources, they explained to Luka why they had to do it and he understood it."
The Lakers initially traded rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap and an unprotected 2031 first-round pick to Charlotte in return for Williams. On Saturday, that trade was rescinded after Williams failed his physical.
According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, the Lakers "needed to feel confident he'd be healthy enough to be their starting center for the next 5-10 years" but didn't feel he could do so after the physical.
Williams, the 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft, has missed 129 of the Hornets' 214 games since he joined the team. He played just 43 games as a rookie because of season-ending surgery on a thumb injury. Last year, he appeared in just 19 games due to a back injury.
He has played in 23 of Charlotte's 50 games so far this year, dealing with foot and back issues throughout the year.
When on the court, Williams has been highly productive. He's averaging 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. It's easy to see why Los Angeles and Dončić were fixated on the big man, but ultimately it didn't work out.
After the trade for Williams failed, the Lakers will have to make do with their current roster. Since trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Dončić, Los Angeles has turned to Jaxson Hayes as its primary starting center. The 7-footer is averaging 5.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and a block per game, though his numbers are likely to get better as he gets more minutes.
The Lakers have played well recently, winning 11 of their last 13 games. With two games remaining before the All-Star break, Los Angeles is sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference at 31-19.
The Lakers will look to keep their strong play going once Dončić makes his debut in the coming weeks.
Photo: Lakers Give Away Luka Dončić Shirts to Every Fan Attending Debut vs. Jazz
Feb 10, 2025
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: T-Shirts laid out for fans before the game between the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
Every Los Angeles Lakers fan attending Luka Dončić's debut can walk away wearing No. 77.
The Lakers are giving out Dončić shirts to every fan in attendance for Monday night's game against the Utah Jazz.
Lakers are handing out Luka Doncic shirts to EVERY FAN in attendance tonight 🍿🔥
Dončić was upgraded from questionable to probable ahead of the contest against the Jazz. He last played on Dec. 25 for the Dallas Mavericks.
His presumptive Lakers debut comes hours after the star announced he is donating $500,000 through his charitable foundation to fund wildfire recovery efforts in Los Angeles.
After sitting out more than a month due to a left calf strain, Dončić was traded to the Lakers on Feb. 1 as part of a deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks.
The Lakers' Saturday matchup with the Indiana Pacers had previously been moved to ESPN, likely because the network hoped to highlight Dončić and James' first game together.
Both Dončić and James ended up sitting out the game, while Austin Reaves stepped up with a career-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to victory
James has also been upgraded to probable ahead of the Jazz game, and the Monday night contest has again been moved to ESPN.
Given the t-shirts waiting at Crypto.com Arena, it looks like both team and network are confident they will see Dončić play his first game in purple and gold on Monday night.
Lakers' Luka Doncic's Foundation Will Donate $500K to LA Wildfire Recovery Efforts
Feb 10, 2025
Luka Doncic
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić announced he's donating $500,000 through his charitable foundation to aid in the recovery efforts from the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
"It's been so sad to see and learn more about the damage from the wildfires since I landed in L.A," he said in a statement. "I can't believe it and I feel for all the kids who lost their homes, schools, and the places where they used to play with their friends."
At least 29 people died as a result of the wildfires, and one projection from AccuWeather had the economic loss at between $250 billion and $275 billion.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick said the home he and his family were renting in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles burned down, incinerating countless possessions and mementos.
Even now, with the fires extinguished, the Los Angeles Times' Rong-Gong Lin II wrote how the scorching of the local ecosystem has increased the risk of landslides and debris flows with heavy rain in the forecast.
The Lakers acquired Dončić ahead of the NBA trade deadline, after the worst wildfires are contained, but as he said, the damage is readily apparent to anybody who visits the city. The state government estimates that 57,636 acres were burned and 16,246 structures were destroyed.
Everyone caught their breath from the trade deadline yet? Good, because we've got a wild few months left in this unpredictable NBA season. Can the San Antonio…
Lakers' Luka Experiment Can Thrive If DončIć Is Batman and LeBron Is Robin
Mo Dakhil
Feb 10, 2025
Last week, the NBA world was rocked by the news that the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Now comes the big question: How does Dončić fit with LeBron James?
It is not a traditional fit.
The pairing of James and Davis was more traditional: a ball handler and a big man. Now, the Lakers must figure out how to make it work with two ball-dominant players.
That said, it's a cleaner fit offensively than most realize. The NBA game now is about having multiple ball handlers who can probe and attack. The Lakers now have two of the best playmakers in the game.
However, it will only work if James is willing to stop being Batman and become Robin. That is what Dwyane Wade did when James joined him in Miami.
Both James and Dončić are used to being the primary ball handlers. Both have experience playing a high-level secondary playmaker. It has been proven that there is enough ball to go around, but someone has to take a lesser role.
The smart play would be for James to step back from the primary role and let Dončić take command of the Lakers' offense.
In fact, the shift began this season with the Lakers offense being more Davis-focused before the Dončić trade. Davis' usage rating jumped from 26.1 to 29.8. Not to mention that Austin Reaves' usage rate went up this season to 22.1. The Lakers have trusted Reaves this season to facilitate more offensive possessions in the halfcourt and/or in transition. Very slowly, the control of the offense has been drifting away from James.
The Lakers need to use Dončić as the primary ball handler and put James on the weak side to attack from the second side. If Reaves finds success collapsing defenses and creating driving lanes for James on the second side, wait until Dončić gets his chance.
The notion that defenses have to deal with Dončić in the first action of possession—meaning James then gets to attack rotating defenders on the second side—has several NBA coaches right now pulling all their hair out.
Taking the ball out of the hands of an all-time great like James is tough. It did not work out too well for the Lakers when they had Russell Westbrook. However, there is a difference between handing the ball to Westbrook versus giving it to Dončić.
Second-side actions are just one way the Lakers can use Dončić and James on offense. Another option is using James as the ball screener in a Dončić pick-and-roll. Most teams doubled Dončić in pick-and-rolls, leading to the Mavs bigs making plays off of short rolls.
Lively's passing on the short roll is something the Mavs missed in game four. It is really impressive with how good he is as a rookie. pic.twitter.com/3U9YnqMl4z
Replace Lively II with James, and short-roll James will wreck defenses. Having one of the world's best playmakers get the ball in a four-on-three situation going downhill seems unfair. Doubling Dončić in the pick-and-roll with James as the screen-setter will be a losing proposition on most nights.
Should teams choose not to double Dončić off a James ball screen, good luck dealing with Dončić one-on-one. Very few teams are equipped to defend that.
The other advantage of using Dončić as the lead creator for the Lakers offense is that it will lessen James' wear-and-tear during games. Instead of carrying the team for the whole game, James can pick his spots, deciding when and how to attack. He can find more opportunities to spot-up, cut from the slot or baseline, and, more importantly, space the floor. Keeping the 40-year-old James fresher for the end of games will help Los Angeles close out games.
The biggest adjustment to Dončić being a Laker must come from James. Dončić is not only the future for the Lakers; he is the now. James must recognize that, and if he does, he will be able to add to his legacy.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar turned the Lakers over to Magic Johnson in the 80s; James now has to do the same by turning this team over to Dončić.
Mo Dakhil spent six years with the Los Angeles Clippers and two years with the San Antonio Spurs as a video coordinator, as well as three years with the Australian men's national team. Follow him on Twitter,@MoDakhil_NBA.
What five NBA trades over the last decade were the most impactful? Posing that question to executives and agents, the initial response was "Define impact."…
Anthony Davis, Giannis Out for NBA All-Star Game; Silver to Name Injury Replacements
Feb 9, 2025
DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 08: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after making a three point basket against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter at American Airlines Center on February 08, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
NBA All-Star Weekend has lost two of its biggest stars.
NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that Dallas Mavericks center Anthony Davis and Milwaukee Bucks foward Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss the All-Star game due to injuries. Haynes added that NBA commissioner Adam Silver will select the injury replacements.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver will select two injury replacements for the All-Star game with Anthony Davis (adductor strain) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf strain) out for a period of time. https://t.co/yv8HKp0Gjo
Anthony Davis is dealing with an adductor strain that he sustained in his debut game with the Mavericks on Saturday. Antetokounmpo is out due to a calf strain.
Davis was traded to the Mavericks last week from the Los Angeles Lakers and had 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in 31 minutes prior to exiting Dallas' 116-105 victory over the Houston Rockets. On the season, Davis has averaged 25.7 points, 12 rebounds. 3.4 assists and 2.2 blocks in 43 games.
Antetokounmpo has been out since Feb. 2 with the calf strain and is expected to return to action shortly after the All-Star break. He has averaged 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 41 games.
The 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend is scheduled for Feb 14-15 in San Francisco, California.
