LeBron scores 30, Lakers top Magic 106-94 for 5th win in 7
APTOPIX Magic Lakers Basketball Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, front, fights for a ball against Orlando Magic center Robin Lopez during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. Chiu)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — LeBron James scored 14 of his 30 points during Los Angeles' spectacular third quarter, and he added 11 rebounds and 10 assists while the Lakers rolled past the Orlando Magic 106-94 Sunday night for their fifth victory in seven games. Los Angeles rode that 36-10 advantage in the third to its second straight win and moved two games above .500 for the first time in four weeks. Cole Anthony scored 21 points for the Magic, who went 0-5 on their West Coast trip despite rallying in the fourth quarter. James scored 13 points in the first four minutes after halftime, slicing up Orlando's defense with 3-pointers and dunks alike while also making two crowd-pleasing blocks at the rim.
wftv.comNew Magic Center Robin Lopez planning to continue work in Central Florida helping kids learn to read
ORLANDO, Fla. — Newly-signed Orlando Magic Center Robin Lopez is over seven feet tall, and when he’s not playing basketball, his mission is helping kids learn how to read. Lopez is about to begin his first season with the Magic and showed off his reading skills at media day. He works with literacy programs at each stop, helping to make sure kids have access to books. READ: Superintendent gets bus driver’s license to help during driver shortageRobin and his twin brother Brook Lopez played together in Milwaukee last season. Lopez participated in a related program called “Read Big” when he played in Portland and said he plans to make similar efforts in Orlando connecting kids with books.
wftv.comBeal, Westbrook lead Wiz past Pacers 142-115 for East 8 seed
Russell Westbrook nearly had a triple-double and Bradley Beal scored 25 points in just 29 minutes to help the Washington Wizards reach the NBA playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed by overwhelming the Indiana Pacers 142-115 in the play-in round.
Another 3 NBA games called off amid virus, 16 test positive
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)Contact tracing issues involving the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards forced the NBA to postpone three more games Wednesday, raising the leaguewide total from this week alone to eight. With 497 players tested, that reflects a positivity rate of 3.2%. Phoenix's home game Wednesday against Atlanta was called off, as was the Suns' home game with Golden State on Friday. In the previous five weeks combined, only 15 players tested positive. But even the current week's rate is well below what the league dealt with going into training camps, when 48 players tested positive in the week before practices could formally begin leaguewide.
Giannis watches in 2nd half as Nets beat Bucks 119-116
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 16 points playing only the first half for Milwaukee, which has lost two of three seeding games. Kyle Korver scored 13 points, and Ersan Ilyasova had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Chiozza scored on a reverse layup, then Luwawu-Cabarrot hit a 3 with 2:59 left to put the Nets ahead to stay. Milwaukee appeared ready to clinch from the opening tip as the Bucks scored eight of the first 10 points and hit 7 of 14 beyond the arc. Bucks: G Wesley Matthews sat out with a sore right calf with starting center Brook Lopez also out.
The NBA is coming back, and here's 10 things to know
8 seed in the Western Conference Memphis, Portland, New Orleans, Sacramento, San Antonio and Phoenix. The other games: Sacramento vs. San Antonio, Memphis vs. San Antonio and Portland vs. Memphis. The Grizzlies start with a 3 1/2-game lead over Portland, New Orleans and Sacramento, along with a four-game edge on San Antonio. The Bucks were 22-0 against those eight teams one of three NBA teams to go unbeaten against that group. NBA teams have combined for 23,560 3-pointers made so far this season, which is already the fourth-most of any season in league history.
The NBA is coming back, and heres 10 things to know
8 seed in the Western Conference Memphis, Portland, New Orleans, Sacramento, San Antonio and Phoenix. The other games: Sacramento vs. San Antonio, Memphis vs. San Antonio and Portland vs. Memphis. The Grizzlies start with a 3 1/2-game lead over Portland, New Orleans and Sacramento, along with a four-game edge on San Antonio. The Bucks were 22-0 against those eight teams one of three NBA teams to go unbeaten against that group. NBA teams have combined for 23,560 3-pointers made so far this season, which is already the fourth-most of any season in league history.
NBA player unknowingly bought stolen Disney goods
Milwaukee Bucks' Robin Lopez warms up before a preseason NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)ORLANDO, Fla. - Authorities say longtime Disney enthusiast and Milwaukee Bucks center Robin Lopez unknowingly purchased rare items stolen from Disney World in Florida. State attorney's office records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel show Lopez had purchased clothing from a vintage Epcot animatronic called Buzzy that had gone missing from a now-defunct attraction at the Orlando theme park. Authorities have charged the men with dealing in stolen property, grand theft and burglarizing a structure at the park. Lopez purchased the items on eBay and is said to be cooperating with authorities.