The trade was put together in secret, with only a precious few people knowing what was happening. Luka Doncic didn’t know. Anthony Davis didn’t know. Their coaches didn’t know. Their teammates didn’t know.
And then it happened — an absolute blockbuster. Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, Davis won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and now they’re switching teams in a move that stunned most everyone in the league.
“I thought I’d spend my career here, and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship,” Doncic said in a written farewell message to Mavs fans. “The love and support you all have given me is more than I could have ever dreamed of.”
Doncic was traded by the reigning Western Conference champion Mavericks to the Lakers for Davis as part of a three-team deal. The trade was announced Sunday morning after the teams got the required league approval.
The trade talks, which took place over about a month, were kept extremely tight-lipped by Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.
Mavs coach Jason Kidd’s first reaction? “Shock,” Kidd said, though he later added that he believes it’s the right move for his team going forward.
Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris also headed to the Lakers, while Max Christie went to Dallas. The Utah Jazz also were involved, getting Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-rounder from both the Mavs and Lakers.
“Sports are about transformative moments,” Pelinka said. “We are inspired by these moments Lakers fans know, expect and love with a franchise that continually ushers in new eras of greatness. ... Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come. His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team.”
The trade news broke shortly after the Lakers beat the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Davis was not with the Lakers for the game; he has been in Los Angeles because of an abdominal injury that needed assessing.
Doncic has not played for Dallas since Christmas, when he exited a game with a strained left calf. The trade may come at a serious price for Doncic, who now can’t sign a five-year supermax contract extension this summer that could have been worth around $345 million.
It was never clear if the Mavs would have offered such a massive deal. Doncic also would have had an option to leave as a free agent after the 2025-26 season, and it’s certain that other teams with hopes of landing the Slovenian star would have planned for such scenarios.
“There’s other teams that were loading up,” Harrison said Sunday. “He was going to be able to make his own decision at some point of whether he wants to be here or not, whether we want to supermax him or not, or whether he wants to opt out. We had to take all that into consideration and I feel like we got out in front of what could have been a tumultuous summer.”
Doncic is still eligible for an extension this summer, with the max that the Lakers could offer him being five years at about $230 million — a $115 million difference than what the supermax could have been.
“Luka absolutely did not deserve this. ... He really respected Dallas,” Sasa Doncic, Luka’s father, said on Slovenian television Sunday.
The deal pairs Doncic with LeBron James as the new 1-2 punch in Los Angeles, while Davis would be forming a new star duo with Kyrie Irving in Dallas. And it reunites Doncic with his former teammate, Lakers coach JJ Redick.
Doncic was one of the Mavericks players on the floor when Redick came out of a game for the final time on May 11, 2021.
For the Mavericks, the decision largely came down to what Davis does on the defensive end of the floor.
“We think defense wins championships and we’re bringing in one of the best two-way players in the league,” Harrison said. He added that Davis’ ability to be elite at both ends makes him “a unique unicorn” in the NBA.
“We feel like we’re built to win now as well as in the future,” Harrison said.
There was one game still going on in the NBA late Saturday night as the trade began emerging, that being Phoenix-Portland. Suns guard Devin Booker said someone in the stands told him and his teammates of the trade.
“They said Luka. I said, ‘Luka Garza?’” Booker said, referencing a Minnesota center.
Booker wasn’t trying to be funny. He just thought what many probably thought — that there was no way the Mavs would move Doncic.
“It’s crazy, man. I really don’t know what to say about it,” Booker said. “Luka being a guy that everybody has claimed is untouchable and untradeable. The NBA shows you again. Can’t predict. It’s a business. They’re always having a conversation about you. So don’t think you’re safer than you are.”
Added fellow Suns star Kevin Durant: “Insane. It’s crazy. Crazy. Damn, would of never thought Luka Doncic would get traded. At his age, midseason, the NBA is a wild place, man. If he can get traded then anybody is up for grabs.”
Dallas played at Cleveland on Sunday, while the Lakers are off until visiting the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. It’s not clear when Doncic or Davis could play for their new clubs; there is no firm timetable for their returns from injury.
Among players with at least 400 games, Doncic’s 28.6-point average is third in NBA history behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain — both at 30.1.
He was third in the MVP voting last season after averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game, easily one of the greatest seasons in league history. Doncic — who turns 26 later this month and refers to James as an “idol” — had a 73-point game against Atlanta on Jan. 26, 2024, tying the fourth-highest scoring total ever in an NBA game. Only Chamberlain (100), Kobe Bryant (81) and Chamberlain (78) scored more.
Davis, an All-Star pick this year for the 10th time in his career, turns 32 next month. He’s part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, helped the Lakers win the NBA title in the bubble in 2020, and — like Doncic — is a five-time All-NBA selection.
Doncic is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists this season. Davis is averaging 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds.
Harrison understands the risk and the anger among some in the Mavs fan base; some people protested outside the team’s arena in Dallas on Sunday. He has traded away a young superstar, someone who easily could be one of the game’s best players for the next decade, for a player in his 30s with a challenging injury history.
“I understand the magnitude of it,” Harrison said. “The easiest thing for me to do is do nothing and everyone would praise me for doing nothing. But we really believe in it and time will tell if I’m right.”
Luka Doncic heads to the Lakers and Anthony Davis goes to the Mavs in blockbuster trade
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Luka Doncic heads to the Lakers and Anthony Davis goes to the Mavs in blockbuster trade
- The trade news broke shortly after the Lakers beat the Knicks at Madison Square Garden
- For the Mavericks, the decision largely came down to what Davis does on the defensive end of the floor
Swing king Ashwani Kumar powers Mumbai Indians to first IPL win of season
Kumar’s 4-24 — and an overall disciplined bowling performance — restricted champions Kolkata to a modest total of 116, which Mumbai chased down with more than seven overs to spare.
“We thought Ashwani can come in on this pitch and bowl the way he bowled. It is all the scouts — they picked him,” said Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya.
“They have gone to all the places and picked these young kids. We played a practice game, he had that zip, that late swing, something off the wicket, a different action and he was a leftie.”
South African wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton spearheaded Mumbai’s chase, scoring a busy 62 off 41 balls, an innings laced with five sixes.
Playing their first home match of the year, Mumbai dominated from the word go with New Zealand pacer Trent Boult claiming opener Sunil Narine’s stumps in the very first over of the match.
Narine’s in-form batting partner Quinton de Kock was next to go, out caught trying to loft Deepak Chahar.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane followed soon after, slicing a wide and full ball from Kumar to the deep backward point fielder after scoring 11 off seven deliveries.
Aggressive middle-order batter Venkatesh Iyer struggled to get off the blocks, falling for three from nine balls.
The left-handed Angkrish Raghuvanshi batted fluently for his 26 runs but failed to carry on, leaving the visitors reeling at 45-5 in seven overs.
Despite some resistance by impact substitute Manish Pandey (19 off 14) and the attacking Rinku Singh (17 off 14), Kolkata never recovered.
A late flurry by Ramandeep Singh (22 off 12) helped Kolkata reach the three-figure mark but it was too little too late, with the innings folding in the 17th over.
“Collective batting failure, it was a good wicket to bat on and 180-190 would have been a good total on this pitch,” said Kolkata skipper Ajinkya Rahane.
In contrast, Mumbai got off to a brisk start but India batter Rohit Sharma missed out once again, managing only 13 off 12 balls.
England all-rounder Will Jacks, who came in to replace Sharma, pulled his second ball over fine leg for a six, extinguishing any hopes of a Kolkata comeback.
Jacks (16 off 17) and Rickelton put together a partnership of 45 runs to take Mumbai closer to the target.
T20 specialist Suryakumar Yadav’s quickfire 27 off just nine balls ensured Mumbai crossed the line without further hiccups.
Jamie Osborne targeting a 2nd UAE Derby triumph with Heart Of Honor on Dubai World Cup night
- Lambourn-based handler, who memorably won contest with Toast Of New York in 2014, hoping latest contender can emulate success
LONDON: British trainer Jamie Osborne is eying another victory in the Group 2 UAE Derby as he prepares Heart Of Honor for the prestigious $1,000,000 race on Dubai World Cup night on Saturday.
The Lambourn-based handler, who memorably won the contest with Toast Of New York in 2014, is hoping his latest contender can emulate that success.
Osborne’s charge has been a regular feature at Meydan throughout the Dubai Racing Carnival, notching two victories before narrowly missing out in his last two outings.
The David Redvers-bred colt, from Tweenhills in Gloucestershire, will head into the race with a tactical change — he will wear blinkers for the first time in a bid to sharpen his performance.
Adding to the family affair, Heart Of Honor will be partnered by Osborne’s daughter, Saffie Osborne, in the high-profile event.
Speaking to Great British Racing International, Osborne detailed his hopes for Heart Of Honor’s performance.
“Heart Of Honor won his first two races in Dubai and was not disgraced in defeat in his last two races. I think there were factors involved in his last defeat and I don’t think he was at his best. We learned a lot about him,” he said.
“I think he just needs to be sharper through the gate and sharper through the first half of his races, and the application of blinkers is to help him with that. We have got him in a better place now than we got him before the Al-Bastakiya. We are hopeful that he will run his best race next Saturday.
“It’s great for the owners, who have trusted me to do this. The plan when we bought him was always to bring him to Dubai for a Middle Eastern winter campaign with the hope that he would make it to the derby. Thankfully this plan has worked out so far, but we have got one more mission to accomplish,” Osborne added.
Osborne remains the only British trainer to have won the UAE Derby, and he reflected on Toast Of New York’s success a decade ago.
“(That) win is something that I look back on with pride, and getting the opportunity to do it again this year with Heart Of Honor is special. It’s even more special to get to do it with Saffie on board,” he said.
“When Toast Of New York won it, she was 11 years old and was screaming at the television at home. When we arrived home from Dubai, she had made all the banners for his stable and was very excited, so it’s thrilling to get the chance to do it again with her,” he added.
Osborne has been a regular competitor in Dubai in recent years, sending a steady stream of runners to the Middle East and picking up notable victories with horses such as Cliffs Of Capri and Ouzo.
He also landed the Dukhan Sprint in Qatar in 2023 with Emaraaty Ana, placed fourth in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup in 2022 with Alignak and finished runner-up on Saudi Cup night in 2020 with Mekong.
Osborne said he was enthusiastic about competing in the region.
“Personally, I enjoy coming to race in Dubai and the Middle East during the British off-season, and my clients enjoy racing their horses here, too,” he said.
“We’ve had a good year this year in Dubai, and my horses have won plenty of prize money finishing placed in big races. We look forward to coming back again next year as it works well before our racing starts here in the UK.”
Lee holds off Scheffler to clinch maiden PGA Tour victory at Houston Open
- The 26-year-old from Perth withstood ferocious pressure down the stretch from Scheffler, who posted a 63 to finish tied for second alongside Gary Woodland
- Finland’s Sami Valimaki finished alone in fourth place on 17 under, three off the lead, after a course-record 62
HOUSTON: Australia’s Min Woo Lee held off a final day charge from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to clinch his first PGA Tour title on Sunday with a one-shot victory at the Houston Open.
Lee, who had opened up a four-stroke lead with a dazzling 63 in Saturday’s third round, carded a closing 3-under par 67 to finish on 20-under at Memorial Park.
The 26-year-old from Perth withstood ferocious pressure down the stretch from Scheffler, who posted a 63 to finish tied for second alongside Gary Woodland.
“It’s hard, really hard,” a relieved Lee said after his triumph. “Scottie is a wonderful golfer and he keeps you on your toes.
“This is my first time being in front and trying to hold a lead. I’m glad I got it done, but man, I’m just very exhausted.
“It was a lot of mental grind. I’m so proud of the way I handled myself.”
Lee, who has won four times on the European and Asian tours, had looked to be cruising to victory after going bogey-free through 15 holes to lead by three shots with three to play.
But after a flawless round to that point, Lee wobbled on the par-five 16th, slashing his tee shot into the water before salvaging a bogey.
Scheffler, playing in the group immediately ahead of Lee, had meanwhile missed an eagle putt on the 16th that would have given him a share of the lead. Instead the two-time major champion settled for a birdie to move within one of the Australian with two holes remaining.
Woodland, meanwhile, had entered the equation with a scintillating eight-under-par 62, equalling the course record which Scheffler had matched in Friday’s second round.
Former US Open champion Woodland had moved to within one of Lee with a brilliant birdie on the par-four 18th, drilling a 199-yard second shot to two feet of the hole to tap in for three.
Scheffler still had a chance to force his way into the reckoning on the 18th.
But desperately needing a birdie to put the pressure on Lee, Scheffler under-hit his second shot to leave himself just off the green and 77 feet from the pin.
He recovered to make par, but it left Lee heading to the 18th with a one-shot lead and knowing that a par would be enough for victory.
Lee had to work hard to seal his win though.
Lee’s tee shot on 18 went wide of the fairway before he went through the back of the green with his second, which left him 53 feet from the hole.
But with the tension building, Lee produced a brilliant putt to within inches of the hole, allowing him to tap in for par and victory.
Finland’s Sami Valimaki finished alone in fourth place on 17 under, three off the lead, after a course-record 62, while Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark and Taylor Pendrith were tied for fifth on 15 under.
McIlroy closed with a six-under-par 64 which included six birdies and an eagle.
Hyo Joo Kim tops Vu in playoff to win LPGA Ford Championship
- The American’s putt came up short and Kim sank hers to claim her seventh LPGA victory, and her first since 2023
- Vu, who missed three months last year with a back injury that still troubles her, was pleased with her week, despite the playoff disappointment
LOS ANGELES: South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim rolled in a six-foot birdie putt at the first playoff hole to win the LPGA Ford Championship on Sunday ahead of American Lilia Vu.
Kim had nine birdies in her 8-under par 64, the lowest round of the day at the Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, Arizona, taking her to a 22-under total of 266.
Overnight leader Vu carded a four-under-par 68, but when they returned to the par-four 18th for the playoff Kim put her approach six feet from the pin while Vu left herself more than 15 feet.
The American’s putt came up short and Kim sank hers to claim her seventh LPGA victory, and her first since 2023.
“So it’s been a while since I had any wins so I was getting a little bit stressed,” the 29-year-old Kim admitted.
“But I did work out a lot during the winter time so now that I have a win I’m a little bit lighthearted.”
“The feeling was great today,” said Kim, who needed just 24 putts. “I just thought one birdie at a time.”
Having started the day four shots off Vu’s lead, Kim had seven birdies in the first 11 holes to seize the solo lead on 21-under.
However, she found the water off the tee at 12 on the way to a bogey, missing a short par save attempt.
Kim then drained a birdie putt from off the green at 16 and added another birdie at 17 to land in the clubhouse with a one-stroke lead.
But Vu got up and down for birdie from a greenside bunker at the 17th, blasting out of the sand to about a foot.
Vu, who had endured a long wait for the green to clear at 17 had another tense delay on the 18th tee as Nanna Koerstz Madsen searched for her ball in the desert scrub.
Vu’s second shot bounded through the green but the two-time major winner and former world number one chipped to about six feet and holed the par putt to force a playoff.
Kim had been waiting and watching as Vu finished her round.
“I kept on thinking we might go on a playoff, so I kept stretching,” she said. “I thought I would be very nervous, but I really wasn’t.”
Vu, who missed three months last year with a back injury that still troubles her, was pleased with her week, despite the playoff disappointment.
“I’m proud that I kind of stuck to my goal, my weekly goal. The only goal is to be in tune with my body,” she said.
“This is probably the most I’ve felt like me in the past year and a half.”
American Allizen Corpuz, the 2023 US Women’s Open champion, thrust herself into contention with a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 but had to settle for third on 267.
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand was in the hunt, sharing the lead after her sixth birdie of the day on 13.
But the birdies dried up and her six-under 66 left her alone in fourth on 268.
NBA ‘basketbrawl’: 5 players, 2 coaches ejected after Pistons-Timberwolves clash
- The game featured 12 technical fouls, the most in an NBA game since March 23, 2005, per OptaSTATS
- The Timberwolves rallied from an early 16-point deficit to beat the Pistons 123-104
MINNEAPOLIS: Five players and two coaches were ejected after a wild brawl broke out during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ clash with the Detroit Pistons in the NBA on Sunday.
Detroit lost head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, center Isaiah Stewart, forward Ron Holland II and guard Marcus Sasser. Minnesota forward Naz Reid and guard Donte DiVincenzo also were tossed, along with assistant coach Pablo Prigioni.
“Obviously things went too far,” Bickerstaff said. “But what you see is guys looking out for one another, guys trying to protect one another, guys trying to have each other’s backs. ... Those are non-negotiables in our locker room.”
The skirmish began with 8:36 left in the half with the Pistons up 39-30. Stewart had received a technical foul just moments earlier when he bumped DiVincenzo hard after the whistle. Then Holland was called for a foul as he slapped the ball out of Reid’s hands near the baseline.
The two exchanged words, DiVincenzo stepped between them and grabbed Holland’s jersey, and soon all 10 players on the court and multiple coaches and trainers were part of the scrum.
As the players were being separated, Bickerstaff and Prigioni were screaming at each other and had to be separated by team personnel.
The whole scene played out just 20 feet from new Timberwolves owner Alex Rodriguez, who walked over from his courtside seat in the aftermath and appeared to call for assistance for a young fan who got caught in the middle of the melee.
The game featured 12 technical fouls, the most in an NBA game since March 23, 2005, per OptaSTATS.
“I thought leading up to that the game was way too physical,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “It’s unfortunate, but we knew they were a super physical team. They hit you, they hold you, all the stuff that you want your physical teams to do. But I just thought it got to a point where players were going to take matters into their own hands. You don’t ever want that.”
The Timberwolves rallied from an early 16-point deficit to beat the Pistons 123-104.
