The Oklahoma City Thunder moved to the brink of the Western Conference finals with a dominant 131-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
Ajay Mitchell starred with career playoff highs of 24 points and 10 assists to give the defending champions a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The result means the visitors improve to an unblemished 7-0 record in this year’s postseason.
They are now the sixth defending NBA champions to start the following playoffs with seven consecutive victories.
Mitchell shines as champions pull away
The Lakers fought desperately to keep pace with the title holders during a closely contested first half.
However, the Western Conference leaders demonstrated their merciless efficiency by outscoring their opponents 33-20 in a decisive third quarter.
Chet Holmgren contributed 18 points and nine rebounds as the visiting side comfortably closed out the game down the stretch.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points and nine assists despite facing relentless defensive pressure.
Struggling Lakers face elimination
LeBron James managed 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the beleaguered hosts.
Austin Reaves chipped in with 17 points, but both stars struggled with their shooting efficiency throughout the night.
Rui Hachimura’s 21-point effort and 18 points from Luke Kennard were not enough to prevent a fifth defeat in six games for the Los Angeles franchise.
The home team continue to sorely miss NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic, who sat out his 14th consecutive game with a hamstring strain.
Jalen Williams was also absent for the victorious visitors, missing his fifth straight match with a similar hamstring issue.
The series remains in California for Game 4 on Monday night.
The Phoenix Mercury avenged their WNBA Finals defeat by thrashing the Las Vegas Aces 99-66 on Saturday, spoiling the defending champions’ ring ceremony at T-Mobile Arena.
The 33-point victory represents the largest opening-day winning margin in the Arizona franchise’s history, dating back to their inception in 1997.
It also marks the heaviest season-opening defeat ever suffered by a defending WNBA champion.
A bittersweet afternoon for the champions
The hosts were presented with their 2025 WNBA championship rings before tip-off, celebrating the sweep they inflicted on Phoenix last season.
However, the celebratory mood quickly faded as the visitors dominated proceedings on the court.
“I hate ceremonies like this. Obviously, you want to enjoy it, but there’s a whole business side of the issue to take care of.” – A’ja Wilson
Aces star A’ja Wilson, who led her team with 19 points, admitted it was difficult to separate the emotions on the day.
The four-time Most Valuable Player acknowledged that their opponents carried extra motivation following a painful offseason of reflection.
Nogic shines on historic debut
While returning stars Alyssa Thomas and Natasha Mack anchored the visitors with 20 points and 15 rebounds respectively, a highly anticipated debutant stole the spotlight.
Serbian guard Jovana Nogic, playing her first WNBA game at the age of 28, poured in 19 points for the Mercury.
Her arrival highlights the impact of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, which offers higher salaries to attract elite international talent.
“This is a player who hasn’t come over because maybe it wasn’t worth it, money-wise. The bump in salary, hopefully, is a reason for some of these European players to start coming over.” – Nate Tibbetts
Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts praised the international rookie’s immediate impact on the court.
Nogic expressed her gratitude for her team-mates, stating they helped alleviate the pressure of her American debut.
Looking ahead
Thomas, who narrowly missed out on a triple-double by adding nine assists to her 20-point tally, emphasised the importance of starting the new campaign strongly.
“You don’t forget what happened last season. But at the same time, it’s the beginning of a new season. For us, it was about setting the tone.” – Alyssa Thomas
For the defending champions, attention now turns to finding their rhythm before they raise their third championship banner at Michelob Ultra Arena on 23 May.
Steve Kerr has agreed a new two-year contract to remain as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, extending his tenure into a 13th season.
The agreement ensures the 58-year-old will remain the highest-paid coach in the NBA, having earned $17.5m (£13.7m) during the previous campaign.
Representatives from Priority Sports confirmed the extension on Saturday following three weeks of intensive deliberation.
The deal concludes multiple recent meetings between the head coach and Golden State’s management duo of owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy.
Navigating a turbulent campaign
This crucial contract extension secures established leadership for the closing stages of the Stephen Curry era in San Francisco.
However, an agreement was not a foregone conclusion following a highly challenging domestic campaign.
An injury-ravaged Golden State roster limped to a 37-45 record, finishing as the 10th seed in the competitive Western Conference.
Their turbulent season concluded with a disappointing play-in tournament elimination at the hands of the Phoenix Suns.
‘Time for new blood’ averted
The long-serving tactician had previously hinted at a potential departure in October by opting to let the final year of his previous contract play out.
“I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There is a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.”
Steve Kerr following the Warriors’ play-in elimination
Despite the franchise hierarchy conducting preliminary research into potential successors, key figures across the organisation never truly desired a managerial change.
Curry provides crucial backing
Curry, who blossomed into a global superstar under the current regime, made his feelings emphatically clear following their early post-season exit.
“I want Coach to be happy. I want him to be excited about the job. I want him to believe he’s the right guy for the job. He knows how I feel about him. That shouldn’t even need to be said.”
Stephen Curry on his head coach
The coaching stalwart was originally hired in May 2014 in what was initially viewed as a controversial decision to replace his popular predecessor Mark Jackson.
That bold structural change altered the team’s offensive philosophy and immediately sparked a historic dynasty that has defined modern basketball.
Caitlin Clark scored 20 points on her highly anticipated return to WNBA action on Saturday as the Indiana Fever suffered a narrow 107-104 defeat by the Dallas Wings.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year was making her first regular-season appearance since July after an injury-hit campaign last season limited her to just 13 games.
Despite battling noticeable rust and struggling from beyond the arc with a two-for-nine shooting ratio, the first overall draft pick also registered seven assists and five rebounds.
“Started off a little slow, I think just the anxiety of the first game, trying to work through that,” Clark said.
Lingering back issue requires in-game adjustments
The record-breaking guard caused some concern for the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd when she left the bench area twice during the contest to receive medical attention.
She later clarified that she needed her back manually adjusted, reassuring fans that the quick visits to the locker room were purely preventative.
“It gets out of line pretty quickly, so just getting my back put back in place a little bit, but other than that I feel great,” she explained.
Indiana head coach Stephanie White dismissed any long-term fears regarding her star player’s fitness, attributing the mid-game maintenance to standard professional physical care.
Fever stars shine despite opening weekend defeat
The mid-western franchise ultimately fell short in their opening fixture, despite dominant individual performances from their established veteran core.
Three-time All-Star Kelsey Mitchell delivered a spectacular scoring masterclass, finishing with a game-high 30 points on the night.
Fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston proved equally formidable in the paint, contributing a highly efficient 23 points to keep the hosts within striking distance.
Mitchell had a golden opportunity to force overtime as the final buzzer sounded, but her dramatic 32-foot attempt fell agonisingly short of the rim.
The Cleveland Cavaliers reduced their Eastern Conference semifinal deficit to 2-1 with a crucial 116-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
James Harden rebounded from a string of error-strewn performances by delivering three pivotal shots in the final two minutes to secure the home win.
Donovan Mitchell orchestrated the offence with a game-high 35 points, continuing his prolific scoring form in the postseason.
Mitchell achieves historic postseason scoring milestone
The dynamic shooting guard surpassed 2,000 career playoff points during his 73rd postseason appearance.
This achievement ties him for the third-fastest pace among active players to reach the landmark, cementing his status as one of the league’s elite scorers.
Frontcourt presence Jarrett Allen provided vital support with 18 points as the hosts maintained their unbeaten streak across five home playoff fixtures.
Detroit threatened to take a commanding 3-0 series lead when Duncan Robinson levelled the score at 104-104 with a crucial late three-pointer.
Harden silences critics in tense finale
However, Max Strus immediately intercepted a midcourt pass from Cade Cunningham to restore the advantage via a breakaway layup.
The 17-year veteran playmaker then took control, executing a signature step-back jumper to extend the margin and calm the home crowd.
Cunningham, who registered his second career postseason triple-double with 27 points, briefly kept the visitors alive with a perimeter shot of his own.
Despite his impressive overall statistics, the young point guard’s eight turnovers proved incredibly costly for the Michigan franchise.
A decisive step-back three-pointer from the former MVP over Tobias Harris with 25 seconds remaining ultimately sealed the contest.
LeBron James has cemented his status as one of basketball’s greatest players through 23 unforgettable moments spanning his extraordinary two-decade NBA career.
The 39-year-old forward has consistently delivered on the biggest stages since entering the league as a highly touted prospect in 2003.
His journey from a high school phenom in Akron to a global sporting icon is punctuated by spectacular on-court highlights.
Fans and analysts continually debate the peak achievements of the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
Championship glory and historic milestones
Perhaps the most iconic sequence of his professional life occurred during the climactic moments of the 2016 NBA Finals.
The four-time Most Valuable Player executed a miraculous chase-down block on Andre Iguodala to secure a historic championship for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
That singular defensive play perfectly encapsulated his physical dominance and sheer willpower under immense pressure.
More recently, the veteran forward achieved the unthinkable by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Shattering the all-time scoring record
Becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer definitively solidified his statistical supremacy.
The former Miami Heat champion broke a hallowed record that many basketball experts believed would stand forever.
His unparalleled longevity allows him to continue competing at an elite level long past traditional retirement ages.
He remains a central and highly influential figure in the sport’s constantly evolving competitive landscape.
An enduring impact on basketball
The sheer volume of his accomplishments makes selecting just a handful of memories a formidable challenge.
However, these specific highlights powerfully illustrate the evolution of a once-in-a-generation talent.
His influence extends far beyond the hardwood, deeply shaping player empowerment and modern franchise building.
The basketball world continues to watch closely as the legendary athlete adds the final chapters to his unprecedented story.
Caitlin Clark has declared herself fully fit for the 2026 WNBA season after overcoming a series of demoralising injuries to win MVP honours with Team USA.
The former Iowa standout made her first meaningful competitive appearance in eight months during a FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.
Coming off the bench in the opening fixture, the 2024 Rookie of the Year immediately showcased her trademark passing and long-range shooting ability.
She recorded 17 points and 12 assists in her first game back before ultimately securing the tournament’s most valuable player award.
Overcoming a demoralising year
The prolific scorer endured a deeply frustrating 2025 campaign that was severely derailed by multiple soft tissue setbacks.
After initially suffering a left quad sprain early in the season, the guard subsequently sustained groin injuries and a bone bruise on her left ankle.
These persistent physical issues forced her to miss the WNBA All-Star Game in her home city of Indianapolis and ruled her out for the remainder of the season.
Prior to these professional setbacks, the elite playmaker had famously never missed a single fixture during an astonishing 139-game collegiate career.
‘An incredibly isolating thing’
“I put together a pretty incredible stretch of never missing a game,” Clark said.
“The fact is when you’re a professional athlete, it’s going to come at some point.”
“It’s honestly taught me more than I probably ever learned over the course of my career.”
“Being hurt is an incredibly isolating thing, and you don’t really understand it until you go through it.”
Indiana Fever executives relieved
Indiana Fever general manager Amber Cox travelled to San Juan specifically to monitor her franchise player’s highly anticipated return to the hardwood.
The executive observed the point guard average 11.6 points and 6.4 assists over five international appearances.
“I had so much excitement and anticipation to see her back on the floor, and to see her deliver at such a high level and casually walk away with the MVP,” Cox told US media.
“That’s when we all felt great about the fact that she was fully back.”
The Las Vegas Aces will begin their defence of the WNBA championship this weekend as the league embarks on a historic 30th season following a chaotic 51-day offseason.
Basketball returns to the forefront after a frantic period featuring a new collective bargaining agreement, a two-team expansion draft, and intense free agency.
All 15 franchises, including new additions in Toronto and Portland, will be in action during an action-packed opening weekend.
The standout fixture features a highly anticipated 2025 Finals rematch between the reigning champion Aces and the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday.
Aces remain the team to beat
Experts widely predict another title parade for the Nevada-based franchise.
Their formidable core of four-time Most Valuable Player A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Jewell Loyd remains fully intact.
Head coach Becky Hammon has also bolstered her bench with the intriguing addition of dynamic guard Chennedy Carter.
The 26-year-old playmaker previously averaged 17.5 points for the Chicago Sky and brings lethal scoring potential to the defending champions.
Culture fuels championship drive
Pundits believe the team’s relentless mindset sets them apart from the rapidly improving competition.
Expect a repeat. Part of what makes the Aces so good is how hungry their core group remain.
No malaise or complacency has set in, despite all the success.
This team-first mentality is perfectly illustrated by veteran guard Loyd.
The experienced professional famously accepted a bench role last season after a career as a primary starter, highlighting the strong cultural foundation built by Hammon.
Wilson chases legendary status
The title-holders currently possess the only four-time MVP in league history.
The dominant centre is firmly in her prime and actively carving out a legacy as arguably the greatest player to ever grace the hardwood.
She will be supported by an unselfish cast willing to sacrifice personal statistics for collective glory.
Only significant injuries or an unprecedented loss of motivation appear capable of halting their march towards yet another championship ring.