Basketball

The Los Angeles Lakers were without their star trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook on Monday night against the Phoenix Suns, and the game played out exactly as expected.

The depleted Lakers limped to a 130-104 loss in a game where they trailed by as many as 27 points. Los Angeles allowed Phoenix to blow the game open early, as the team didn't hold a lead after the 8:25 mark of the first quarter.

Dennis Schroder led the Lakers with 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting. Kendrick Nunn added 17 points off the bench, while Lonnie Walker IV and Thomas Bryant chipped in 16 points apiece.

Los Angeles was doomed by its defense, as the Suns shot 51.3 percent from beyond the arc and got at least 15 points from all five of their starters. Chris Paul turned back the clock with a 28-point, eight-assist performance to lead the way.

Fans on social media let loose on the Lakers for their ugly performance on Monday night:

While Davis is expected to miss multiple weeks with a foot injury, the Lakers have to hope that James and Westbrook return to the court sooner rather than later so they can try to stay afloat in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles (13-17) will look to bounce back when it visits the Sacramento Kings (16-12) on Wednesday.

Eric Gordon's time with the Houston Rockets may finally be nearing a close.

With the team in a complete rebuild after a 9-20 start and with young players to build around, Gordon is the "most-asked-about player on the Rockets roster from contenders," according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Per that report: "The Rockets have turned down offers for Gordon at every possible juncture—the draft, offseason and trade deadline—but a resolution to this saga may finally be had this season. Team and league sources tell The Athletic the Rockets are more inclined to moving the 33-year-old than at any point over the past two seasons."

While Gordon has remained a starter for the Rockets, averaging 29.6 minutes per game across 25 starts, his effectiveness has waned. For the year, Gordon is posting 11.8 points, 2.4 assists and two rebounds per game while shooting 42.8 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three.

His scoring output is currently the lowest average of his career. He's on a different career timeline than young players like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Porter Jr. and Alperen Şengün, among others.

And Gordon reportedly wants a change in scenery. Per that report, the veteran guard "has made no secret of his desire to return to winning, contending ways and he's made his preference for a move to a contender known during the offseason, but he's since remained professional and patient."

"This might finally be the year for EG," an Eastern Conference told Iko. "His contract is essentially expiring with next season being non-guaranteed and he's on a big number. Houston can use that to take on some bad money and get an asset from some teams, but other teams still have real interest in him because he can help a contender. He's a shot creator who can play on and off the ball. Good shooter who can handle it and pass enough. Going into a winning situation should rejuvenate him some too. He's a pro and a team guy."

Gordon's set to make $20.9 million next season, though it's non-guaranteed.

The veteran guard thrived in the past as a role player during the James Harden era, so it's established that he can fit a contending team well. The question will be which team makes a move to land him. Certainly, it appears that his stay in Houston has reached its natural conclusion.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James (left ankle soreness) and Russell Westbrook (left foot soreness) in Monday's game against the Phoenix Suns because of injuries.

Austin Reaves (ankle sprain) will also be sidelined.

James has averaged 27.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game in his 20th NBA season and fifth with the Lakers. He's an 18-time All-Star, 18-time All-NBA team member, four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA MVP, among other accolades.

However, the 37-year-old has been forced to the sideline on numerous occasions this year.

James was ruled out for the Lakers' Dec. 7 game against the Toronto Raptors with left ankle soreness. He played 36 minutes the night before against the Cleveland Cavaliers and dropped 21 points and 17 rebounds in 36 minutes.

He sat out the Lakers' Nov. 7 matchup with the Utah Jazz because of left foot soreness. He returned two days later against the Los Angeles Clippers but departed in the fourth quarter with a left adductor strain and missed the next five games. He returned Nov. 25 against the San Antonio Spurs.

Meanwhile, Westbrook is averaging 14.5 points, 7.6 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game this season. Since taking on a bench role, he averaged 15.0 points on 41.3 percent shooting, 8.0 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 25 appearances.

Not having James or Westbrook means Los Angeles will be without serious star power against Phoenix, as Anthony Davis is reportedly sidelined for multiple weeks with a foot injury. For the season, the 29-year-old is averaging 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.

Now into his third season in the NBA, Josh Green has yet to make a breakthrough since the Dallas Mavericks selected him in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft. But that doesn't mean he still isn't valued highly within the organization.

The Athletic's Tim Cato reported the Mavs "would be very hesitant to trade Green at this point" and that one member of the front office said the 22-year-old is "the team's third-most important player after [Luka] Dončić and [Spencer] Dinwiddie."

Green is nursing an elbow injury that has forced him to miss five games. Before going down, he showcased his clear potential to Dallas. Through 25 appearances, he's averaging 7.0 points and 1.2 assists while shooting 58.3 percent overall and 44.4 percent from three-point range.

Cato explained why his skill set is also something the Mavericks badly need.

"The best teams are filled with athletes like [Green], players you have to run off the line due to their three-point ability but who can do something once they're chased away from it," he wrote. "... Dallas just doesn't have enough players like Green to completely shift away from this 3-centric approach."

Upgrades to the supporting cast around Dončić are clearly required. Dallas is 15-15 and ninth in the Western Conference, and the backcourt still has a Jalen Brunson-shaped void after he signed with the New York Knicks.

A trade of some sort feels inevitable, but Green for all intents and purposes appears to be untouchable.

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly expected to sign general manager Monte McNair to a contract extension.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported the new deal will likely be announced in early 2023.

McNair is in the final season of a contract he originally signed in September 2020.

The Kings have not had a winning season during McNair's tenure, but they're in the midst of a promising turnaround. They currently sit 16-12 heading into Monday's game against the Charlotte Hornets and are in fifth place in the wide-open Western Conference.

Sacramento is 2.5 games out of being the No. 1 seed in the West and only five games ahead of the 13th-place Oklahoma City Thunder. The narrow race could be playing a part in ownership slow-playing McNair's contract extension. The Kings are a quick skid away from turning a promising season into another Kangs catastrophe.

The installation of Mike Brown as head coach has been a clear win for McNair, but there have been several questionable calls along the way. Including Tyrese Haliburton in a trade for Domantas Sabonis will never look smart regardless of how well Sabonis is playing, and first-round pick Keegan Murray has not been a consistent force despite being drafted in part for his potential for instant impact.

With Jaden Ivey and Bennedict Mathurin looking like better prospects at a younger age, it's fair to wonder if McNair made the right call.

With that said, even a modicum of success is better than the complete lack of it that the Kings have been dealing with for nearly two full decades. McNair has done enough to earn an extension, even if it isn't a particularly long one.

Former NBA player Amar'e Stoudemire denied the allegations he assaulted his daughter in a statement posted Sunday on Instagram:

"As the investigation unfolds, the facts will show the allegations to be groundless as my daughter's medical condition is not the result of being assaulted by a father who is nearly 7 feet tall and weighs 250 pounds. I could never see myself assaulting any person, especially my children. I respect, protect, and love my family, especially my children."

Stoudemire was arrested Sunday night and charged with one count of misdemeanor battery, according to David J. Neal and David Ovalle of the Miami Herald.

According to the report, one of his daughters told police that he "punched her in the jaw and slapped her hard enough to draw blood."

Stoudemire's ex-wife, Alexis, said she received a photo and a "plea for help" from her daughter, who was spending the evening with Amar'e. After police were called, Stoudemire reportedly told them his daughter was "was sad because she received a whooping from him for being disrespectful and a liar."

The arresting officer wrote in the report that they "observed blood stains on the victim's sweater and sweatpants."

The report does not indicate which daughter Stoudemire allegedly assaulted. Stoudemire has four children, including his 14-year-old and 17-year-old daughters.

Stoudemire, 40, spent 14 years in the NBA, earning six All-Star selections and the 2002-03 Rookie of the Year award. He spent two seasons on the Brooklyn Nets staff as a player development assistant before stepping away this past offseason.

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine gave an honest assessment of the team after the 150-126 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves:

"It's tough, especially when things are going bad," LaVine said. "Even when you try to do something good, it goes bad."

The Bulls defense has been a major issue lately, and Minnesota set a franchise record for points in a game on Sunday. Anthony Edwards led the way with 37 points as the Timberwolves shot 65.5 percent from the field and 23-of-43 from three-point range.

With its fourth straight loss, Chicago fell to 11-18 on the season.

A year after finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls are now in 11th place. They would miss even the play-in tournament based on the current standings.

The Bulls clearly need to turn things around in a hurry, but LaVine doesn't appear to have any answers amid the current struggles.