Sports

p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> It wasn’t an accident that the Lakers’ first play went to Deandre Ayton. Or that the star big man got the first shot of the third. Or that teammates fed him for back-to-back dunks to help spark a run of five consecutive scoring possessions early in the second half. After Ayton finished last…

They met two days prior to Sunday night’s encounter at Crypto.com Arena, a two-game set between the Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies reminiscent of a playoff series. The Lakers won the first game Friday night here and knew the Grizzlies were going to bring more intensity and a stronger effort even with star guard Ja Morant…

A look at The Times’ top 25 boys’ basketball rankings for the Southland after Week 7. Rk. School (Rec.); Comment; ranking last week 1. SIERRA CANYON (13-1): Brannon Martinsen starting to contribute after injury; 1 2. REDONDO UNION (16-3): Mira Costa will be the challenge in league play; 2 3. SANTA MARGARITA (19-2): Showdown with…

It might be time to write a folk song about the demise of City Section basketball using the music of Peter, Paul and Mary and the new title, “Where Have All the Players Gone?” The talent level clearly has hit rock bottom only a year after Alijah Arenas was a McDonald’s All-American at Chatsworth High…

Four of five starters scored in double digits as the UCLA women’s basketball team dominated crosstown rival USC 80-46 Saturday at Pauley Pavilion in the first of two meetings between the crosstown rivals. Center Lauren Betts paced the fourth-ranked Bruins (14-1 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) with 18 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Gianna Kneepkens…

This is what the Lakers imagined when they nearly broke the NBA with the trade that brought Luka Doncic to L.A. Doncic and LeBron James scored 30 points apiece during the same game for just the third time as teammates Friday to help the Lakers hold off the Memphis Grizzlies 128-121 at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic…

CIF City Section and Southern Section high school boys’ and girls’ basketball scores for Friday’s games.

Tight end Tyler Higbee is on track to return on Sunday for the season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. Safety Quentin Lake will be back for the playoffs. Star receiver Davante Adams also could be held out till then. The Rams, coming off consecutive losses to the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons, might appear…

Will Bryson III of St. Paul stuck it out for his senior basketball season even though the team lost pretty much everybody to graduation except for him. All he can do is his best, and that’s what he has been doing, including a 68-point performance two weeks ago in Las Vegas in a triple overtime…

CIF Southern Section high school boys’ and girls’ basketball scores for Thursday’s games.