Tag: Dallas

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Ducks and Stars face off in Anaheim after strong runs

Anaheim Ducks (NHL)

The Dallas Stars are bringing a five-game winning streak with them to California for a three-game road trip that begins Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.

The Stars, who are second in the Central Division and eight points behind the first-place Winnipeg Jets, will finish the trip with games in Los Angeles on Friday and San Jose on Saturday, before a break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Tuesday’s game will be the second of three meetings this season between the Stars and Ducks. Anaheim won the first game 4-2 on Nov. 18 in Dallas, with Lukas Dostal making 34 saves and Brett Leason contributing a goal and two assists.

Dallas coach Pete DeBoer was disappointed with his team’s performance in that loss, which ended a three-game winning streak. Anaheim led 3-0 after two periods, but Dallas came back with goals from Esa Lindell and Matt Duchene in the third period. A late goal from Jackson LaCombe sealed the win for the Ducks.

“This type of game is going to happen to everybody in the league at some point. Over an 82-game schedule, you’re going to have a game where you’re either off, flat or get behind and can’t come back,” DeBoer said. “It’s over with; there’s nothing we can do about it now. It’s all about our response.”

Since that loss, Dallas has gone 23-11-1 and is third in the NHL with 69 points.

The Stars kept their streak alive with a 5-3 comeback win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. Evgenii Dadonov scored twice in the third period, Wyatt Johnston had a goal and an assist, and Mason Marchment, who had been out since taking a puck to the face on Dec. 27, also scored.

Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars (NHL)

“My nose was shattered, so just breathing was the hardest part,” said Marchment, who had surgery on his face and is wearing a special bubble shield. “It was swollen for so long, and it took so long for me to breathe out of my nose. You need to breathe out of your nose to play, so that was probably the worst part.”

Anaheim comes into the game with a 4-1 record in their last five games. They most recently won 3-2 over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday after coming back from a 2-0 deficit. Mason McTavish, who has scored seven goals in his last six games, and Frank Vatrano, with five goals in his last six games, both scored in the second period to tie the game. Alex Killorn netted the game-winner in the third period.

“After the first period, we did a better job getting up ice, creating more,” said Killorn, who also had an assist. “We didn’t spend as much time in the (defensive) zone.”

Anaheim, which is 6-1-1 in its last eight home games at Honda Center, improved to 21-0-2 when scoring three goals in a game. The win was the fifth time this season the Ducks have come back from a multi-goal deficit to win.

“It’s great. It’s great to come back,” Killorn said. “(But) I think we’d rather not come back to win games and just get ahead. It shows the resilience of this group.”

The victory moved the Ducks into sixth place in the Pacific Division, just nine points behind Calgary for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

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Luka Dončić’s father blasts Mavericks’ “hypocrisy” following surprise Lakers trade in Dallas

Luka Doncic (NBA)

Luka Dončić’s father has expressed anger at the Dallas Mavericks after the shocking trade that sent his son to the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA world was stunned when the trade was announced, which saw the 25-year-old Dončić head to the Lakers, while Anthony Davis moved to Dallas.

Reports say the trade came with secrecy, leaving Dončić, Davis, and even Lakers superstar LeBron James unaware of the deal until it was publicly revealed. It’s been reported that the Mavericks were unhappy with Dončić’s commitment to his conditioning and fitness.

Dallas GM Nico Harrison has mentioned that Dončić’s upcoming contract talks, along with Davis’s better defense, were factors in the trade.

In an interview with Arena Sport 1 from Slovenia, Dončić’s father, Saša, shared his frustration with how the Mavericks handled the situation.

“I understand when you disagree with a certain philosophy,” Saša Dončić said. “But the secrecy, or even hypocrisy from some people, hurts me. Luka absolutely doesn’t deserve this.”

Luka Dončić has played his entire career with the Mavericks, leading the team to the NBA finals last season. He has five All-NBA First Team selections and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the league.

Luka Doncic reacts after scoring

Saša Dončić responded to reports, believed to come from within the Mavericks, about his son’s fitness.

“Luka’s conditioning wasn’t even a problem last year,” he said. “He played almost 100 games, 40 minutes per game, with two or three defenders on him the whole time. To say these things about him is very unfair. If you traded him, stand by it. Don’t look for excuses.”

Luka Dončić himself gave a more measured response to the trade, though he didn’t directly mention the Mavericks. He thanked Dallas for making him feel at home and for supporting him through both the good times and the bad.

“For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the US for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home,” Dončić wrote in a message to the city. “Thank you for sharing my joy in our best moments and lifting me up when I needed it most.”

Dončić thanked the Mavericks’ fans in a separate message, saying Dallas would always feel like a second home to him. He also expressed excitement about joining the Lakers.

“Grateful for this amazing opportunity,” Dončić said. “Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play, I’ll do so with the same passion and goal – to win championships.”

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Stars rally from three deficits to secure fifth straight win in Dallas

Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)

Evgenii Dadonov scored two goals in the third period to help the Dallas Stars win their fifth straight game, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on Sunday night.

Mason Marchment, Logan Stankoven, and Wyatt Johnston also scored for the Stars, who didn’t take the lead until Dadonov redirected a shot from defenseman Thomas Harley (who had two assists) past Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins with 8:38 left in the game.

The goal was reviewed for a possible high stick but was confirmed. Dadonov sealed the win with another goal at 4:13 left, helping Dallas improve to 15-4-1 since December 23 and earn their 20th home win, tied for the most in the league.

Cole Sillinger, Adam Fantilli, and Ivan Provorov scored for Columbus, who had won three in a row but couldn’t hold onto three separate one-goal leads in this game. Columbus also lost their leading goal scorer, Kirill Marchenko, after he took a puck to the face while sitting on the bench late in the second period and didn’t return.

Dallas started the game strong with the first six shots on goal, but it was Columbus that got on the board first. Sillinger scored on the Blue Jackets’ first shot at 6:43, following a missed two-on-one short-handed chance moments earlier.

The Stars tied the game with 6:24 left in the first when Marchment, back from missing 17 games due to a facial injury, redirected a shot from Lian Bichsel into the net.

Columbus Blue Jackets and Vegas Golden Knights

Columbus regained the lead early in the second when Fantilli scored at 4:58 with a clean shot past Dallas goalie Casey DeSmith (27 saves).

Dallas responded just over a minute later. After a turnover by Kent Johnson in his own zone, Mikael Granlund passed the puck to Stankoven, who scored to tie the game.

The Blue Jackets took the lead again at 7:58 when Provorov fired a shot past a screened DeSmith.

But once more, the Stars answered. With 4:11 left in the second, Harley set up Johnston perfectly for a power-play goal past Merzlikins (34 saves), tying the game again.

Columbus lost defenseman Dante Fabbro to an upper-body injury after the first period. Zach Werenski, another Blue Jackets defenseman, also left the game late in the second but returned to finish the game.

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Cavaliers dominate Mavericks in the aftermath of major trade, Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)

Sam Merrill came off the bench to score a career-high-tying 27 points, including nine 3-pointers, as the Cleveland Cavaliers easily defeated the Dallas Mavericks 144-101 on Sunday afternoon.

It was a tough beginning to a new chapter for Dallas, who made a huge trade about 15 hours before the game, sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for star Anthony Davis.

The deal also sent Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to Los Angeles, with a third team, the Utah Jazz, involved. In return for Doncic, the Mavericks received guard Max Christie and the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2029.

Davis didn’t play on Sunday due to the trade and an abdominal muscle injury. Christie was also unavailable.

The distractions from the trade news seemed to affect Dallas, as they struggled in their game against Cleveland. The Cavaliers wasted no time in taking control, shooting 9-for-11 from beyond the arc in the first quarter to take a 50-19 lead by the end of the period. It was Cleveland’s highest-scoring quarter of the season.

Dallas Mavericks (NBA)

The Cavaliers made history by scoring 91 points in the first half, the most they’ve ever scored in a half. Caris LeVert, Max Strus, and Donovan Mitchell hit 3-pointers during a 13-2 run to end the second quarter, pushing Cleveland’s lead to 91-46 at halftime.

Jarrett Allen extended the lead to over 100 points with a hook shot early in the third quarter, and the Cavaliers maintained a lead of at least 40 points for the rest of the game.

Evan Mobley had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Darius Garland also recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists. Cleveland had eight players in double figures, with Allen contributing 14 points and nine rebounds.

The Cavaliers made 26 3-pointers out of 45 attempts.

Jaden Hardy led Dallas with 21 points off the bench, while Dante Exum added 14 points. Kyrie Irving (shoulder) missed the game for the Mavericks.

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NBA (Basketball)

Luka Dončić shares heartfelt goodbye to Dallas after being traded to the Lakers

Luka Doncic looks over notes in the timeout

Luka Dončić posted an emotional farewell to Dallas on Sunday, the same day a trade sending him from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for fellow All-NBA player Anthony Davis was finalized.

In a letter to the city, Dončić said he “wanted so badly to bring you a championship” and that he thought he’d spend his entire career in Dallas.

“For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the U.S. for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home,” Dončić wrote. “In good times and bad, from injuries to the NBA Finals, your support never changed. Thank you not only for sharing my joy in our best moments, but also for lifting me up when I needed it most.”

Dončić was hugely popular in Dallas — and across the NBA. His No. 77 Mavericks jersey was the eighth-best seller through NBAStore.com in the first half of the season. On Sunday night, some Dončić items were still available on the Mavs’ store.

His jersey sales are expected to rise again now that the Lakers will sell his new jerseys.

“Grateful for this amazing opportunity,” Dončić wrote in another post, sharing a message from the Lakers welcoming him to Los Angeles. “Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal — to win championships.”

Luka Doncic (NBA)

Dončić had built strong connections with Dallas outside of basketball, particularly through charitable work. He had donated large amounts of money to various organizations in North Texas and arranged for Jordan Brand sneakers — as part of his sponsorship — to be given to frontline workers during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The feeling was mutual. When Dončić led Slovenia to a spot in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Dallas County Commissioners declared July 6 of that year as “Luka Dončić Day” in honor of both his basketball and charitable contributions.

In just 422 games, Dončić ranks sixth on Dallas’ all-time scoring list, second in 3-pointers behind Dirk Nowitzki, third in rebounds, and fifth in assists.

“To all the organizations I’ve worked with throughout the Dallas community, thank you for letting me contribute to your important work and join you in bringing light to those who need it,” Dončić wrote. “As I start the next part of my basketball journey, I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home. Dallas is a special place, and Mavs fans are special fans.”

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FEATURED

‘Organizational malpractice’: Sports world weighs in on Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade in Dallas

Luka Doncic grabbing the ball

“The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. Three-team deal that includes Utah.”

Fans and NBA players were immediately skeptical, questioning how such a massive trade could happen. As other outlets quickly confirmed the news, people began processing the unexpected trade involving two All-NBA players. One of them, Luka Doncic, is only 25 years old and led his team to the NBA Finals just last June.

The Mavericks confirmed the trade on Sunday morning. Utah also got Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round pick from the Lakers, with Dallas sending its own 2025 second-round pick to Utah.

Neither Anthony Davis nor Luka Doncic had commented on the trade by Sunday morning. As the news sunk in, NBA players started to share their thoughts, with some pointing out how unpredictable the league has become with the trade deadline approaching on Thursday.

“Gotta pack them bags just in case now a days,” tweeted CJ McCollum of the New Orleans Pelicans. “If the Don (Doncic) got traded, only lord knows.”

Anthony Davis leaps to make the basket

Phoenix’s Kevin Durant told reporters after the Suns’ loss to the Portland Trail Blazers that the trade shows how much the NBA is a business.

“Players are held to a different standard of loyalty and commitment to a program, but the organizations don’t get held to that same standard from the outside world,” Durant said, adding that this trade could lead to even more surprises.

“You see another team trade away somebody like that. This has got to be the biggest trade I’ve seen since I’ve been in the league or since I’ve been watching the sport. This is insane. So yeah, every other team might get confidence and say, ‘F— it, I’ll trade a few of my top players if this ain’t working.’”

It wasn’t just basketball players who were shocked.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons summed up the reaction of many fans on social media: “Yoo wtf going on in Dallas?”

For Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker and current TV analyst, the news hit hard.

“As a Dallas native, who went to the Mavs’ first NBA finals in 2006 and the parade in 2011, I can confidently say trading prime Luka Doncic is one of the biggest mistakes in the history of sports. This is organizational malpractice. I am sick.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Mavericks face tough question on Luka Doncic trade: Why?

Luka Doncic reacts in the game

Anthony Davis is a four-time first-team All-NBA player, a three-time All-Defensive team selection, and an NBA champion. This season, he’s averaging 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, just a month before turning 32.

However, despite his impressive credentials, Dallas Mavericks fans were left wondering why their team would trade Luka Doncic for Davis. Doncic, a dynamic scorer who led the league with 33.9 points per game last season, has been named to the All-NBA team five times in a row and is still under 26 years old.

But that’s exactly what happened on Saturday night when the Mavericks traded Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. The Utah Jazz were involved as a third team to facilitate the deal, receiving Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks, one from the Clippers and one from Dallas.

Dallas general manager Nico Harrison explained that the Mavericks were motivated by Doncic’s struggles on defense, and they believe Davis’ defensive ability would help them improve as they push for a playoff spot. The Mavericks were swept by the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals last June.

“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison said. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”

The Mavericks were also frustrated with Doncic’s focus on conditioning. While he’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, he reportedly weighed more than 260 pounds early in the season.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis is introduced before an NBA basketball game

His weight raised concerns about his injury risk, like the calf strain he suffered on Christmas Day in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Doncic has missed most of the season, playing only 22 games, but he’s expected to return by the All-Star break.

Harrison and head coach Jason Kidd will likely face many questions about the trade.

“Luka getting traded from Dallas has to have a deeper story behind it,” said Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers on X (formerly Twitter). “This just doesn’t happen on a random Saturday night.”

Thompson, who won an NBA title with LeBron James in Cleveland in 2016, speculated about James’ involvement in the trade. But ESPN reported that James wasn’t involved in the decision and found out about the deal while dining with his family after the Lakers’ win over the Knicks.

Both Doncic and Davis reportedly learned about the trade after the Mavericks and Lakers agreed to the deal.

Tim Cowlishaw, a sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News, wrote that the trade doesn’t make sense and repeats a pattern from the past.

“I will say it now and I will say it again 48 hours from now: There is something missing here,” Cowlishaw said. “There has to be some element of this trade not yet reported, some bizarre set of facts that led Harrison and the Mavericks down this incredibly silly path.”

Luka Doncic gestures in the 2nd half

Cowlishaw pointed out that the Mavericks traded Jason Kidd when he was 23, before he became an eight-time All-Star. Kidd went on to have a successful career with Phoenix and New Jersey, even returning to Dallas to help the franchise win its first championship.

He was not yet the player he would become, but he was already showing signs of greatness, unlike Doncic, who has been a first-team All-NBA player until this injury-filled season.

Davis has been sidelined with an abdominal strain and is expected to miss at least a week. It’s unclear when he will play his first game for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks, currently in eighth place in the Western Conference, are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. They plan to field a starting lineup featuring guards Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, forwards Davis and P.J. Washington, and center Daniel Gafford, with an injury-related substitution until Dereck Lively II returns from a foot injury.

Cowlishaw remained baffled by the trade:

“That’s right, a player six years older than Luka is now coming to Dallas, presumably to tag team with two other 30-somethings, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, to lead this team to, what, a play-in game?

In a Western Conference where Oklahoma City, Houston, and Memphis will just run you off the floor with their youth and athleticism, the Mavericks are seeking to win based on memories of a decade ago,” he wrote.

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Mavericks GM Nico Harrison justifies the Luka Dončić trade: “We acted early to avoid a chaotic summer in Dallas”

Luka Doncic (NBA)

Late Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks shocked everyone by trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. This trade surprised many, raising questions and surprising NBA players, while also boosting the Lakers’ chances of reaching the NBA Finals.

Mavericks fans were particularly stunned by the departure of their star player. However, in an interview with the Dallas Morning News, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison defended the trade, explaining that moving Dončić to the Lakers was done to set the team up for success in both the short and long term.

“I understand why they would be shocked, initially,” Harrison said. “But I do believe that we positioned ourselves to win now and also win in the future. And that’s the goal and why we’re here. It’s my job to make the tough decisions that put our goals first and foremost.”

Harrison mentioned that he had been in talks with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka for over a month, with the trade deal starting to take shape over the past three weeks. He confirmed that he was the one who brought up the idea of trading Dončić, and the Lakers were quick to respond.

Harrison also pointed to Dončić’s upcoming contract extension as part of the reason for the trade. Dončić was eligible for a five-year, $345 million supermax deal with Dallas this summer, but with the trade, he’s no longer in line for that deal.

“We really feel like we got ahead of what was going to be a tumultuous summer, him being eligible for the supermax and also a year away from him being able to opt out of any contract,” Harrison explained. “And so we really felt like we got out in front of that. We know teams have been loading up to try to sign him once that comes available.”

Luka Doncic (NBA)

Harrison added that he did reach out to Dončić personally, sending a text and leaving a voicemail. “My guess is he probably doesn’t want to talk to me,” Harrison joked.

When it comes to Anthony Davis, Harrison praised the 31-year-old’s defensive abilities and said that both he and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd are excited about what Davis will bring to the team’s culture.

“We really feel that defense wins championships, and we think the players that we’re bringing in add to the culture, which is important to what J-Kidd and I have been building here from day one,” Harrison said. “And then obviously, when you get an All-NBA player who’s also a first-team All-Defensive player, we think that’s gonna help us where we need it the most, on the defensive end.”

Harrison compared Davis’ potential fit in Dallas to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ frontcourt duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who have been effective together for several seasons. He also mentioned that Davis will likely finish games as a center but will play power forward alongside Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, his preferred position.

Both Dončić and Davis are currently injured—Dončić with a calf injury and Davis with a foot injury. Once healthy, fans will be able to see how the trade works out and who truly benefited from it.

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The Stars trade for Granlund and Ceci from the Sharks in the latest deal during a busy NHL trade period in Dallas

Mikael Granlund in the game

The Dallas Stars traded for center Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, making it the latest in a series of trades across the NHL.

Dallas sent a 2025 first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick to San Jose for Granlund and Ceci, just over a week before the league breaks for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The third-round pick becomes a fourth-round pick if the Stars do not make it to the Stanley Cup Final.

“We are excited to welcome both Mikael and Cody to Dallas,” said Dallas general manager Jim Nill. “We see both players as addressing immediate needs for our team. Mikael is a proven scorer who will strengthen our forward group at even strength and on the power play, and Cody will add a solid, physical presence to our defense.

Both players will bring valuable postseason experience to our team, and we are looking forward to seeing their contributions as the season continues.”

This trade came less than 24 hours after Vancouver traded J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers and got Marcus Pettersson and Danton Heinen from Pittsburgh in a pair of connected deals. On Thursday, Calgary acquired forwards Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost from Philadelphia.

Last week, Colorado, Chicago, and Carolina completed a three-team trade that brought Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall to the Hurricanes, with Martin Necas going to the Avalanche.

“You’ve kind of seen all the trades that have happened within the last week,” said Sharks GM Mike Grier in a video call with reporters. “Things have heated up around the league, probably because of the upcoming break. After the break, you’re pretty much at the deadline, so teams are just trying to get ahead of it.”

Cody Ceci and Morgan Geekie in the 2nd period

Granlund, who will turn 33 on February 26, provides the injury-depleted Stars with reliable depth at center with Tyler Seguin out long-term after hip surgery. Winger Mason Marchment also went on injured reserve on Saturday, retroactive to December 31.

Ceci, 31, adds valuable help to the blue line with No. 1 defenseman Miro Heiskanen considered week-to-week due to a lower-body injury. Nill also announced that Nils Lundkvist underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.

“They were aggressive in going after both guys,” Grier said. “Lots of teams showed interest. They’re two good players and good people, but we felt we were able to get what we wanted, so it’s something we had to do.”

Grier mentioned the potential risk of Granlund getting injured while playing for Finland in the 4 Nations tournament, saying it was “kind of maybe in the back of your mind,” but the return for the trade was too good to pass up.

“In a perfect world, I maybe would’ve held on to ‘Granny’ and ‘Ceci’ closer to the deadline so we could have them for a little longer,” Grier said, referring to his December trade of Mackenzie Blackwood to Colorado. “But it doesn’t always work out that way, and the market just heated up over the last week. We took advantage of the opportunity.”

Following the trade, the Sharks now have eight draft picks for later this year, including two in the first round. They would receive Winnipeg’s fourth-round pick if Dallas fails to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

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NBA (Basketball)

Luka Dončić traded to the Lakers, Anthony Davis moves to the Mavericks in huge deal

Anthony Davis and Luka Doncic (NBA)

Luka Dončić led Dallas to the NBA Finals last season, while Anthony Davis helped the Los Angeles Lakers win a championship. Now, the two stars are switching teams in a major trade.

Dončić is being traded by the Mavericks, the reigning Western Conference champions, to the Lakers in exchange for Davis, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity early Sunday. The deal also involves other players: Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris are headed to Los Angeles, while Davis and Max Christie are going to Dallas.

The source added that the Utah Jazz are part of the trade as well. ESPN, which first reported the news, said Jalen Hood-Schifino and two draft picks will go to Utah. The Dallas Morning News confirmed these details.

The trade was announced about an hour after the Lakers defeated New York at Madison Square Garden. Davis was not with the Lakers for the game because he was in Los Angeles for an abdominal injury assessment. Dončić, on the other hand, has not played for Dallas since Christmas Day due to a strained left calf.

“I believe that defense wins championships,” Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison told ESPN. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”

If the trade goes through, Dončić will join LeBron James to form a new star duo in Los Angeles, while Davis will team up with Kyrie Irving in Dallas. The news immediately shocked fans on social media.

“Luka getting traded from Dallas has to have a deeper story behind it,” Cleveland center Tristan Thompson posted on X. “This just doesn’t happen on a random Saturday night.”

Luka Doncic (NBA)

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson even asked, “April fools right?” It’s not a joke, though.

Dallas will play at Cleveland on Sunday, while the Lakers have a break until they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. The trade still needs NBA approval, and it’s unclear when Dončić and Davis will play for their new teams since both are dealing with injuries and there’s no set timeline for their returns.

Among players with at least 400 games played, Dončić’s 28.6-point average ranks third in NBA history, behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, both at 30.1. When healthy, Dončić is one of the most dynamic and unstoppable players in the league.

He finished third in MVP voting last season after averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds per game, a truly historic season. Dončić also tied the fourth-highest scoring game in NBA history on January 26, 2024, when he dropped 73 points against Atlanta. Only Chamberlain (100 points), Kobe Bryant (81 points), and Chamberlain again (78 points) scored more.

Davis, an All-Star for the 10th time this year, turns 32 next month. He was part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team and helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA title in the bubble. Like Dončić, Davis is a five-time All-NBA selection.

For Dončić, however, there may be a significant financial impact from the trade. He was eligible for a supermax contract this summer, which could have earned him around $345 million over five years. Now, his extension eligibility could limit him to a five-year deal worth no more than $230 million.

This season, Dončić is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists, while Davis is putting up 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Stars extend their win streak to four with a victory over the Canucks in Dallas

Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks

Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz each scored twice, contributing to three-point games, as the Dallas Stars defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-3 on Friday.

Oskar Back also scored for the Stars, who have now won four consecutive games. Goalie Jake Oettinger was strong in net, making 26 saves, especially in the first two periods.

For the Canucks, Conor Garland, Jake DeBrusk, and Carson Soucy scored. Their three-game winning streak came to an end just hours after trading forward J.T. Miller. Goalie Thatcher Demko made 11 saves.

With the game tied 1-1, Robertson put the Stars ahead with a power-play goal at 16:29 in the second period. After solid puck movement, Robertson was passed the puck in the slot and quickly fired it into the net.

Dallas had entered the game with the league’s worst home power play.

Hintz increased the lead to 3-1 at 4:04 in the third period. After the Canucks failed to score on an odd-man rush, Hintz took a breakaway and calmly shot the puck through the goalie’s legs.

Vancouver Canucks (NHL)

Hintz later added a short-handed empty-net goal with 3:27 remaining, shooting the puck into the net from his own zone as the Canucks pulled their goalie for an extra skater.

DeBrusk scored for Vancouver with a power-play goal at 2:09 left, but Robertson sealed the victory with another empty-net goal in the final minute.

Soucy scored a late goal for Vancouver with just four seconds remaining.

Back opened the scoring at 9:12 of the first period, capitalizing on a perfect pass from Colin Blackwell after winning a puck battle along the boards.

Garland responded with a goal at 5:08 in the second period, finishing a pass from Nils Hoglander during an odd-man rush and putting a sharp-angled shot into the net.

Before the game, the Canucks traded Miller, defenseman Erik Brannstrom, and prospect Jackson Dorrington to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Filip Chytil, defenseman Victor Mancini, and a conditional 2025 first-round draft pick. Miller had long been rumored to be traded due to his reported tension with Elias Pettersson.

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NBA (Basketball)

Cade Cunningham scores 40 as Pistons top Mavericks by 15 in Detroit

Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks

First-time All-Star Cade Cunningham scored 40 points, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 117-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, ending their three-game losing streak.

Tobias Harris added 17 points, and Jalen Duren contributed 16 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Marcus Sasser chipped in with 10 points.

Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 28 points. P.J. Washington had 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Daniel Gafford added 16 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks. Klay Thompson scored 13 points.

Detroit capitalized on 16 Dallas turnovers, scoring 27 points off them.

The Pistons played without Isaiah Stewart, who was suspended for one game after being ejected in Detroit’s loss to Indiana on Wednesday for accruing his sixth flagrant foul point.

Cunningham, named an All-Star earlier in the week, had 18 points and three assists as the Pistons took a 62-58 lead at halftime.

Duren contributed 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Cade Cunningham (NBA)

Detroit’s bench played a key role, outscoring Dallas’ reserves 21-4. The Pistons finished the first half with a 12-5 run, with Duren contributing four points, an assist, and a steal.

In the third quarter, the Pistons went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by Cunningham’s 3-pointer, taking a 71-63 lead.

After Thompson hit a 3-pointer to bring Dallas within three, the Pistons responded with a 13-1 run. Cunningham scored the first four points, followed by Harris adding four, and Tim Hardaway Jr. hitting a 3-pointer and adding an assist.

Dallas ended the quarter with a 14-7 run, with Irving scoring seven points, leaving the Mavericks trailing 93-85.

Dallas scored the first six points of the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer by Washington, making it 93-91. However, the Mavericks couldn’t take the lead. Ron Holland made a steal and dunk to give the Pistons some breathing room. Sasser later scored three baskets in just over two minutes, pushing the lead to 105-96.

Duren extended the lead to 111-96 with a dunk and two free throws. Cunningham added a layup after another steal by Hardaway, giving Detroit a 19-point lead.