Luke Kennard with huge impact already. Makes a key 3 on one play. On next play, Kennard's gravity out on the perimeter leads to him finding a wide Jarred Vanderbilt at the rim. Lakers with 96-88 lead over Warriors with 4:44 left.

On CBSLA, the great Jim Hill and I will break down the Lakers/Clippers' trade deadline moves and talk plenty of golf, Super Bowl & more. Tune into CBSLA at 3:30 pm PT!

Joel Embiid grabbed his left knee after VJ Edgecombe collided into him after the dunk. But Embiid is still playing and appears okay.

Lakers say that Luka Doncic has soreness in his left leg and will not return for the remainder of tonight's game vs. the Sixers.

Darius Garland on his fit with the Clippers: "I hope T Lue used me like he did with Kyrie during that championship run that he had." Ty Lue agrees: "Giving him the freedom to play openly." Per @essentiallysports.bsky.social tinyurl.com/y8krb68c

NBA trade deadline: For @athlonsports.bsky.social, here are 5 predictions on how things play out with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant & more bit.ly/4qWhtJQ

There's optimism that Darius Garland will make his debut with the Clippers after the NBA All-Star break. That means Garland's first game with the Clippers could be against the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 19 at Intuit Dome. My @essentiallysports.bsky.social dispatch bit.ly/3M2xrTN

Nikola Jokić return: Medical expects spoke to @essentiallysports.bsky.social about his return from a bone bruise in hyperextended left knee, insight about the injury, what they think about the NBA's 65-game rule & more bit.ly/4c5k2oo

Pumped for another fun SportsCentralLA: im Hill & I talk a good mix of golf, Dodgers offseason, college hoops and state of the Lakers/Clippers. Tune into CBSLA at 3:30 pm PT!

Dash Lovell, Jaylen Brown's trainer, spoke to @thergmedia.bsky.social about leading without Jayson Tatum, NBA All-Star starting nod, MVP chances & some insight on his training regimen tinyurl.com/d8aa3ty4

Lakers star LeBron James still deserves an All-Star bid, but that means he also needs to be fully committed to All-Star weekend. My @athlonsports.bsky.social dispatch tinyurl.com/jvcxun6r

Clippers' John Collins spoke to @essentiallysports.bsky.social on why Kawhi Leonard & James Harden deserves an All-Star nod, his fit with the Clippers, criticism about his defense & why he wants to be with the Clippers long-term. bit.ly/4sYBNfj

Lakers' LeBron James on partnership w/ Jeanie Buss: “I thought it was good, but somebody can see it another way.." Does LeBron want to be with the Lakers through the trade deadline? LeBron: "I'm good." My @essentiallysports.bsky.social dispatch tinyurl.com/bdd4rb8z

Clippers center Ivica Zubac got tangled up with Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt during the looseball. Zubac then shoved Vanderbilt.

Marcus Smart is so hyped after sinking a jumper and drawing a foul. Clippers only have a 93-88 lead with 7:40 left.

Jarred Vanderbilt took a hard fall after the dunk. But he seems okay and walking it off.

Lakers are showing signs of life again. But you never know how long it lasts.

What's worse: the Lakers' defense tonight vs the Clippers or the Raptors vs Lakers on Kobe's 81-point game?

Clippers with a 64-47 half-time lead over the Lakers. Clippers are dominating with points in the paint (32), bench points (20) and fast-break points (9).

Luka Doncic grimmacing a bit after crashing into the team bench to chase a LeBron James pass. But he's walking it off.

Lakers coach JJ Redick on LeBron James: "I’ve enjoyed coaching him at the highest level: a 10 out of 10. That’s not to say LeBron and I don’t have our disagreements. But I know with that guy, he’s going to put everything into this. It’s been awesome to coach him."

Lakers coach JJ Redick on LeBron James: "Everybody in this organization appreciates LeBron & appreciates what he’s done for the Lakers. He’s carried on the legacy and honestly, the burden of being a superstar for the Los Angeles Lakers for eight years. He’s done it with class."

@hornetsreddit.bsky.social's rookie Kon Knueppel spoke to @essentiallysports.bsky.social on Rookie of the Year buzz, interest in competing in All-Star 3-point contest, his early impact & more. Knueppel: I just feel like I belong out here. I’ve felt like that from day one. " tinyurl.com/4pt43nbp

The Charlotte standout is giving Cooper Flagg stiff competition in the Rookie of the Year race.

Hornets coach Charles Lee on where Kon Knueppel ranks in his rookie class: “I think Kon is the best one." My @athlonsports.bsky.social piece on why Knueppel has a realistic shot to win Rookie of the Year tinyurl.com/yc59jvez

@torontoraptorsfam.bsky.social's Brandon Ingram spoke to @essentiallysports.bsky.social on Raptors' success overcoming injury & outlook for All-Star game. Ingram:"Usually winning gets rewarded. So hopefully that happens. But if it doesn’t happen, it’s another motivation year." tinyurl.com/yeyjrb2e

The starters for this year's NBA All-Star game. East: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey. West: Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama.

Lakers' Luka Dončić officially named a starter for this year's All-Star game (Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome).

Wizards GM Will Dawkins spoke in depth with @essentiallysports.bsky.social on Trae Young trade, why it's important for him to play this season, young core's growth, outlook on trade deadline & more bit.ly/3YJ8PlI

LeBron getting some M-V-P chants tonight. One Lakers fan: "I love you LeBron!" It's not entirely a tense relationship.

LeBron James and Luka Doncic played defensive deflections on the same possession. There you have it.

After missing 7 of his first 8 shots, Brandon Ingram has since gone 6-for-7 from the field against the Lakers. Ingram, who played for the Lakers in his first three seasons, has scored at least 20 points in four of his last five games against the Lakers and averages 23.8 points in 18 games vs them

The Lakers' attempts at throwing lobs & getting out in transition either looks incredibly beautiful or ugly to watch. So many extremes.

Raptors with a 30-23 first-quarter lead over the Lakers. Same story. Luka Doncic carrying the day (12 points). But the Lakers have too many turnovers (6) and aren't defending well. Raptors are 2-for-10 from 3, but missed open shots. They're 13-for-25 from the field overall.

Luka Doncic called for a blocking foul after it appeared he drew a charge. Now he's called for a technical. Frustrating start so far.

Washington Wizards' Bilal Coulibaly spokes to @essentiallysports.bsky.social on Trae Young trade, Alex Sarr's All-Star case, defending some of NBA's top players & more. tinyurl.com/b5x2mzke

Washington Wizards' Alex Sarr spoke to @essentiallysports.bsky.social on Trae Young's trade and their potential chemistry, NBA All-Star chances and more tinyurl.com/3cb9p2td

LaMelo Ball has such an unconventional shot with his release and his jump. But it works.

Luka Doncic delivering offensively really well. But he's struggling once again on defense. And he's not getting much shooting help from Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent.

Lakers defense: Hornets have 50 points in the paint. They are shooting 17-for-37 from 3. They have crushed the Lakers on the boards (42-30). Their offense has stemmed from better ball movement & better shotmakers (Hornets have 29 assists to the Lakers' 19).

Hornets with a 64-55 halftime lead. Lakers' perimeter and interior defense have been awful. Hornets are taking advantage with double-digit efforts from Miles Bridges (17 points) and Brandon Miller (13). Kon Knueppel has nine points.

Deandre Ayton really upset he was called for an offensive foul on Miles Bridges. But he swung his elbow and hit Bridges in the face.

Lakers with a 39-30 lead over the Hornets. Luka Doncic has 19 points on 7-for-12 clip, 3-for-4 from 3, 2-for-4 from FT line. Hornets have 16 points in the paint, including 11 from Miles Bridges.

Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt and Hornets' Ryan Kalkbrenner had to be separated after tussling underneath the basket. Both were given technicals.

Unfortunately, my X account was hacked. Please don't accept any messages and ignore the spam posts. Fingers crossed it's resolved soon. tinyurl.com/5dtvycd7

Hawks' CJ McCollum spoke to @essentiallysports.bsky.social about adjusting to the trade, the Hawks' potential & a potential long-term future there. McCollum: “I’m excited about the possibilities. I’m happy to be in Atlanta. I love the city. I love the team and the organization." tinyurl.com/yfxksaj2

Giannis Antetokounmpo on state of the Bucks: “We trust one another. We believe in one another. We know we can turn this around.” My @athlonsports.bsky.social dispatch on Giannis staying invested with Bucks despite speculation about his future tinyurl.com/3m46jjed

Hornets' Collin Sexton spoke to @essentiallysports.bsky.social about his chemistry with LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel's Rookie of the Year case & more tinyurl.com/5aafad4w

@themilwaukeebucks.bsky.social's Ryan Rollins spoke to @essentiallysports.bsky.social about his Most Improved Player chances, Giannis Antetokounmpo's loyalty to Bucks & Stephen Curry giving him a signed jersey after breakout game tinyurl.com/453yr24r

Giannis Antetokounmpo on LeBron James: "He is the blueprint for every athlete, not just basketball athlete. Just to be able to be consistent for 23 years, available, be a winner, lead by example, it’s incredible."