Luka Doncic Heads Overseas For Treatment ... Hoping To Speed Up Recovery
Luka Dončić isn’t waiting around for his hamstring to heal ... the Los Angeles Lakers superstar has already jetted to Europe for aggressive treatment -- and it’s all about beating the playoff buzzer.
Luka suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in Thursday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder -- he grabbed at his leg mid-game, dropped to the floor in pain ... and now the clock is ticking with the postseason just two weeks away.
The Lakers have already ruled him out for the rest of the regular season … but injuries like this usually take weeks, sometimes more than a month to fully heal.
Austin Reaves Curses Out Fan After Luka Injury ... 'Shut the F*** Up!'
UPDATE
3:05 PM PDT -- Bad news, Lakers fans ... Luka Doncic will miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering a left hamstring injury during Thursday's game.
His status for the playoffs remains uncertain.
His agent, Bill Duffy, said in a statement that Doncic's historic season should still be considered for the league's end-of-the-year honors like MVP ... and they will apply for the "Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge" to the 65-game eligibility rule.
"His record-breaking season deserves to be noted in the history books, despite last night’s unfortunate injury and other extraordinary circumstances," Duffy said.
"We look forward to working with the NBAPA and the league office to ensure a fair outcome in this matter."
Austin Reaves unloaded on a fan during the Lakers vs. Thunder game on Thursday ... telling a guy to "shut the f*** up" after making fun of Luka Doncic's injury.
The heated exchange went down at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, when Doncic was laying on the hardwood after suffering a hamstring injury in the third quarter.
As Reaves, LeBron James, and other Lakers gathered around the Slovenian superstar, a man in attendance can be heard on video shouting, "Now you know what it's like to play defense!"
That pissed Reaves all the way off.
NBA's Jaden Ivey Breaks Silence After Being Cut ... Shut Down By Flight Attendant
Jaden Ivey jetted out of town after the Chicago Bulls cut him following his anti-Pride comments ... with the hooper going live to discuss the situation as he waited to take off, before a flight attendant made him turn off his phone.
The 24-year-old's destination was unknown, but he was on a commercial flight when he started streaming to some of his 219K Instagram followers ... loudly discussing religion and sin.
As Ivey spoke, the safety briefing played in the background. A flight attendant eventually approached him, asking him to wrap things up as the cell phone could interfere with the communication system.
Anthony Edwards Sorry I Missed Tipoff I Was Dropping a Deuce!!!
When you gotta go, you gotta go ... and Anthony Edwards was the perfect example of that when he missed the start of the Timberwolves vs. Mavericks game -- hilariously admitting to reporters it's because he was "taking a s***."
The superstar guard made his return to the lineup on Monday after sitting out six games due to knee soreness ... but was noticeably MIA for the first few minutes.
Mike Conley took his spot for the time being until AE finally checked in ... and reporters asked after the 124-94 win what that was all about.
And anyone familiar with Edwards knows he doesn't sugarcoat anything.
Chicago Bulls Cut Ties With Jaden Ivey ... After Anti-LGBTQ Video
The Chicago Bulls are done with Jaden Ivey after the NBA player made anti-LGBTQ comments and criticized Pride Night promotions in videos making rounds on social media.
ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news on Monday ... saying the Bulls have decided to part ways with Ivey, who they just picked up in a three-team trade with the Timberwolves and Pistons last month.
This decision comes after Ivey, 24, posted a series of lengthy videos on Instagram over the weekend ... venting about several topics, including the NBA's celebration of the LGBTQ community with Pride Night.
Paul Pierce Woman Asks For Hefty Child Support ... Amid Paternity Lawsuit
Months after a woman hit Paul Pierce with a paternity lawsuit ... she is now asking a court to make the NBA great pony up nearly $30K a month in child support.
In court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, Princess Santiago claims Paul is the father of her newborn and is asking the judge to award her sole legal and physical custody, monthly child support in the amount of $29,811 and another $100K for her legal bills. She is also again requesting genetic testing to confirm that Paul is, in fact, the daddy.
On top of that, she wants Paul to pay one-half of all "reasonable expenses" relating to her pregnancy, birth, and post-birth expenses -- which she says totals $18,846.
Caitlin Clark Lens A Hand During Pacers Game ... I'm A Photog!!!
Caitlin Clark can do it all on the court -- and on the sidelines, too -- 'cause the WNBA superstar put her photography skills to the test during the Indiana Pacers' home matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers!!
Clark was spotted courtside as the 'Cers welcomed LeBron James and Co. to town, where she picked up a camera to snap some flicks of the action.
From some of the photos Indiana shared, she's a total natural. However, the more impressive snaps were posted on her X account ... and she made sure everyone got the credit right.
Warriors' Moses Moody Out for the Season ... Knee Tendon Tear After Botched Dunk
UPDATE
1:50 PM PT -- As expected, Moses Moody's season is over. The Warriors guard was diagnosed with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.
The recovery for the injury can take up to 12 months.
Moses Moody's would-be highlight turned into a nightmare after a failed dunk attempt left him with a gruesome non-contact knee injury ... the Warriors guard, in excruciating pain, had to be stretchered off the court.
The unfortunate moment happened during the Warriors-Mavericks game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas ... when Moses was on a fast break after stealing the ball from Cooper Flagg.
Prayers up for Moses Moody. pic.twitter.com/VKGTD29BR1 @edilsonbuzz
Moses -- averaging 12.1 points per game this season -- was about to go up for a wide-open dunk, but his left knee buckled right as soon as he planted.
VCU Coach Phil Martelli Jr. Chip Off The Old Block ... And a Cinderella Dream
VCU opened the NCAA Tournament by busting brackets -- and Phil Martelli Jr. proved the March Madness gene might run in the family.
TMZ Sports caught up with the VCU head coach fresh off leading his 11-seed squad to a massive upset over No. 6 North Carolina -- a moment that hit even harder with his father, legendary coach Phil Martelli Sr., in the building to witness it all.
Martelli Sr., of course, knows a thing or two about March magic.
He famously led Saint Joseph’s to an undefeated regular season and an Elite Eight run in 2004 … turning the Hawks into one of the tournament’s most iconic Cinderella stories.
Now, it’s his son writing a similar script in his first year with the Rams.
Byron Scott Lakers Look Ready for Playoff Run ... The West Might Have a Problem!
The Lakers aren’t just heating up -- they’re on fire … and even Byron Scott is starting to believe this run might be real.
L.A. sits third in the west after ripping off eight straight wins, fueled by a full-blown takeover from Luka Dončić -- who’s been dropping video game numbers and completely reshaping the offense in the process. But Scott tells TMZ Sports it’s not just the scoring that has him buying in.
“The biggest thing for me has always been the defensive end,” Scott said. “But over these last four or five games, really this whole stretch, they’ve been locked in.”
That’s the difference.
Luka Doncic My Ex is Fighting in Wrong Court ... Our Kids Live in Slovenia
Luka Doncic is calling a technical foul on his ex-fiancée, essentially telling the court she should consult a map before filing legal docs over their 2 children ... TMZ Sports has learned.
The Lakers superstar filed docs Friday asking an L.A. County judge to dismiss Anamaria Goltes' request for child support and attorneys fees, because she filed it in California ... when she knows the kids live in Slovenia.
In the docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, Luka and his attorney Laura Wasser point out he is not a California resident, and neither are their daughters. He says he's been trying for months to get Anamaria to move to Cali with their kids, but she's refused, since moving back to Slovenia last May. As we reported, that distance is exactly why he says he pulled the plug on their engagement.
Oklahoma City Thunder Sorry POTUS, Can't Visit Your Crib ... 'Timing Issues'
The Oklahoma City Thunder are opting to pass on the White House tradition after winning the 2025 NBA Finals ... with the team saying at the end of the day, their schedule didn't allow it.
OKC shared the news with The Athletic, citing "timing issues" as the reason why the champs wouldn't be able to swing by 1600 Pennsylvania Ave to visit President Donald Trump when they are in town this weekend for a showdown with the Wizards.
"We have been in touch with the White House and we are appreciative and grateful for the communication we have had, but the timing just didn’t work out, the team told the outlet.
Steph Curry Honors the Man Behind the No. 30 ... As Dad Dell Hits Hornets Rafters
Steph Curry didn’t drop 30 … he watched the original No. 30 go up.
The NBA superstar had the night off Thursday -- but instead of resting up, he pulled up courtside in Charlotte to watch his dad, Dell Curry, get his jersey retired by the Hornets.
And yeah … full-circle doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Steph -- who has become a global icon in the same No. 30 -- sat front row as the man who wore it first in Charlotte saw his number rise into the rafters at Spectrum Center.
Dell, clearly overwhelmed in the moment, fought back tears as he addressed the crowd.
Nashville Mayor Sorry, Draymond Green Moving Grizzlies Here Not on Agenda
Draymond Green's wish isn't getting granted anytime soon -- relocating the Memphis Grizzlies to Nashville isn't on the Music City mayor's to-do list.
The Golden State Warriors star has been vocal about how he doesn't like playing in Memphis ... and recently, he went as far as to say he'd love it if the NBA relocated the Grizzlies 200 miles east.
"Do everybody a favor and move that team to Nashville," Green said on his podcast this week.
"There's no great hotels in Memphis. I love the people of Memphis. They are incredible. Shout out to the people of Memphis. I love them, but just from an NBA standpoint, man -- there's not a sauna or a hot tub in sight."
Shaquille O'Neal Offers to Pay For 12-Year-Old's Funeral ... After Student Dies In Fight
Shaquille O'Neal is mourning the death of 12-year-old Jada West, who passed away after a fight with a classmate earlier this month ... and the NBA legend is looking to help the grieving family by offering to cover her funeral expenses, saying, "No parent should ever have to bury their child."
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office revealed the gesture this week ... after West, a sixth-grader at Mason Creek Middle School in Winston, Georgia, passed away following an apparent off-campus bullying incident with another student on March 5.
The DCSO said O'Neal, who serves as Chief of Community Relations for the Henry County Sheriff's Office, was heartbroken by the news and wanted to help the West family by covering the funeral costs so they wouldn't have to bear the burden.
Steph Curry Arm Pulled By Overzealous Fan At Dubs Vs. Celtics Game
Steph Curry's stroll to the tunnel at the Warriors vs. Celtics game got derailed ... when an overzealous fan crossed the line and yanked at the NBA superstar's arm -- a wild moment that was caught on video.
The shocking interaction went down at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts ... when the Warriors -- who played without Curry due to a knee injury -- faced the Celtics on Wednesday evening.
In the clip, Curry is making his way toward the locker rooms as fans gather with their phones and hands out, hoping for a quick interaction with the four-time NBA champion ... but the first one to reach him ruined it for everyone.
You can see the fan's hand grab Curry's left arm, yanking him back ... and from his stunned expression, Steph was completely caught off guard, even seeming to mouth the word "Whoa" before he kept it moving.