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Luka Doncic scores 31 after a big first quarter, and the Lakers rout the depleted Nuggets 120-108

LOS ANGELES: Luka Doncic had 31 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in just three quarters of work, and the Los Angeles Lakers routed the Denver Nuggets 120-108 on Wednesday night in a matchup of injury-depleted Western Conference contenders. Nikola Jokic (elbow) and Jamal Murray (ankle) missed their second straight games for Denver, while LeBron James (hamstring) and Rui Hachimura (knee) continued their longer-term absences for Los Angeles. Austin Reaves had 22 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who have won nine consecutive home games and three straight since finishing their 0-4 road trip last Friday with a loss at Denver. Aaron Gordon scored 26 points for the Nuggets. The Lakers scored a season-high 46 points in the first quarter led by Doncic, who scorched Denver for 21 points in his highest-scoring quarter of the season. He missed the Lakers’ 131-126 loss to Denver last Friday, when the Lakers nearly won without him and James. Los Angeles led by 28 after three quarters, allowing Doncic to get extra rest amid five home games in seven days. Bronny James played the final 3:58.Takeaways Nuggets: Even without Jokic and Murray, offense wasn’t the problem.

Can Luka and this suddenly stingy Lakers defense fuel a title run? - ESPN

WEARY FROM A winless road trip that dropped the Los Angeles Lakers from second to fifth in the Western Conference standings, the team's homecoming reward was a Sunday matinee tipoff against the Phoenix Suns.

Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray will miss Nuggets' game vs. Lakers - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — Denver Nuggets stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray will sit out for a second consecutive game Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers as they continue to nurse nagging injuries, sources told ESPN.

Source -- Hunter, Texans agree to 1-year, $35.6M extension - ESPN

HOUSTON — Defensive end Danielle Hunter and the Houston Texans have agreed to a one-year, $35.6 million contract extension, a source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.

Barca on track for women’s Champions League semis after thumping Wolfsburg

WOLFSBURG, Germany: Defending champions Barcelona are on track for the final four of the women’s Champions League after a dominant 4-1 win in their quarter-final first leg at Wolfsburg on Wednesday. Unlike the 2023 Champions League final between the same two opponents, won narrowly 3-2 by Barcelona who came from two goals down, Wednesday’s clash was an uneven affair. A first-half own-goal by Caitlin Dijkstra, followed up by two strikes in quick succession in the second period by Irene Paredes and Salma Paralluelo put the visitors firmly in control. Janina Minge pulled one back inside the final 15 minutes for Wolfsburg, before Sydney Schertenleib added a late fourth. Winners of three of the past four Champions Leagues, Barcelona showed fluency in attack and pinned the Wolves back early. Barcelona’s dominance of the ball finally showed on the scoreboard after 26 minutes when Ewa Pajor, who spent almost a decade at the German club, pressured Dijkstra into conceding an own goal from Aitana Bonmati’s cross. The visitors were unable to make their dominance count further with just a one-goal lead heading into half-time. But Barcelona quickly took control of the match, and the tie, with two goals in three minutes just after the interval. Paredes tapped in from close range after Wolfsburg failed to deal with a Barcelona corner on 50 minutes. On the 53rd-minute mark, Paralluelo scored on a Barcelona counter, her shot scuffed into her own net by Wolfsburg’s Minge. Paralluelo looked to have scored again just five minutes later, but was half-a-meter offside when assisted by Pajor. Minge gave Wolfsburg hope when she headed in unmarked from just near the penalty spot with 79 minutes gone, but Swiss teenager Schertenleib’s fine curling

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Luka Doncic scores 31 after a big first quarter, and the Lakers rout the depleted Nuggets 120-108

Can Luka and this suddenly stingy Lakers defense fuel a title run? - ESPN

Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray will miss Nuggets' game vs. Lakers - ESPN

Source -- Hunter, Texans agree to 1-year, $35.6M extension - ESPN

Barca on track for women’s Champions League semis after thumping Wolfsburg

Saudi olympic committee vice president attends opening of IOC’s 144th session

Shohei Ohtani smashes first homer of season in front of home crowd at Tokyo Dome

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