The Sportsletter - Luka Gets Last Laugh

BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 26, 2025 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

It’s the mid-week mix! There’s plenty of star power in today’s edition, but basketball is the focus again. Luka Doncic got revenge against the Mavericks. Diana Taurasi called it a career after 20 years. Plus, a pair of men’s NCAA top 10 teams fell.

Tonight: SheBelieves Cup Final ⚽️

🇺🇸 USWNT vs. 🇯🇵 Japan (10:30 pm, TBS)

Letter Rip!

  NBA   

Lakers, Luka Get Last Laugh

Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images

Lakers’ Luka Doncic Notches Triple-Double (19-15-12) in 1st Rematch With Mavericks Since Trade (107-99)

Round 1 of the NBA's new west rivalry goes to Luka. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of a career-long narrative. If there was one must-see regular-season NBA game to circle on the calendar, this was it. At least until Luka travels back to Dallas on April 9.

The Lakers and Mavs met last night in L.A. less than one month after the earth-shattering trade that swapped Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis, and No. 77 was visibly emotional. He didn’t shoot well, but Luka (19 pts, 15 ast, 12 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk) became the eighth player in NBA history to record a triple-double in the first game against his former team. He stared down at the Mavs’ bench after his lone 3-pointer in the first half. Lakers fans chanted "Thank you, Nico!" at Mavericks GM Nico Harrison during a pair of Doncic free throws. Luka scored or assisted on 51 of LA’s 107 points while LeBron James (27-12-9) almost had a triple-double, too. The Lakers held a narrow lead late in the 4th quarter and won without much drama (107-99).

LA’s Revival: Don’t look now, but the Lakers (35-21) are 15-4 since January 13 — the first game after the LA wildfires. They’re 7-2 since acquiring Doncic.

Watch: Lakers, Luka Get Last Laugh Against Mavs (107-99)

🏀 NBA Scoreboard

Grizzlies def. Suns (151-148, OT)

Ja Morant Slams Suns After 299 Total Points

Warriors def. Hornets (128-92)

Neither Team Has a Player Score 20 Points

Cavaliers def. Magic (122-82)

Cleveland Wins by 40 for 8th Straight 'W'

Full NBA Scoreboard

  WNBA   

Farewell Diana Taurasi 👋

Photo: Chris Coduto / Getty Images

WNBA Legend Diana Taurasi Retires After 20 Seasons & Some Untouchable Accolades

The leading scorer in WNBA history is hanging it up. Diana Taurasi announced her retirement on Tuesday after 20 seasons in the WNBA, all with the Phoenix Mercury. The news was released in an exclusive story in TIME Magazine. In the interview, Taurasi discussed her favorite memories, teammates, scoring records and her six Olympic gold medals — the most by any men’s or women’s basketball player ever. Her 10,646 WNBA points are nearly 2,400 more than No. 2 on the list (Tina Charles, 7,696). In short, DT is the WNBA’s scoring GOAT. A winner at every level...

Taurasi By The Numbers (WNBA Ranks)

10,646 Points (Ranks 1st)

1,447 3s Made (Ranks 1st)

2,517 FTs Made (Ranks 1st)

2,394 Assists (Ranks 4th)

3 NCAA Championships

3 WNBA Titles

6 Olympic Gold Medals

"Mentally and physically, I'm just full. That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I'm full and I'm happy.” — Diana Taurasi (TIME Magazine)

Read More

ESPN: Diana Taurasi, WNBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer, Announces Retirement

TIME: After Unparalleled Career, WNBA Star Diana Taurasi Announces Her Retirement

  SPORTS  

Mid-Week Mix: Lightning Round ⚡️

Photos: Patrick Smith, Icon Sportswire, Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images

🏒 Ovechkin’s 19th 30-Goal Season

The closer he gets, the more he’s picking up steam. The Capitals’ lost to the Flames last night (3-1), but Alex Ovechkin scored his 30th goal of the season and added to his NHL record with 19 30-goal campaigns. He’s now 12 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record (894).

⚽️ Messi & Miami Into CCC R-of-16

Inter Miami claimed a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City in last night’s Concacaf Champions Cup match thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Miami advances to the Round of 16 in the CCC along with three other MLS clubs (possibly five total).

🏈 Travis Kelce’s Retirement Rumors
Chiefs’ GM Brett Veach appeared to reveal the future plans of TE Travis Kelce Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, saying Kelce is “fired up” to return for the final year of his contract. The 35-year-old tight end hasn't spoken publicly, but he is due for an $11.5 million roster bonus in March.

⛳️ The Bay GC Stays Unbeaten in TGL

Three of the four TGL playoff teams are now locked after The Bay Golf Club beat Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links (6-3) to stay undefeated Tuesday night. The Bay’s lineup of Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry and Ludvig Aberg are a perfect 4-0, and they won the first “double hammer” hole in TGL history.

🏀 NCAAM: Two Top 10s Upset

M: #2 Duke def. Miami (97-60)

🚨 M: Georgia Upsets #3 Florida (88-83)

M: #5 Tennessee def. LSU (65-59)

M: #6 Alabama def. #24 Miss. State (111-73)

🚨 M: OK State def. #9 Iowa State (74-68)

  STORYLINES  

🚨 The Point Shaving Investigation

Federal and NCAA authorities are investigating potential links between the gambling ring that ensnared former NBA player Jontay Porter and wagering on at least nine college games the last two seasons. (Sports Illustrated)

🏈 Cam Ward Remains No. 1 Favorite

There's no more valuable position in sports than quarterback in the NFL. Despite the excitement around two-way star Travis Hunter and pass-rusher Abdul Carter, Miami QB Cam Ward remains the favorite to be No. 1. (Yahoo! Sports)

🏁 IndyCar Pre-Season Power Rankings

It could be another year of great parity in the IndyCar Series. No driver had more than three wins over the 17 races in 2024 and no driver recorded more than seven top-three finishes. (FOX Sports)

  NEWS   📰 

🏈 NCAA Rules Committee Takes Aim at Injury Faking as Flopping in College Football Hits ‘Inflection Point’ (CBS Sports)

🏈 Eagles Plan to Celebrate Super Bowl Win With White House Visit (SI)

🎙️ Iconic New York Sports Broadcaster Al Trautwig Dies at Age 68 (USA Today)

🏈 Bills & WR Khalil Shakir Agree to 4-Year, $60 Milion Contract Extension (B/R)

🏈 GM Confirms Packers Were the ‘Anonymous’ Team Who Submitted Proposal to Ban the ‘Tush Push’ (ESPN)

🏈 FBI Investigating Alleged Extortion Attempt Against Bucs RB Rachaad White (Yahoo! Sports)

🏒 Panthers’ Forward Sam Bennett Authors ‘Gordie How’ Hat Trick; Goal, Assist & Fight (ESPN)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

Tonight's Must-Watch List

⚽️ SheBelieves Cup

3rd: 🇦🇺 Australia vs. 🇨🇴 Colombia (7:30 pm, Max)

Final: 🇺🇸 USWNT vs. 🇯🇵 Japan (10:30 pm, TBS)

🏀 NBA

Celtics at Pistons (7:00 pm, NBATV)

76ers at Knicks (7:00 pm, ESPN)
Spurs at Rockets (9:30 pm, ESPN)

NBA Schedule

🏒 NHL

Jets at Senators (7:00 pm, ESPN+)

Devils at Avalanche (9:30 pm, ESPN+)

Canucks at Kings (10:00 pm, TNT)

NHL Schedule

⚽️ Other Soccer

Tottenham vs. Man. City (2:30 pm, Peacock)

Liverpool vs. Newcastle (3:15 pm, USAN)

Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid (3:30 pm, ESPN+)

🏀 NCAA Basketball

M: #8 MSU at #16 Maryland (6:30 pm, BTN)

W: #23 MSU at #12 Ohio State (7:00 pm, B1G+)

W: #2 UCLA at Wisconsin (8:00 pm, Peacock)

*All Times ET

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