Good morning. The Lakers are 10-2, the best record in the NBA, after a 124-114 win in Atlanta on Monday, their sixth in a row. Luka Dončić returned from back tightness with 32 points, 10 assists and five steals, a day after being named the West’s Player of the Week. The Rams’ good Sunday came at a cost: Puka Nacua sprained his MCL and PCL and will likely go on injured reserve. UCLA moved up to No. 4, and the College Football Playoff will expand to 24 teams starting next season. Former Ducks GM Brian Burke went into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Tonight, the Kings host Nashville and the Clippers are in Phoenix. Let’s get into it.
🚨 HEADLINES
🏀 10-2. Dončić returned with 32 points, and the Lakers won in Atlanta for their sixth straight win — Eric Lambkins II.
🏀 45.0. Dončić was named the West’s Player of the Week after averaging 45 points in three wins — Carlos Yakimowich.
🏈 At least a month. Puka Nacua is likely headed to injured reserve with MCL and PCL sprains — The Sporting Tribune.
🏈 24 teams. The College Football Playoff will double in size starting in 2027 — The Sporting Tribune.
🏈 No. 4. UCLA moved up after Ty Dieffenbach was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week — Brady Charette.
🏒 Hall of Famer. Brian Burke, who built the 2007 Ducks, was inducted in Toronto — Zach Cavanagh.
See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.
📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY
🏀 NBA: Lakers 124, Hawks 114 · G League: Coachella Valley Lakers 124, San Diego Clippers 110
🏀 MBB: Portland 73, Hawaii 66 (Hawaii wins the Rainbow Classic on a tiebreaker)
🏀 BEST IN THE LEAGUE
Dončić missed Sunday’s win in Detroit with lower back tightness. He was back Monday in Atlanta, on the second night of a back-to-back, and had 32 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks. His run of 40-point games ended, but nobody minded. The Hawks got within 115-111 late, and the Lakers closed on a 6-0 run to win 124-114. Austin Reaves, who scored 43 in Detroit, didn’t play with an illness.
Sandro Mamukelashvili scored a season-high 23 off the bench, Walker Kessler had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Collin Sexton added 18. “When he’s not scoring, he’s impacting the game,” Kessler said of Dončić. Eric Lambkins II writes that the Lakers are 5-1 in back-to-backs and 3-0 on the second night.
At 10-2, the Lakers have the NBA’s best record. Carlos Yakimowich writes that over their six-game streak they lead the league in offensive rating (123.6), scoring (125.7 points a game), field goal percentage and true shooting, and they score more points off turnovers than anyone. Dončić was named the West’s Player of the Week after averaging 45.0 points in three wins, including the 53 against Portland, his fifth Player of the Week award as a Laker and 20th of his career. The Lakers play their seventh straight game Wednesday in Milwaukee.
GO DEEPER
› Eric Lambkins II: The Lakers’ quiet takeover has an inescapable pulse (The Sporting Tribune)
› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers’ offense leads NBA during six-game winning streak (The Sporting Tribune)
› Carlos Yakimowich: Luka Dončić earns Player of the Week after insane week (The Sporting Tribune)
TOGETHER WITH BETONLINE
Today’s TST Best Bets are brought to you by BetOnline.ag. Join here — new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.
🏈 A COSTLY JET SWEEP AND A BIGGER PLAYOFF
The Rams lose Puka Nacua for at least a month. Nacua, who had 14 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown at Washington, sprained the MCL and PCL in his right knee and has turf toe after being hit on a late jet sweep. “We’re thinking it’s going to be at least a month,” Sean McVay said Monday, adding that he expects to put Nacua on injured reserve. McVay said he questioned his own call on the play and feels responsible. Former NFL safety Su’a Cravens went further on ESPN Los Angeles, calling the play-call unnecessary and predicting Nacua is done for the year. Guard Steve Avila (hamstring) will also miss time, while Trent McDuffie could return this week.
UCLA is No. 4. The 9-0 Bruins moved up in both the AP and coaches polls, and Ty Dieffenbach was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Brady Charette writes that Dieffenbach, the Cal Poly transfer who replaced the injured Nico Iamaleava, is 4-0 as a starter and the first FBS player in 30 years to throw for 300 yards on eight or fewer completions. UCLA hosts Illinois at the Rose Bowl on Friday night.
The playoff is doubling. The College Football Playoff will expand from 12 to 24 teams starting next season, with 16 of the 23 games on campus. The top eight seeds get byes, and the quarterfinals and semifinals stay at the six major bowls, including the Rose Bowl. ESPN keeps the rights through 2031-32. This season’s title game, the last in the 12-team format, is Jan. 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. “We’re aware of the fan sentiment and that many fans aren’t in favor of expansion,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said.
GO DEEPER
› Rams’ Puka Nacua likely headed to injured reserve with knee injury, turf toe (The Sporting Tribune)
› Muhammed Asif: Su’a Cravens slams Rams’ play-calling on Nacua injury (The Sporting Tribune)
› Brady Charette: UCLA’s Ty Dieffenbach named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (The Sporting Tribune)
› College Football Playoff to expand to 24 teams in 2027 (The Sporting Tribune)
🏒 CAPS, A HALL OF FAMER AND A TITLE
Gauthier is the NHL’s First Star of the Week. He had eight goals and 10 points in four games. Zach Cavanagh writes that after two goals in his first 11 games, he has 13 in his last six. “I’m just shooting the puck,” Gauthier said. “They’re going, so I’m just gonna keep shooting.” Laurent Brossoit, 4-0 since his recall from San Diego, has earned the net for now.
Brian Burke is a Hall of Famer. The general manager who built the Ducks’ 2007 Stanley Cup team was inducted as a builder Monday night in Toronto. “Nobody starts playing hockey at 13 years old in Minnesota and says someday I’m going to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame,” he joked.
Hawaii lost the game but won the trophy. Portland beat the Rainbow Warriors 73-66 in the Rainbow Classic finale, but Hawaii (3-1) won the title on a tiebreaker, fewest points allowed, for its third straight Rainbow Classic championship. Tanner Cuff scored 22 with six 3-pointers. Hawaii plays Washington State on Nov. 18 in Everett, Wash.
Also: Chris Mañon scored a career-high 32 as the Coachella Valley Lakers (2-0) beat the San Diego Clippers 124-110. And Mars signed on as an LA28 sponsor, making Cheez-It and Pringles official snacks of the 2028 Games.
GO DEEPER
› Zach Cavanagh: Ducks Notebook: Cutter’s cap collection, Brossoit stands tall, Burke to the Hall (The Sporting Tribune)
› Hawaii suffers first loss to Portland but claims Rainbow Classic title on tiebreaker (The Sporting Tribune)
› Ernesto Madrigal-Rodriguez: Coachella Valley’s Chris Mañon scores career-high 32 in win over San Diego (The Sporting Tribune)
› Mars partners with LA28 and Team USA (The Sporting Tribune)
🍔 THE DEALS BOARD
Active today across Southern California — brought to you by Ike’s Sandwiches, home of the world famous Arash Markazi sandwich, which has fried chicken, purple slaw, wasabi mayo, honey mustard, and cheddar on a Dutch Crunch roll. Just ask for the 500 at any Ike’s location.
🌮 Jack in the Box — two free tacos with any drink after the Lakers’ win in Atlanta. Code LETSGOLAKERS in the Jack app or online.
🥪 Firehouse Subs — buy a medium sub, chips and drink, get a medium sub free, after Cameron Dicker’s field goals against Houston. Activate it in the Offers tab of the Firehouse app; select LA-area stores. Ends Wednesday.
Tonight’s trigger: if the Kings score in the final minute of the second period against Nashville, McDonald’s app users get a free McFlurry tomorrow.
🏟️ FOUR GAMES, ONE TUESDAY
Clippers at Suns at 6 on ClipperVision. The Clippers (2-7) snapped their seven-game losing streak Sunday but are still winless on the road.
Predators at Kings at 7 on ABTV. The Kings (5-8-2) are coming off a 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh.
Women’s basketball: Arizona State at UNLV at 6:30 on MW+, and College of Charleston at No. 3 USC at 7:30 on BTN, after JuJu Watkins’ 32 points and 16 rebounds Sunday.
📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10
🏀 NBA: Clippers at Suns — Phoenix — 6:00 p.m. — ClipperVision
🏀 WBB: Arizona State at UNLV — 6:30 p.m. — MW+
🏒 NHL: Predators at Kings — Crypto.com Arena — 7:00 p.m. — ABTV
🏀 WBB: College of Charleston at USC — Galen Center — 7:30 p.m. — BTN
🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?
Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawai’i — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.
🏒 Predators at Kings — Crypto.com Arena — $32
🏀 College of Charleston at USC (WBB) — Galen Center — $31
🏈 Illinois at UCLA (Fri.) — Rose Bowl — $54
🌴 TST TRIVIA
Brian Burke built the Ducks team that won the 2007 Stanley Cup. Which team did the Ducks beat in the Final?
Answer at the bottom.
🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY
The Sporting Tribune Today airs weekdays at 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET on SportsGrid, hosted by Grant Mona and John Browner and built on reporting from our staff across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawai’i.
📺 Watch on television. SportsGrid TV is available on DIRECTV and MyFree DIRECTV (Channel 4105 HD), Samsung TV Plus (2362), Local Now (2024), Vizio WatchFree (640), LG Channels (469) and The Roku Channel (250). You can also search “SportsGrid” on YouTube TV, FuboTV, Sling TV, Plex and Amazon Prime Video.
📻 Listen on radio and podcast. The show airs on SportsGrid Radio, distributed through Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, iHeartRadio and TuneIn — and continues across our regional partners through Westwood One Sports.
› Listen to the latest episode
Trivia answer: The Ottawa Senators, in five games.
Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.