LeBron, Bronny make father-son duo debut in Lakers’ win; Celtics throttle Knicks; Fernando Valenzuela dies

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🏀 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

LEBRON JAMES, BRONNY JAMES AND THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS …

Extra historical past for LeBron James, this time together with his son Bronny James by his facet. Late within the second quarter, they grew to become first father-son duo to share the court docket in league historical past, and the Lakers continued the nice vibes with a 110-103 win over the Timberwolves in Los Angeles.

The elder James has made loads of historical past (he even made some undesirable historical past Tuesday, too), however this one was particular, despite the fact that it lasted for just some minutes. And now, with that historic moments within the books, it is as much as the youthful James to make his means from right here, a path that probably will not be with out bitter detractors, writes Invoice Reiter.

• Reiter: “But it surely’s laborious to disregard the pestering worries that, at finest, Bronny is right here within the league too quickly, shoved to the entrance of the road by the forces of his father quite than his personal expertise, and that Tuesday’s debut with dad — and the laudatory protection positive to comply with — will make issues tougher.
  Jealousies are actual. And if he largely stays within the NBA this season, or spends ample time within the G League, he will likely be taking part in in opposition to, and typically with, those that covet what he has, and resent how he obtained it.”

As for elements extra impactful on the end result, Anthony Davis was improbable with 36 factors and 16 rebounds, and I assumed JJ Redick did lots of cool, enjoyable, new issues offensively in his teaching debut, serving to diversify an offense that completely wanted the brand new concepts.

I do not understand how good the Lakers will likely be. The West is loaded. However getting a season-opening win for the primary time since 2016 was definitely the precise first step, and it got here in feel-good trend, too. 

… AND ALSO A GOOD MORNING TO THE BOSTON CELTICS

On the evening they raised a banner and acquired their championship rings, the Celtics proved to one in all their perceived largest threats that they are nonetheless in a category of their very own. The reigning champs throttled the Knicks, 132-109, behind an NBA record-tying 29 3-pointers.

• Jayson Tatum set the tone with 25 factors within the first half. He completed with 37 factors and 10 assists, turning into the fourth Celtics participant with 30 factors and 10 assists in a season opener, becoming a member of Rajon Rondo, John Havlicek and Bob Cousy.
• Tatum’s eight 3-pointers additionally tied Jaylen Brown (in 2021) for probably the most in a Celtics season opener.
• All 5 Celtics starters scored in double figures, with Derrick White (24 factors, six 3-pointers) being the second-leading scorer.
• In considerably hilarious trend, the Celtics, with largely backups and reserves in, missed their remaining 13 3-pointers on their quest to interrupt the report for many 3-pointers in a sport.

For all of the offensive fireworks, possibly my favourite play got here early within the third quarter, with the Celtics up 26. Brown clamped down on Jalen Brunson within the backcourt, forcing an eight-second violation.

For a reigning champ that stored all of its main items, Boton did not have the best offseason, with Tatum hardly taking part in within the Olympics and Brown controversially not even making the workforce. As an alternative, they each — and particularly Tatum — regarded even hungrier to show these selections incorrect. The Celtics have been right here not simply to win, however to ship a message. They did each.

👍 Honorable mentions

👎 Not so honorable mentions

Fernando Valenzuela dies at 63

Simply three days earlier than the Dodgers are set to open the World Sequence in opposition to the Yankees, one in all Los Angeles’ most beloved gamers — who helped win the 1981 World Sequence over the Yankees — has died.

Fernando Valenzuela, the long-lasting lefty who debuted as a 19 years outdated in 1980 and received NL Cy Younger, NL Rookie of the 12 months and the World Sequence one 12 months later, died Tuesday at 63 years outdated.

Valenzuela was serving as a Dodgers radio analyst — a place he held since 2003 — earlier than stepping away for well being causes just a few weeks in the past. His affect was completely gigantic.

• Valenzuela spent 11 of his 17 MLB seasons with the Dodgers, the place he was a six-time All Star and five-time top-five Cy Younger finisher. He additionally received a Gold Glove and two Silver Slugger awards. The Dodgers retired his No. 34 in 2023.
• “Fernandomania” swept Los Angeles within the early ’80s, with the Mexico native’s breakthrough, background and general aura fascinating Southern California and past.
• He’s thought to be the best Mexico-born participant in MLB historical past. Commissioner Rob Manfred known as him, “one of the impactful gamers of his technology.”

The Dodgers will honor Valenzuela throughout Friday’s Sport 1 of the World Sequence.

⚾ World Sequence preview: assessing pitching matchup

Someday after the Yankees introduced Gerrit Cole as their Sport 1 starter, the Dodgers introduced they are going with Jack Flaherty. Los Angeles will flip to Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Sport 2.

Matt Snyder broke down the state of each groups’ staffs, the place the Yankees are anticipated to have a slight edge. However the Dodgers’ already-strong bullpen may get reinforcements.

Dayn Perry, in the meantime, took a visit down reminiscence lane, reliving the finest moments from the 11 prior playoff conferences between these franchises. If you wish to see any a part of the twelfth version in-person, it is going to value you a fairly penny.

🏈 NFL Energy Rankings, plus extra star huge receivers on the transfer?

They simply preserve getting it performed, huh? The Chiefs stay atop Pete Prisco’s NFL Energy Rankings, and because the league’s solely undefeated workforce, they deserve it. But it surely hasn’t been fairly. Patrick Mahomes simply posted his lowest ever passer score within the Chiefs’ win over the 49ers.

However this is the factor: The Chiefs can preserve profitable this manner. Mahomes is fourth in success price, so he retains the offense on monitor, even when it isn’t nice (and even good). The protection is terrific. It is not MVP-level Mahomes, however it’s adequate.

As for who is taking part in at an MVP stage, Jared Goff leads his Lions to second in Pete’s rankings.

1. Chiefs (earlier: 1)
2. Lions (4)
3. Ravens (5)
4. Vikings (2)
5. Packers (6)

Goff earned a serious shoutout in my “5 issues we appreciated and 5 issues we did not” in Week 7.

The Rams, in the meantime, are twenty fourth in Pete’s rankings, and it is feeling like their championship window (which, let’s keep in mind, included a championship!) is sort of shut. They appear to realize it: Cooper Kupp is reportedly accessible for commerce.

Tyler Sullivan mentions Kansas Metropolis as a potential touchdown spot. Moreover, Diontae Johnson is pissed off in Carolina, and there could be loads of touchdown spots for him, too.

⚽ UEFA Champions Matchday 3: Vinicius Junior hat trick leads Actual Madrid

All the troubles about Actual Madrid‘s middling begin to this 12 months’s UEFA Champions League evaporated in a single electrifying half Tuesday. Trailing 2-0 at halftime to Borussia Dortmund, the champions netted 5 objectives within the second half, three of which got here from Vinicius Junior.

The hat trick — and particularly the remaining objective — was mesmerizing, and it was the right precursor to him probably profitable the Ballon d’Or subsequent week, Chuck Sales space writes.

Elsewhere …

The headliner of immediately’s motion is Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich (preview), which is streaming on Paramount+. Robert Lewandowski faces his former membership, and Chuck’s finest wager options him.

• Sales space: “Robert Lewandowski to attain (+113) — This is not a revenge sport issue as a result of these aren’t actual, however as a substitute it is a realization that all the things for Barcelona goes by way of the previous Bayern Munich man. He was excited for all times below Hansi Flick due to how assault minded the Barcelona supervisor is, and it has paid dividends with 14 objectives in 12 video games in all competitions to start the season. Bayern Munich’s assault could also be nice, however their protection is vulnerable.”

Additionally, do not sleep on RB Leipzig-Liverpool.

📺 What we’re watching Wednesday

⚽ We’re watching the UEFA Champions League. Here is how.
🏈 Liberty at Kennesaw State, 7 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
🏀 Bucks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Flyers at Capitals, 7:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🏀 Suns at Clippers, 10 p.m. on ESPN