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INDIANAPOLIS — Serious and concerning. Those were the words Baltimore Ravens general manager and executive vice president Eric DeCosta used Tuesday morning ahead of the 2025 NFL scouting combine to describe the sexual harassment allegations against kicker Justin Tucker that 16 women described to The Baltimore Banner, which has triggered an NFL-led investigation.

‘The allegations are serious and concerning. The amount of allegations are serious and concerning. I think we’re fortunate that the league is doing an investigation. We’ll wait as patiently as we can for as much information as we can. We’ll make our decisions based on that.’

The Banner reported in January that six women at multiple spa and wellness businesses in the Baltimore area made allegations against Tucker, including that he “(exposed) his genitals, brushing two of them with his exposed penis, and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments.”

Since then, 10 more women have gone on the record with the outlet.

‘It’s not what you want to wake up and read,’ Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday. ‘You don’t want to read about it. It’s not something you want to see. I don’t care what it is, in terms of things that are hurtful and harmful to people.’

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Harbaugh said he wants to make sure everyone associated with the Ravens in any capacity is having a great work experience and not made to feel ‘less than.’

After the Banner’s initial story, Tucker said in a statement on social media the allegations are ‘unequivocally false’ and that he’d retained a top defamation lawyer.

The NFL has sent investigators to Baltimore and DeCosta met with them. He said he believed the league was conducting meetings with other people in the area as well.

‘I think the biggest thing that we have to do, first of all, is look at every single case differently,’ DeCosta said. ‘There are no absolutes. I think in this case, we’re still awaiting as much information as possible.’

DeCosta said he did not know the timeline of the investigation. But the NFL began its investigation last week and The Banner reported that three women have spoken with the league, and two more are scheduled to do so.

‘That’s what we’re trying to do, is reconcile it,’ Harbaugh said. ‘That’s what the process is for. That’s why you have to come to an understanding, if you can, about what happened. We all got questions. But nobody knows. So let’s see where the review takes us.’

DeCosta said he first became aware of the allegations after the Banner contacted him. The general manager told Harbaugh something was about to break, and then about two weeks later Harbaugh called Tucker on a Sunday morning, he said. Those conversations largely revolved around Tucker’s feelings and what he was going through. DeCosta met with Tucker in person recently but kept the conversation private.

‘The NFL is looking into it,’ Harbaugh said. ‘They’re going to come up. They’re going to review the facts. I’m sure we’re going to have an understanding at that time.’

Once that understanding is reached, the organization can make ‘decisions and determinations and things like that.’

Tucker’s performance during the 2024 season — the worst of his career (22-for-30 on field-goal attempts with two extra-point misses) — and his age (35) had the Ravens already prepping to either draft or sign a replacement at the position. Kicking coach Randy Brown is involved in the evaluation process of kickers that begins this week in Indianapolis. Kickers are scheduled to work out Wednesday.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Have you ever stumbled upon a video on social media that made you question the technology you use every day? 

That’s exactly what happened to me recently, and it led me down a rabbit hole of unexpected discoveries about my iPhone’s voice-to-text feature.

The TikTok video that started it all

It all began when I came across a TikTok video claiming that when using Apple’s voice-to-text feature, saying the word ‘racist’ would initially result in the word ‘Trump’ being typed before quickly correcting itself. Intrigued and somewhat skeptical, I felt compelled to investigate this claim myself.

Putting it to the test

Armed with my phone, I opened the Messages app on my iPhone and began my experiment. To my surprise, the results mirrored what the TikTok video had shown. When I said ‘racist,’ the voice-to-text feature indeed initially typed ‘Trump’ before quickly correcting it to ‘racist.’ To ensure this wasn’t a one-off glitch, I repeated the test multiple times. The pattern persisted, leaving me very concerned.

When AI gets it wrong

This behavior raises serious questions about the algorithms powering our voice recognition software. Could this be a case of artificial intelligence bias, where the system has inadvertently created an association between certain words and political figures? Or is it merely a quirk in the speech recognition patterns? One possible explanation is that the voice recognition software may be influenced by contextual data and usage patterns. 

Given the frequent association of the term ‘racist’ with ‘Trump’ in media and public discourse, the software might erroneously predict ‘Trump’ when ‘racist’ is spoken. This could result from machine-learning algorithms adapting to prevalent language patterns, leading to unexpected transcriptions.

As someone who frequently relies on voice-to-text, this experience has made me reconsider how much I trust this technology. While usually dependable, incidents like these serve as a reminder that AI-powered features are not infallible and can produce unexpected and potentially problematic results.

Voice recognition technology has made significant strides, but it’s clear that challenges remain. Issues with proper nouns, accents and context are still being addressed by developers. This incident underscores that while the technology is advanced, it’s still a work in progress. We reached out to Apple for a comment about this incident but did not hear back before our deadline.

Kurt’s key takeaways

This TikTok-inspired investigation has been eye-opening, to say the least. It reminds us of the importance of approaching technology with a critical eye and not taking every feature for granted. Whether this is a harmless glitch or indicative of a deeper issue of algorithmic bias, one thing is clear: we must always be prepared to question and verify the technology we use. This experience has certainly given me pause and reminded me to double-check my voice-to-text messages before sending them off to another person.

How do you think companies like Apple should address and prevent such errors in the future? Let us know by writing us at 

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This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

With just days to go before the first phase of the fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was set to expire, the terrorist group has agreed to release the bodies of four dead Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. 

Israel has delayed the release of about 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it regarded as the cruel treatment of hostages during their release by Hamas. 

‘In light of Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes, it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies,’ the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

Tensions were made worse after Hamas said it was turning over the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons – only for it to later be revealed that the identity of the mom did not match. 

The militant group said it had ‘no interest in withholding any bodies in its possession,’ claiming that the dead hostages handed over had been killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023 and that the bodies could have been misidentified due to bombardments in the area. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari denies this and said Ariel and Kfir Bibas were killed by their captors.

Hamas has accused Israel of committing a ‘serious violation’ by delaying the ceasefire agreement and said that talks on a second phase aren’t possible until the Palestinians are freed.

But Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou later told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Hamas would hand over the bodies of four Israelis the next day.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, thousands of Israelis lined the highways as the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two children were transported to their burial.

Shiri Bibas was kidnapped with her two sons — Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months old — from their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023. 

Yarden Bibas, their father, was taken separately, and released during the ceasefire last month. The three will be buried on Kibbutz Nir Oz on Wednesday afternoon.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The key to Africa’s future is in increasing trade with the U.S., not in receiving aid from it, a message key analysts told Fox News Digital in the wake of President Donald Trump’s foreign aid freeze.

‘U.S. trade dollars exchanged with Africa massively exceed aid dollars granted,’ South African-based Frans Cronje, an advisor for the Yorktown Foundation for Freedom, told Fox News Digital. 

Some $11 billion of USAid funds were reportedly spent in Africa in 2024, but trade between the U.S. and Africa during the same period was seven times higher – $71.6 billion, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Cronje said ‘the idea of helping people with aid may be admirable, but in practice achieves little in Africa by way of addressing the structural factors that underpin poverty. Trade, on the other hand, is a more viable route by which the U.S. can build strong relationships with Africa, and is also in line with President Donald Trump’s style of diplomacy through transactions.’

Cronje elaborated, saying, ‘Aid acts as a subsidy to bad governments, and thereby keeps them in power despite an absence of reform – whereas trade requires reforms and improving governance to be sustainable.’

Following the Trump administration’s policy change, Ledama Olekina, senator for Kenya’s Narok County, added, ‘We don’t need aid in Kenya; we can do it on our own!’ Posting on X on Jan. 28, Olekina wrote, ‘Relying on aid from the West limits our opportunities to be industrious and creative. From now on, we must learn to live within our means, eliminate corruption, and instill a spirit of patriotism in our citizens. Together, let’s build a brighter future for our country. Thank you @realDonaldTrump and @USAID it’s time!’

Anna Mahjar-Barducci, a senior research fellow at the Middle East Media Research Institute, told Fox News Digital that aid ‘does not help the needy, as foreign aid keeps the needy always being needy … international aid doesn’t go directly to the starving population, but to governments. The direct consequence is the growth of the role of the State in the economy of the recipient country, which does not offer incentives to (the) private sector’s development.’

She added, ‘Foreign aid has been financing central governments, which (has) ended up promoting statism, and discouraging the creation of an entrepreneurial culture. As a result, government bureaucrats became richer, and regular citizens got poorer. As British economist Peter Bauer put it: ‘Aid is a process by which the poor in the rich countries subsidize the rich in poor countries.’

Aid has other negative effects, according to Mahjar-Barducci, who added, ‘aid is providing governments, many of which are dictatorships, in Africa with freely usable cash, which not only discourages the creation of an entrepreneurial culture, but it also discourages steps toward peace in war-torn areas.

‘While many Westerners (mainly belonging to the radical left) criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to pause U.S. foreign aid, many African intellectuals welcomed the new administration’s policy.’ 

She pointed to a recent column by Nigerian expert Mfonobong Inyang, titled, ‘Wake Up Africa, Foreign Aid Is Not A Development Strategy.’ She said ‘in his article, he stated that foreign aid is meant to be a temporary relief and intervention, not an official policy of any country that seeks to assert its sovereignty.’

Mahjar-Barducci said, ‘Many African economists are saying that the suspension of USAID funding, offers an opportunity to redefine the African countries’ development strategy, and establish an ‘Africa-first approach,’ based on direct investments, innovation, partnerships, (and) empowering local governance.’

On Sunday, The Associated Press reported that some 1,600 posts at USAID would be eliminated after reviewing notices that were sent to USAID workers.

Enter the dragon. China is whipping its Belt and Road Initiative into a virtual frenzy in Africa. Beijing has invested over $700 billion in infrastructure development on the continent in the decade up to 2023, according to China’s commerce industry. 

Cronje said that when it comes to Africa, China already believes in pushing trade, rather than aid, ‘in terms of both foreign investment flows and trade flows, China is a significantly more important economic partner for Africa than is the U.S. Since around 2010, Chinese trade with Africa escalated sharply in dollar terms whilst trade levels between the U.S. and Africa remained relatively flat.’

Mahdar-Barducci borrowed Ghanian economist George Ayittey’s phrase ‘Chopsticks Mercantilism’ to describe China’s policy in Africa, commenting on ‘China’s dexterity in striking deals with African leaders that were stacked in its own favor. Chinese multinational companies are investing in the African continent, in exchange for access to natural resources.’ 

Cronje stated that for the U.S., instead of aid, ‘trade is likely to be a more effective route to securing sound economic and diplomatic relations with Africa, as it helps to build sustainable African economies without being a direct cost to American taxpayers.’

Additionally, on China, Cronje concluded, ‘In many respects, the U.S. is having to play catch-up in Africa. For American policy makers, the trade and investment deficit relative to China should be a more important concern than the question of future aid flows.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to hear oral arguments Wednesday in a case involving an Ohio woman who claims she was unfairly discriminated against for being straight, while she watched her less-qualified LGBT colleagues in Ohio’s youth corrections system climb the career ladder.

Marlean Ames, the woman at the center of the case, argued she was discriminated against because of her heterosexuality at the Ohio Department of Youth Services and contends that her demotion and pay cut constitutes a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The decision of the case could have a significant impact on employment law.

Ames’ case is before the Supreme Court after lower courts dismissed her claim in light of the precedent in the 1973 McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green decision. In that case, the high court created a three-step process for handling discrimination cases based on indirect evidence, with the first step being the key issue in the case.

At this first step, plaintiffs in such cases must present enough evidence to make a basic case of discrimination. This requirement applies to all plaintiffs, whether they are from minority or majority groups.

Thus, Ames is challenging the legal standard used by lower courts, which requires her to provide additional ‘background circumstances’ to ‘support the suspicion that the defendant is that unusual employer who discriminates against the majority.’ The majority in this case appears to be Ames, since she is straight. 

Ames’ attorney, Edward Gilbert, argued in a Feb. 7 court filing that this additional evidence burden is inappropriate and that discrimination should be assessed equally.

‘Judges must actually treat plaintiffs differently, by first separating them into majority and minority groups, and then imposing a ‘background circumstances’ requirement on the former but not the latter,’ the filing read. ‘In other words, to enforce Title VII’s broad rule of workplace equality, courts must apply the law unequally.’

Ames started working at the Ohio Department of Youth Services in 2004 as an executive secretary, which oversees the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. Since 2009, she was promoted several times, and by 2014, she was promoted to program administrator, according to the Supreme Court filing.

In 2017, Ames began reporting to a new supervisor, Ginine Trim, who is openly gay. During her 2018 performance review, Trim rated Ames as meeting expectations in most areas and exceeding them in one.

However, in 2019, after Ames applied for a bureau chief position and did not get it, she was removed from her program administrator role, the court filing states. The department’s assistant director and HR head, both of whom are straight, offered her the choice to return to her previous job with a pay cut. Ames chose to remain with the department and was later promoted to a different program administrator position. The department then hired a gay woman for the bureau chief role Ames had wanted, and a gay man for the program administrator position she previously held.

After assuming Ames’ role, the co-worker ‘expressed to Ames an ‘impatient attitude towards climbing the ranks within the Department,’ ‘claim[ed] that he could manipulate people to get what he wanted on the basis of being a gay man,’ and ‘acknowledge[d]; that he had ’been angling for Ames’s position for some time, stating in front of their coworkers that he wanted the PREA Administrator position,” according to the filing.

In an amicus brief filed by Elizabeth Prelogar, the U.S. solicitor general under the Biden administration, the federal government supports Marlean Ames’ argument. Prelogar said the ‘background circumstances’ requirement imposed by the lower court has no basis in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and goes against the Court’s past rulings, which allow all plaintiffs to be judged by the same standards, SCOTUS Blog reported.

On the other hand, the Ohio Department of Youth Services disagrees with the idea that Ames was held to a higher standard because she is straight. The department argued that the ‘background circumstances’ rule is not an additional burden on plaintiffs, but rather a ‘method of analysis’ to examine cases like Ames’ without creating a new legal precedent.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case Wednesday morning, with a ruling expected by the end of June. 

The case’s hearing before the high court comes amid a second Trump administration that is working to dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal sector while pressuring private sectors to do the same. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has posted detailed instructions on its website for the thousands of employees seeking to retrieve personal belongings from their offices inside the Ronald Reagan Building after being fired or placed on administrative leave.

The agency is giving employees two days – Thursday, Feb. 27, and Friday, Feb. 28 – to enter the building during designated time slots if they have items they would like to bring home. While the slots range from 60 minutes to 90 minutes overall, employees will have approximately 15 minutes to collect personal belongings from their work spaces.

‘Staff will be given approximately 15 minutes to complete this retrieval and must be finished removing items within their time slot only,’ the instructions stated. ‘Staff with a significant amount of personal belongings to retrieve must be cognizant of time; however, flexibility may be granted in select circumstances with the approval of the Office of Security.’

They must also bring their own containers and supplies to remove and pack up their belongings. 

Before leaving the building with their items, USAID said staff ‘will be required to acknowledge receipt of their personal belongings’ in order to keep agencies from being liable for items left behind. They will also be required to confirm that they do not have any physical or electronic government records with them.

USAID said Thursday and Friday are the only two days when retrieval will be allowed and employees must do it within the time slot that coordinates with their bureau. If staff members cannot make the time slot, only a designated alternate staff member can retrieve belongings as visitors, children and staff without proper credentials will not be allowed.

General Services Administration will pack up personal items that were not retrieved and will send them to a warehouse to be collected at a later date, the instructions said.

There are 14 time slots for employees of 25 bureaus between the two retrieval days.

Employees will also return all USAID-issued government-furnished equipment during their time in the building.

On Sunday at midnight, the Trump administration placed nearly 1,600 USAID employees on administrative leave globally, excluding those working on mission-critical functions, core leadership or specially designated programs.

The reduction-in-force call came after thousands of USAID employees were fired, leaving only around 300 staffers left at the agency.

Trump decided to significantly cut down the agency after the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, determined that USAID wasted millions of dollars funding questionable programs and initiatives around the world.

For instance, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, the Senate DOGE Caucus Chairwoman, recently published a list that included $20 million to produce a Sesame Street show in Iraq. 

Several more examples have been uncovered, such as more than $900,000 to a ‘Gaza-based terror charity’ called Bayader Association for Environment and Development and a $1.5 million program slated to ‘advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

A funeral procession for a mother and her two young sons is being held Wednesday morning in Rishon Lezion, Israel, after their remains were turned over by Hamas last week.

The remains of Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel and Kfir were handed over to Israeli authorities late last week as part of an ongoing hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas. 

The funeral will be held near the family’s home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, at a private ceremony in Zohar, The Times of Israel reported. It will be closed to the public.

The family published the route of the funeral procession and urged the public to show support as the remains are transported.

On Friday, Hamas handed over a coffin carrying Shiri Bibas’ remains to the Red Cross, which turnedthe coffin over to Israeli authorities. She was positively identified on Saturday morning.

Hamas had initially handed over a Palestinian woman from Gaza on Thursday. 

The terror group said it had ‘no interest in withholding any bodies in its possession.’ It said the dead hostages handed over on Thursday had been killed by an Israeli airstrike in November 2023 and that the bodies could have been misidentified due to bombardments in the area.

Before the handover of Shiri Bibas’ remains, Israeli authorities positively identified the remains of her two sons along with another hostage, Oded Lifshitz.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Luka Doncic got his revenge. At least for now.

The five-time All-NBA selection posted a 19-point, 15-rebound, 12-assist triple-double, and LeBron James scored 16 of his team-high 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 107-99 Tuesday.

It was Doncic’s first game against his former team since the blockbuster trade that shook the NBA.

‘I don’t know how to explain it. I think the first quarter, second quarter, I didn’t know what was happening. It was just different,’ Doncic said of facing the Mavericks.

Is he happy the long-hyped matchup is over?

‘I can’t wait to go to sleep, honestly,’ Doncic said.

While the Mavericks were without injured Anthony Davis, who Dallas acquired along with Max Christie in the Doncic trade, the Lakers showed why they have potential for a deep run in the Western Conference with James and Doncic spearheading a potent offensive attack.

The score was 91-91 with 6:17 left in the fourth quarter; the Lakers closed the game on a 16-8 run.

Doncic added three steals and two blocks, James collected 12 rebounds and Austin Reaves added 20 points for the Lakers. Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 34 points, and Klay Thompson had 22 for Dallas.

Lakers vs. Mavericks highlights

Final: Lakers 107, Mavericks 99

Luka Doncic records triple-double

Luka Doncic recorded his first triple-double in a Lakers uniform. On a pass to LeBron James for a 3-pointer with 6:31 left in the fourth quarter, Doncic recorded his 10th assist, giving him 17 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists – plus three steals and two blocks. It is Doncic’s fourth triple-double of the season in just his 27th game of 2024-25. It’s his first triple-double since Dec. 15 and the 81st of his career.

How many points did Luka Doncic score?

Here’s Luka Doncic’s final stats vs. the Mavericks:

Points: 19
FG: 6-for-17
3PT: 1-for-7
FT: 6-for-8
Rebounds: 15
Assists: 12
Steals: 3
Blocks: 2
Turnovers: 2
Fouls: 2
Minutes played: 35

End of third quarter: Lakers 78, Mavericks 77

Luka Doncic is one assist from a triple-double headed into the fourth quarter with the Lakers clinging to a 78-77 lead against Dallas. Doncic has 17 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks against the team that traded him almost a month ago. Donic is 5-for-14 from the field and just 1-for-7 on 3-pointers. Will Doncic end up with a 20-point, 20-rebound triple-double – and the victory? Austin Reaves leads the Lakers with 20 points, and LeBron James has 11 points, seven rebounds and six turnovers. Kyrie Irving’s 27 points has helped keep Dallas, which is shooting 40% on 3-pointers, in the game.

Mark Cuban attends Mavericks-Lakers game

Mark Cuban, former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, attended the game in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Cuban, who sold his majority share in the NBA team in December 2023, was not involved in the trade that sent Luka Doncic to L.A. However, he did play a part in drafting Doncic in 2018 when he was serving as the team governor. The Slovenian was named Rookie of the Year in 2019. Cuban said after the Feb. 2 trade he found it “confusing,” and got a call “just before it was announced.” 

Halftime: Lakers 59, Mavericks 51

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is headed for a triple-double in his first game against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, who traded him to the Lakers four days before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Doncic had 12 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks through two quarters as the Lakers took a 59-51 lead into halftime against the Mavericks. Doncic had three points, five rebounds and three assists in the second quarter. Two of those assists were on 3-pointers, and the third assist was after a rebound in which he went coast to coast and found Jarred Vanderbilt on a no-look pass for a layup. Austin Reaves had 14 points, and LeBron James had nine points and six rebounds for the Lakers. Kyrie Irving leads the Mavs with 18 points, and Max Christie, who along with Anthony Davis was traded to Dallas in the Doncic deal, scored 10 points.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the house for Lakers-Mavericks

Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is attending tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. Abdul-Jabbar’s former teammate James Worthy walked over to embrace him. Abdul-Jabbar also was featured on the big screen at Crypto.com Arena and was applauded by the crowd. Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s second all-time leading scorer. LeBron James overtook Abdul-Jabbar in 2023.

End Q1: Lakers 28, Mavericks 20

Luka Doncic’s first matchup against his former team has not disappointed so far. The Lakers jumped out to an eight-point lead over the Mavericks in the first quarter, led by nine points, seven rebounds and four assists from Doncic. There were fireworks (Doncic was called for a tech for clapping at a ref over a non-call) and emotions were running high (Doncic stared down the Mavericks’ bench after a 3). LeBron James added seven points, while Rui Hachimura had five. 

The Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving has a game-high 14 points and two rebounds. Klay Thompson added two points. 

Watch: Luka Doncic stares down Mavericks bench after 3

Doncic is making a statement early. After picking up a technical in the opening minutes of the game arguing a non-call, Doncic rattled off five consecutive points, capped by a 29-foot 3 to give the Lakers a 16-14 lead over the Mavericks. Doncic immediately turned toward his former teammates and stared down the Mavericks’ bench after the shot. (Doncic knocked down another 3 during the stretch, but replay review showed that his foot narrowly stepped out of bounds. The points were taken off the scoreboard.)

Luka Doncic called for a technical foul

Less than three minutes into the game, we already have a technical foul. Luka Doncic was called for a tech after clapping in referee Pat Fraher’s face. Doncic thought he was fouled under the basket by former teammate P.J. Washington, who grabbed Doncic’s arm as Doncic went up for a layup. No foul was called on Washington, Doncic missed the shot and Washington picked up the rebound.

When is Luka Doncic’s birthday?

Doncic will celebrate his 26th birthday Saturday. He was born Feb. 28, 1999. 

What time is the Lakers game tonight?

Luka Doncic suits up for the Los Angeles Lakers in his first clash with the Dallas Mavericks since the trade that sent him west. The game starts at 10 p.m. ET with coverage on TNT.

All times Eastern.

Game starts: 10 p.m. ET

Lakers vs. Mavericks TV channel: How to watch

TV channel: TNT and TruTV

Lakers vs. Mavericks stream: How to stream Luka Doncic game

The game will be carried on Max. You can also watch on Sling.

Watch NBA games on TNT with Sling

Jason Kidd on Luka Doncic: ‘The Lakers are fortunate to have him’

No one knows Luka Doncic better than Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, who coached Doncic for over three seasons in Dallas. This time around, however, Doncic is on the opposing team’s roster. Kidd said the Mavericks are going to attempt to contain Doncic by making it “tough” on him. 

“He’s one of the best players in the world. He causes a problem when he’s on the floor,” Kidd said ahead of Tuesday’s game. “The Lakers are fortunate to have him.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick’s message to Luka Dončić ahead of Mavericks game: ‘Balance’

Lakers coach JJ Redick’s comments regarding his desire for Luka Dončić to have a “blackout moment” before a 123-100 victory against the Denver Nuggets were considered notable after Dončić produced 32 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

In preparation for a game against his former team, Dončić received a message about balance.

“I think with him, he is at his best when he has that balance of joy and playfulness and that killer mentality,” Redick said during his pregame availability. “Just perfectly living in the moment of competition and he will find that tonight.”

This will be the first time Dončić has played against the Mavericks. He started his first seven seasons in the NBA with the Mavericks.

Is LeBron James playing tonight?

Yes. Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James has been upgraded to available against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. James was initially listed on the injury report for left foot injury management, an issue that sidelined him for the Lakers’ Feb. 8 win over the Indiana Pacers and the 2025 All-Star Game on Feb. 16.

Is Anthony Davis playing tonight?

No. Davis will not be active when the Mavericks face his former team for the first time since trading him on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Davis is listed as out on the Dallas injury report.

Davis suffered a left adductor strain in his Mavericks debut on Feb. 8. He’s been sidelined ever since, but that didn’t stop Davis from getting some shots up inside of Crypto.com Arena, where Davis had called home for over five seasons.

Watch: Jordan releases new Luka Doncic commercial

Luka Doncic’s highly-anticipated matchup against his former team on Tuesday has spawned a new Jordan Brand advertisement. The sports apparel company released an ad that features Doncic swapping out a Texas license plate on his purple-and-yellow sports car for a California license plate, symbolizing his new home with the Los Angeles Lakers. The ad is set to the tune of George Strait’s “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” a nod to Doncic’s contentious departure from the Dallas Mavericks. 

The ad closes with the message, ‘Full tank. No mercy.”  

Doncic signed an endorsement deal with Air Jordan in December 2019. 

Kyrie Irving visits Kobe and Gigi Bryant statue 

Ahead of the Mavericks’ matchup against the Lakers on Tuesday, Kyrie Irving paid tribute to the late Kobe and Gigi Bryant by visiting their statue outside the Crypto.com Arena. The statue depicts Bryant kissing the top of Gianna’s head as they sat courtside at a Lakers game in December 2019, less than a month before their tragic deaths.

“(Bryant) was a genuine friend, a genuine big brother, and losing someone like that was one of the hardest things to deal with, to grieve over it,” Irving said of Bryant in November. 

Why was Luka Doncic traded to the Lakers?

‘A lot happened quickly when news broke that Dončić would be joining the Lakers, with both players surfacing in their new cities within days. Then came the reports and speculation about why this deal happened, and why the Mavericks ultimately elected to move on from Dončić, a 25-year-old superstar seemingly about to enter the prime of his career. leading up to this moment. There was delight from Lakers fans, disgust from lots of Mavericks fans, and an infusion of interest and curiosity from diehard and casual NBA fans alike.’ — Mark Giannotto

Who won the Lakers-Mavericks Luka Doncic trade?

‘Luka Doncic has played four games for the Los Angeles Lakers, and Anthony Davis has played one game for the Dallas Mavericks since the blockbuster trade between the two teams involving those two All-Stars […]

‘It’s still early, and sweeping conclusions are unjustified, but so far, the Lakers have won the trade – on the court and in the court of public opinion.’ Read the complete analysis here. — Jeff Zillgitt

Luka Doncic stats: Points and more since joining Lakers

Games: 4
Points/Game: 19
Rebounds/Game: 7.5
Assists/Game: 5.8
FG%: 38.8
3PT%: 27.3
Minutes/Game: 27.8

Predictions for Mavericks vs. Lakers:

Sporting News: Lakers 115, Mavs 110

Sloan Piva writes, ‘LA should dictate the pace at home – it has scored 25.6 fast-break points per game over the past three games (best in the NBA in that stretch) – and we like unsung heroes like Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt to play big parts down low against the Mavs’ injury-plagued front court. 

‘Don’t fall into the trap of laying the points with LA, though. Pride is at stake for Jason Kidd’s team, and the Mavs sit top-eight in a loaded West for a reason. They’re 7-1 against the spread over their past eight games, and likely pissed off after taking their worst loss in that stretch their last time out. They might not come out of Los Angeles with a win, but they also probably won’t get wiped out completely by the Don and his new family.’

DeMarcus Cousins: Luka will feast

During an appearance on television, Cousins said, ‘I know how I felt when I made my return to the team that traded me. I was a shark in bloody water. I expect nothing less from Luka. I think it’s gonna be a lot of emotion. I think it’ll be a lot of antics. And I think he’s coming out firing right away. I think he’s gonna try to make a statement.’

FanDuel: Lakers to win

FanDuel gives the Lakers a 57.9% chance of winning Tuesday’s game. Furthermore, FanDuel also points out that the Lakers have a stellar 16-10 record against the spread when playing at home.

Odds, lines for Mavericks vs. Lakers:

*All odds via BetMGM

The Los Angeles Lakers are favorites to defeat Dallas in Tuesday’s NBA matchup, according to the BetMGM basketball odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering sports betting promos in 2024.

Odds as of Monday evening.

Spread: Lakers (-9.5)
Moneylines: Lakers (-425); Mavericks (+320)
Over/under: 230.5

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On Tuesday, the women’s college basketball, WNBA and Olympic legend announced that, after 20 years in the WNBA, she is retiring.

In the hours following her announcement, tributes flooded in, not only from those close to Taurasi, but also from around the sports world. This includes her coach at UConn, Geno Auriemma, who also happens to be college basketball’s all-time winningest coach .

‘It’s hard to put into put into words, it really is, what this means. When someone’s defined the game, when someone’s had such an impact on so many people and so many places. You can’t define it with a quote,’ Auriemma said in a statement on Tuesday.

‘It’s a life that is a novel, it’s a movie, it’s a miniseries, it’s a saga. It’s the life of an extraordinary person who, I think, had as much to do with changing women’s basketball as anyone who’s ever played the game.’

Taurasi and Auriemma built the UConn women’s basketball program into one of the sport’s powerhouses over the guard’s four-year career from 2000 through 2004. In four seasons with the Huskies, Taurasi helped lead UConn to three consecutive national championships from 2002 to 2004. UConn was only the second program to achieve that feat, after Tennessee from 1996-98.

UConn went 139-8 overall and 22-1 in the NCAA Tournament with Taurasi. She further etched her name as one of the great women’s college basketball players with back-to-back Naismith National Player of the Year awards in 2003 and 2004.

She currently ranks 10th on UConn’s all-time scoring list and was the first player to finish with at least 2,000 points, 600 assists and 600 rebounds in a career.

But the player-coach relationship between Taurasi and Auriemma extends further than the four years they shared in Storrs, Connecticut. Of Taurasi’s six Olympic gold medals, the most basketball gold medals won by a single player – male or female – in Olympic history, two of them came with Auriemma as her Team USA coach. The first one came at the 2012 London Olympics, with the second one coming four years later at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

‘In my opinion, what the greats have in common is, they transcend the sport and become synonymous with the sport. For as long as people talk about college basketball, WNBA basketball, Olympic basketball: Diana is the greatest winner in the history of basketball, period,’ Auriemma said in his statement.

Taurasi finishes her 20-year WNBA career – all with the Phoenix Mercury – as a three-time WNBA champion and the league’s all-time leading scorer.

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LOS ANGELES — Luka Dončić was playing with emotion and seeking revenge against the Dallas Mavericks, who were visiting the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

Dončić made a statement in his first game against his former team since being traded by the Mavericks earlier this month, recording his first triple-double wearing the purple and gold in a 107-99 victory.

Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters during his pregame press conference that he was hoping his star guard would find a balance while still playing with a ‘killer mentality.’

Dončić was seen staring and often mouthing something in the direction of Dallas’ bench.

Luka Dončić stats vs. Mavericks

Points: 19
FG: 6-for-17
3PT: 1-for-7
FT: 6-for-8
Rebounds: 15
Assists: 12
Steals: 3
Blocks: 2
Turnovers: 2
Fouls: 2
Minutes played: 35

All things Lakers: Latest Los Angeles Lakers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Lakers vs. Mavericks highlights

Lakers’ next game

The Lakers will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. The game is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.

This story has been updated with new information.

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