NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron James scored 25 points, Luka Doncic had 24 and the Los Angeles Lakers rolled to a 125-109 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night in Austin Reaves' first game since Christmas.
Reaves had 15 points in 21 minutes after missing the last 19 games with a strained left calf. He entered late in the first quarter with the Lakers already well in control and helped them continue to pour it on during their 20-for-25 shooting start to the game.
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Los Angeles Lakers' Jaxson Hayes (11) dunks the ball in front of Brooklyn Nets' Cam Thomas (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, right, drives past Brooklyn Nets' Nic Claxton, center, and Michael Porter Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Brooklyn Nets' Noah Clowney, right, defends Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Dončić (77) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) dunks the ball in front of Brooklyn Nets' Egor Dëmin and Cam Thomas (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Jake LaRavia scored 18 points for the Lakers, who finished 5-3 on their road trip and play next against Philadelphia at home Thursday night, a few hours after the NBA's trade deadline has passed.
James had said it was difficult to evaluate the team's potential without Reaves, who was averaging 26.6 points before he was hurt. They looked potent Tuesday, though it's hard to judge much against the hapless Nets, who are only good at losing badly.
Brooklyn was coming off a 53-point loss in Detroit on Sunday and it appeared the Lakers might win by even more. They made 15 of their 18 shots (83.3%) in the first quarter in opening a 45-23 lead, then James scored while being fouled on their first shot of the second.
Reaves then missed consecutive 3-pointers, but came up with a steal and threw the ball off the backboard for James to slam it down. When James later dunked off his own steal, it was 57-28 and the Lakers were 20 for 25.
The lead grew to 38 before Los Angeles took a 69-40 lead to the break.
Michael Porter Jr. had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, who lost for the ninth time in 10 games. Day'Ron Sharpe finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
Lakers: Host Philadelphia on Thursday.
Nets: Visit Orlando on Thursday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Los Angeles Lakers' Jaxson Hayes (11) dunks the ball in front of Brooklyn Nets' Cam Thomas (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, right, drives past Brooklyn Nets' Nic Claxton, center, and Michael Porter Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Brooklyn Nets' Noah Clowney, right, defends Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Dončić (77) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) dunks the ball in front of Brooklyn Nets' Egor Dëmin and Cam Thomas (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
MIAMI (AP) — Shaquille O'Neal played for four NBA championship teams. And now, 20 years after his last title, he has one that he can call his favorite.
It was the one he got with the Miami Heat.
The Heat brought back their 2006 title team for a two-day, 20th anniversary celebration this week, with a gala on Monday followed by an on-court event for fans to see at their home game against Atlanta on Tuesday. Most of the team was in attendance, including O'Neal — who offered what may be a mildly surprising assessment of that championship run.
“I’m going to throw a word out there that’s probably going to shock the basketball world," O'Neal said. "It’s my favorite one because we were not supposed to win and it was one that I was pressured to win. I needed to get it done before the other guy got his fourth.”
“The other guy” that O'Neal was referring to was Kobe Bryant. He and Bryant won three titles together with the Los Angeles Lakers, then the relationship went south and the Lakers traded O'Neal to Miami in the summer of 2004.
Bryant eventually got his fourth and fifth titles to pass O'Neal, and the two teammates-turned-rivals mended fences to a certain extent before Bryant — along with his daughter Gianna and seven others — died in a helicopter crash six years ago.
But at that time, O'Neal felt a ton of pressure to get one without Bryant. And the Heat, in those days, were a bit of a powderkeg that found a way to buck the odds.
“We were a bunch of misfits that used to argue and fight and do things very untraditionally," said O'Neal, who estimated the Heat had about 40 internal fights that season and all of them blew over almost immediately. “But we never not got along and that’s what made it special."
That's the way the 2006 Heat were wired, which is why O'Neal didn't take it personally when Miami lost the first two games of that season's finals to the Dallas Mavericks. O'Neal told the story Tuesday of how Gary Payton — a guard on that Miami team — cursed him out after Game 2, saying Dwyane Wade needed the ball more if the Heat were going to win the series.
“I decided to ruffle some feathers,” Payton said, confirming that he went to coach Pat Riley and asked for changes, then told O'Neal it was time for Wade to carry the torch for the Heat.
Wade dominated the next four games. Payton made a huge shot to help Miami win Game 3. The Heat won the title in six games. The fights led to a parade. It was all worthwhile.
“We had a perfect eight-man rotation,” Riley said. “I apologize to numbers 9 through 15, but they used to whip (butt) every day in practice on these guys, I can tell you that. Made them better.”
So, O'Neal's last of his four titles was his favorite.
And for Wade, the first of his three titles was his favorite.
“I never won in high school, I didn’t win in college — I got to the Final Four. I was that guy that got close," Wade said. "AAU, I got to the final four, I went to the championship, but I never won one. So, that was the first time in my life that I showed myself that I can actually lead a team to help win the championship because I didn’t know. And so, it would be my favorite because of that.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, an assistant under Riley on that 2006 team, said having most of the team back together for two days was a thrill. He, Riley, the ownership group led by managing general partner Micky Arison and CEO Nick Arison, executive vice president and general manager Andy Elisburg and a slew of other executives (including 2006 players Alonzo Mourning and Udonis Haslem) and team officials are still in Miami — which Spoelstra thinks sets the Heat apart.
“Other teams that have won championships, they try to bring back a group (and) it’s probably a different ownership group, different management, different coaching staff, a lot of different things," Spoelstra said. "But this, it just brings you back. It’s like an instant time machine. It was an amazing run and it kind of put our franchise on a different kind of map in this league.”
Coaches, executives and all but three of the players from that 2006 team were introduced at halftime for an on-court ceremony Tuesday, all wearing custom jackets to celebrate that championship.
“This will forever be everyone’s favorite because it was the first one and this is the one that really set whatever standard that we’re still living by here,” Wade said. "This set the standard of that because without this championship, (there) ain’t no culture. And so, that’s how we can even stand on ‘Heat Culture’ and the words that we say because of the championship that was brought here in '06.”
And O’Neal, ever the jokester, paid off a 20-year bet with Wade and Haslem. He said he would get them Bentleys if the Heat won that title. He presented them with the Bentleys at halftime Tuesday — toy versions, but Bentleys nonetheless.
“Are you not entertained?” O’Neal asked, as the crowd roared.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Miami Heat former player Dwyane Wade carries the 2006 NBA trophy during a half time celebrating of the team Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
The Miami Heat 2006 NBA championship team pose with the trophy during a half time celebration Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Former Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley recalls the 2006 season when the team won the NBA championship during a half time celebration Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Former Miami Heat players Shaquille O'Neal, right and Gary Payton smiles during a half time celebration of the 2006 NBA champions Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
The Miami Heat 2006 NBA championship team pose with the trophy during a half time celebration Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Former Miami Heat players Dwyane Wade, right and Shaquille O'Neal talk about their experience winning the NBA finals 20 years ago during a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Former Miami Heat players Dwyane Wade, right and Shaquille O'Neal talk about their experience winning the NBA finals 20 years ago during a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
