The Los Angeles Lakers overcame a third-quarter letdown with a strong fourth quarter surge to beat the Memphis Grizzlies — a team they very well could play in the first round of the playoffs — 117-105.

The Lakers led by 19 points at halftime and appeared set to cruise to an easy victory, but a combination of the Grizzlies ratcheting up their intensity on defense and the Lakers coming out as flat as possible to start the third quarter allowed Memphis to cut their deficit to as little as five points in fourth frame.

Chicago celebrated the opportunity to host the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in three decades by relegating its beloved hometown franchise to a punchline. In an All-Star Weekend built up as a love letter to the city’s deep basketball culture, the Chicago Bulls were barely within eyesight. The team’s presence in the festivities was limited to Zach LaVine’s early exit in the three-point contest. They barely even got a mention out of Common in his terrific pregame intros.

On the surface, the 2020 NBA title chase is three teams deep.

CHICAGO — No one involved in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game could predict how the new scoring format would affect the game. Chris Paul, head of the Players Association, lobbied the commissioner Adam Silver to adopt the Elam Ending this year — a rule change in which the teams play to a final number rather than against a dwindling game clock.

There’s an easy case to be made for Kevin Durant as the second-best basketball player of his generation. At his peak in Golden State, it felt like there was no one better. Durant is an unstoppable scorer with a tight handle, deft finishing touch, and unprecedented outside shooting ability for someone his size. He was also pretty damn good on defense, too.

It’s totally understandable that NBA fans and analysts get concerned about gaps in stardom eras and how that affects the league overall. The gap problem is absolutely real: once Michael Jordan retired for the second time, there was a huge gap in the NBA stardom. Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady weren’t yet superstars.

John Beilein is suddenly out as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers just 54 games into a five-year contract. Beilein is one of the older rookie NBA head coaches we’ve seen in the modern era, having spent 40 years coaching college hoops. Why Beilein decided to take the plunge into the NBA — and not just into the NBA, but into the Cleveland Cavaliers — remains somewhat of a mystery. A new challenge? Proving his style of leadership and basketball crosses boundaries? Money?

CHICAGO — No one involved in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game could predict how the new scoring format would affect the game. Chris Paul, head of the Players Association, lobbied the commissioner Adam Silver to adopt the Elam Ending this year — a rule change in which the teams play to a final number rather than against a dwindling game clock.