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LOS ANGELES — LeBron James produced a team-high 33 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in Thursday’s 123-116 home loss to the Golden State Warriors.

James managed to overcome a slow start but his efforts ultimately weren’t enough.

The Lakers remain in first place in the Pacific Division despite the loss to their division foe, but the game carried bigger stakes as a potential postseason series preview.

The Lakers are now the fourth seed in the Western Conference standings and sit a half-game back of the Denver Nuggets. Los Angeles entered the day as the third seed. The Warriors are one game behind the Lakers as the fifth seed. If the season ended today, the Lakers and Warriors would square off in the first round.

“It’s always a challenge when you play Golden State,” James said. “It’s been like that for over a decade. … They will try to keep you off-balance all game and you have to try and figure it out and we did. Offensively we were really good, especially in the second half.”

The game had a playoff-like atmosphere but even that came to a sudden halt for the fans in the first half when James was slow to pick himself up off the court.

James was considered probable on the team’s injury report Wednesday evening for the Thursday contest, due to a left groin strain.

After colliding with the Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, the Lakers star was down on the court with 5:07 left in the first quarter. He briefly was checked out by athletic trainers on the court, but James managed to get back up on his feet and walk back to the bench under his own power. 

He checked back into the game moments later but finished the first quarter scoreless.

James gathered some momentum in the second quarter and finished with eight points after going 2-for-2 from the 3-point line and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.

James said Thursday was “the best I felt since the injury.

‘I have to get down hill and find my rhythm, as far as my jump shot that felt pretty good,’ James added. ‘…It’s probably the best physically that I’ve felt and I can build off that.”

Steph Curry led all scorers with 37 points. Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski had 28 in the win.

Austin Reaves was the Lakers’ second-leading scorer with 31 points, and Rui Hachimura added 24. Luka Doncic had 19.

LeBron James stats vs. Warriors

  • Points: 33
  • FG: 10-for-15
  • 3PT: 5-for-8
  • FT: 8-for-9
  • Rebounds: 5
  • Assists: 9
  • Steals: 1
  • Blocks: 1
  • Turnovers: 4
  • Fouls: 2
  • Minutes played: 39:51
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The Final Four is always a star-studded event at the women’s NCAA Tournament, and that extends to legends like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi.

The basketball icons will be at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, broadcasting both Final Four games as well as the national championship game as part of ‘The Bird & Taurasi Show,’ with ESPN giving fans the chance to listen to analysis and commentary from two of the greatest to ever take the court.

Bird and Taurasi — along with some yet-to-be-announced special guests from sports and culture — will call Friday’s Final Four contests, with Texas taking on South Carolina, before UConn (where both players starred collegiately) squares off with UCLA. ‘The Bird & Taurasi Show’ will pick back up on Sunday afternoon, with the former Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury guards also calling the national championship game live.

Here’s what to know about ‘The Bird & Taurasi Show’ at the 2025 women’s Final Four, including times and how to watch:

Bird & Taurasi Show: How to watch Final Four alternate telecast

In addition to Friday’s main Final Four broadcast on ESPN, ‘The Bird & Taurasi Show’ alternate telecast will be broadcast at the same time on ESPN2. The show will feature game commentary from WNBA legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi (as well as some surprise guests) live from Amalie Arena in Tampa. Florida.

Bird and Taurasi Final Four broadcast

  • Date: Friday, April 4
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET (Texas vs. South Carolina) | 9 p.m. ET (UConn vs. UCLA)
  • TV channel: ESPN2
  • Streaming options: ESPN+, Fubo (Free Trial)

Watch the Bird & Taurasi Alt-Cast on Fubo

Bird and Taurasi championship broadcast

Additionally, Sunday’s national title game (main broadcast on ABC) will feature one more round of ‘The Bird & Taurasi Show’ alt-cast, with the two basketball icons convening once again – this time on ESPN – to see who wins the 2025 NCAA women’s basketball championship.

  • Date: Sunday, April 6
  • Time: 3 p.m.
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Streaming options: ESPN+, Fubo (Free Trial)

What to know about Sue Bird

Sue Bird’s career speaks for itself. The Syosset, New York native won four WNBA championships in her 21 years in the league, all of which were spent with the Seattle Storm. During that time, Bird was named to the All-WNBA First or Second Team eight times and made 13 WNBA All-Star teams. In 2011, Bird was named one of the best 15 players in league history, and despite retiring in 2022, she remains the WNBA’s all-time leader in assists (3,234) and games played (580).

That came after an incredible college career at UConn, where Bird helped the Huskies to national titles in 2000 and 2002. Bird holds program records for three-point field goal percentage (.459) and free-throw percentage (.892), and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in 2002 as a senior. For Team USA, Bird won five Olympic gold medals and was part of four FIBA World Championship-winning teams.

Since retirement, Bird has become a part-owner of the Storm and NWSL club NJ/NY Gotham FC, and among other interests hosts the A Touch More podcast with her fiancée, U.S. women’s national team icon Megan Rapinoe.

Bird was named a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in February. Inductees into the Class of 2025 will be announced April 5.

What to know about Diana Taurasi

Diana Taurasi is a WNBA legend not just for her accomplishments, but for her competitive side that is notorious even among the league’s best-ever players. ‘DT’ spent 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, winning the WNBA MVP award in 2009 while winning three league titles. Like Bird, Taurasi was named one of the 15 best players in WNBA history in 2011, making the All-WNBA First or Second Team a staggering 14 times.

It’s probably no surprise that the five-time WNBA scoring champion is the league’s all-time scoring leader, with her 10,646 career points nearly 3,000 more than any other player has totaled. She also holds league records in three-pointers made (1,447), free throws made (2,517). At the Olympics, Taurasi has won a record six gold medals, including one last summer in Paris.

Like Bird, Taurasi starred at UConn, winning the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 2003 and 2004. The Huskies collected three national titles during Taurasi’s four seasons, and the guard was an All-American three times. The California native holds the UConn record for assists as a sophomore (208) and is third all-time in career assists (648) and three-pointers made (318).

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin needs three goals to break Wayne Gretzky’s record for most goals in NHL history.

Ideally, he would get it done in front of the home fans who have supported him for 20 seasons.

Ovechkin will face the Chicago Blackhawks at home on Friday night before playing the New York Islanders on the road Sunday afternoon. The Capitals also play at home on April 10 (Carolina Hurricanes) and 13 (Columbus Blue Jackets). They’re on the road on April 12, 15 and 17 to finish the regular season.

He’ll need a hat trick on Friday, but he does have two this season and 32 in his career. One of those was against Chicago on Dec. 13, 2022, a game in which he reached 800 goals.

Here’s what to know about Friday’s game between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks:

When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game? Capitals vs. Blackhawks start time

The Washington Capitals play the Chicago Blackhawks at 7 p.m. ET Friday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Where to watch Capitals vs. Blackhawks game

The Capitals vs. Blackhawks game is being aired on NHL Network.

How to stream Capitals vs. Blackhawks game

Fubo and Sling carry NHL Network. Fubo is offereing a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch Alex Ovechkin’s record goal chase on Fubo

Capitals vs. Hurricanes date, start time, where to watch

  • Game Day: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Game Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Location: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
  • TV Channel: NHL Network
  • Live Stream: Fubo  | Sling TV

Alex Ovechkin goals vs. Blackhawks

Ovechkin has 15 goals in 25 career regular-season games against the Blackhawks. He missed the teams’ earlier meeting this season because of a fractured left fibula.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) (OTCMKTS:ALTHF) is pleased to announce that the Company showcased it’s CERENERGY(R) Battery technology at the prestigious Hannover Messe 2025, the world’s leading industrial trade fair. The event, which annually attracts over 200,000 visitors and 6,500 exhibitors from across the globe, provided Altech with a prime platform to introduce CERENERGY(R) to key stakeholders in the energy storage sector.

Altech’s CERENERGY(R) was prominently featured in the Energy Storage Hall, drawing significant attention from industry leaders, potential partners, and investors eager to explore next-generation solutions for clean energy storage. The company’s participation is part of a broader strategic effort to secure a strong commercial partner to help accelerate the commercialization of its sodium-alumina solid-state battery technology.

Throughout the event, Altech held numerous high-level meetings with representatives from energy companies, industrial manufacturers, and strategic investors looking to tap into the rapidly growing energy storage market. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting strong global demand for advanced battery technologies that can deliver high performance while reducing reliance on critical raw materials such as lithium and cobalt.

The Hannover Messe exhibition comes at a time when Germany is ramping up its defense and clean energy investments, driven in part by growing geopolitical uncertainties and the ongoing EU:US trade war. With energy security becoming a top priority, Altech’s CERENERGY(R) technology aligns perfectly with Europe’s strategic push towards energy independence and industrial resilience.

Group Managing Director Iggy Tan said ‘We are delighted by the level of interest in our CERENERGY(R) battery technology at Hannover Messe. The feedback we’ve received from potential partners and industry players has been extremely encouraging. As countries and industries accelerate their transition towards renewable energy, we see CERENERGY(R) as a game-changer in providing cost-effective, safe, and sustainable battery solutions.’

*To view photographs, please visit:
https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/8J6TA5ZV

About Altech Batteries Ltd:  

Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is a specialty battery technology company that has a joint venture agreement with world leading German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS (‘Fraunhofer’) to commercialise the revolutionary CERENERGY(R) Sodium Alumina Solid State (SAS) Battery. CERENERGY(R) batteries are the game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries. CERENERGY(R) batteries are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is lithium-free; cobalt-free; graphite-free; and copper-free, eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.

The joint venture is commercialising its CERENERGY(R) battery, with plans to construct a 100MWh production facility on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany. The facility intends to produce CERENERGY(R) battery modules to provide grid storage solutions to the market.

Source:
Altech Batteries Ltd

Contact:
Corporate
Iggy Tan
Managing Director
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com

Martin Stein
Chief Financial Officer
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

The lithium market faced continued pressure in Q1 2025 as oversupply and weaker-than-expected demand pushed prices to a four-year low, with the lithium carbonate CIF North Asia price dipping below US$9,550 per metric ton.

The broad market decline led many analysts to speculate that the market had bottomed and a rebound was imminent. This was further supported by production cuts in China and Australia aimed at stabilizing supply.

Despite near-term challenges, long-term prospects remain strong, highlighted by Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) AU$6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium, the company formed by the merger of Allkem and Livent.

The major is also reportedly in talks to develop the Roche Dure lithium deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Long term electric vehicle (EV) market growth and a projected draw down in excess supply has prompted Benchmark Intelligence researchers to forecast a 12 percent compound annual growth rate for the lithium market over the next 10 years.

All lithium stocks listed had market caps above $20 million in their respective currencies when data was gathered. Data for Canadian stocks was collected on March 25, 2025, data for Australian stocks was gathered on March 27, 2025, and data for US stocks was gathered on March 31, 2025.

Top Canadian lithium stocks

1. Power Metals (TSXV:PWM)

Company Profile

Year-to-date gain: 163.04 percent
Market cap: C$196.57 million
Share price: C$1.21

Exploration company Power Metals holds a portfolio of diversified assets in Ontario and Québec, Canada. The company’s flagship Case Lake project in Ontario hosts spodumene-bearing lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatites.

In November 2024, Power Metals identified a new pegmatite zone at Case Lake through soil sampling. The samples from the zone, located north-northwest of its West Joe prospect, revealed anomalous levels of cesium, tantalum, lithium and rubidium, which the company said ‘affirmed prospective drill targets’ for its winter exploration program.

On February 10, Power Metals announced the beginning of work associated with the maiden mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment for Case Lake, which it expected to release in Q1 and Q2 of 2025 respectively.

Days later, on February 14, the company followed that announcement by releasing the final assays from its Phase 3 drilling at Case Lake, including “exceptional cesium oxide and tantalum intercepts” from the West Joe prospect. Power Metals stated it planned to begin its 2025 Phase 1 drilling sometime after early March.

The company’s share price rose in the weeks following the pair of announcements to reach a Q1 high of C$1.46 on February 25.

2. NOA Lithium Brines (TSXV:NOAL)

Company Profile

Year-to-date gain: 41.18 percent
Market cap: C$46.99 million
Share price: C$0.36

NOA is a lithium exploration and development company with three projects in Argentina’s Lithium Triangle region. The company’s flagship Rio Grande project and prospective Arizaro and Salinas Grandes land packages total more than 140,000 hectares.

In late January, NOA reported its completion of 28 vertical electrical sounding geophysics tests at the Rio Grande project as part of its 2025 exploration program.

The recent testing expands on past studies and will aid NOA’s water exploration program, refining one of three identified potential water sources.

In a subsequent corporate update on February 7, NOA outlined its plans for Q1 2025, which largely focused on the advancement of the Rio Grande project through geophysical evaluation and water exploration drilling. The company also plans to review engineering proposals for preliminary economic assessment work.

The company’s share price began climbing in early February and reached a Q1 high of C$0.37 on March 13.

The high came days after a Simply Wall Street report highlighted insider buying at the company, a signal of strong internal confidence.

According to the report, NOA insiders invested C$862,600 over the prior six months, with C$358,000 of that coming in a single transaction by CEO and Director Gabriel Rubacha. Additionally, they had not sold any shares in the prior 12 months.

3. Frontier Lithium (TSXV:FL)

Press ReleasesCompany Profile

Year-to-date gain: 35.56 percent
Market cap: C$141.38 million
Share price: C$0.61

Pre-production mining company Frontier Lithium aims to be a strategic and integrated supplier of premium spodumene concentrates as well as battery-grade lithium salts in North America.

The Company’s flagship PAK lithium project, which is a joint venture with Mitsubishi (TSE:8058), holds the “largest land position and resource” in a premium lithium mineral district located in the Great Lakes region of Ontario, Canada. Frontier also owns the Spark deposit, located northwest of the PAK project.

Shares of Frontier Lithium reached a Q1 high of C$0.79 on March 4. After already trending upwards through February, its share price peaked alongside news that the Government of Canada and the Ontario Government supported the company’s plans to build a critical minerals refinery in Northern Ontario.

Once complete the proposed lithium conversion facility will process lithium from PAK into around 20,000 metric tons (MT) of lithium salts per year. “This expected capacity would support the production of batteries for approximately 500,000 electric vehicles per year,” Frontier’s statement reads.

Top Australian lithium stocks

1. Tyranna Resources (ASX:TYX)

Company Profile

Year-to-date gain: 40 percent
Market cap: AU$23.02 million
Share price: AU$0.007

Africa-focused explorer Tyranna Resources is currently focused on its flagship Muvero lithium project in Angola.

In a January 30 update, Tyranna reported it completed a drill program totalling 11 diamond drill holes spanning 817 meters. Initial results from drilling at the Muvero and Loop prospects confirmed visible spodumene-bearing pegmatite. Additionally, core from the Muvero prospect will be used for metallurgical testing and structural data.

The company is also pursuing and evaluating additional projects that align with its strategy of focusing on in-demand metals, and had applied for one licence at that time.

Shares of Tyranna reached a quarterly high of AU$0.007 several times over the three month period.

2. Liontown Resources (LTR:AU)

Company Profile

Year-to-date gain: 24.53 percent
Market cap: AU$1.58 billion
Share price: AU$0.66

Liontown Resources has two assets in Western Australia, including the producing Kathleen Valley mine, which entered production during the second half of 2024 and transitioned to commercial production in January 2025.

The company’s Buldania project in the Eastern Goldfields Province of Western Australia has an initial mineral resource of 15 million MT at 1.0 percent lithium oxide.

In its fiscal H1 2025 financial update, Liontown reported that over 100,000 wet metric tons of spodumene concentrate had been shipped from Kathleen Valley between July and the end of December.

Liontown’s shares rose to a Q1 high of AU$0.735 on March 19, 2025, shortly after the release of the half year results.

3. Delta Lithium (ASX:DLI)

Year-to-date gain: 9.09 percent
Market cap: AU$125.39 million
Share price: AU$0.18

Delta Lithium is a diversified exploration and development company focused on discovering high quality, lithium bearing pegmatite deposits in Western Australia.

Currently, Delta is developing the Mount Ida gold and lithium project, which reportedly has a JORC-compliant resource of 14.6 million MT grading 1.2 percent. Additionally, the company is exploring its Yinnetharra lithium project, including the Malinda deposit, in the Upper Gascoyne Region.

Company shares registered a Q1 high of AU$0.20 on January 14.

On January 21, Delta released an exploration update for Yinnetharra that highlighted drilling and metallurgical results from the M1 pegmatite at the Malinda deposit.

“The program has realised highly positive metallurgical results, with pilot plant spodumene recoveries exceeding our Internal financial modelling and proving the whole-of-ore flotation flowsheet as suitable for the M1 mineralogy,” Managing Director James Croser said.

In a subsequent financial statement, Delta noted the submission of the mining lease application for the Malinda mining area and the commencement of Native Title negotiations. The company is also advancing its environmental permitting process at Malinda.

Top US Lithium Stocks

1. SQM (NYSE:SQM)

Company Profile

Year-to-date gain: 9.29 percent
Market cap: AU$11.36 billion
Share price: US$40.23

SQM is one of the world’s largest lithium producers with projects in South America and China, outputting both lithium carbonate and hydroxide.

In 2024, SQM produced approximately 210,000 MT of lithium, with about 180,000 MT sourced from its chemical plant in northern Chile and an additional 30,000 MT processed in China.

The lithium major also saw lithium sales increase 21 percent year-over-year to nearly 205,000 MT of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

“However, the increase in volume was not enough to offset the continuous decline in prices, a trend we have been observing since early 2023,” the 2024 earnings report noted. “As a result, our average realized price dropped by more than 64 percent, from US$30,467 per ton in 2023 to US$10,936 per ton in 2024.”

Shares of SQM reached a Q1 high of US$45.61 on March 17, 2025.

In late February, SQM’s US$7 million investment in Andrada Mining’s (LSE:ATM,OTCQB:ATMTF)Lithium Ridge project received final approval from the Namibian government. The deal will see SQM obtain a 30 percent stake in the project with an option to increase to 50 percent.

FAQs for investing in lithium

How much lithium is on Earth?

While we don’t know how much total lithium is on Earth, the US Geological Survey estimates that global reserves of lithium stand at 22 billion metric tons. Of that, 9.2 billion MT are located in Chile, and 5.7 billion MT are in Australia.

Where is lithium mined?

Lithium is mined throughout the world, but the two countries that produce the most are Australia and Chile. Australia’s lithium comes from primarily hard-rock deposits, while Chile’s comes from lithium brines. Chile is part of the Lithium Triangle alongside Argentina and Bolivia, although those two countries have a lower annual output.

Rounding out the top five lithium-producing countries behind Australia and Chile are China, Argentina and Brazil.

What is lithium used for?

Lithium has many uses, including the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones and other tech, as well as pharmaceuticals, ceramics, grease, lubricants and heat-resistant glass. Still, it is largely the electric vehicle industry that is boosting demand.

How to invest in lithium?

Those looking to get into the lithium market have many options when it comes to how to invest in lithium.

Lithium stocks like those mentioned above could be a good option for investors interested in the space. If you’re looking to diversify instead of focusing on one stock, there is the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (NYSE:LIT), an exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on the metal. Experienced investors can also look at lithium futures.

Unlike many commodities, investors cannot physically hold lithium due to its dangerous properties.

How to buy lithium stocks?

Through the use of a broker or an investing service such as an app, investors can purchase lithium stocks and ETFs that match their investing outlook.

Before buying a lithium stock, potential investors should take time to research the companies they’re considering; they should also decide how many shares will be purchased, and what price they are willing to pay. With many options on the market, it’s critical to complete due diligence before making any investment decisions.

It’s also important for investors to keep their goals in mind when choosing their investing method. There are many factors to consider when choosing a broker, as well as when looking at investing apps — a few of these include the broker or app’s reputation, their fee structure and investment style.

Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Galan Lithium (ASX:GLN) has rejected a US$150 million (AU$240 million) cash bid from China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co and France’s Renault Group to acquire its Hombre Muerto West and Candelas lithium brine projects in Argentina, The West Australian reports.

Described as unsolicited, conditional, and non-binding, the offer from battery materials giant Zhejiang Huayou and EV manufacturer Renault was deemed “opportunistic” and “undervalued,” the report noted.

Galan and its advisors refused the offer, asserting confidence in the long-term value of its flagship Hombre Muerto West project, which is nearing production of 5,400 tonnes per annum (tpa) of lithium carbonate equivalent. They believe the project holds greater potential to deliver superior returns for shareholders.

Read the full study here.

Click here to connect with Galan Lithium (ASX:GLN) for an Investor Presentation

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Jim Thorne, chief market strategist at Wellington-Altus, discusses which assets investors should focus on in today’s tumultuous environment.

He sees promise in gold and silver, as well as Bitcoin and the artificial intelligence sector.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

When the stock market lacks clear direction, options strategies can be a dependable friend. I often go through the OptionsPlay ChartLists in StockCharts to look for stocks that show potential trading or investing opportunities. 

On Tuesday, as I was scrolling through the Bearish Trend Following Strategies in the OptionsPlay Strategy Center, using a balanced risk profile and max risk of $2,500 as the criteria, a long put on Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) stock showed up on the list with a relatively high OptionsPlay score.

The closing stock price of BSX on Tuesday was $101.24 and was approaching its 50-day simple moving average (SMA), which could act as a resistance level. Its relative strength index (RSI) was hovering around 50, and the percentage price oscillator (PPO) was close to the zero line. Not much changed on Tuesday (see chart below).

FIGURE 1. DAILY CHART OF BSX STOCK. The stock price is approaching its 50-day SMA but momentum seems to be slowing as indicated by the relative strength index and percent price oscillator. Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.The RSI and PPO indicate that momentum has slowed in the stock. So there’s a chance the stock price of BSX could hit the resistance of its 50-day SMA and fail to break above it, or it could break above it and continue higher. The short-term directional bias is neutral and could be a viable options trading candidate. 

Let’s see what strategies the OptionsPlay Explorer comes up with for a bearish outlook on the stock price of BSX. 


How to access OptionsPlay. In the SharpCharts workbench, select Options > OptionsPlay. Then compare the three optimal strategies. 


FIGURE 2. OPTIMAL STRATEGIES FOR TRADING BSX FOR A BEARISH SCENARIO. Shorting BSX, buying a put, and a long put vertical are viable trading strategies for BSX. When selecting a strategy, select one that aligns with your comfort level. Image source: StockCharts.com.

The two options strategies with relatively high OptionsPlay scores are the May 16 105 put and the May 16 105/90 put vertical spread. If you shorted 100 shares of BSX instead of trading options on the stock, your return would have been lower (see left panel). 

Both options strategies, i.e., the long May 15 105 put and the May 16 105/90 put vertical, look viable but a bearish move isn’t confirmed in the daily chart of BSX. There’s a chance the stock price of BSX will remain between $90 and $105 for an extended period (dashed blue horizontal lines). Because of the lack of directional clarity, I’d prefer to opt for the put vertical. You’re still buying the long put but adding a short put at a lower strike price with the same expiration date. This will offset the long put’s cost. 

Your risk is limited to $555 with a potential reward of $945. The trade will be profitable if the stock price of BSX closes below $99.45 before the contract expires. As of this writing, there’s a 48.6% probability of this happening.

Remember, stock prices are dynamic so what you see today may not be the same as what you see tomorrow.

Keep the following points in mind:

  • You’re considering a bearish strategy when the short-term trend is neutral. 
  • BSX reports earnings on April 30, which is before the options contract expires. 
  • Keep an eye on implied volatility since it can change significantly during earnings. It’s important to manage your open trade. There are many ways to do this. View our educational webinars to learn more about how to manage your option trades.

The Bottom Line

With tariff announcements looming, it’s probably a good idea to hold off placing trades until after we know what tariffs will be implemented. Things could change on Thursday and BSX’s stock price shows a clear upside or downside. Review the optimal strategies before placing an option trade, and only place a trade if you are comfortable with the risk-reward tradeoff.


Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

From the start to the end of the G League season, rookie Bronny James improved.

And James, the 55th pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, proved his worth as a G League player and potential everyday NBA player.

Considering where and how he started and where he is finishing – the G League South Bay Lakers’ season is over – with the chance to get playing time with the Los Angeles Lakers in the final two weeks of the NBA regular season, Bronny James’ rookie season was a success filled with growth and promise under a hypercritical spotlight typically not directed at a late second-round pick.

“It was obvious to me from the moment I started spending time with him on the court this summer, he was certainly going to be an NBA player, and I still believe that. He’ll be an NBA player,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after a March 20 game against Milwaukee in which Bronny James scored 17 points, his highest output in an NBA game.

On March 24, James posted a career G-League high 39 points on super-efficient 14-for-21 shooting, including 4-for-8 on 3-pointers, plus seven rebounds, four assists and four steals in a victory against Santa Cruz.

“The biggest area of improvement is probably just his playmaking, and I don’t mean that just in terms of passing,” Redick said. “But just his ability to play on and off the ball as a decision-maker, either a scorer or a passer. And with that, his confidence level and level of aggression has grown. For a young player, those are two really important things.”

For his 18-game G League season, he averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals and shot 41.6% from the field, 33.6% on 3-pointers and 76.9% on free throws. Of the 374 players who appeared in at least 18 G League games, James was 43rd in scoring and was one of nine players to average at least 18 points, 4.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds.

Here are G League stats of other players drafted in the second round last year (stats through Monday’s games):

  • Cam Christie, 46th pick: 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 40.2% field goal shooting, 30.2% 3-point shooting, 80.5% free throw shooting in 40 games.
  • Antonio Reeves, 47th pick: 24.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 47% field goal shooting, 41.6% 3-point shooting, 80% free throw shooting in 11 games.
  • Tristen Newton, 49th pick: 16.5 points, 6.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 40.5% field goal shooting, 33.9% 3-point shooting, 76.7% free throw shooting in 34 games.
  • Anton Watson, 54th pick: 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 44.1% field goal shooting, 31.9% 3-point shooting, 65.1% free throw shooting in 37 games
  • Cam Spencer, 53rd pick: 23.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 53.8% field goal shooting, 49.3% 3-point shooting, 76.5% free throw shooting in eight games.
  • Kevin McCullar Jr., 56th pick: 11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals, 39.3% field goal, 22.2% 3-point shooting, 78.8% free throw shooting in 13 games.

A holistic approach is required when examining James’ 2024-25 season spent in the G League and the NBA. When he was drafted in June, he was just 11 months removed from sudden cardiac arrest while working out on USC’s campus the summer before his freshman season for the Trojans.

To work through the mental and physical challenges of a life-threatening medical event and get back to the player he was on track to become – which was a first-round pick – time was also a necessity.

Outside James, his family, his representation and the Lakers, patience was in short supply, and critics pounced immediately after James’ entry into pro basketball didn’t yield the kind of production that screamed “He’s an NBA player.”

In his first two G League games, he was 4-for-19 from the field and 0-for-6 on 3-pointers, and he didn’t play much for the NBA’s Lakers. But he finished strong. He scored at least 30 points three times in the G League and showed potential as a scorer, shooter and playmaker. In his final nine G League games, he has improved on his season averages: 22.6 points, 5.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 44.7% from the field, 36.7% on 3s and 82.6% on free throws.

He has limited NBA playing time but his 17-point, five-assist, three-rebound performance against Milwaukee revealed what’s possible.

“His confidence is growing,” Redick said. “You mentioned the word comfort. That’s certainly there for him, and the next step is just becoming like an elite, conditioned athlete because when he does that with his physical tools and just like his burst and his handle, we think he’s going to be an above-average to a really good NBA shooter. He’s going to have a chance to really make an impact.”

The plan was to develop James into an everyday NBA player over the course of multiple seasons, which is not unusual for a second-round pick.

“Just putting my head down and working,” Bronny James told reporters. “I feel like that’s the only thing that I can control right now – going in every day and staying ready to play, staying ready to learn. Getting the work in after hours, early mornings, stuff like that.

‘Just all the controllables that I can do myself. There’s not really much I can do of people, random people, talking about me every day. So I can’t really do much about that. So I just go in the gym and work, put my head down and try to get better every day.”

Through intense scrutiny – and not because of anything he did – that included a verbal feud between his dad and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Bronny James has proven himself worthy of a second-round pick and a more-than-capable G League pro with the possibility of developing into an everyday NBA player.

“Since day one, I’ve just been impressed with the person that he is and to deal with the (expletive) because of who his dad is and just keep a level head about it and be a class act says a lot about him, says a lot about that family and the way LeBron and Savannah have raised him,” Redick said.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

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