The Los Angeles Lakers knocked off the Sacramento Kings, 125-101, on Sunday, Dec. 28 behind a 34-point performance from Luka Dončić, including 24 in the first half.

The Lakers (20-10) were led by Dončić and LeBron James, who added 24 points on 84% shooting from the field. The Kings were playing on consecutive nights, following their win against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 27.

On Sunday, Sacramento was led by DeMar DeRozan, with 22 points, and rookie Maxime Raynaud who recorded a double-double, 16 points and 10 rebounds. Six players scored in double-figures, including Malik Monk, Nique Clifford and Dennis Schröder, who each had 11.

The Kings shot just 28% from 3-point distance and had 19 turnovers on the evening, which turned into 23 points for the Lakers. Sacramento dropped to 8-24, going into their next game on Tuesday, Dec. 30 in an away game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kings vs. Lakers highlights

1st quarter highlights

Lebron James hit a pull-up jumper at the top of the key to end the first quarter. It capped a 10-point first quarter for James, as the Lakers led 30-24 after 12 minutes. Luka had nine points.

The Kings were led by DeMar DeRozan, who scored eight points in the first period.

2nd quarter highlights

Malik Monk got going early in the second, hitting on back-to-back three point field goals.

The Kings allowed the Lakers to get transition baskets including a LeBron James reverse dunk. The Kings got to their spots on offense for timely buckets.

The deficit grew as the Kings got sloppy with the basketball and threw consecutive turnovers. Luka Doncic scored 15 points in the second quarter. He had 24 total in the first half.

The Kings trailed 68-53 at the end of the first half.

3rd quarter highlights

The Kings came out lethargic to start the third quarter. A step slow to loose balls, offensively, they looked stagnant.

The lead grew to 20 before Sacramento head coach Doug Christie called a timeout. Kings trailed 73-53.

The Lakers had everything going in the third. They knocked down open threes, step back mid-range shots and points in the paint. The biggest lead was 26 for the Lakers.

At the end of the third quarter, Sacramento trailed 99-80.

4th quarter highlights

The Lakers’ 3-point barrage continued into the fourth quarter. The deficit proved to be too large for the Kings to mount a comeback, the largest lead for the Lakers grew to 30.

Sacramento lost by a final score of 125-101.

Recap: Kings keys

• Frustrate their stars: Sacramento has played scrappy, stifling defense. It’s what helped them in their win against Dallas and a big win against Houston on Dec. 21. Keep that same pressure on Lakers stars Luka Dončić and LeBron James and make them uncomfortable. Dončić and James combined for 58 points. James shot 84% from the field.
• Lean on youth for energy: In the second night of a back-to-back, the Kings should rely on their rookies and young guys to provide energy early and often throughout the game. Look for guys like Keon Ellis, Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell and Nique Clifford to spark fire. Raynaud tallied a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Cardwell scored seven points and seven rebounds, while being a +1 on the floor. Clifford scored 11, while Ellis only scored two.
• Defend without fouling:As energetic and up-tempo as the Kings are, it’s important to defend without fouling as the Lakers are third in the league in free throws made and second in free throws attempted. The Kings had 19 free throw attempts, compared to the Lakers’ 18 shots.
• Homecoming, revenge tour: It’s a homecoming for Los Angeles natives Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan. There’s nothing like home cooking. Plus, whenever Westbrook plays his former team or teammates, it feels personal. DeRozan led the team with 22 points but it wasn’t enough. Westbrook added 13 points and had six turnovers.

Kings next five games

• Dec. 30 at Los Angeles Clippers
• Jan. 1 vs. Boston Celtics
• Jan. 2 at Phoenix Suns
• Jan. 4 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
• Jan. 6 vs. Dallas Mavericks

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard produced a career night in the 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons at the Intuit Dome on Sunday, Dec. 28.

The performance helped lead the way for the Clippers to win their fourth consecutive game.

‘We need it,’ Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said after the game during the postgame press conference. ‘He willed this win for us.’

Leonard produced 51 of his 55 points through the first three quarters of play, including 26 in the third quarter alone.

Not only did Leonard’s career-high 55 points tie the Clippers’ franchise record, but he also became the first player in NBA history to produce 55 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and three blocks in a single game.

Kawhi Leonard stats vs. Pistons

• Points: 55
• FG: 17-for-26 (5-for-10 from 3-point line)
• Free Throws: 16-for-17
• Rebounds: 11
• Assists: 2
• Steals: 5
• Blocks: 3
• Turnovers: 3
• Fouls: 2
• Minutes: 39

Kawhi Leonard, Clippers vs. Pistons highlights

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

CHARLOTTE – Have defense. Will travel.

That sums up a lot of what went down at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday. The Seattle Seahawks were not the ones to slip up with a clear path afoot for winning the NFC West crown and seizing a No. 1 seed for the playoffs.

Not with that defense.

Seattle smashed the Carolina Panthers, 27-10, to inch closer to its best-case scenario for the playoffs by providing Bryce Young and Co. a warning of the type of tests that loom in the postseason – if they get there.

Sure, Young scored a touchdown on a nifty 10-yard run to make it a one-possession game early in the fourth quarter. But that was the aberration.

The Seahawks (13-3) took control of the game by converting two Carolina turnovers into touchdowns in the third quarter. First, it was a Chuba Hubbard fumble – as Ernest Jones IV violently ripped at the football, DeMarcus Lawrence punched it out – that set up Zach Charbonnet’s 2-yard TD run. Then Julian Love intercepted Young to set up Sam Darnold’s 17-yard TD flip to tight end AJ Barner to make it a 17-3 margin.

Despite Young’s penchant for engineering late-game rallies, that was a bit much to expect against a unit that seemed hellbent on inflicting its will.

“If you give us an opportunity and we can turn the ball over and turn it into points, you’ve got trouble,” Jones told USA TODAY Sports while the beats thumped on the boom box in the visitor’s locker room. “We’re not giving up much. We’re just out there playing for each other. So, we know that once we get our hands on the ball, it’s time to go.”

When last seen in action, the Seahawks survived an overtime shootout thriller against the Los Angeles Rams in what many hailed as the NFL’s Game of the Year. It had a huge comeback. Offensive fireworks. A controversial two-point conversion. And a championship-level defense torched by Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua.

Well, it was quite a different formula – smash mouth – on Sunday.

The Seahawks allowed just 139 net yards, with a 1-for-11 third-down conversion rate. Young passed for just 54 yards and finished with a 45.8 passer rating.

The numbers certainly didn’t lie. But neither did the optics.

When they review the film, the Seahawks will notice a scant few – if any – missed tackles. For a unit that has been one of the league’s best all season, the group had what was likely its best tackling game of the season, a clinic with many contributors. In one case after another, yards after the catch were squashed with open-field stops.

And yes, the numbers support it. Carolina’s longest reception went for 8 yards.

“Those are critical yards,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said.

“They say when you get towards the end of the season, teams will have a hard time tackling. Guys aren’t as fresh,” rookie safety Nick Emmanwori said. “We just make that an emphasis to work on it. It’s never easy. But that’s what wins games. Those yards, takeaways. That’s what wins games.”

It definitely sets a tone.

Darnold can surely vouch for that. The veteran quarterback is quite fortunate to have the Seahawks defense on his side. Although he won again, Darnold wasn’t particularly sharp. And he committed two more giveaways to fuel more questions about his turnover tendencies.

If there’s a reason to wonder about the Seahawks championship aspirations, it undoubtedly revolves around the turnovers. Seattle entered Week 17 with 26 giveaways on the season – second-most in the NFL (Minnesota, 29) – and had two more on Sunday.

Darnold fumbled in the second quarter, boxed in the pocket as he attempted to pass. But after giving the Panthers possession at the Seattle 26, the Seahawks defense limited the damage to a field goal after Hubbard hit a brick wall (for no gain) on a third-and-one plunge.

Early in the third quarter, Darnold was picked off in the end zone by Mike Jackson on a throw that was apparently deflected as itcame nowhere close to intended receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But the defense saved Darnold again, and on just one snap with Jones forcing the Hubbard fumble.

Still, the Seahawks will be hard-pressed to flirt with such disaster when the competition rises in the playoffs. Macdonald tried to downplay concern, but that’s a tough sell.

“It’s really just the ball being in jeopardy,” Macdonald said during his postgame news conference. “Deflections. Those things happen. Really, if we take care of the front end better, it won’t be as big of an issue.”

There’s so much to like about the Seahawks’ viability for the upcoming playoff run, particularly given the foundation of Macdonald’s defense. Charbonnet had his most productive game of the season, rushing for 110 yards and 6.1 per carry in teaming with Kenneth Walker III for a formidable one-two punch. Rashid Shaheed was knocked out of the game in the first half with a concussion yet has proven vital as the wideout opposite Smith-Njigba and as an explosive kick returner.

And if Darnold gets hot…

“I don’t think as a team we’ve really played a complete game for four straight quarters,” Jones said. “So…we need to have those games. But ultimately, we’ve been making the plays when needed. We’ll have that game when we put it all together for four quarters. And watch out.”

The Panthers (8-8) can envision some growth, too. Yet in another sense, they were unable to take advantage of a great opportunity. With the Miami Dolphins hanging an upset on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina could have clinched the NFC South title with a victory.

Instead, the Panthers will meet the Bucs in a showdown at Tampa next weekend shaping up to decide the division crown.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, might have a similar arrangement when they visit the San Francisco 49ers in the regular-season finale. Whether the NFC West crown will be at stake depends on how the 49ers fare on Sunday night against the Chicago Bears.

Regardless, the Seahawks will have a chance to claim the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

Jones, for one, knows what to expect.

“A dogfight, man,” he said. “I’m mentally ready for it. I’m sure they are. So, let’s do it.”

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell

The Arizona Cardinals tight end set the NFL’s single-season record for most catches by a tight end in Week 17. McBride totaled the record-breaking 117th catch with 4:34 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals’ loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 28.

Take a look:

The record was previously held by Zach Ertz, who totaled 116 catches as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018.

It hasn’t been a memorable season for the Cardinals, who dropped their eighth straight game to fall to 3-13 after 17 weeks of action.

That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a memorable season for McBride, however. The tight end’s 2025 campaign has been his best in the NFL to date.

McBride totaled another 10 catches in Week 17, adding 76 yards and a touchdown to go with it.

It brings his season total to 119 catches, 1,174 yards and 11 touchdowns with just one week to go.

AI-assisted summary
• Michigan hired former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham two weeks after firing Sherrone Moore.
• At 66, Whittingham dismissed concerns about his age, stating he still has a lot of energy for the job.
• Whittingham said he was not deterred by Michigan’s recent scandals and that retaining players is a top priority.

In January 2024, days after Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, Michigan hired a relative upstart to lead its program, promoting then-37-year-old offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and giving him his first-ever head coaching job.

Two years later, the Wolverines are turning to one of the most known commodities in college football coaching.

When Michigan capped off a tumultuous two-week stretch by hiring Kyle Whittingham on Dec. 26, the move was met with widespread praise. A scandal-ridden program that had fired Moore earlier this month for an inappropriate relationship with a female staff member is now going to be led by Whittingham, who was one of the most consistent winners in the sport at Utah, where he built physical, tough-minded teams and did so without unsavory headlines hovering over his program.

If there was any question about Whittingham, it wasn’t about the identity of his teams or how he conducts himself. It was about his age.

At 66 years old, Whittingham is widely viewed as a short-term option for the Wolverines, but at his introductory news conference on Sunday, Dec. 28, he dismissed any concerns about whether he’s up for the job, noting that he still has “a lot of energy.”

“When I stepped down, one thing I didn’t want to be was the coach that just stayed too long at one place,” Whittingham said. “With 21 years, you’d say ‘Well, you did stay too long,’ but we ended up 10-2 this year. I thought this program is in a great place right now, excellent players, excellent coaching staff. I was able to hand the torch to my defensive coordinator, Morgan Scalley, who’s an outstanding young football coach, and I just felt like the time was right to exit Utah. But I’ve still got a lot of energy and felt like, hey, if the right opportunity came, then I would be all-in on that. That’s what Michigan afforded me.”

On Dec. 12, it was announced that Whittingham was stepping down from Utah at the end of the 2025 season after 21 years as the school’s head coach. He went 177-88 during that time, including a 10-2 mark this season.

Whittingham made it clear that the move wasn’t a retirement, with the coach joking that he was simply entering “the transfer portal.” Whittingham’s announced departure from Utah came only two days after Moore was fired at Michigan, opening up the kind of opportunity he wouldn’t have previously envisioned.

He said he had actually contemplated stepping down from Utah after the 2024 season, noting that he had seen too many coaches hang on for too long at a particular job. Those plans changed, though, when an injury-ravaged team finished 5-7, the Utes’ first sub-.500 season in 11 years.

“I just couldn’t end on that note,” Whittingham said.

He added that it was his decision to step down, not the school’s. As he put it, he “just felt the time was right.”

At Michigan, he will take over a program 23 months removed from a national championship. The Wolverines produced uneven results under Moore, though, going 8-5 in 2024 before a 9-3 finish this season ahead of their Citrus Bowl matchup against Texas.

Whittingham is in Orlando for the game, though he’ll just be there to meet with players and coaches and to watch the game, not to coach.

Keeping Bryce Underwood is a top priority

Whittingham noted that one of his biggest priorities taking over at Michigan will be roster retention, with one player in particular — five-star freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood — standing out. Whittingham said he met with Underwood for about 45 minutes on Sunday morning.

Should Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck make the move with Whittingham to Michigan, there’s a blueprint for success for a dual-threat quarterback like Underwood. During the 2025 season, Utes quarterback Devon Dampier racked up 2,867 total yards and 29 touchdowns.

“His ceiling is very high,” Whittingham said of Underwood. “The offense we’re going to bring in here I think is going to suit him to a T. I think he’s going to really, really excel and have a great experience here.”

Whittingham wasn’t scared off by Michigan’s recent scandals

Whittingham described Michigan during his news conference as one of the top five jobs in the sport, but he arrives at the university during a period of uncertainty.

The school is being led by an interim president, Domenico Grasso, and the football program and broader athletic department are under investigation after a series of scandals have swallowed the Wolverines in recent years. The probe is being conducted by Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block.

Whittingham said none of that factored into his decision on whether to take the job.

“No, I didn’t have any hesitation,” Whittingham said. “There’s some issues and missteps that are being taken care of, but the key is the players. The players are solid. The players here are rock solid. None of those issues and none of those things we’re dealing with involve the players. To their credit, they just kept grinding and kept after it. I’m so impressed with that because there were a lot of distractions and a lot of adversity. I’ve got no doubt that everything’s going to be handled properly.”

Whittingham is learning to hate Ohio State

While discussing his efforts to put together his first Michigan coaching staff, Whittingham mentioned that he has sought counsel from Urban Meyer, the former Ohio State coach under whom he worked at Utah from 2003-04.

After making that comment, Whittingham took a pause.

“I don’t know if that’s a four-letter word in this room or not,” he joked.

Meyer most recently was a college coach at Ohio State from 2012-18, when he guided the Buckeyes to a national championship and a 7-0 record against archrival Michigan in “The Game.”

Whittingham’s tenure with the Wolverines will be judged at least in part on how his teams fare against Ohio State in their annual rivalry clash. Michigan had won four consecutive games against the Buckeyes before a 27-9 loss last month in Ann Arbor.

Asked whether he dislikes Ohio State, Whittingham said “I do now” with a smile.

INGLEWOOD, CA — After an 0-3 regular-season start, the Houston Texans have lifted off.

The Texans held on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16 on Saturday to clinch a playoff berth.

C.J. Stroud and the Texans got off to an early 14-0 first-quarter lead and held off the Chargers as they attempted to fight back into the game.  

Houston’s top-ranked defense led the way as the unit contained Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense for most of the contest.  

The Texans have won a league-best eight consecutive games and have punched their ticket into the postseason.

Here are the winners and losers from Saturday’s AFC battle:

Winners

Texans defense

The stingy defense flexed its muscle against Los Angeles. Houston had the NFL’s No. 1 total defense and ranked No. 1 in points allowed entering Week 17. In the first half, the Texans defense held the Chargers to three points and six first downs.

Houston sacked Herbert five times and registered eight hits.

The Chargers gained 275 yards of total offense. Omarion Hampton was held to 29 rushing yards.

Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr. entered the game with a combined 24 ½ sacks. Hunter had a sack in the win. Anderson was credited for a half-sack.

C.J. Stroud to Iowa State products in first quarter

Stroud and rookie Jayden Higgins hooked up for a 75-yard touchdown on the third play of the game to lift the Texans to an early 7-0 lead. It was the longest touchdown pass of Stroud’s career. On Houston’s next possession, Stroud tossed a 43-yard touchdown to rookie Jaylin Noel to give the team a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Higgins and Noel are the second rookie duo in NFL history and the first since 1938 to each record touchdown receptions of 40-plus yards in the same game, per NFL Research. Higgins and Noel were also teammates at Iowa State.

Stroud started the game 4-of-4 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

It was 14-0 before fans got comfortable in their seats. The Texans outgained the Chargers 171 to 15 in total yards in the first period.

Texans playoff bound

Houston clinched a playoff berth with a win Saturday. The Texans have defeated the Chargers their past two meeting, including in the 2024 playoffs.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos officially clinched the AFC West title as a result of the Chargers’ loss. It’s Denver’s first division title since 2015.

Losers

Chargers’ offensive line

The Chargers offensive line has been ravaged by injuries this season.

The patchwork O-line faltered against Hunter, Anderson and the Texans defense. Herbert was sacked a handful of times. He was under duress all game.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have officially been eliminated from playoff contention as a result of Houston’s win.

Chargers’ first-quarter defense

The Chargers secondary performed as though the group was on Christmas vacation. The secondary started the contest with huge busted coverages on back-to-back series. One resulted in a 75-yard touchdown catch by Higgins and the other was a 43-yard touchdown reception by Noel.

The Chargers defense gave up 151 passing yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter.

Rookie mistakes for Oronde Gadsden

Gadsden had two crucial drops. One drop ricocheted off his hands near the end zone and into the hands of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Gadsden had another drop early in the second half that erased what would’ve been a first down.

The Chargers rookie tight end did have a 1-yard touchdown catch late in the third quarter.

Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker, punter JK Scott

Dicker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, missed an easy 32-yard field goal at the end of the first half. A successful field goal attempt would’ve cut the Chargers’ halftime deficit to 14-6. He also missed an extra point attempt in the fourth quarter with under four minutes remaining that would’ve trimmed Houston’s advantage to three points.

Dicker had made 94.1% of his career field goals entering Week 17.

Scott had punts of just 22 and 34 yards in the second half.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

The Lane Train has made a stop in H-Town.

LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry confirmed to WAFB’s Jacques Doucet prior to kickoff that new LSU football coach Lane Kiffin will be in attendance inside NRG Stadium for the Tigers’ contest against Houston in the Texas Bowl, and will be doing some ‘media coverage.’

Kiffin’s presence was teased by former LSU defensive tackle Booger McFarland on ABC during halftime of the Pop-Tarts Bowl between BYU and Georgia Tech. Kiffin also posted a photo of himself inside a private jet with an LSU pennant flag on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account earlier in the day.

While it is not unusual for an incoming coach to attend a bowl game of his new program, it is the first public appearance for Kiffin since he took over the Tigers program as the successor to Brian Kelly, outside of his introductory news conference.

Kiffin, who congratulated his former program on their first-ever CFP win on Saturday, Dec. 20 against Tulane, led Mississippi to a 55-19 overall record in six seasons.

Here’s what to know about why Kiffin is at NRG Stadium for LSU’s bowl game against Houston:

Why is Lane Kiffin at Texas Bowl between LSU-Houston?

Kiffin is getting an early look at his new team in action, as the former Ole Miss coach was named the successor to Kelly at LSU on Sunday, Nov. 30.

The veteran head coach was one of the most sought-after coaches in this coaching carousel, as he mentioned during his introductory news conference at LSU on Monday, Dec. 1 that there were four options on the table for him, including staying at Ole Miss and continuing to build the Rebels into a powerhouse.

He ultimately chose LSU.

‘This place is different. Having watched this place for a long time and from the other sideline. This place is different, and that’s why we’re here,’ Kiffin said at his introductory news conference.

He added: ‘As we’re going to the office, and you go by Tiger Stadium, and it’s lit up, and you are like, ‘I absolutely made the right decision,’ and (any bad feelings) all went away.’

Kiffin will be tasked with rebuilding the LSU program into a national championship contender, as the Tigers have missed out on the College Football Playoff each year since their national championship in 2020.

Who is coaching LSU in Texas Bowl?

LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson is coaching the Tigers in the Texas Bowl against Houston on Dec. 27. Wilson, a longtime assistant coach at LSU across two different stints, has led the Tigers to a 2-2 record since being elevated to interim head coach by Woodward.

The Texas Bowl will be the final game Wilson coaches at LSU, as he is returning to Ole Miss to be on Pete Golding’s first staff in Oxford. Wilson spent three seasons with the Rebels from 2005 through 2007 as a running back and special teams coach. During availability in Houston on Friday, Dec. 26, Wilson mentioned he and Kiffin couldn’t come to a resolution on keeping him in Baton Rouge, despite Kiffin ‘wanting to find a way to work it out.’

The NBA matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Phoenix Suns reached an unexpected level of intensity on Saturday night.

The Suns had built up an 87-83 lead in the final minutes of the third quarter before members of the opposing teams started to exchange blows.

Collin Gillespie had the ball at midcourt for the Suns while teammate Mark Williams began to set up a screen, attempting to guard Jose Alvarado of the Pelicans.

The officials on the court quickly blew the whistle, which led Alvarado to briefly turn toward the referee to express his displeasure before he turned back around to exchange words with Williams.

The two began to exchange blows and had to be separated by teammates and coaches. Both Alvarado and Williams were ejected from the game.

The NBA is expected to issue punishment for the participating parties in the coming days.

The Suns went on to win the game, 123-114.