OKLAHOMA CITY — In Ziaire Williams, the rebuilding Nets took a flier on a former lottery pick as a salary dump. He’s an athletic floor-running defender whose jumper has been his weakness. But if he can keep shooting the way he has lately, their gamble might come good.

For Lakers rookie Bronny James, the game was extra special as he got reunited with Nets forward Ziaire Williams, his former teammate at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles. After the matchup, James and Williams exchanged jerseys and posed for a picture. The Lakers guard posted it on his Instagram story.

Here are three Brooklyn Nets takeaways from Friday's 102-101 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers in D'Angelo Russell's return to Los Angeles.

Despite a close miss by D'Angelo Russell, the Nets lost to the Lakers 102-101 in what was supposed to be a revenge game for Russell, who had 19 points, six rebounds, and eight assists off the bench. Ziaire Williams had 15 points and Tosan Evbuomwan had 15 points and six rebounds off the bench to continue his impressive stretch for Brooklyn after being one of the team's recent Two-Way signings.

Kawhi Leonard is back, and even though he's still rounding into form, his return has been transformative for the Los Angeles Clippers. It's been a small sample size, but early signs indicate the presence of the two-time Finals MVP entrenches the team among the Western Conference elites.

The Hornets, who have lost four of their last five games, were without guard LaMelo Ball, who left with a sprained left ankle in Monday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The team announced Wednesday that Ball would be re-evaluated in one week.

SAN ANTONIO — Clippers center Ivica Zubac added 21 points and 22 rebounds in an intense battle with San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama as the Clippers rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-116 on Wednesday night. Wembanyama had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs. They have lost five of six.

Williams will make his 17th start of the 2024-25 campaign for the Nets on Wednesday on the road in Charlotte. In 16 games as a starter ahead of the matchup with the Hornets, the 23-year-old has averaged 11.

As the Clippers went small and turned up their physicality and intensity on the defensive end, including their willingness to trap on defense, the Bucks lost control of the ball far too many times and repeatedly gave away easy points.

The Milwaukee Bucks take a five-game winning streak into their game tonight vs. the Los Angeles Clippers. Is Giannis Antetokounmpo available?

It's officially trade season in the NBA. And with each passing week, it feels more likely a Jimmy Butler deal might just be the tip of an iceberg.

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