Lakers' annual preseason game in Las Vegas brings enthusiasm to potential NBA market

LAS VEGAS (AP) — While the biggest sports news circulating throughout Southern Nevada on Tuesday began with Davante Adams being traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Jets, it didn’t seem to matter to the announced crowd of 16,907 inside T-Mobile Arena.

The Los Angeles Lakers were in town for their annual preseason visit, facing the Golden State Warriors, and per usual, there was plenty of electricity.

A couple of warm-up dunks by LeBron James followed by his patented pregame chalk toss set things off.

James' failed attempt at a windmill dunk less than three minutes in produced some reaction from the crowd before his two-handed stuff at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter drew a roar of approval.

The NBA had returned, even if for one night.

"Las Vegas has proven to be an excellent sports town,” coach JJ Reddick said after his Lakers (1-3) lost 111-97 to Golden State (5-0). “I know that whether it’s been the hockey team, WNBA team, the NFL team, there’s a nice following. There’s obviously a lot of things to do. It’s a place that people like to come visit.”

Nestled courtside behind the Warriors bench was Los Angeles Sparks star Dearica Hamby with daughter Amaya and teammate Rae Burrell, while undefeated super lightweight Emiliano Vargas had a seat directly behind James on the Lakers' bench.

“It’s incredible, you know, they don’t get this experience often outside of Aces basketball, so to say,” Hamby said during halftime. “So I think the city shows up when they get the opportunity to support basketball in Las Vegas.”

Burrell, who was born and raised in Las Vegas, said she remembers growing up with non-residents thinking her hometown was nothing more than the famed Strip and the historic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.

“But it was really The Strip - and sports,” Burrell said. “If you were in sports, you kind of knew everybody in Vegas. So just seeing it all come to life and all these teams getting added, I know the city is just so excited.”

It dates back even further than Burrell’s childhood, as the marriage between the NBA and Las Vegas arguably started during the 1983-84 season, when the Utah Jazz scheduled 11 “home” games at the then-newly built Thomas & Mack Center on UNLV's campus. On April 5, 1984, with the Lakers in town to play the Jazz, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the greatest scorer in NBA history at the time, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain’s 31,419 points.

The Lakers then began playing preseason games in Las Vegas in 1988. In 2007, when the NBA All-Star Game was hosted in Las Vegas, the late Kobe Bryant was named MVP after leading the Western Conference to victory.

The NBA Summer League has been a staple in Las Vegas since 2007, with games also played on UNLV's campus.

“Vegas, we just love our sports. Even during the national anthem, you heard the (NHL’s Golden) Knights fans sing the part where they yell ‘NIGHT!’ I mean, it’s just amazing," Burrell said. "There’s just always so much support in Las Vegas. So, just having preseason games and in-season tournament games in Vegas, adding that stuff, just shows the support that is in Vegas. So I think it’s just amazing, and I think it’s just getting better and better.”

Though a formal process is years away at the earliest, NBA commissioner Adam Silver mentioned Las Vegas and Seattle when talking about expansion in July.

With the league’s impending expansion, which would make the NBA a regular night out each season, Warriors star Draymond Green doesn’t see the allure of Las Vegas wearing off.

“It’ll never wear off,” Green said. “It has not worn off since (Frank) Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr, back in the 60s. Basketball or football or baseball or anything else is only going to add to that. I think what you see with Vegas is a shift from the entertainment that Vegas has once seen, to sports.

"You got all the sporting events coming. Boxing has been doing it for years. Dana White, the job that he has done with UFC - absolutely incredible. The job Mark Davis has done with the Las Vegas Raiders and with the Las Vegas Aces - amazing. ... This is an amazing place. I don’t think you’ve ever heard many people complain about having to come to Vegas. And so I don’t think it loses its allure at all. I think, actually, the legend grows.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) grabs the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) during the first half of a NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, passes around Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the first half of a NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives against Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half of a NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Dearica Hamby of the Los Angeles Sparks watches a NBA preseason basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, and guard Bronny James warm up before a NBA preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, and guard Bronny James warm up before a NBA preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) tosses chalk into the air before a NBA preseason basketball against the Golden State Warriors, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi scored his 10th international hat trick to raise his career total to 112 goals and also had a pair of assists to lead Argentina over Bolivia 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

After missing a pair of October qualifiers while recovering from a right ankle injury sustained in the Copa America, Messi played the entire match before raucous fans at Estadio Monumental who chanted his name after he opened the scoring in the 19th minute.

Messi added goals in the 84th and 86th minutes. The 37-year-old is second on the career scoring list behind the 133 of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rival Brazil and under-pressure coach Dorival Júnio got some relief with a convincing performance in a 4-0 home win against Peru.

Argentina leads South American qualifying with 22 points after 10 matches, three points clear of second-place Colombia, who beat Chile 4-0. Uruguay, which earlier had a goalless draw with Ecuador, and Brazil have 16 points each, with the Uruguayans in third place on goal difference.

Ecuador and Paraguay follow with 13 points apiece, with Ecuadorians fifth on goal difference.

The top six teams secure automatic berths in the 2026 World Cup. The seventh-place team, currently Bolivia, will play in an international playoff for a spot in the tournament.

Two more rounds will be played in November.

Messi's first goal came after a mistake by a Bolivian defender, who missed a pass and allowed Messi to run freely and finish unchallenged in front of goalkeeper Billy Viscarra. Messi assisted on Lautaro Martínez's 43rd-minute goal and gave a decisive pass once again Julián Álvarez scored in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.

Thiago Almada in the 69th minute off a low cross by Nahuel Molina before Messi had great finishing touches from the edge of the area.

“We enjoyed this, we are happy to be here playing in Argentina,” said Messi, who once again refused to say whether he will play in the next World Cup in 2026. “This could be one of the last (matches in front of the Argentinian crowd).”

Bolivia, which is seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 30 years, remains in contention with 12 points.

This month's rounds of South American qualifying were important for coach Dorival Júnior. His team was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the latest Copa America and was struggling against rivals it used to beat easily, such as Paraguay and Venezuela.

Júnior's chances of success seemed low in matches against Chile and Peru due to injuries affecting several of his starters; goalkeeper Alisson, defender Éder Militão and striker Vinicius Júnior were all out. But a last-minute win against the Chileans and a convincing display against the Peruvians will give the Brazil coach some relief.

Raphinha scored from the spot twice to put Brazil in front in Brasilia, the first in the 38th minute and the second in the 54th.

Substitute Andreas Pereira made more than 60,000 fans at the National Stadium gasp when he scored with a volley in the 71st minute. Another substitute, Luiz Henrique, scored for the second consecutive match for the national team with a classy shot from the edge of the box.

“These were two matches that we controlled well,” Raphinha said. “We are far from perfection, but we are on the right track.”

Chile's loss to Colombia has placed the job of coach Ricardo Gareca at risk. Davinson Sánchez, Luis Díaz, Jhon Durán and Luis Sinistierra scored the goals for Colombia. Chile is in last place in the qualifying group with only five points.

Paraguay beat Venezuela 2-1 and moved into a qualifying position in the standings. Jon Aramburo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute, but striker Antonio Sarabia came off the bench to win it for the hosts with goals in the 59th and 74th minutes.

Savarese reported from Sao Paulo

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Brazil's Raphinha, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal from the penalty spot against Peru during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's Rodrygo, left, is challenged by Peru's Luis Advincula during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Referee Esteban Ostojich points to the penalty spot after a VAR review to grant Brazil a penalty during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Peru at Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's Luiz Henrique celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal against Peru during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, celebrates with teammate Thiago Almada after scoring his side's fifth goal against Bolivia during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi scores his side's sixth goal against Bolivia during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's player celebrate after Lionel Messi scored their sixth goal against Bolivia during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Uruguay's Nahitan Nandez, left, and Ecuador's Alan Minda compete for the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)

Uruguay's coach Marcelo Bielsa reacts during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Ecuador at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)

Chile's coach Ricardo Gareca gestures during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Colombia at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Colombia's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Chile during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Argentina's Lionel Messi looks on during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Bolivia at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Lautaro Martinez, celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Bolivia during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)