LOS ANGELES — LeBron James delivered a vintage performance with 28 points, 12 assists and six rebounds Friday night, leading a short-handed Los Angeles Lakers squad to a dominant 101-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena and securing home-court advantage in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.

The Lakers, playing without several key rotation players, improved to 52-29 and locked in the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. The Suns fell to 44-37, slipping further in the playoff picture with their offense struggling mightily against Los Angeles’ defense.

James, in his 23rd NBA season, shot efficiently and orchestrated the Lakers’ attack throughout the contest. The 41-year-old superstar added four steals while logging heavy minutes in the second game of a back-to-back, showcasing the endurance that has defined his legendary career.

“LeBron was LeBron tonight,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the game. “Even on a back-to-back, he set the tone defensively and offensively. Our guys fed off that energy.”

The Lakers jumped out to an early lead, outscoring the Suns 33-24 in the first quarter and never looking back. Los Angeles built the advantage with strong interior play and transition opportunities, finishing with 46 points in the paint compared to Phoenix’s 32. The Lakers also dominated fast-break points 19-3.

Phoenix, missing star Devin Booker due to right knee injury management along with other contributors, managed just 73 points — one of their lowest outputs of the season. The Suns shot poorly from the field and struggled to create consistent scoring chances, particularly in the second half when they were outscored 44-25.

Austin Reaves contributed solidly for the Lakers with efficient scoring and playmaking, while the supporting cast stepped up in the absence of injured teammates. The victory marked a significant bounce-back effort for Los Angeles, which has navigated injuries throughout the late season but maintained its position in the standings.

The Suns entered the matchup with playoff hopes still alive but appeared fatigued and disjointed. Without Booker’s scoring punch, Phoenix relied heavily on secondary options that couldn’t generate enough offense against the Lakers’ switching defense.

James’ first-half scoring burst helped the Lakers establish control. He tallied 22 points by halftime on efficient shooting, including several highlight-reel drives and kick-out passes that led to open threes. The Crypto.com Arena crowd, sensing the blowout early, frequently chanted “MVP” during his highlights.

By the third quarter, the Lakers had stretched the lead to double digits and began emptying the bench in the fourth as the game turned into a rout. Phoenix scored only nine points in the final period, underscoring the defensive intensity Los Angeles brought on both ends of the floor.

The lopsided result highlighted the disparity between the teams’ current forms. The Lakers have shown resilience in recent weeks, positioning themselves for a favorable playoff path. Securing home-court advantage means potential series openers at Crypto.com Arena, where the purple and gold have been formidable this season.

For the Suns, the loss compounds ongoing challenges. Booker’s absence was felt acutely, as the team’s offense lacked its usual rhythm. Coach Frank Vogel’s squad will need to regroup quickly if it hopes to climb the standings or avoid the play-in tournament.

Statistically, the Lakers excelled across the board. They held a significant rebounding edge in key moments and forced the Suns into 24 turnovers while committing just 11 themselves. Los Angeles shot better from three-point range and converted free throws at a higher clip.

James’ all-around stat line once again underscored his value. At an age when many players have retired, the four-time MVP continues to impact games at an elite level, blending scoring, passing and leadership.

Postgame, Suns players expressed frustration with their execution. “We didn’t compete the way we needed to, especially on the road,” one veteran said. “Credit to LA — they were physical and made us pay for every mistake.”

The game was played in front of a lively crowd at Crypto.com Arena, with fans celebrating both James’ performance and the team’s playoff positioning. The atmosphere remained electric even as the lead grew, with chants and standing ovations punctuating key moments.

This victory gives the Lakers momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. With home-court advantage now clinched, Los Angeles can focus on rest and preparation while monitoring injury recoveries.

Phoenix, meanwhile, faces a tough remaining schedule. The team will look to get healthy and find consistency to salvage its playoff positioning in a competitive Western Conference.

Analysts noted the defensive masterclass by the Lakers. They limited Phoenix to low-percentage shots and disrupted passing lanes effectively. The Suns’ 73 points represented a season-low or near-low for many observers, reflecting Los Angeles’ ability to dictate the tempo.

James’ leadership extended beyond the box score. Teammates spoke of his vocal encouragement on the bench and during timeouts, helping maintain focus in a game that could have become complacent.

The blowout also provided valuable minutes for younger Lakers players and bench contributors, allowing them to gain experience in a winning environment. Several role players knocked down open shots created by James’ gravity on the court.

For Suns fans hoping for a competitive matchup, the night turned disappointing early. Phoenix showed brief flashes in the first half but couldn’t sustain momentum against the Lakers’ waves of defensive pressure.

As the 2025-26 NBA season winds down, this result reinforces the Lakers’ status as a dangerous postseason team. Their ability to win convincingly without a full roster bodes well for deeper playoff runs.

James, when asked about clinching home-court, emphasized team goals over individual accolades. “It’s about positioning ourselves the best way possible for April and May,” he said. “We’ve got work left, but tonight was a good step.”

The Suns will regroup for their next contest, hoping to avoid similar defensive lapses. Booker’s potential return could shift dynamics, but Friday’s showing highlighted areas needing urgent attention.

Overall, the contest served as a statement win for the Lakers. Dominating from wire to wire against a divisional rival, Los Angeles sent a clear message to the Western Conference: they are healthy, motivated and ready for the playoffs.

Fans and analysts alike flooded social media with highlights of James’ dunks, no-look passes and defensive stops. Clips of the 28-point, 12-assist masterclass quickly went viral, adding to the evening’s buzz.

With the regular season nearing its conclusion, the Lakers’ 101-73 triumph over the Suns will be remembered as a pivotal moment in their quest for another deep playoff journey. Phoenix, conversely, must find answers quickly to avoid fading from contention.

The Western Conference standings tightened further with this outcome, but Los Angeles solidified its place among the elite. As both teams eye the postseason, Friday night belonged decisively to the Lakers and their ageless leader.

Over the past few decades, the insurance industry has evolved steadily alongside technology. From paper-based proposals and branch interactions to call centres and digital platforms, each phase reflects changing customer expectations.

What we are witnessing today, however, is not just another step in digitisation. It is a fundamental shift in how customers understand, evaluate, and experience insurance.

A large majority of insurance journeys today begin online. Industry estimates and regulatory insights suggest that over 70% of customers now start their search digitally, a sharp increase over the past decade.

As highlighted in multiple industry analyses and digital adoption studies, this shift reflects not just increased internet penetration, but a bigger behavioural change in how customers approach financial decisions.

At the centre of this transformation is Artificial Intelligence, which is not just improving processes but reshaping the entire customer experience.

Insurance has traditionally been perceived as complex. For most customers, understanding policies meant going through multiple documents, comparing fine print, and relying heavily on intermediaries to interpret technical details.
Even for well-informed customers, navigating different websites, product brochures, and policy wordings could be overwhelming. AI is changing this in a very fundamental way. It is turning what used to be a search-driven process into a conversation.Today, a customer does not have to browse through multiple pages or interpret complex documents to understand insurance. They can simply ask questions in plain language and receive clear, contextual, and relevant responses instantly.

Whether it is understanding what a policy covers, comparing two products, checking waiting periods, or evaluating claim-related aspects, AI is making this information available in a far more intuitive manner. This shift is significant.

According to industry estimates, AI-driven recommendation engines and assisted journeys have the potential to reduce decision-making time by as much as 60-70%. Instead of spending hours navigating information, customers can now arrive at informed decisions within minutes.

The interaction becomes natural and personalised, almost like speaking to a knowledgeable advisor who is always available. What makes this even more powerful is that the responses are not generic. They are tailored to the customer’s specific needs, helping them focus on what truly matters rather than getting lost in excessive information.

This ability to simplify comparisons is one of the most important contributions of AI.

Insurance decisions are rarely about price alone. They involve understanding coverage, service quality, network strength, and long-term reliability. AI helps bring all these factors together in a way that is easy to understand and act upon.

Beyond discovery and comparison, AI is also enhancing the overall customer experience. AI powered assistants today can handle a significant share of routine queries. Various industry studies suggest that AI led bots can manage up to 60-80% of standard customer interactions, enabling round the clock support and faster resolution times.

Processes such as onboarding and policy issuance are also becoming faster and more seamless. Activities like document verification and policy issuance, which earlier took days, are now completed within minutes through automation and digital integration. This improvement in speed and simplicity directly contributes to greater customer confidence.

The impact of AI becomes even more meaningful when we look at India beyond the large urban centres. For customers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, access to insurance has often been limited by a combination of awareness, complexity, and availability of guidance. At the same time, these markets are driving the next wave of digital growth.

According to industry reports and insurer data, over 50% of new digital insurance customers are now coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 locations. AI has the potential to act as a powerful bridge in this context. Through voice-based interactions, regional language capabilities, and simplified interfaces, AI enables customers to engage with insurance in a way that is comfortable and familiar.

A customer does not need to be financially sophisticated or digitally advanced to ask a question and understand the answer. This is where AI can play a transformative role in reducing the digital divide. It removes the need for customers to navigate complex systems or rely solely on physical access points. Instead, it brings information, guidance, and support directly to them in a simple and accessible format.

India’s insurance penetration continues to remain below global averages. According to the data from the Government of India and IRDAI, insurance penetration stands at around 3.7% of GDP, compared to significantly higher global benchmarks.

This highlights the scale of the opportunity as well as the need to expand access and awareness. Bridging this gap requires not just more products or distribution, but simpler and more intuitive ways for customers to understand and trust what they are buying. AI is uniquely positioned to support this transition.

Looking ahead, the role of AI will continue to deepen. Insurance will become more intuitive, more personalised, and more responsive to individual needs. Customers will not just seek information, but expect guidance that is relevant, timely, and easy to act upon.

For a country as large and diverse as India, the ambition of Insurance for All will require scale, innovation, and collaboration across the ecosystem. Technology, and particularly AI, will be an important enabler in making this vision a reality. This is not just about adopting new tools. It is about reimagining how the industry connects with customers.

From selling policies to building confidence, from transactions to relationships, and from complexity to clarity, the shift is already underway. In many ways, AI is helping the industry deliver on its most important promise. To make insurance simple, understandable, and accessible for every Indian.

(The author Dr. Tapan Singhel, MD & CEO, Bajaj General Insurance Limited (formerly known as Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited)

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has barred 39 individuals and entities from accessing capital markets in connection with irregularities in RRP Semiconductor, a stock listed on the BSE which jumped 725 times in 19 months from Rs 15 to Rs 10,887.10.

In a 47-page interim order issued on Friday, the securities market watchdog restricted the company’s promoters/directors Ira Mishra, Sumita Mishra and Ramesh Mishra, three entities viz. Multiplier Share & Stock Advisors Pvt. Ltd, Pace Stock Broking Services Pvt. Ltd and Neo Apex Venture LLP along with 33 others from buying and selling the stock.

While directing depositories NSDL and CDSL to freeze the equity shares of RRP in the demat accounts of the accused, Sebi also ordered the impounding of approximately Rs 2 crore made as “unlawful gains” by the three entities.

Incorporated in 1980 and formerly known as G D Trading and Agencies, the company was engaged in trading investment and trading activities. The smallcap stock has a market capitalization of Rs 13,265 crore on the BSE.

The regulator ordered a preliminary examination against the company for alleged unfair trading practices undertaken during the period between April 2, 2024 and October 31, 2025. However, Sebi also made references outside this period, the order said.

Sebi investigation

The Sebi examination revealed that several entities involved in the off-market transfers were connected through calls, fund transfers or common addresses.
“The trading pattern, scale of price increase, and interconnectedness of entities reflect a level of planning and coordination that is inconsistent with independent trading behaviour. The magnitude and speed of the price rise, together with the absence of any positive change in financials / business plans of the Company, are strongly indicative of manipulation in the scrip of RRP,” the order read.
The order also noted shareholding of promoters reduced from 74.5% to 1.28% after the preferential allotment 1,35,25,000 shares to 31 entities following shareholders’ approval at the EGM held on May 27, 2024.

The order further noted a significant mismatch between the company’s financials and the surge in share price. “While the financials exhibited a steady deterioration over the quarters of 2025, the share price of RRP surged from Rs 185.50 on January 1, 2025 to Rs 10,887.10 on October 31, 2025, representing an increase of over 58 times,” the order added.

Top contributors to last traded price (LTP) gains have already exited their positions, booking significant profits. Meanwhile, there has been a sharp surge in the number of public shareholders, suggesting that retail investors were drawn into the stock at elevated and possibly inflated prices.

The shareholder base expanded rapidly—from just 55 investors in March 2024 to over 1,200 by February 2026—despite regulatory measures. This steady rise indicates continued retail participation even as earlier investors exited.

Additionally, the order noted investor interest appeared to have been fueled by misleading and unverified information circulating on social media. Rumours around high-profile associations, large land allotments, and industry recognition created a positive narrative, which the company itself later acknowledged and clarified as misleading.

BSE has already restricted trading in RRP Semiconductor. Its last traded price was Rs 9,736.40 on March 30, 2026.

(Disclaimer: The recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)

It will now be the responsibility of the provincial governments to decide whether or not the glaciers in their region are of strategic importance – that is, whether they provide water for human consumption, agriculture, biodiversity, as a source of scientific information, or as a tourist attraction.

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