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Lakers' vets paving way for series sweep over Rockets

NBA: Playoffs-Los Angeles Lakers at Houston RocketsApr 24, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with guard Luke Kennard (10) after scoring a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The two elder statesmen of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James and Marcus Smart, had shouldered the load of a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback against the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of that first-round series, performing with the ideal blend of poise and desperation.

In the aftermath of the Lakers’ 112-108 overtime road victory, a win that provided the Lakers a 3-0 series lead and an opportunity to complete the sweep in Game 4 on Sunday, James was asked how he and his teammates mustered the gumption to dig deep and outlast the younger, healthier, and presumably hungrier Rockets.

James answered a question with a question.

“What else are we going to do?” James said. “We don’t have the luxury of thinking about another game. We have to be in the moment.

“I keep harping on it: we are missing some very important pieces to our ballclub. We don’t have the luxury of being passive or being complacent. Our whole mindset is we have to do everything it takes in that particular game, in that particular moment, in that particular possession in order for us to win basketball games because we don’t have a long leash or a lot of room for error.”

Initially left for dead without Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) — the latter is listed as questionable for Game 4 — the Lakers continue to defy the odds in both grand and minute ways. James (29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists) and Smart (21 points, 10 rebounds, five steals) were Herculean throughout Game 3, yet more was required in the waning moments, with the Rockets leading 101-95 and in possession with 30 seconds left.

Smart duped Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. into throwing an ill-advised pass, nabbed the ball, and drew a critical foul on Jae’Sean Tate while attempting a 3-pointer. Smart sank all three free throws to shave the deficit in half, and James followed by forcing a backcourt turnover on the ensuing Houston possession before drilling a trey with 13.6 seconds left to force overtime.

The Lakers coughed up a 15-point lead. Their hot shooting in the first half cooled considerably. But just when the Lakers appeared stuck in the mud, they discovered what was needed to survive. And after creating a second opportunity, the Lakers seized it in the extra period.

“Everything that we needed to do, even when it wasn’t pretty, we just found a way to do it,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “We’re playing hard. You have to do that to put yourself in a position to win.

“There are some things that we can execute better, but I thought from the beginning of the game we played with a sense of desperation, and we played like a team that was down (in the series).”

The Rockets were without their leading scorer, Kevin Durant, in Game 3. He is listed as questionable for Game 4 with Durant desperately treating the ankle sprain he sustained late in Game 2. Without Durant, the Rockets started the second-youngest lineup in a playoff game since starters were tracked in 1970-71, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That youth was evident late.

Smith and Reed Sheppard committed baffling turnovers. The Rockets failed to run the correct play after James’ game-tying 3. The Rockets are a whopping plus-63 in field goal attempts in the series, but they’ve shot 28.7% from behind the arc. Houston has squandered its chances.

There is no precedent for a team rallying from an 0-3 series deficit. The Rockets will be challenged to get off the mat facing that history.

“Disappointed with the ending,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “Some good things before that … so you’re doing some good things with the opportunity. But now you’ve got to go get one on Sunday.

“Don’t let this one beat you twice.”

–Field Level Media

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Red Sox bats come alive in rout of Orioles

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Baltimore OriolesApr 25, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) hits an RBI single during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Garrett Crochet pitched six shutout innings and Andruw Monasterio drilled a late-game grand slam as the Boston Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak with a 17-1 victory against the host Baltimore Orioles on Saturday afternoon.

Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras joined Monasterio with ninth-inning home runs as part of Boston’s 10-run blitz in the final inning.

Contreras provided a sacrifice before batting twice in the ninth with a run-scoring single and a three-run homer to finish with five runs batted in. Connor Wong drilled a three-run double in the fifth inning. Monasterio and Ceddanne Rafaela had three hits apiece.

The Orioles, who racked up 20 hits Friday night, had one hit through five innings Saturday. Taylor Ward had two of Baltimore’s six hits.

Crochet (3-3), who had a couple of rough outings during a personal two-game losing skid, limited the Orioles to three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters. He allowed Coby Mayo’s double and two sixth-inning singles.

Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers (2-3) didn’t make it through the second inning. He was charged with three runs on four hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings. He threw 48 pitches in the second.

Even with the seven runs through five innings, Boston’s run total was one more than the team’s total in its previous four games combined.

The Red Sox produced a three-run second inning with two outs, beginning with Durbin’s run-scoring double. Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in a run with a single two batters later before Rafaela followed with a run-producing single.

Contreras delivered a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. Wong came through with a two-out bases-clearing double in the fifth.

Boston’s four runs across the fourth and fifth innings off reliever Albert Suarez were unearned.

The Red Sox lost the shutout bid in the seventh when Tyler O’Neill, in his first game back from the concussion injury list, singled and later scored on Leody Taveras’ groundout. That run was unearned off Greg Weissert.

Rafaela led off the ninth with a triple and scored on Contreras’ single before Baltimore turned to utility player Weston Wilson on the mound.

The start of the game was moved up four hours because of weather-related concerns later in the day.

–Field Level Media

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Galaxy, Real Salt Lake clash, dealing with crowded schedule

Soccer: Concacaf Champions Cup-Round of 16-Mt. Pleasant at LA GalaxyMar 11, 2026; Carson, California, USA; LA Galaxy forward Ruben Ramos (24) shoots during the second half of a Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 Leg 1 soccer game against Mount Pleasant FA at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

The rivalry between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy is generally spirited, but both teams will be tasked with generating renewed energy when they meet Sunday at Carson, Calif.

Both teams are winding down a busy stretch of the schedule with their third matches in nine days. Putting together the lineups will be carefully calculated.

“There’s going to be a balance to that,” said Real Salt Lake coach Pablo Mastroeni, a former player with the Galaxy. “A lot of it has to do with how the guys who started last week recover. Maybe I go against what I typically do. We’ll look at all the factors … and make the best decisions for the group for Sunday.”

Real Salt Lake (5-2-1, 16 points) lost 2-0 to visiting Inter Miami on Wednesday after a two-game stretch of scoring seven total goals in a pair of victories.

Real Salt Lake will look to get rookie forward Sergi Solans rolling; he has five goals this season.

The Galaxy (2-4-3, 9 points) have allowed two goals in each of their past two games in going 0-1-1 in those road outings. That included Wednesday’s 2-1 setback at the Columbus Crew.

“We have to be able to move faster, anticipate more, and be cleaner under pressure in certain situations,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said.

The teams are longtime rivals, with the Galaxy owning 22 wins, Real Salt Lake winning 18 matchups and the teams playing to 13 draws.

Last year, Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna had two goals in a five-minute stretch in a 2-0 victory. Recently, he has scored in two of the team’s last three matches.

The Galaxy will have lineup adjustments, so it’s unclear if teenager Ruben Ramos Jr. will receive his second consecutive start.

With so many matches in a short span, Vanney said that factored into decisions regarding playing time throughout the week. How some players have recovered since the mid-week game will determine lineups for Sunday.

“It’s a combination of things and choosing our lineup,” Vanney said. “Sometimes it’s not always exactly how I want to draw it up, it’s what we have.”

Joseph Paintsil could see an increased role, but Vanney is mindful that he’s coming off a hamstring injury. Injured defender Jakob Glesnes (calf), who has been out since mid-March, fits into that category as well.

“They don’t have a lot of training time because the games are also coming fast so unfortunately, we have to use the games to build up their fitness and their durability,” Vanney said.

L.A.’s Gabriel Pec will look to build off his performance in the Columbus game when he recorded his first goal of the season.

The Galaxy will be without forward Joao Klauss, who had foot surgery Friday stemming from an injury last weekend.

Real Salt Lake will play on the road for the first time in more than a month — since a March 22 draw at San Diego.

As part of the match’s festivities, a statue for former L.A. Galaxy star Cobi Jones will be unveiled outside the stadium.

–Field Level Media

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Backcourt play re-energizes Spurs against Blazers heading into Game 4

NBA: Playoffs-San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail BlazersApr 24, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) drives to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during the second half during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images

Guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper helped the San Antonio Spurs overcome the absence of Victor Wembanyama and regain the upper hand in their Western Conference first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The young duo may face the tall task of playing without the 7-foot-4 superstar once again on Sunday afternoon when the Spurs and Blazers reconvene in Portland for Game 4. San Antonio holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Castle scored 33 points, and the rookie Harper added career bests of 27 points and 10 rebounds on Friday, helping the Spurs overcome a 15-point deficit in the third quarter en route to a 120-108 victory over the Blazers.

Luke Kornet collected 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks while starting in place of Wembanyama, who remained on the sideline wearing a white T-shirt and multi-colored cardigan. The NBA Defensive Player of the Year and finalist for the NBA MVP award resides in concussion protocol after sustaining a head injury in the second quarter of San Antonio’s 106-103 loss in Game 2 on Tuesday.

“Obviously, there’s a lot that goes into that, but he’s doing well and progressing,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said of sitting Wembanyama in Game 3. Johnson declined to speculate on the towering Frenchman’s status for Sunday’s game.

San Antonio has put itself in position to push Portland to the brink of elimination due in large part to its spirited play in the second half of Game 3. The Spurs outscored the Trail Blazers by a 61-43 margin after halftime.

“I think our defense and our rebounding,” said Castle, when asked about what changed in the second half. “We made an emphasis on that before the game, but we weren’t really doing it the first half that well. We fixed it by not allowing them to get offensive rebounds and get out on the run.”

Portland acting coach Tiago Splitter had a different take on what changed in the third and fourth quarters.

“We weren’t as involved,” he said. “(The Spurs were the more) physical team in the second half. They played better. Made shots. I think Harper and Castle were unbelievable. Played a very good game, getting to the line, shooting 3s, being physical on defense, rebounding, pushing (Donovan Clingan) around, all of them, they were more physical than us. Rebounding 50/50 balls. That was the game, and they were just better.”

Jrue Holiday scored 29 points, and Scoot Henderson added 21 to pace the Trail Blazers. The duo combined to make 10 of 19 attempts from 3-point range.

In the third quarter, Holiday drained a pull-up 3-pointer and added a steal that led to a pair of free throws by Jerami Grant to boost the Blazers’ lead to 82-67. It slowly went south for Portland from there, however.

“Losses like this (tick) you off … if you feel like you had the game, you know, obviously they were down a great player, you know, but it was a great team,” backup center Robert Williams III said. “They came out with the W. Yeah, these are the ones, you know, you kind of lose sleep over.”

–Field Level Media

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