Sports
Thunder not taking Lakers for granted ahead of Game 1
Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) goes up for a basket as Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) defends during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the Los Angeles Lakers twice in the final two weeks of the regular season.
The Thunder won those two games by an average of 39.5 points per game.
But heading into Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series Tuesday in Oklahoma City, the Thunder aren’t looking past the Lakers.
“They’re playing really well right now regardless of who’s out there,” Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They’re well-coached. LeBron (James) has been in this situation, in this level of games, more than anybody in the history of the NBA, so we don’t take them lightly.”
James averaged 23.2 points, 8.3 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in Los Angeles’ six-game series win over Houston in the first round.
Lakers stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were injured in the first of those two late-season losses to Oklahoma City, the Thunder’s 43-point victory on April 2.
Reaves returned for the final two games of the first-round series, while Doncic has yet to return from a hamstring injury. Lakers coach JJ Redick said Monday he did not have an update on Doncic’s condition.
Oklahoma City swept the four regular-season meetings between the teams, with only one being decided by fewer than 29 points.
“They’re really good at runs, and part of that is how good their defense is, their ability to create turnovers, the live-ball turnovers really kill you,” Redick said. “They don’t get out into transition a ton but when they do, they’re the best in the NBA.”
Redick said the Thunder’s success in that department could change the way he approaches calling timeouts.
“I’ve got to be more diligent than I normally am,” Redick said. “I like my timeouts. I like going into the fourth quarter with four timeouts, I like having two in the last 30 seconds. I don’t think you have the luxury of worrying about that because the game can get away from you so quick because of how explosive they are when they go on those runs. …
“It’s what they do, so mitigating the 12- to 15-point runs I think is really important.”
But while Redick said the challenge of facing the Thunder was much different than facing the Rockets, there was plenty that he felt could carry over, including “belief, attention to detail and poise.”
While the Lakers haven’t had much time off, wrapping up their series Friday with a win at Houston, Oklahoma City hasn’t played since finishing up a first-round sweep over Phoenix on April 27.
The Suns tried to turn up the tempo at times against the Thunder. Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said there were ups and downs to that, noting that his team needed to have more of a sense of urgency getting back defensively.
“But the other thing it does is it loosens the game up in a way that benefits us offensively,” Daigneault said. “There’s trade-offs to everything.”
The Thunder remain without Jalen Williams, who is continuing to rehab from a hamstring injury suffered in Game 2 of the series against the Suns.
The playoff series is the first between the teams since the second round of the 2012 playoffs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) to begin a rehab assignment
Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) delivers to the plate as he earns a save in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Edwin Diaz will start a rehab assignment at Single-A Ontario on Saturday after spending more than two months on the injured list following an elbow procedure.
Diaz, who was signed to a three-year, $69-million contract in the offseason, struggled to a 10.50 ERA over his first seven appearances for the Dodgers with four saves. He went on the injured list with loose bodies in his pitching elbow.
The 32-year-old is 29-36 with a 2.91 ERA and 257 saves over nine seasons that includes time with the Seattle Mariners (2016-18) and New York Mets (2019-25). He is a three-time All-Star, including last season while in New York.
Without Diaz in the closer role, the Dodgers bullpen has been successful despite its struggles in a 9-3 home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. Los Angeles relievers entered Saturday’s play with a combined 3.77 ERA, fifth best in the National League.
Diaz expects to return to the active roster shortly after the All-Star break.
“I feel really good. I feel way better than early in the season,” Diaz said this past week. “I can see them missing the fastball. That’s something I couldn’t do early in the season, because I wasn’t right. Now I just gotta keep throwing strikes, making pitches.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Roughriders to assemble full rushing attack vs. Tiger-Cats
Nov 16, 2025; Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Saskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette (45) runs the ball during the second quarter against Montreal Alouettes defensive back Najee Murray (12) during the 112th Grey Cup Championship at Princess Auto Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images After playing the last two games without the back who makes their running game go, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will welcome A.J. Ouellette back on the field when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday night in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Ouellette amassed 153 yards on 33 carries over the first two games for Saskatchewan (3-1) before going down with an ankle injury at Calgary. He was almost activated for last week’s 27-22 win at Ottawa, but coach Corey Mace opted to hold him out for one more week.
“I thought we could get the job done with the guys we have,” Mace said. “I thought the extra time off was good for him. A.J. is our work horse.”
Ouellette rushed for a career-high 1,222 yards with eight touchdowns last year as the Roughriders won the Grey Cup. His bruising style has served as a perfect compliment to the passing of veteran Trevor Harris.
Harris threw for 243 yards last week, passing Tom Clements for 12th in CFL history with 39,115 yards over 14 seasons.
While Harris reaches a milestone, Hamilton starter Bo Levi Mitchell will only be able to watch from the sideline. Mitchell sustained a broken ankle last Sunday during a 14-13 home loss to Winnipeg when he was sacked in the third quarter by Jake Ceresna.
Tre Ford and Jake Dolegala both played after Mitchell’s departure, though neither was effective. Tiger-Cats coach Scott Milanovich has opted for Dolegala as the starter this week, hoping his ability to push the ball downfield will help his team score points.
“We’re going to have to pick up the pieces,” said Milanovich. “It’s hard not to feel for your brother and your teammate out there. This is football and those things happen. … This is an opportunity for one of these guys to prove they can be a starting quarterback in this league.”
Jarret Doege is also an option at quarterback after Hamilton signed the veteran Monday. Doege has thrown for 1,498 yards in brief stints with Edmonton and Toronto.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Matt Fitzpatrick surges, Rory McIlroy struggles in fog-shortened Scottish Open
Jun 14, 2026; Caledon, Ontario, CAN; Matt Fitzpatrick hits his tee shot at the second hole during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Michael Thorbjornsen and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick are tied at 11 under through a partial third round of the fog-hampered Genesis Scottish Open after play was suspended Saturday in North Berwick, Scotland.
That sets up a potentially long day of play Sunday at The Renaissance Club.
Johnny Keefer shot a 6-under-par 64 to become the leader in the clubhouse at 10 under. Others at 10 under are Kevin Roy (through 16 holes), Wyndham Clark (through 15), defending champion Chris Gotterup (through 10), Australia’s Min Woo Lee (through eight) and England’s Jordan Smith (through seven).
Smith was the second-round co-leader along with South Korea’s Tom Kim, who sits tied for 9th place through seven holes, and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who is tied for 25th through eight holes after struggling Saturday. McIlroy made three bogeys to fall back to 6 under for the tournament.
A fog delay of about 2 1/2 hours in the morning shortly after play began put the round off schedule and caused most of the field to have revised tee times.
Mac Meissner shot 64 and moved to within one stroke of the lead at 8 under before many of the groups even began their third rounds.
Play was halted again in the early evening because of fog and wasn’t resumed. Tournament officials have set 7 a.m. local time Sunday as the targeted time to resume the third round.
For many golfers, the Scottish Open is merely a pit stop on the way to next week’s Open Championship.
On Saturday, Thorbjornsen is at 5 under for his round and Fitzpatrick holds a 3-under score as he approaches the midway mark.
No golfer has won the Scottish Open in back-to-back years. Gotterup is also attempting to become the first golfer on the PGA Tour to win in back-to-back weeks this year after capturing the John Deere Classic last weekend.
–Field Level Media
Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) to begin a rehab assignment
Roughriders to assemble full rushing attack vs. Tiger-Cats
