When Atlanta United host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday evening, they will look to extend a three-match win streak across all competitions — their longest run since October 2024.

Atlanta (3-7-1, 10 points) received a brace from Saba Lobjanidze in a 3-1 win over CF Montreal on May 2, the Georgia international’s first goals since August 2025 against Atlas in the Leagues Cup. Emmanuel Latte Lath also scored for the first time since March 14.

“I think it’s very important, especially for (their) confidence,” Atlanta defender Stian Gregersen said. “That will help the group a lot, and you can see that there are more smiles on (their faces) also, so that’s fantastic.”

Atlanta midfielder Miguel Almiron (knee), seeking his first game action in nearly a month, is “day-to-day,” per Atlanta head coach Tata Martino.

“We’re continuing to monitor him, and we’ll decide if it’s best for him to play this weekend or wait another week,” Martino said through an interpreter.

Los Angeles (3-4-4, 13 points) went toe-to-toe with the Vancouver Whitecaps in its last outing, but Joseph Paintsil’s opener early in the second half was cancelled out by Mathias Laborda’s 81st-minute equalizer as the match finished in a 1-1 draw.

“I feel like they’ve been figuring out here in the early stages of the season who they are and how, in our league, with that group of players, they’re going to best, identity-wise, get results. And I think they’re starting to understand that a little bit,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said of Atlanta.

Marco Reus (foot contusion) is questionable after leaving at halftime against the Whitecaps, Vanney said. Erik Thommy (thigh) is also questionable. Julian Aude (ankle) will miss his third straight match, but is “progressing fast,” Vanney added.

Atlanta hosts Galaxy for the first time since Aug. 3, 2019. After losing the first three meetings between the two clubs, LA has won the last two.

Atlanta’s Alexey Miranchuk had two assists against Montreal, giving him two goals and two assists in his last three matches across all competitions.

–Field Level Media

Consecutive 18-point losses haven’t zapped the Los Angeles Lakers of their belief they can recover to make it a series with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But a third straight setback would undoubtedly feel like a near-knockout punch.

The Lakers look to get off the mat on Saturday night and back into the Western Conference second-round series when they host the defending champion Thunder.

The two losses in Oklahoma City aren’t the only results that have the Lakers wondering whether they can solve the top-seeded Thunder.

The Thunder and Lakers have played six times this season and Oklahoma City has won them all with an average victory margin of 25.5 points.

The Thunder’s regular-season victory margins were 29, 9, 43 and 36 points. The latter two were played April 2 in Oklahoma City — the last time All-Star guard Luka Doncic has played — and April 7 in Los Angeles. And with Doncic (hamstring) still sidelined, the situation is bleak.

LeBron James averages 25 points in this series and might have to put on the Superman cape for any chance of a comeback. But Thunder guard Alex Caruso says nobody should overlook what the 41-year-old James can do.

“He’s always ready for the moment,” said Caruso, a teammate of James for three seasons (2018-21) with the Lakers. “Everybody wants to talk about his age, but he’s still LeBron James. He’s still capable of being the best player on the court any given night.”

Still, James is concerned about the Game 2 loss putting Los Angeles in a deep hole against the Thunder.

“We tried to execute (the game plan) as close to 48 minutes as possible, but it just didn’t get done,” James said of the 125-107 road loss.

Austin Reaves provided hope with a career playoff-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting. The effort came in his fourth game back from an oblique injury.

“I thought he did a good job touching the paint and those tough shots were there,” Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said. “Got some good looks from three. He played a solid game. Obviously he had five turnovers, but everybody on our team had turnovers.”

The Lakers turned the ball over 21 times on Thursday, leading to 26 Oklahoma City points.

Los Angeles seemed to be in good position when it led 65-61 with 10:34 left in the third quarter and Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headed to the bench after committing his fourth foul.

Instead, Oklahoma City dominated the rest of the quarter and outscored the Lakers 32-15 as Gilgeous-Alexander watched from the bench. That allowed the Thunder to lead 93-80 entering the fourth quarter.

“It was amazing,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of the bench play. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we’ve proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done.”

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points in Game 2 and the reigning league MVP is averaging just 20 per game in the series with the Lakers devoting multiple defenders to him on nearly every possession.

The philosophy has helped Thunder big man Chet Holmgren flourish. He is averaging 23 points and 10.5 rebounds in the series.

“He’s the ultimate winner anyways, but he was the ultimate winner (Thursday),” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “There’s nothing he can’t do. When the lights are on, he’s at his best.”

Thunder star Jalen Williams (hamstring) remains out, but his absence in Game 2 was minimized as Ajay Mitchell scored 20 points while filling Williams’ starting spot again and Jared McCain poured in 18 off the bench.

–Field Level Media

Zach Cole hit a three-run homer during a five-run ninth inning and the visiting Houston Astros beat Cincinnati 10-0 on Friday, sending the Reds to their eighth straight defeat.

Zach Dezenzo, Yordan Alvarez and Christian Vazquez also homered for Houston, which opened the three-game series by recording its third shutout of the season.

Mike Burrows (2-4) allowed three hits with one walk and six strikeouts over a career-high seven innings. He retired the last 11 batters he faced.

The Reds were outhit 13-5 while being blanked for the fourth time this season. Cincinnati has lost nine of its last 10 to fall into last place in the National League Central.

Vazquez followed Cole’s homer in the ninth with a solo shot against Tony Santillan. The Astros continued their onslaught against position player Jose Trevino, who made his fourth pitching appearance of the season.

Houston set the tone with two runs in the second inning against Nick Lodolo (0-1), who was making his season debut after dealing with a blister on his left index finger.

Lodolo retired the first two batters in the second before Brice Matthews tripled and scored when Dezenzo deposited a 1-2 sinker into the right field seats.

Cincinnati’s best scoring threat came when it loaded the bases with one out in the fourth. Burrows escaped the jam when Spencer Steer flied out and Tyler Stephenson struck out on three pitches.

Houston added to its lead in the sixth when Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch with one out and Alvarez followed with a two-run homer to right center. The 407-foot blast was Alvarez’s team-leading 13th homer of the season.

Lodolo allowed four runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Houston tacked on a run in the eighth inning against Tejay Antone when Altuve hit a leadoff double, moved to third on Alvarez’s groundout and scored on Isaac Paredes’ groundout to second.

–Field Level Media