Sports
Hornets will face Lakers with Luka Doncic in rescheduled game
Feb 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots over Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) during the second quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Lakers and visiting Charlotte Hornets will return from the All-Star break earlier than previously planned when the teams meet for a make-up game Wednesday.
Originally scheduled for Jan. 9, that game was postponed amid the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
While the Hornets originally were set to face the Lakers with Anthony Davis, the rescheduled game pits them with a different challenge in Luka Doncic, who was acquired by Los Angeles on Feb. 2.
Doncic has played two games with his new team, both against the Utah Jazz. He scored 14 points in a home victory over the Jazz on Feb. 10 and 16 points in a road loss last Wednesday. Both games came after he missed a month and a half with a calf injury.
Despite the loss last week, Los Angeles has won 10 of its past 12 games, with star LeBron James so focused on the two months remaining in the season, he decided to sit out Sunday’s All-Star festivities with soreness in his left foot and ankle.
He is expected to play against the Hornets while continuing to build on-court chemistry with Doncic.
“… To add a caliber player like that, a generational talent like that to our franchise, it’s something that’s given me energy,” James said during All-Star weekend. “I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do. We only had two games so far, and I believe he’s been on a minutes restriction since he came back from the calf.
“As he continues to get in form, I think we could be really good going down the stretch. But we’ll see what happens.”
The Hornets limped into the break on a three-game losing streak, while dropping nine of the last 10 contests and 11 of 13 going back to Jan. 22. Included in those defeats was a 112-107 home loss to the Lakers on Jan. 27.
In that previous meeting against Los Angeles, Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball departed after nine minutes with a left ankle injury. Ball has played in just two games since, including one Feb. 10 against the Brooklyn Nets when he left early with a right ankle injury.
Not selected as an All-Star this season, despite averages of 27.3 points, 7.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 33 games, Ball instead has been getting much needed recovery time.
The Hornets have lost 17 of the 18 games when Ball has been out, making the presence of the Los Angeles-area native vital for the Hornets’ chances.
The Hornets and Lakers had agreed on a deal before the trade deadline, but Charlotte big man Mark Williams failed his physical in Los Angeles, nixing the swap that would have sent Cam Reddish and rookie Dalton Knecht to Charlotte.
If Williams takes the court Wednesday, it will be his first game played since the deal was called off.
“We have always held great respect for Mark’s talent, work ethic, and character,” the Hornets said in a statement. “We are thrilled to see him rejoin our roster as a dynamic presence at the starting center position. His return strengthens our team, and we look forward to the impact he will make on and off the court.”
Williams scored 11 points with eight rebounds in last month’s loss to the Lakers and struggled to guard Davis, who had 42 points and 23 rebounds. Davis was sent to the Dallas Mavericks in the Doncic deal.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Right-handers for Giants, Brewers out to cap successful July with win
Jul 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images A pair of young right-handers attempting to complete an unbeaten month of July will go head-to-head Tuesday night when Logan Henderson and the Milwaukee Brewers take on Landen Roupp and the host San Francisco Giants in the continuation of a three-game series.
The Giants opened the set with a 3-0 victory Monday, getting brilliant pitching from Tyler Mahle and a two-run homer from Grant McCray.
Roupp (7-8, 3.93 ERA) will attempt to successfully follow in Mahle’s footsteps as he looks to continue the form that led to a fast start this season before a two-month slump.
The 27-year-old began the season 5-1 through the end of April, but then started 11 consecutive losses, seven of which went on his record, in May and June.
The third-year major-leaguer has regained his winning form in July, however, going 2-0 with wins against the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. He took a no-decision against the Kansas City Royals in a 5-4 win last Wednesday. He has allowed just three runs and nine hits in 21 innings.
Roupp’s earlier skid reached its greatest depth when he suffered through his worst outing of the season in a 16-2 loss at Milwaukee on June 1, charged with eight runs in four innings. The loss ran his career record against the Brewers to 0-2 with a 7.16 ERA in five games, including three starts.
Jackson Chourio’s two-run double and Brice Turang’s two-RBI triple, hit consecutively, were the big blows against Roupp in the earlier head-to-head in Milwaukee.
Henderson (4-1, 3.05) has had a similar month. Like Roupp, he is 2-0 with a no-decision in July. The Brewers have won all three Henderson starts, games against the St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins and New York Mets.
In just his second major-league season, the 24-year-old Henderson went winless in his first three starts in 2026 before going unbeaten in his past five. He has allowed just six runs and 11 hits in 15 1/3 innings in July.
His July starts followed almost a six-week layoff due to back soreness. But he watched closely, especially the games of hard-throwing staff ace Jacob Misiorowski, who clearly inspires him.
“It never gets old, and he’s taking it up a notch every start,” Henderson told reporters recently. “I feel privileged to have a front-row seat every game.”
Henderson never has faced the Giants.
One player Henderson definitely won’t see will be Giants slugger Casey Schmitt, who strained his right knee rounding first base after a hit in the second inning of the opener and had to be removed from the game.
The Giants announced after the game that Schmitt, whose hit raised his average to .271, would undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
San Francisco manager Tony Vitello said after the game that he feared Schmitt could miss “significant” time.
“He’s a little bummed out. He loves to play every day,” Vitello told reporters after the win. “Scary moment for him. He was really struggling just to move around. Heart’s got to go out to him and you hope for the best.”
– Field Level Media
Sports
French legend Zinedine Zidane to coach national team
Jul 26, 2024; Paris, FRANCE; Zinedine Zidane during the Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games along the Seine River. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-Imagn Images Zinedine Zidane, who led France to the 1998 World Cup championship, has been named the next coach of the French men’s national team.
He replaces Didier Deschamps, 57, who had been at the helm since 2012. Deschamps said in January 2025 that he intended to retire at the end of the 2026 World Cup, in which France lost 6-4 to England in the third-place match.
The deal with Zidane, announced Tuesday, is for four years, and he officially will begin his job on Aug. 1. His staff is expected to be revealed in September.
Zidane, 54, entered coaching after his playing days, and his Real Madrid teams won three consecutive Champions Leagues finals (2016-18) and two LaLiga titles.
He resigned from his job in Madrid five years ago and has not coached since, long projected as the successor to Deschamps.
“For me it’s a continuity, a dream,” Zidane said. “I had some offers during the five years I was away to take charge of a club but I turned them all down for the France team. It was the only thing I wanted to do.”
And Zidane said he is ready to get to work.
“I have so many emotions, I am ready for the challenge,” he said. “That’s what motivates me.
“Today I have the opportunity to be in charge of this team and I will give everything so that this team can win.”
Zidane will make his coaching debut with the national team on Sept. 25, when he leads France against Turkey in their first match of this UEFA Nations League schedule.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Luca Van Assche beats Alexander Blockx in Portugal for first title
Jul 31, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Luca Van Assche (FRA) hits a forehand against Andrey Rublev (not pictured) on day five of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Luca Van Assche of France secured his first ATP title when he posted a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Belgium’s Alexander Blockx on Sunday in the Estoril Open final in Portugal.
Van Assche, 22, converted 8 of 13 break points and overcame eight double faults to win in two hours and 24 minutes on the clay surface. He is the ATP’s 10th first-time winner this year.
Blockx, 21, had seven aces and seven double faults while playing in his first title match. He rallied from a 3-0 hole in the third set to tie it 5-5 before Van Assche closed it out by winning two straight games.
The championship match was the first between players born in 2004 or later.
–Field Level Media
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