Sports
Jalen Williams finding rhythm as Thunder host Jazz
Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) shoots a three point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images After missing long stretches of the season, Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Jalen Williams is finally settling into a rhythm.
That’s exactly what the Thunder hoped for from the All-Star guard as the regular season comes to a close.
Williams and the Thunder host the Utah Jazz on Sunday, as one of the top teams in the Western Conference battles against the team tied for last.
“I feel like I haven’t played all year. I got pretty fresh legs right now, which will serve me well,” Williams said. “I feel like we only have a certain amount of games left, so I’ll probably go into these playoffs pretty fresh, God willing.”
While Williams scored just 10 points in Oklahoma City’s 139-96 blowout of the Lakers on Thursday, it might’ve been his most complete game this season, as he finished with nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals.
“I’ve always kind of tried to play that way, with a high motor,” Williams said. “I feel like that’s when I’m my best.”
Though Oklahoma City has the NBA’s best record, they’re still in a tight race with San Antonio for the top spot overall with just five games remaining.
It’s much different than a year ago when the Thunder had the top seed long wrapped up by the close of the regular season.
Oklahoma City (61-16) has won four consecutive games and 16 of its last 17.
“Our biggest thing as a team is we actually do not care if you’re bored watching us, to be completely honest with you,” Williams said after Thursday’s win. “That goes for me on down. We’re trying to win basketball games at the end of the day, just like everybody else. That’s our superpower. You’re not getting bored with the process. We don’t take wins like this for granted. If you don’t come and bring it, you can lose to anybody in the NBA.”
That was tested a bit the last time the Thunder and Jazz met, Jan. 7 in Oklahoma City, when Utah took the Thunder to overtime before Oklahoma City escaped with a 129-125 victory.
The other two matchups between the teams this season — both in Salt Lake City — have been blowout victories for the Thunder.
The Jazz (21-57) come into the game on an eight-game losing streak and have gone 3-19 since the All-Star break.
While Oklahoma City has returned to health recently — though Luguentz Dort left Thursday’s win after crashing hard to the floor — Utah has dealt with a rash of injuries.
The Jazz’s top three scorers — Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and Jaren Jackson Jr. — have missed extended time recently, opening the door for more playing time for young players like Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, and Cody Williams.
Utah coach Will Hardy said he’s encouraged by the performance of that young trio, especially in the confines of the Jazz’s system.
“It’s not opportunity that is based around, like, ‘Hey man, do your thing,’ … It’s still within the team construct,” Hardy said. “And so, the thought process there is that it can translate (in the future).”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Timo Baumgartl scores in 61st minute as St. Louis City tie FC Dallas
Apr 11, 2026; Frisco, Texas, USA; St. Louis CITY SC forward Simon Becher (11) dribbles the ball as FC Dallas defender Osaze Urhoghide (3) defends during the first half at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Timo Baumgartl’s 61st-minute goal negated Louicius Deedson’s opener as visiting St. Louis City SC earned a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas.
The equalizer was the first goal in four matches at Toyota Stadium for St. Louis (1-3-3, 6 points), which has gone 1-0-2 in its last three matches after getting shut out in three straight.
Dallas (3-1-3, 12 points) is now unbeaten (2-0-2) in its last four matches and has outscored St. Louis, 8-1, in those four home matches.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in the opening 45 minutes, despite chances from both sides. St. Louis’ Marcel Hartel had two chances himself early on.
He took the ball down to the end line in the third minute and sent it across the goal mouth, but there was nobody home to tap it in. Then, in the 21st minute, Hartel took the ball down the left side into the box and tried to beat Michael Collodi to the near post, but Dallas’ goalkeeper turned it aside.
In the 30th minute, Conrad Wallem just missed connecting with Sergio Cordova, which would have left the St. Louis attacker alone in the middle.
Dallas’ Kaick, who came on for his injured Brazilian countryman Ramiro in the 36th minute, was high on a header three minutes later off a cross into the box from Deedson.
Petar Musa, who came into the match tied for the MLS lead with seven goals, was quiet for most of the first half, but he came alive late.
He was called offside on an attempt that hit the post in the third minute of extra time, and then, one minute later, he took a pass from Logan Farrington into the box and forced a save from St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Burki, who had two saves.
Musa played a role in Dallas’ goal three minutes into the second half. He intercepted a St. Louis pass and freed up Deedson on the left side, and the Haitian International finished for his first goal of the season.
The assist was Musa’s first of the season, and the goal stood up for 20 minutes. St. Louis’ Daniel Edelman sent a ball to the far post, where two teammates ran onto it. Baumgartl got in first and finished Edelman’s cross with a right-footed shot from close range.
Burki and Collodi, who had four saves, denied late winners off attempts from both attacking sides to preserve the draw.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Team Liquid 1st team to 2-0 at LCS Spring
YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year. Team Liquid moved to the top of the standings with a win over Shopify Rebellion as Week 2 of the regular season of the LCS Spring event began Saturday.
Team Liquid won 2-0 in a battle of 1-0 teams, while LYON beat Dignitas 2-1 in the other match of the day.
Eight teams will compete in best-of-three matches in the round-robin regular season before advancing to the playoffs of the League of Legends event, which will be contested in best-of-five matches in a double-elimination format. The top two teams will qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational.
Liquid completed its sweep with a pair of wins on blue in 25 and 38 minutes. Brandon “Josedeodo” Villegas of Argentina and Ru-han “Morgan” Park of South Korea took home MVP honors in the triumph.
Dignitas won the opener of its match in 33 minutes before LYON roared back with a 36-minute victory on red followed by a 30-minute clincher on blue. American/Indian competitor Niship “Dhokla” Doshi and Jonah “Isles” Rosario of Australia were MVPs for the two LYON victories, and American Lawrence “Exyu” Xu was MVP of Dignitas’ opening victory.
Week 2 concludes Sunday with FlyQuest facing Disguised and Sentinels taking on Cloud9.
Regular season standings (Win-loss total, map differential)
1. Team Liquid, 2-0, 4-1
T2 Cloud9, 1-0, 2-1
T2. Disguised, 1-0, 2-1
T4. Shopify Rebellion, 1-1, 2-2
T4. Lyon, 1-1, 3-3
T6. FlyQuest, 0-1, 1-2
T6. Sentinels, 0-1, 1-2
8. Dignitas, 0-2, 1-4
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rose Lavelle records goal, assist in USWNT's victory over Japan
Apr 11, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; United States midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) reacts after scoring a goal against Japan during the first half at PayPal Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Rose Lavelle celebrated her 100th start with a goal and an assist to help the U.S. women’s national team to a 2-1 win in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday to open a three-match series against Japan.
Lavelle, in her 119th match, scored in the 9th minute off a set piece then set up Lindsey Heaps in the 48th for the 2-0 lead.
Riko Ueki stunned the Americans in the 61st minute to cut the deficit in half on their first goal allowed in nine matches.
The friendlies continue Tuesday in Seattle and Friday in Commerce City, Colo.
The Americans got the early advantage after Sophia Wilson drew a foul. She played her first USWNT match since Oct. 27, 2024, and made her first start since the gold medal match in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Wilson gave birth to a daughter in September 2025.
On the ensuing restart, Trinity Rodman was to the left of the goal when she sent a flighted ball to the middle of the box. Lavelle used her left foot to flick it past goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita for her 28th goal with the national team.
The U.S. failed to double the lead 14 minutes later when an unmarked Alyssa Thompson at the left post couldn’t convert a cross from Wilson.
Alyssa and Gisele Thompson broke the USWNT record for sisters starting in the same match with four. Samantha and Kristie Mewis started in the same match three times.
It didn’t take long after the break to gain some breathing room thanks to the high pressure from Gisele Thompson which created a turnover. She sent Lavelle down the left channel but Lavelle’s service to the box was blocked.
Fortunately for the U.S., the ball deflected to Lavelle and she found Heaps on the run for a left-footed shot and her 40th goal.
The USWNT’s scoreless streak ended at 865 minutes as Ueki, who entered at the start of the second half, took a headed pass from Honoka Hayashi to score with a header from the center of the box.
Ueki almost tied it in the 78th minute with an 8-yard shot that forced a reactionary save by Claudia Dickey, who made four saves; Yamashita had one.
–Field Level Media
Timo Baumgartl scores in 61st minute as St. Louis City tie FC Dallas
Team Liquid 1st team to 2-0 at LCS Spring
