Sports
Lakers, LeBron James set to meet undefeated Cavaliers
Oct 28, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) and forward LeBron James (23) walks to the bench during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images LeBron James returns home to Cleveland where he is 9-2 as an opponent, and this time his son Bronny is coming with him.
The father-son combo for the Los Angeles Lakers are coming off their first loss of the young season when they visit the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Cleveland is 4-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 season, back when LeBron James played for the Cavaliers and Bronny was in grade school.
The Cavaliers have won their four games by an average margin of 16.8 points and took down the New York Knicks on Monday night after trailing by seven at halftime. Cleveland ranks No. 1 in the NBA in field-goal percentage (52.8 percent) and is third in the NBA in scoring (123.5 points).
“We know what they have been able to do the last couple of years,” said James about the Cavaliers. “It’s like they have picked it up from last year and been better and better. They have a great starting lineup. We have to be ready for a physical game, a close game.”
All-Star Donovan Mitchell leads the Cavaliers with 23.8 points per game, and center Jarrett Allen is averaging 9.5 rebounds.
“We’re figuring things out on the fly, and it’s not always going to be perfect, but we continue to push,” Mitchell said after the victory over the Knicks. ” … And that’s what I love about this group. We just kept continuing to push and fight.”
James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, is averaging 20 points through four games with the Lakers for new head coach JJ Redick. This is the second game of a five-game road trip for Los Angeles.
On Monday night, the Lakers led Phoenix 83-76 going into the fourth quarter, before falling 109-105. James had an off night from the floor on 3-of-14 shooting — 2 of 5 from 3-point range — and finished with 11 points. It was his worst shooting night since 2007 and after the game he admitted to a recent illness.
“I’ve been better,” James said, when asked how he was feeling.
The Lakers’ offense has been led by Anthony Davis, who leads the NBA with 32.8 points per game. He is second in the NBA with 12.8 free-throw attempts per game. Austin Reaves has averaged 19.3 points for Los Angeles.
There has been much made about the James father-son duo, but Bronny James has only played three minutes all season and has one rebound.
LeBron James has relished playing his old team over the years. Overall as an opponent against the Cavaliers, he’s 19-3 and has averaged 28.5 points.
The Lakers swept the season series with the Cavaliers last year. The next time the teams meet will be in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros turn to Peter Lambert in bid for sweep of reeling Marlins
Jul 11, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert (38) comes off the field after he pitches against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images A spate of unrelenting injuries to the rotation resulted in 14 different pitchers making starts for the Houston Astros this season, with Ronel Blanco joining that group on Monday when he made his season debut after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Hayden Wesneski, slated to make a rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, should be next to return for Houston.
The Astros claimed their three-game interleague series against the Miami Marlins with a 5-3 victory on Tuesday behind Tatsuya Imai.
Five Astros have made at least 10 starts, a collection that doesn’t include ace Hunter Brown, who returned from an extended stint on the injured list in mid-June.
“Some of those guys that we’re getting back have pitched out of the bullpen, so as we continue to map out the next couple of weeks and consider adding some pitching at the deadline, with all those pieces, would they fit,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.
“We’re going to move some things around so we can make this work.”
Right-hander Peter Lambert (8-5, 3.03 ERA) is scheduled to start on Wednesday as the Astros pursue the series sweep.
Lambert is 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA in three starts this month and has allowed one run or fewer in each start, including on June 17 against the Baltimore Orioles. He worked six innings in that game and surrendered one run on three hits and three walks with a season-high 10 strikeouts over six innings.
Lambert is 1-0 with a 6.35 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Marlins. In his previous start against Miami on May 2, 2024, he allowed four runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings and did not factor into a 5-4 loss with the Colorado Rockies.
Right-hander Sandy Alcantara (10-5, 3.89) has the starting assignment for Miami.
Alcantara has produced a quality start in all three starts this month, going 1-1 with a 2.14 ERA. He went 7-0 with a 2.98 ERA during a seven-start stretch before a 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on July 10.
He did not factor into the decision of a 2-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last Friday after allowing one run on three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts over six innings.
Alcantara has faced the Astros once previously. He surrendered six runs on nine hits and one walk with five strikeouts over seven innings in an 8-2 home loss on Aug. 4, 2025.
All-Star shortstop Otto Lopez returned from a two-game injury hiatus (finger) for the Marlins, which allowed Miami manager Clayton McCullough to tinker with his lineup.
Lopez batted leadoff for the ninth time this season and finished 0-for-3 with two walks. McCullough is aiming to build protection around left-handed hitting Kyle Stowers with the right-handed hitting Lopez and Heriberto Hernandez, plus switch-hitting Xavier Edwards.
“Just trying to have Stowers be shielded as best I can from left(-handed pitching), and if they are going to throw left on Stowers, then at least you have Otto and (Hernandez) around him, X (Edwards) behind him,” McCullough said.
“Before Otto got hurt, I was thinking about potentially going this route with hitting him (leadoff), hitting Bert (third). If people still want to bring in left on Stowers to try to mitigate some of his slug, at least they’re going to have to go through Bert and X before they get to (lefty Liam) Hicks.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jason Day (back) withdraws from 3M Open
Jul 17, 2026; Southport, ENG; Jason Day watches his shot from the second tee during the second round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Australia’s Jason Day withdrew from the 3M Open on Wednesday due to a back injury.
Day, 38, missed the cut at The Open Championship last week and withdrew during the first round of the U.S. Open on June 18, also with a back injury.
The former World No. 1 is a 13-time winner on the PGA Tour, including his lone major title at the PGA Championship in 2015.
Charley Hoffman, 49, replaced Day in the field for the 3M Open which begins Thursday at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn. He has missed the cut in 13 of his 14 PGA Tour events this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Charlie Woods' U.S. Junior run ends with bogey in playoff
Charlie Woods watches his tee shot during the 109th Florida Amateur Championship at The Club at Admiral’s Cove on June 11, 2026, in Jupiter, Florida. Charlie Woods’ run at the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur ended early Wednesday with a bogey on the first playoff hole.
The 17-year-old son of Tiger Woods fell shy of advancing to match play at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa.
Charlie Woods was one of 14 golfers in the playoff, competing for two spots in match play. The Florida State commit went 76-70 in stroke play, topping his previous performances of 80-74 in 2025 and 82-80 in 2024.
Woods was 6-over-par through five holes in Monday’s round before rebounding strong and playing his next 31 holes in 1-under par.
In Wednesday’s playoff, Woods’ tee shot at the par-5 first hole found the middle of the fairway, about 270 yards from the hole. With two players ahead of him having already carded birdies, he went for the green in two but found thick rough. His pitch ended up on the fringe and his birdie chip slid past the hole, ending his day.
Eli Wessel, Hudson Kutchma and Leo Gao birdied to advance to the second playoff hole, where Wessel and Kutchma made pars to move on to match play.
Woods is heading into his senior season of high school and is expected to sign with the Seminoles, where he will join No. 1-ranked junior Miles Russell in the 2027 recruiting class. Russell shared medalist honors this week and entered match play as the No. 2 seed.
Woods entered the week ranked No. 174 by the American Junior Golf Association.
–Field Level Media
Astros turn to Peter Lambert in bid for sweep of reeling Marlins
Jason Day (back) withdraws from 3M Open
