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Lakers romp past Rockets, seal series in 6, set date with Thunder

NBA: Playoffs-Los Angeles Lakers at Houston RocketsMay 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) reacts after a made basket against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter of game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

LeBron James scored 18 of his 28 points in a runaway first half for the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, who cruised to a 98-78 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday and claimed their Western Conference first-round playoff series in six games.

By virtue of the 4-2 series victory, the Lakers advance to the Western Conference semifinals and will travel to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 1 on Tuesday.

James added seven rebounds and eight assists to his ledger. Teammate Rui Hachimura put up 21 points, hitting 5 of 7 from the 3-point arc. Austin Reaves, who started for the first time in the series, added 15 points for the Lakers.

Undermined by turnovers throughout the series, the Lakers committed just 11 giveaways while limiting Houston to 35% shooting. The Lakers finished with a 19-8 edge in fastbreak points, made 12 of 28 3-point shots (42.9%) and produced a plus-9 rebounding margin.

Alperen Sengun paired 17 points with 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who played without leading scorer Kevin Durant for the fifth time in the series. Amen Thompson added 18 points and eight rebounds while Tari Eason tallied 14 points. Reed Sheppard scored 10 points for Houston, but missed 15 of 19 shots, including 9 of 10 from 3-point range. Houston finished 5 of 28 (17.9%) from deep.

The Rockets’ promising bid to rally from a 3-0 series deficit and force a Game 7 in Los Angeles on Sunday fizzled quickly. Sengun gave Houston a 16-11 lead with a hook shot nearly seven minutes into the first quarter, but the Lakers seized control with a 12-0 run.

Reaves ignited the surge with a three-point play while Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia and Hachimura added treys to lift the Lakers to a 23-16 lead.

The Lakers opened the second with a 9-0 spurt keyed by James, who scored in the post, drilled a 3-pointer and tallied a driving layup.

The Rockets missed their first 11 shots of the second, with Sheppard ending the drought by driving for a layup at the 6:55 mark. After Thompson scored through a foul to cut what had been a 19-point deficit to 11, Ayton sank 1 of 2 free throws and then James assisted on a Hachimura trey before nailing a pull-up 3-pointer that helped the Lakers re carry a 49-31 lead into the intermission.

Los Angeles led by as many as 29 points in the second half.

–Field Level Media

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Adam Sandler officiates Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift wedding in New York

May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce react during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn ImagesMay 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce react during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

The celebrity wedding of the decade took place on Friday when Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce married pop superstar Taylor Swift at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The officiant was actor Adam Sandler, a friend of the couple.

The best man was Travis Kelce’s brother, Jason Kelce, a former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center. Taylor Swift’s brother, Austin Swift, was her “man of honor,” according to a press release from Swift’s representatives, who noted that the ceremony featured no bridesmaids nor groomsmen.

The video boards outside the arena read “JUST&T MARRIED!” following the ceremony, which reportedly was attended by around 1,000 guests.

According to People, among those believed to have been at the nuptials were Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, Ed Sheeran, Miranda Lambert, Hugh Grant, Zoe Kravitz, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Tommy Hilfiger and Selena Gomez.

The couple got engaged in August 2025, and news recently broke that they would be taking over the home venue of the newly crowned NBA champion New York Knicks for the wedding.

–Field Level Media

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Daylen Lile, Luis Garcia Jr. homer twice as Nationals top Pirates

Jul 3, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. (2) celebrates with shortstop CJ Abrams (5) after hitting a home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn ImagesJul 3, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. (2) celebrates with shortstop CJ Abrams (5) after hitting a home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Luis Garcia Jr. and Daylen Lile each belted two home runs to lead the Washington Nationals to a 9-5 home win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

Lile also doubled and drove in four runs and Garcia had three RBIs. Jose Tena hit a two-run homer and James Wood had a double, a triple and scored a run for Washington.

Bryan Reynolds doubled, homered and drove in two runs while Esmerlyn Valdez was 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI for the Pirates.

With one out in the first, Garcia lined his 17th homer of the season to right field.

An inning later, Lile hit a solo shot to center, giving the Nationals a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Reynolds homered with two outs on a 2-0 count to trim the Nationals’ lead to 2-1.

Washington answered in the bottom of the inning, extending its lead to 5-1. Wood led off with a triple into the right field corner and scored on Tena’s two-run bomb.

CJ Abrams followed with a single, and after Dylan Crews lined out, stole second. Lile’s RBI double knocked in Abrams.

Jake Mangum’s two-out liner in the fourth knocked off Washington starter Foster Griffin’s glove. But second baseman Nasim Nunez charged in, barehanded the ball and threw out Mangum with a sidearm toss to first.

The Pirates loaded the bases in the seventh. After Jared Triolo doubled with two outs and stole third, Konnor Griffin and Brandon Lowe drew walks off reliever Justin Lawrence. The Nationals brought in Clayton Beeter from the bullpen, and he struck out Reynolds to escape the jam.

In the bottom of the seventh, Garcia made it 7-1 with his 18th homer of the season, a two-run blast to right.

Lile stretched Washington’s lead to 9-1 with his second homer of the game, a two-run blast in the eighth.

Lowe, Reynolds, Valdez and Nick Gonzales each drove in a run with doubles in the ninth for Pittsburgh.

Griffin (9-2) allowed one run on four hits while walking one and fanning two in five innings for Washington.

Pirates starter Mitch Keller (6-6) yielded five runs on eight hits over six innings. He walked none and struck out one.

–Field Level Media

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Trevor Rogers, Tyler Wells bookend Orioles' shutout win over Reds

Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Bassallo (29) and designated hitter Adley Rutschman (35) celebrate after Bassallo scores a homer in the third inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles, Friday, July 3, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Bassallo (29) and designated hitter Adley Rutschman (35) celebrate after Bassallo scores a homer in the third inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles, Friday, July 3, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.

Trevor Rogers threw five shutout innings and Samuel Basallo hit a two-run homer as the Baltimore Orioles knocked off the host Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Friday.

Rogers (6-7) allowed just two hits. Although he issued five walks while striking out four, the left-hander still pitched well enough to register his third win in as many starts.

Tyler Wells retired the Reds in order in the ninth to earn his first save since 2023. He was called upon after the Orioles placed closer Ryan Helsley on the 15-day injured list due to elbow discomfort he experienced while warming up on Wednesday.

Basallo, a 21-year-old rookie catcher, hit his 13th homer of the season with two outs in the third inning off Reds starter Brady Singer (3-8). However, Rogers already had all the support he needed before throwing his first pitch.

Gunnar Henderson, who walked to start the game, moved to second on Taylor Ward’s one-out single. Henderson stole third as Pete Alonso struck out. Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson threw wildly in an attempt to get an inning-ending double play, and Henderson scampered home with an unearned run as the ball went to the outfield.

Singer also lasted five innings, and he endured a bout of wildness, much like his counterpart. He only allowed three hits and struck out six, but the right-hander also walked five as two of the three runs he allowed were earned.

Three relief pitchers, Caleb Ferguson, Chase Petty and Julian Garcia, teamed to retire the last 11 Orioles, giving the Reds a chance for a rally.

Cincinnati had several opportunities to avoid its seventh shutout loss of the season. The Reds stranded 10 runners, the 15th time in 2026 they have left at least 10 on the basepaths. They left two runners on in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings and finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

All four of the Reds’ hits were singles.

After Rogers exited, Rico Garcia allowed a hit and a walk in two innings, and Yennier Cano followed with a one-hit inning.

The Orioles took the opener of a three-game set for their second win in a row. The Reds lost for the fifth time in six games.

–Field Level Media

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