Sports
LeBron James adds to statistical achievements as Lakers top Hawks
Jan 3, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) moves the ball against Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images LeBron James scored 30 points and Anthony Davis returned from a one-game absence to score 18 points with 19 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 119-102 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, passed Michael Jordan for most 30-point games in NBA history at 563.
Austin Reaves scored 20 points, while Rui Hachimura and rookie Dalton Knecht each had 13 as the Lakers improved to 7-2 since Dec. 15. Davis missed Thursday’s victory over the Portland Trail Blazers for injury management on a sore left ankle.
Trae Young scored 33 points and Jalen Johnson added 19 for the Hawks following his own missed game on Wednesday at Denver because of a sore shoulder.
Onyeka Okongwu scored 14 points with 11 rebounds, and Dyson Daniels had 13 points as Atlanta dropped its second consecutive game following a four-game win streak.
The Hawks, who entered with 117.9 points per game, fell to 1-2 on a six-game road trip that continues in with a game against the Clippers on Saturday before heading to Utah and Phoenix.
The Hawks were up by five points a mere three minutes into the game before the Lakers moved in front for good at 14-13 with 7:31 left in the first quarter. Los Angeles led by as many as 10 points late in the second quarter and was up 65-57 at the half.
Atlanta stayed competitive but went into the fourth quarter trailing 96-86 as Los Angeles shot 51.6 percent through three quarters and 52.6 percent (10 of 19) from 3-point range. The Lakers shot 48.9 percent overall and 43.3 percent from deep.
The Lakers effectively put the game away with four minutes remaining on consecutive 3-pointers from Hachimura and Reaves for a 115-98 lead.
The teams split the season series 1-1 after Atlanta’s overtime victory at home last month. It is the fourth time in the past five seasons they have split the season series.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates his victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Jannik Sinner became the first player to capture five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles when he breezed past Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Mutua Madrid Open final.
The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks No. 1 in the world, started his unprecedented streak in France by winning the Paris Masters on Nov. 2. He set the record there for losing the fewest number of games (29).
Sinner won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where he became the first player not to lose a set in two consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. He followed that by claiming the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and now the Mutua Madrid Open. The last four victories have come in a nine-week span.
In Sunday’s win over the second-seeded Zverev, Sinner never faced a break point while converting all four of his break points against Zverev. Of his 29 first serves that landed, he won the point on 27 (93.1%). He averaged 130 miles per hour on his first serves compared to Zverev’s 124 mph.
Sinner needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set and 31 minutes to take the second set and wrap up his ninth consecutive win over Zverev. The German sensed the match might go this way.
“He’s world No. 1 and hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of February,” Zverev told reporters after capturing his semifinal match on Friday. “Right now he’s definitely the best player in the world. I have to play very, very good tennis to have a chance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram initially was listed as questionable to play due to right heel inflammation. He was downgraded to doubtful when the NBA released its official injury report early in the afternoon.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Less than 24 hours after taking a fastball to the helmet, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was penciled into the starting lineup for the Astros’ series finale on Sunday at Boston.
Facing an 0-2 pitch from Red Sox rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego, Walker was drilled over his left eye by a 93.3 mph fastball on Saturday that broke his helmet and sent the biggest piece flying 10 feet toward the backstop.
With the Astros leading 6-3 in the ninth, they took precautionary measures and removed Walker in favor of pinch runner Brandon Shewmake.
“I feel OK,” Walker told reporters afterward. “I think the helmet took most of it. And turning away from it hopefully made it more of a glancing blow than straight impact.”
Clearly Walker felt good enough to fill the cleanup spot for Sunday’s game against the Red Sox. Walker has appeared in every game this year for the Astros — starting all but one — and the 35-year-old has been producing some career numbers.
His .309 batting average, .386 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage all represent career bests. He has delivered eight homers and 26 RBIs through 34 games, which put him on pace for a career-high 38 homers and 124 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
