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Max Christie turns into scorer as Lakers turn back Blazers

NBA: Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles LakersJan 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) heads down court after a 3-point basket in the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

LeBron James scored 38 points with eight assists and Max Christie added a career-high 28 as the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the absence of Anthony Davis to earn a 114-106 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

Austin Reaves scored 15 points with 11 assists as the Lakers won for the sixth time in their last eight games. Davis, who leads Los Angeles with 26.1 points and 11.6 rebounds, was a late scratch with a left ankle sprain.

Anfernee Simons scored 23 points, while Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija each added 19 as the Trail Blazers lost for the 10th time in their last 13 games. Toumani Camara scored 18 points and Avdija added 10 rebounds for Portland, which lost its seventh consecutive road game. Two of those defeats have come against the Lakers.

Trailing by as many as seven points in the second quarter, the Lakers closed the first half on a 10-2 run to take a 60-51 lead into the break.

Christie, who is known for his defensive presence in the backcourt, scored 12 points in the second quarter alone, while James had 14 in the period.

Los Angeles widened the gap to 88-75 heading into the fourth quarter, with James (nine points) and Christie (seven) leading the third-period charge as well.

The Lakers led 99-86 with 6:13 remaining after Christie’s fifth 3-pointer of the game before the Blazers rallied within 101-97 on three free throws from Simons and two more from Avdija to cap am 11-2 run.

Portland pulled within one possession at 103-100 with 2:30 left after a 3-pointer by Simons, before James scored five points on a 7-2 run by Los Angeles for a 110-102 lead with 59 seconds remaining.

Without Davis, the Lakers received help on the inside from the return of Jaxson Hayes, who has played just once since Nov. 13 and has been out of action the previous 15 games with an ankle injury. Hayes scored four points with six rebounds in 18 minutes.

–Field Level Media

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Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC

MLS: Austin FC at Toronto FCApr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Malik Henry (78) attempts to control the ball against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Toronto FC will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when the Philadelphia Union visit on Wednesday.

Toronto (3-2-3, 12 points) is 3-0-3 in its last six outings. Wednesday marks the sixth date of Toronto FC’s nine-match homestand, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-8) in its last 12 home matches dating back to last season.

Despite the good results, midfielder Malik Henry felt his team left victories on the table.

“Some of the draws we’ve had, we feel like we definitely could have won those games, which makes it a bit more disappointing,” Henry told TFC Republic. “We just have to take the points and then continue to move forward with it.”

Walker Zimmerman is expected to be available Wednesday, in a boost to an injury-depleted back line. Zimmerman missed Toronto’s last two matches with a calf injury.

Toronto FC’s offense has been both varied and efficient. Eight Toronto players have at least one goal this season, and the team’s 51.5% accurate shooting percentage is the best in MLS.

The Union are at the other end of the attacking spectrum, with a 27.1% AS percentage that ranks second-last in the league.

Philadelphia (1-6-1, 4 points) has recorded only six goals in eight regular-season matches, ahead of only four-goal D.C. United in MLS.

The lack of offense contributed to the Union’s season-opening six-game losing streak, and goals remain at a premium even as Philadelphia has gone 1-0-1 in its last two matches. The Union outshot D.C. United 17-6 on Saturday and held D.C. without a shot on target, yet still had to settle for a 0-0 draw.

Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell felt that returning to the striker pairing of Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh can help unlock the Union’s offense.

“We have tried a lot of different combinations (at forward) and now we go back-to-back with the same,” Carnell said. “Every day we get together with Eze and Bruno working together, it’s … one day more advanced and developed.”

–Field Level Media

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Richardson Hitchins relinquishing IBF title after signing with Zuffa

Boxing: Hitchins vs RodriguezMay 21, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Richardson Hitchins (gold trunks) and Angel Rodriguez (black trunks) box during a Premier Boxing Champions card at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Just two weeks after revealing that he was signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins is relinquishing his title to pursue welterweight competition instead, Hitchins announced on social media this week.

“I’ve outgrown 140 and my days at the weight is done,” he wrote on X. “Let’s go!!!”

The IBF confirmed the move via an issued statement on Tuesday.

“On the evening of April 20, 2026, the IBF received notification from Richardson Hitchins that he was relinquishing his IBF Jr. Welterweight World title,” the IBF wrote. “Hitchins expressed his pride in fighting for, winning and holding the title. Likewise, the IBF was proud to have Hitchins as a world champion.

“We recognized his talent, included him in the rankings and he took that path to the championship. The IBF extends its best wishes to Richardson Hitchins for his continued success.”

Hitchins, 28, originally won his title in 2024 after a unanimous decision against Liam Paro in Puerto Rico. The Brooklyn native is 20-0 with eight wins by knockout.

The move now ends the possibility of a reworked bout between Hitchins and Lindolfo Delgado, originally scheduled in replacement of Hitchins’ canceled February fight with Oscar Duarte due to Hitchins’ illness.

Delgado is in line to challenge for the vacated super lightweight title in his next fight. As the highest remaining fighters in the division, Delgado and Duarte would now seem likely opponents for one another, though both are trained by the same individual, Robert Garcia, which could complicate a potential pairing.

Hitchins followed Jai Opetaia in joining Zuffa, with the latter actually being stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title following his victory at the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship in March. For Hitchins, reclassifying could be a preemptive move to avoid having his own title stripped.

Hitchins is scheduled to make his Zuffa debut this summer.

–Field Level Media


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Minnesota United, FC Dallas put unbeaten streaks on line

MLS: LA Galaxy at FC DallasApr 18, 2026; Frisco, Texas, USA; FC Dallas forward Petar Musa (9) scores a goal against the LA Galaxy during the first half at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Two teams riding extended unbeaten strings meet Wednesday night when Minnesota United visit FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas.

Coming off a 2-0 win Saturday night over the Portland Timbers, Minnesota (4-2-2, 14 points) is 3-0-1 over its last four matches. Its three straight wins constitute its longest winning streak in nearly two calendar years.

Meanwhile, Dallas (3-1-4, 13 points) is 2-0-3 in its last five fixtures, including a 2-2 draw Saturday night with the Los Angeles Galaxy. It could have been a three-point result but Kaick’s goal in the 75th minute was flagged for an offsides violation.

Minnesota has hit its stride in part because of the recent form of midfielder Tomas Chancalay. The Argentinian has hit the scoresheet in three straight matches, scoring a goal and assisting on the other goal against Portland.

Chancalay has looked a lot like the guy who the New England Revolution spent $3.1 million for three years ago instead of the player they traded to Minnesota after last season for $100,000.

“I am really happy here,” Chancalay said of his new organization. “The team put their confidence in me here in Minnesota. I’m happy to stay here and I want to help the team.”

While Chancalay is playing well, no one in MLS these days is scoring like Dallas’ Petar Musa. His brace in the first half gave Dallas a 2-0 lead but its defense gassed it by conceding twice before halftime.

Musa leads the league with nine goals, two more than Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge. But Dallas’ inability to see a two-goal advantage through over the final 52 minutes was concerning to coach Eric Quill.

“Your mentality has to be disciplined, together and committed on every play,” Quill said. “It was little details that changed the game and we know those moments can’t happen. We need to improve our discipline because I think we’re going to have leads often.”

It marked the second time in this recent unbeaten stretch that Dallas has coughed up a two-goal advantage.

–Field Level Media

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