Sports
Thunder not taking Lakers for granted ahead of Game 1
Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) goes up for a basket as Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) defends during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the Los Angeles Lakers twice in the final two weeks of the regular season.
The Thunder won those two games by an average of 39.5 points per game.
But heading into Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series Tuesday in Oklahoma City, the Thunder aren’t looking past the Lakers.
“They’re playing really well right now regardless of who’s out there,” Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They’re well-coached. LeBron (James) has been in this situation, in this level of games, more than anybody in the history of the NBA, so we don’t take them lightly.”
James averaged 23.2 points, 8.3 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in Los Angeles’ six-game series win over Houston in the first round.
Lakers stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were injured in the first of those two late-season losses to Oklahoma City, the Thunder’s 43-point victory on April 2.
Reaves returned for the final two games of the first-round series, while Doncic has yet to return from a hamstring injury. Lakers coach JJ Redick said Monday he did not have an update on Doncic’s condition.
Oklahoma City swept the four regular-season meetings between the teams, with only one being decided by fewer than 29 points.
“They’re really good at runs, and part of that is how good their defense is, their ability to create turnovers, the live-ball turnovers really kill you,” Redick said. “They don’t get out into transition a ton but when they do, they’re the best in the NBA.”
Redick said the Thunder’s success in that department could change the way he approaches calling timeouts.
“I’ve got to be more diligent than I normally am,” Redick said. “I like my timeouts. I like going into the fourth quarter with four timeouts, I like having two in the last 30 seconds. I don’t think you have the luxury of worrying about that because the game can get away from you so quick because of how explosive they are when they go on those runs. …
“It’s what they do, so mitigating the 12- to 15-point runs I think is really important.”
But while Redick said the challenge of facing the Thunder was much different than facing the Rockets, there was plenty that he felt could carry over, including “belief, attention to detail and poise.”
While the Lakers haven’t had much time off, wrapping up their series Friday with a win at Houston, Oklahoma City hasn’t played since finishing up a first-round sweep over Phoenix on April 27.
The Suns tried to turn up the tempo at times against the Thunder. Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said there were ups and downs to that, noting that his team needed to have more of a sense of urgency getting back defensively.
“But the other thing it does is it loosens the game up in a way that benefits us offensively,” Daigneault said. “There’s trade-offs to everything.”
The Thunder remain without Jalen Williams, who is continuing to rehab from a hamstring injury suffered in Game 2 of the series against the Suns.
The playoff series is the first between the teams since the second round of the 2012 playoffs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Veteran Grant Enfinger wins wild NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race at historic Lime Rock Park
Feb 12, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Grant Enfinger (9) during practice for the Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images LAKEVILLE, Conn. — Popular veteran Grant Enfinger took the lead on a late race restart and held off a hard-charging Landen Lewis to make his first visit to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victory Lane in more than a season — earning his first career road course win Saturday afternoon in the LiUNA 150 at Connecticut’s historic Lime Rock Park.
Enfinger, who lined up alongside Gio Ruggiero for a restart with three laps remaining, got the jump at the green flag and then held off Lewis — who was racing for his first career series win. It was a fittingly exhilarating way to close out the race which included an 18-minute red flag and thrilling door-to-door competition particularly in the closing laps.
Enfinger’s No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet crossed the line only a slight .483-second ahead of the Niece Motorsports driver Lewis.
“I feel like we had some things play into our hand,” Enfinger said, noting of the day’s strongest cars, “I don’t think we had anything for the 11 (Honeycutt) or the 34 (Scott Riggs) straight up.”
Of the final restart, Enfinger said he was enthused to get the edge out front on then-leader Gio Ruggiero at the drop of the green. He had considered taking the preferable position outside but opted to start alongside Guggiero on the front row and honorably vie for the lead that way. This marks his 13th career win.
“I wanted to beat him straight up on the outside,” Enfinger added. “A lot went into that decision but I didn’t want to go in there and purposefully take him out of the way for the win. I feel like we beat him on the launch. And I think we had a better car.
“Just an amazing job with this Chevrolet. … I think this is only my second top 10 at a road course. We have had road course trucks this year, but I think today we were a solid top five truck and the seas parted and the good Lord blessed us today and we were able to come home for a win.”
Championship contender Kaden Honeycutt claimed third place after an absolutely amazing drive back up through the field. The TRICON Garage Toyota driver had dropped to 24th position with 28 laps to go after being involved in a multi-car accident late in the race.
Popular driver and television analyst Parker Kligerman — a part-owner of Lime Rock Park — finished fourth in the Spire Motorsports No. 77 Chevrolet. Christian Eckes was fifth in the No. 91 McAnally Hilgemann Chevrolet.
Honeycutt’s finish to the day came after he won Stage 2 and kept polesitter, and the series championship points leader Riggs honest for the majority of the race. Riggs led the first 34 laps with one or the other leading through the opening 62 laps of the 100-lap event. Riggs won Stage 1 and Honeycutt won Stage 2.
And then the chaos set in. Four caution flags — and the red flag — came out in the closing 40 laps.
Varying pit strategies shook up the front of the field, relegating Riggs and Honeycutt to play catch-up following the Stage 2 break at Lap 60. The two who have dominated the championship standings for the last two months collided while trying to race through the field.
The damage to Riggs’ No. 34 Front Row Chevrolet proved to be too much for him to contend up front. His 48 laps out front was the most on the afternoon, but he ended up 23rd, the first driver a lap down.
He retained the championship lead, however, and is now 44 points up on Honeycutt with four races remaining to settle the regular season championship. They officially clinched a spot in the Chase today.
Enfinger’s victory was crucial in that it moved him inside the championship top 10 that will ultimately advance to the Chase. He’s now ninth in points, 25 points up on 10th place Tyler Ankrum. Stewart Friesen and Jake Garcia are tied, 17 points behind Ankrum.
Daniel Hemric, Andres Perez De Lara, Tanner Grey, Friesen and Colin Braun — an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series full-timer — rounded out the top 10 Saturday.
Thomas Annunziata, who ran up front all day after winning the ARCA Menards Series race at Lime Rock on Friday, ended up sidelined in the most dramatic incident of the day. He pulled off track with his No. 1 truck in flames while running second with 22 laps to go. Annunziata climbed out his No. 1 truck quickly and bent over to catch his breath next to a track wall. He was transported to a local area medical facility for further evaluation. He finished 29th.
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns to competition next week with Saturday’s Faith Fest 250 (12:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at the historic North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. Front Row Motorsports’ Chandler Smith is the defending race winner.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race — LiUNA 150 at Lime Rock Park
Lime Rock Park
Lakeville, Connecticut
Saturday, July 11, 2026
1. (12) Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 100.
2. (6) Landen Lewis, Chevrolet, 100.
3. (3) Kaden Honeycutt, Toyota, 100.
4. (16) Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 100.
5. (13) Christian Eckes, Chevrolet, 100.
6. (8) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 100.
7. (14) Andres Perez De Lara, Chevrolet, 100.
8. (20) Tanner Gray, Toyota, 100.
9. (18) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 100.
10. (33) Colin Braun, RAM, 100.
11. (22) Cole Butcher #, Ford, 100.
12. (29) Brenden Queen #, RAM, 100.
13. (30) Jackson Lee, Ford, 100.
14. (23) Justin Haley, RAM, 100.
15. (21) Dawson Sutton, Chevrolet, 100.
16. (24) Wesley Slimp, Toyota, 100.
17. (19) Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 100.
18. (2) Connor Mosack, Chevrolet, 100.
19. (27) Graham Doyle, Toyota, 100.
20. (7) Giovanni Ruggiero, Toyota, 100.
21. (26) Louis Foster, Chevrolet, 100.
22. (10) Jake Garcia, Ford, 100.
23. (1) Layne Riggs, Ford, 99.
24. (28) Mini Tyrrell #, RAM, 99.
25. (11) Tyler Ankrum, Chevrolet, 98.
26. (31) Frankie Muniz, Ford, 98.
27. (32) Josh Reaume, Ford, 98.
28. (25) Corey LaJoie, RAM, Engine, 90.
29. (4) Thomas Annunziata, Toyota, Engine, 79.
30. (9) Chandler Smith, Ford, Driveshaft, 56.
31. (17) Ben Rhodes, Ford, Accident, 50.
32. (5) Ty Majeski, Ford, Accident, 44.
33. (15) Ben Maier, Chevrolet, Electrical, 33.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 57.929 mph.
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 33 Mins, 5 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.483 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 7 for 39 laps.
Lead Changes: 9 among 6 drivers.
Lap Leaders: L. Riggs 1-34;K. Honeycutt 35;L. Riggs 36-49;K. Honeycutt 50-62;C. Butcher # 63-73;S. Friesen 74;G. Ruggiero 75-85;G. Enfinger 86;G. Ruggiero 87-96;G. Enfinger 97-100.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Layne Riggs 2 times for 48 laps; Giovanni Ruggiero 2 times for 21 laps; Kaden Honeycutt 2 times for 14 laps; Cole Butcher # 1 time for 11 laps; Grant Enfinger 2 times for 5 laps; Stewart Friesen 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 34,11,45,7,1,88,17,19,9,44
Stage #2 Top Ten: 11,34,9,19,44,18,77,98,15,13
–By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media
Sports
Seven Fire score in double-digits in win over Dream
Jul 11, 2026; College Park, Georgia, USA; Portland Fire guard Carla Leite (0) is defended by Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada (3) in the first quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Carla Leite and Emily Engster had double-doubles, five teammates scored in double figures and the visiting Portland Fire defeated the Atlanta Dream 102-92 on Saturday.
Engstler finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Leite had 13 points and 10 assists, Megan Gustafson scored 17 points, Serah Williams scored 15, Bridget Carleton had 12, Frieda Buhner added 11 and Teja Oblak 10 for the Fire (10-13), who had their highest point total in a regulation game this season.
Allisha Gray scored 20 points, Madina Okot had 19, Naz Hillmon had 15, Sika Kone scored 11, Jordin Canada added 10 points and 12 assists and Rhyne Howard scored 10 for the Dream (13-10), who played without third-leading scorer and leading rebounder Angel Reese.
Leite made two free throws to start the second-half scoring and give the Fire their biggest lead to that point, 53-44. Howard made consecutive 3-pointers and assisted on Hillmon’s three-point play as the Fever took a 60-59 lead.
The lead changed hands seven more times before Williams made consecutive layups and Nyadiew Puoch added a 3-pointer to help Portland open a 78-72 lead. Atlanta crept within four points before Gustafson converted a three-point play and Engstler added two free throws to help the Fire take an 83-75 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Dream got within six points twice early in the fourth quarter, but Leite’s 3-pointer pushed the lead to 88-79 and the margin was never fewer than six points after that.
The score was tied three times and the lead changed hands three times before Canada’s layup completed an 8-0 run that gave Atlanta a 14-8 lead. Williams converted a three-point play and Buhner and Carleton each made a 3-pointer to help Portland pull within one point.
Okot made a layup for the Dream’s only field goal during the final 3:22, and the Fire scored the final five points to take a 25-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Carleton made a 3-pointer to start the second-quarter scoring before Gray’s 3-pointer and Canada’s layup gave Atlanta a 31-30 lead. The score was tied three times before Carleton made two more 3-pointers and Gustafson added one to help Portland grab a 48-40 lead.
The Dream scored the next four points, but Leite made three free throws with 0.6 seconds left to give the Fire a 51-44 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
Sports
White Sox select Landon Thome, son of Hall of Fame slugger
Jul 29, 2018; Cooperstown, NY, USA; Hall of Fame inductee Jim Thome’s family, daughter Lila Thome and son Landon Thome and wife Andrea Thome pose for a photo at Clark Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox selected a player with a familiar name with the No. 34 choice in Saturday’s Major League Draft when they chose infielder Landon Thome from Nazareth Academy outside Chicago.
Landon Thome is the son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, who works for the White Sox as a special assistant to general manager Chris Getz. The younger Thome was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Illinois.
According to the White Sox, Landon Thome batted .535 with seven homers, 29 RBIs, 57 runs and was successful on 49 of 50 steal attempts as a high school senior.
The elder Thome also helped coach Nazareth Academy, which is located roughly 15 miles to the west in the suburb of La Grange Park, Ill.
The Pirates traded infielder Jacob Gonzalez and right-hander Brandon Eisert to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday to obtain the 34th pick.
Landon Thome was a shortstop in high school but has the ability to also play second or third base. That versatility is key because the White Sox selected UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick of Saturday’s draft.
Jim Thome 55, ranks eighth in baseball history with 612 homers over 22 seasons and the five-time All-Star spent 13 of the campaigns with Cleveland. However, he spent 3 1/2 seasons (2006-09) with the White Sox and hit at least 34 homers in all three of the full seasons.
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.
–Field Level Media
Veteran Grant Enfinger wins wild NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race at historic Lime Rock Park
Seven Fire score in double-digits in win over Dream
