Luka Doncic's Hamstring Injury Adds To A Brutal Night For Lakers

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: The people wasn’t nan only point that made this nan Lakers’ worst nonaccomplishment of nan season.

Even much concerning than nan Lakers’ 139-96 blowout loss to nan Oklahoma City Thunder connected Thursday was watching superstar defender Luka Doncic hobble disconnected nan tribunal pinch a near hamstring wounded successful nan 3rd quarter.

The 27-year-old defender was held to conscionable 12 points and 7 assists, and he committed six turnovers earlier he pulled up connected a thrust pinch 7:39 near successful nan 3rd quarter. He grabbed astatine nan backmost of his near limb and limped to nan baseline, wherever he lowered himself to nan court, rolled onto his backmost and covered his face. Concerned teammates surrounded him. Coach JJ Redick offered 1 manus to propulsion him to his feet.

Doncic will acquisition an MRI scan Friday, Redick said, earlier nan Lakers (50-27) play Doncic’s erstwhile team, nan Dallas Mavericks, connected Sunday. In a subdued locker room, nan Lakers were near to wrestle pinch their largest separator of conclusion since Nov. 27, 2023 amid nan anticipation of having to decorativeness nan regular play without nan NBA’s starring scorer.

“At this juncture of nan season, it’s nan past point you want to see,” said LeBron James, who had 13 points, six rebounds and 2 assists. “Especially — anybody connected our squad — but erstwhile you person an MVP campaigner connected your team, nan past point you want to spot is personification spell down pinch a hamstring injury. ... I don’t cognize evidently what nan lawsuit whitethorn be, truthful believe for nan champion for judge and a speedy recovery.”

Guard Austin Reaves shook disconnected his ain wounded scare to decorativeness pinch 15 points, 1 assistance and 4 turnovers aft grabbing astatine his near little backmost for astir of nan first quarter. He said he overextended himself chasing a loose ball. He turned nan shot complete trying to link pinch Deandre Ayton connected nan adjacent possession, reaching instantly for his little backmost aft nan walk went awry.

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UCLA women cognize it’s each aliases nothing

UCLA halfway Lauren Betts celebrates during a triumph complete Duke successful nan Elite Eight of nan NCAA women’s hoops tourney connected March 29.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

From Marisa Ingemi: You’d beryllium forgiven if you thought this year’s Final Four was conscionable a lawsuit of déjà vu.

On paper, that seems existent — 4 No. 1 seeds who person dominated each information of nan NCAA tournament arrived successful Phoenix this week and they are nan aforesaid 4 teams who reached nan Final Four past twelvemonth successful Tampa, Fla.

Sustaining that level of occurrence during nan modern assemblage hoops era, nan 4 teams insist, isn’t arsenic easy.

Connecticut doesn’t person Paige Bueckers; South Carolina doesn’t person Kamilla Cardoso; and UCLA coach Cori Close and nan Bruins person a overmuch different lineup.

“Getting here,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said, “is nan difficult part.”

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UCLA gymnastics focused connected staying calm, confident

UCLA gymnast Mika Webster-Longin competes connected nan equilibrium beam during nan Big Four Gymnastics title astatine Pauley Pavilion connected Feb. 27.

(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)

From Anthony Solorzano: The UCLA women’s gymnastics team enters nan NCAA regionals connected Friday successful Corvallis, Ore., focused connected 3 principles — calm, assurance and committedness to 1 another. The Bruins started leaning connected nan mantra to thief them enactment dialed successful arsenic they took location nan Big Ten tourney title, Mika Webster-Longin said.

Now, they will usage it arsenic they to push to scope nan NCAA championship.

“The Big Ten triumph really feels bully and helps our assurance going [into NCAA regionals],” she said. “It felt awesome to put everything together because I consciousness for illustration we really built disconnected of 1 different and showed what we tin do to not only nan Big Ten competition, but to everyone.”

“It gives america conscionable nan correct magnitude of assurance going into regionals and past seeing wherever it takes us,” Tiana Sumanasekera said.

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Kawhi Leonard and Clippers autumn to Spurs

Clippers prima Kawhi Leonard, right, and coach Tyronn Lue respond during nan 2nd half of a 118-99 nonaccomplishment to nan San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

From nan Associated Press: De’Aaron Fox scored 22 points connected nine-of-13 shooting, and nan San Antonio Spurs hit nan Clippers 118-99 connected Thursday nighttime without Victor Wembanyama successful nan lineup to triumph their 11th successful a row.

Wembanyama was rested connected nan 2nd nighttime of a back-to-back. He had 41 points and 18 rebounds successful a 127-113 triumph astatine nan Golden State Warriors connected Wednesday.

The Spurs (59-18) had six players successful double figures, including Stephon Castle pinch 20 points and Dylan Harper pinch 19 disconnected nan bench.

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Kings suffer to Predators successful eight-round shootout

Nashville Predators guardant Luke Evangelista scores nan winning extremity past Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper successful a shootout to unafraid a 5-4 triumph Thursday astatine Crypto.com Arena.

(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)

From nan Associated Press: Luke Evangelista scored nan only extremity of nan shootout successful nan eighth round, and nan Nashville Predators tightened nan Western Conference playoff title pinch a 5-4 win complete nan Kings connected Thursday night.

Nashville, nan Kings and San José are now moreover pinch 79 points apiece for nan 2nd wild-card playoff spot successful nan West, but nan Sharks — who hit Toronto 4-1 earlier Thursday — person a crippled successful hand.

Steven Stamkos scored his 37th extremity and Jonathan Marchessault ended his 14-game extremity drought for nan Predators, who snapped their three-game skid contempt blowing a three-goal lead. Filip Forsberg and Zachary L’Heureux besides scored.

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Bob Chesney grading Bruins connected effort

UCLA coach Bob Chesney leads nan Bruins done their first outpouring shot believe astatine Spaulding Field connected Thursday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

From Anthony Solorzano: UCLA shot coach Bob Chesney wasn’t looking for prima performances during nan Bruins’ first outpouring believe connected Thursday — instead, he wanted his players to attraction connected holding themselves accountable for putting successful their champion effort.

“We talk astir nan reflector test. Don’t interest astir what your coach says, don’t interest astir what your different teammates say,” Chesney said. “Go look astatine yourself successful nan mirror. That’s really nan only feline that’s gonna know, right?”

There was excitement and strength but perfection wasn’t expected. For nan caller caput coach, it was astir whether nan fundamentals UCLA worked connected passim nan wintertime carried over, he said.

“While I watch it retired here, nan things that don’t return skill, nan things that don’t return awesome genetics, were nan things I wanted to attraction connected coming much than thing — nan effort,” Chesney said.

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Trevor Bauer group to transportation for Long Island Ducks

Diablos Rojos’ Trevor Bauer pitches against New York Yankees during an accumulation crippled March 24, 2024, astatine Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium successful Mexico City.

(Fernando Llano / Associated Press)

From Chuck Schilken: Former Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer will transportation for a U.S. squad for nan first clip since 2021 erstwhile he serves arsenic nan opening time starter for nan Long Island Ducks of nan independent Atlantic League later this month.

Since his past MLB start, connected June 28, 2021, Bauer has been accused of intersexual battle by 4 women. He denies each nan allegations and has ne'er been charged pinch a crime.

After Bauer served a 194-game suspension for violating nan league’s intersexual battle and home unit policy, nan Dodgers severed ties pinch nan 2020 National League Cy Young Award victor connected Jan. 6, 2023, little than 2 years after signing him to a three-year, $102-million contract.

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Rams measurement early pinch Puka Nacua

Puka Nacua stands connected nan section during a triumph complete nan Detroit Lions astatine SoFi Stadium successful December. Nacua’s lawyer announced Wednesday that nan Rams wide receiver entered rehab past month.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

From Los Angeles Times staff: Puka Nacua shattered Rams rookie records aft nan wide receiver was selected successful nan 5th round of nan 2023 NFL draft.

Nacua became known for his infectious enthusiasm and expertise to drawback almost thing Rams MVP backmost Matthew Stafford threw his way.

Now Nacua, 24, finds himself astatine a crossroads, pinch his NFL accumulation suggesting he’s in statement to motion a monolithic statement extension but his off-field issues raising questions astir whether nan Rams would beryllium amended disconnected trading him. His lawyer confirmed connected Wednesday that Nacua began receiving curen astatine a rehabilitation attraction facility successful March.

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More specifications from Tiger Woods’ arrest

In this image from video provided by nan Martin County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office, golfer Tiger Woods is strapped into a constabulary conveyance pursuing a car clang successful Jupiter Island, Fla., connected March 27.

(Associated Press)

From nan Associated Press: After crashing his SUV past week successful Florida, Tiger Woods took retired his telephone and told a deputy, “I was conscionable talking to nan president,” according to assemblage camera footage released Thursday showing Woods’ arrest connected a DUI charge.

The telephone speech was not captured connected video, but Woods could beryllium heard saying, “Thank you truthful much,” arsenic he hung up and nan lawman approached. It wasn’t clear if Woods was referring to President Trump, whose erstwhile daughter-in-law, Vanessa Trump, is making love Woods.

Shortly aft nan golfer’s March 27 arrest, Trump was asked astir Woods and told reporters: “I consciousness truthful badly. He’s sewage immoderate difficulty. Very adjacent friend of mine. He’s an astonishing person. Amazing man. But, immoderate difficulty.”

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This time successful sports history

1923 — “Black Sox” writer White Sox (unsuccessfully) for backmost salary.

1930 — The Montreal Canadiens triumph nan NHL Stanley Cup pinch a two-game expanse of nan Boston Bruins.

1933 — Ken Doraty’s overtime extremity gives nan Toronto Maple Leafs and 1-0 triumph complete nan Boston Bruins successful semifinals of nan Stanley Cup playoffs. The extremity comes astatine 1 hour, 44 minutes and 46 seconds of nan overtime beyond nan one-hour regularisation game.

1966 — P Tom Seaver signs pinch nan NY Mets.

1975 — Bobby Fischer stripped of world chess title for refusing to take sides it, title awarded to Russian Anatoly Karpov.

1977 — Jean Ratelle of nan Boston Bruins scores his 1,000th constituent pinch an assistance successful a 7-4 triumph complete nan Toronto Maple Leafs.

1982 — Buffalo’s Gil Perrault scores his 1,000th constituent pinch an assistance successful a 5-4 triumph complete nan Montreal Canadiens.

1983 — 2nd NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: USC thumps Louisiana Tech, 69-67.

1987 — Chicago Cubs waste and acquisition Dennis Eckersley to Oakland A’s.

1988 — Louisiana Tech wins nan NCAA women’s hoops title pinch a 56-54 come-from-behind triumph complete Auburn.

1988 — Amy Alcott shoots a 1-under 71 to triumph nan Dinah Shore by 2 shots complete Colleen Walker.

1988 — Mario Lemieux wins NHL scoring title, stopping Gretzky’s 7 twelvemonth streak.

1989 — Michigan thumps Seton Hall 80-79 successful overtime to triumph nan NCAA hoops championship. Rumeal Robinson hits 2 free throws pinch 3 seconds near for nan Wolverines. It’s nan first clip that a first-year coach, Steve Fisher, wins nan nationalist title.

1991 — Bo Jackson signs 1-year statement pinch Chicago White Sox.

1993 — For nan first clip successful its 157-year history, nan Grand National steeplechase is declared void because of a mendacious start. Esha Ness crosses nan statement first, but astir of nan jockeys are unaware a mendacious commencement is called and nan mostly of nan 39-horse section proceed nan 4½-mile title astir nan Aintree people moreover though 9 enactment down astatine nan commencement line.

1994 — Charlotte Smith’s 3-pointer astatine nan buzzer gives North Carolina a 60-59 triumph complete Louisiana Tech successful nan NCAA women’s hoops title game.

1995 — UCLA wins its first nationalist hoops title successful 20 years and grounds 11th NCAA title, keeping Arkansas from repeating pinch an 89-78 victory.

1996 — St Francis Fighting Saints scores assemblage shot tally grounds pinch 71.

2000 — 62nd NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Michigan State thumps Florida, 89-76.

2004 — St. Louis clinches its 25th consecutive NHL playoff berth, nan longest successful awesome convention sports, pinch a 4-1 triumph complete Nashville.

2006 — Joakim Noah dominates UCLA pinch 16 points, 9 rebounds and a grounds 7 blocks to cardinal a 73-57 blowout for Florida’s first nationalist title successful men’s basketball.

2006 — Steve Yzerman scores his last NHL extremity (#692).

2007 — After a nine-year title drought, Tennessee and coach Pat Summitt are NCAA champions. The Lady Vols seizure an elusive seventh nationalist title, beating Rutgers 59-46.

2010 — Bernard Hopkins wins a sadistic unanimous determination complete Roy Jones Jr. successful their long-delayed rematch, emphatically avenging his nonaccomplishment successful nan famed champions’ first conflict astir 17 years earlier.

2012 — Brittney Griner scores 26 points and grabs 13 rebounds to thief Baylor decorativeness disconnected an undefeated play pinch an 80-61 triumph complete Notre Dame successful nan women’s nationalist title game. Baylor becomes nan first squad successful NCAA history to triumph 40 games.

2017 — Justin Jackson delivers nan go-ahead three-point play and North Carolina scores nan past 8 points for a 71-65 triumph complete Gonzaga and an NCAA title that heartbreakingly eluded nan Tar Heels past year. It’s an disfigured game, filled pinch 44 fouls and 52 free throws. Carolina was down 2 pinch 1:40 near erstwhile Jackson took a walk nether nan bucket from Theo Pinson, made a layup and sewage fouled. The free propulsion made it 66-65, and aft a Gonzaga miss connected nan different end, Isaiah Hicks made a changeable to thief North Carolina commencement pulling distant to nan school’s sixth title.

2019 — San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich is ejected aft an NBA grounds debased 63 seconds successful nan Spurs 113-85 nonaccomplishment successful Denver; receives 2 method fouls successful a verbal confrontation pinch a referee.

Compiled by nan Associated Press.

Until adjacent time...

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