Rockets beat Lakers 99-93 in Game 5, avoiding playoff elimination for the 2nd straight game
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points, Tari Eason added 18 and the Houston Rockets avoided playoff elimination for the second straight game with a 99-93 victory over the Lakers in Game 5 on Wednesday night, trimming Los Angeles' lead in the first-round series to 3-2. Alperen Sengun had 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the fifth-seeded Rockets, who sent the series back to Houston for Game 6 on Friday night with a gritty performance to overcome Austin Reaves' to of...
Read MoreThu, 30 Apr 2026
- Rockets beat Lakers 99-93 in Game 5, avoiding playoff elimination for the 2nd straight game
- Dorofeyevs late goal for Golden Knights sends Game 5 against Mammoth into first of 2 OTs tied at 4
- Schroders halftime speech, 11 points in 4th quarter spark Cavaliers to victory over Raptors
- Nathan Church steals another homer, this time giving the Cardinals a win over the Pirates
- Austin Reaves returns to Lakers lineup for Game 5 after missing 9 games with oblique injury
- Lightning on the brink of elimination after another home playoff loss
- Cade Cunningham comes through for Pistons on the brink, outduels Magic star Paolo Banchero in Game 5
- Cam York scores in OT as Flyers beat Penguins 1-0 in Game 6, reach Round 2
- Schroder, Mobley rally Cavaliers in 4th quarter for 125-120 win over Raptors to take 3-2 series lead
- Yasir Al-Rumayyan leaving board of LIV Golf as Saudi funding dries up, report says
- Cade Cunningham scores 45, Pistons beat Magic 116-109 in Game 5 to stave off elimination
- Texier breaks 3rd-period tie, Canadiens beat Lightning 3-2 in Game 5 to take series lead
Wed, 29 Apr 2026
- George Pickens signs $27.3 million franchise tag with Cowboys, opening door for offseason work
- Sanoja has 2-out bloop single to spark Marlins to 3-2 victory over Dodgers
- Arsenal and Atletico exchange penalty goals in 1-1 draw in 1st leg of Champions League semifinals
- Knicks and Celtics are chasing road clinchers as the Nuggets fight to force a Game 7
- Broncos 2-time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons retires after 32 interceptions in his 9-year career
- PSG and Bayerns 5-4 thriller points to a new era of high-scoring soccer
- The first Kentucky Derby since the death of trainer D. Wayne Lukas has a different vibe
- Don Mattingly thought he was done with baseball. The Phillies instead pinned playoff hopes on him
- Silent Tactic is out of the Kentucky Derby because of a foot injury, trainer says
- This years World Cup games could be sizzling. Heres whats being done to prepare for extreme heat
- Stir well, slap lightly. Tips for making a mint julep worthy of the Kentucky Derby
- Why the workouts of Formula 1 drivers might help computer users with tech neck
- Wild going home against Stars with chance to advance in NHL playoffs for 1st time since 2015
- FIFA push for new red-card rules at World Cup approved after Champions League and AFCON incidents
- Wembanyamas double-double powers Spurs past Trail Blazers and into Western Conference semifinals
- Pastrnak scores 9:14 into OT and Bruins avoid elimination with 2-1 win over Sabres
- Ohtani strikes out 9 over 6 innings in 2nd pitching-only performance for Dodgers
- Jalen Brunson scores 39 points and the Knicks rout the Hawks 126-97 for a 3-2 series lead
- McDavid in Edmonton lineup as the Oilers face elimination in Game 5 against the Ducks
- Joel Embiid scores 33 as 76ers beat Celtics 113-97 in Game 5 to keep their season alive
Tue, 28 Apr 2026
- NCAA remains on track to expand to a 76-team March Madness bracket for next season
- NHL Commissioner Bettman backs ruling that allowed Ducks OT goal to stand in Game 4 win vs. Oilers
- Spurned by Alex Cora, Phillies turn to Don Mattingly in the interim after Rob Thomson is fired
- American Hailey Baptiste saves 6 match points to stun world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Madrid Open
- NBA moves closer to anti-tanking measures with drastic change to draft lottery odds
- Goals galore as PSG beats Bayern Munich 5-4 in record-setting Champions League semifinal 1st leg
- Olivia Pichardo is a reluctant groundbreaker as a woman in baseball
- Austin Reaves hopes to return to Lakers for pivotal Game 5 vs Rockets after nearly 4 weeks out
- Rockets Kevin Durant makes progress with injury but a return for Game 5 vs. Lakers seems unlikely
- Ex-NBA player Damon Jones is 1st to plead guilty in gambling sweep that led to over 30 arrests
- WNBA star Caitlin Clark to publish a childrens book based on her life
- Why you may see Japanese soccer fans cleaning up the stadium after World Cup games
- Thunder breeze through the first round for a 3rd straight year and brace for tougher games ahead
- Theodores overtime goal lifts Golden Knights to 5-4 win over Mammoth; series tied 2-all
- Jokic has triple-double as Nuggets avoid elimination with 125-113 win against Timberwolves
- Aaron Judge and Ben Rice match Yankees greats Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra with powerful starts
- Sloppy Pistons are 1 loss from becoming 7th No. 1 seed to lose to an 8 seed in the NBA playoffs
- Gilgeous-Alexander scores 31 and Thunder outlast Suns 131-122 to cap a 4-game sweep
- Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton headed to injured list with low-grade right calf strain
- Desmond Bane scores 22, No. 8 seed Magic beat No. 1 seed Pistons 94-88 for a 3-1 series lead
- Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana, 2024 top overall pick, will be called up Tuesday, AP source says
- Penguins fend off elimination again with a 3-2 Game 5 win over Flyers to send series back to Philly
- Wolves confirm Edwards has no structural damage in his knee, but hell be out for at least a week
Mon, 27 Apr 2026
- Cooper Flagg edges former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel for NBA Rookie of the Year
- Sabres are on the verge of a long-awaited series win, and the Ducks are too
- Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby enters treatment program for a gambling addiction following transfer
- Paul Skenes rents a bounce house for Pirates clubhouse to celebrate Konnor Griffins 20th birthday
- Paige Bueckers says its all business with Azzi Fudd as they try to win with the Dallas Wings
- New York City to hold free World Cup fan events in each borough
- Allyson Felix, 40, looks for a comeback and maybe a spot at the LA Olympics
- Carson Hocevar already living up to his reputation as NASCARs newest star
- Marathon record-breaker says he underwent strict testing regime before smashing 2-hour barrier
- Sabalenka avoids Madrid Open virus scare and Osaka upset. Gauff loses
- Joel Embiid made a gutsy return from an appendectomy. The 76ers are still in trouble against Boston
- Champions League semifinals offer contrast of easy-on-the-eye PSG-Bayern and robust Atletico-Arsenal
- Mbapp diagnosed with hamstring injury 2 weeks ahead of Spanish league clasico against Barcelona
- The Mets, Red Sox and Phillies arent out -- but theyre very much down
- Ryan Poehling scores early in OT, Ducks push Oilers to the brink with 4-3 win in Game 4
- Durant sidelined again as Rockets extend series, Udoka calls return a possibility
- Lakers Deandre Ayton ejected after unnecessary and excessive elbow to Alperen Sengun
- Amen Thompson sparks Rockets 115-96 rout to stave off elimination against Lakers
- Embiids gutsy return after appendectomy falls flat as Celtics rout 76ers for 3-1 series lead
- Hagel scores twice in 3rd, Lightning beat Canadiens 3-2 in Game 4 to tie series
- Trevor Bauer dominates with a 7-inning no-hitter for Atlantic Leagues Long Island Ducks
- Brotherly boost: A dramatic Zurich Classic win by the Fitzpatricks puts Alex on the PGA Tour
- Carson Hocevar earns 1st NASCAR Cup victory with last-lap pass at Talladega Superspeedway
- Wembanyama returns from concussion and Spurs beat Blazers 114-93 to take 3-1 series lead
Sun, 26 Apr 2026
- Spurs star Wembanyama returns, says hes disappointed with the way his concussion was handled
- MacKinnon leads Avalanche to 5-1 win and 1st-round sweep of LA Kings, ending Anze Kopitars career
- Nelly Korda wins Chevron Championship for 3rd major and returns to No. 1
- Barnes, Ingram score 23 points apiece as Raptors beat Cavaliers 93-89 and tie series at 2-all
- Refsnyder successfully challenges 3rd strike, and then homers to lift Mariners over Cardinals 3-2
- Coco Gauff overcomes vomiting on court to beat Sorana Cirstea in Madrid
- Direction of the Boston Red Sox feels up in the air after Coras firing, Trevor Story says
- Wolves Anthony Edwards has bone bruise in left knee and is likely to miss weeks, AP source says
- Mondays NBA playoffs: Nuggets face elimination, Thunder could sweep, and Pistons in trouble?
- Marathon milestone shattered: Sabastian Sawe breaks the fabled 2-hour barrier by 30 seconds
- Chelsea beats Leeds on Fernandez goal and sets up FA Cup final meeting with Man City
- The Carolina Hurricanes use postseason experience to advance again in NHL playoffs sweep
- Arsenal capitalizes on Lyon blunders to win 2-1 in Womens Champions League semifinals
- Bernd Wiesberger rallies to win China Open for first European title since returning from LIV Golf
- NBA postseason guide: Schedule, stories, betting odds, how to watch and more
- Crosby and Letang strike as the Penguins stave off a sweep with a 4-2 Game 4 win over Flyers
- Dosunmu scores 43 points as Timberwolves overcome injuries to beat Nuggets 112-96 for 3-1 lead
- Timberwolves lose Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo to leg injuries in Game 4 against Nuggets
- Boldys deflection late in 1st OT lifts Wild past Stars 3-2 to tie series at 2
- Boston Red Sox fire manager Alex Cora and 5 coaches
- A hot pick at No. 257: How the Broncos made Red Murdock this years Mr. Irrelevant
- Stankoven scores again, Hurricanes complete 4-game sweep of Senators
- Towns has a triple-double and the Knicks beat the Hawks 114-98 to tie the series at 2-2
Sat, 25 Apr 2026
- The NFL drafts trip to Pittsburgh ends with record crowds and a late emotional jolt
- Nelly Korda slows her torrid pace and settles for 5-shot lead in Chevron Championship
- Fitzpatrick brothers post a tournament-record 57 and take a 4-shot lead in the Zurich Classic
- Gilgeous-Alexander scores 42, Thunder beat Suns 121-109 to take a 3-0 series lead
- Caitlin Clark helps Fever beat Liberty in the preseason in her 1st game with the team in 9 months
- Magic, tested all season, find a way in final moments to beat Pistons for 2-1 series lead
- Banchero and Bane each score 25, Magic waste big lead but rally to top Pistons 113-105 for 2-1 lead
- Colorado Avalanche enter Game 4 with a chance to close out the Los Angeles Kings
- New CEO Steve ODonnell vows to unite NASCAR and return the fun
- Todd Pletchers Renegade draws the inside No. 1 post and opens as the Kentucky Derby favorite
- Man City books another FA Cup final and Arsenal goes top of the Premier League
- Spurs beat Trail Blazers 120-108 without Wembanyama to take 2-1 series lead
- Victor Wembanyama misses Spurs Game 3 victory while recovering from concussion
- Swansons 2-run 9th-inning blast fuels Cubs comeback win, 10th in a row
- Ducks blast Oilers 7-4 in Game 3 in Anaheims first home playoff game in 8 years
- Carson Beck and Drew Allar make it 4 quarterbacks selected in the first 3 rounds of the NFL draft
- Brewers 2nd team to face AL, NL Cy Young winners in consecutive games
- James makes tying 3 as Lakers storm back late, win in OT and take a 3-0 series lead over the Rockets
- Canadiens beat Lightning 3-2 in OT to take 2-1 lead in all extra-time series
- Skenes perfect into 7th, Griffin hits first 1st career homer in Pirates 6-0 win over Brewers
- Harris delivers as a pinch-hitter for the Braves, leading 5-3 win over slumping Phillies
- Celtics beat the 76ers 108-100 in Game 3 behind 25 points each from Tatum and Brown
- New Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza ready to prove he was worthy of No. 1 draft pick
- Mets say injured shortstop Francisco Lindor to be evaluated again in 3 weeks
- Kayden McDonalds long wait in the NFL draft green room ends with tears and a new job in Houston
Fri, 24 Apr 2026
- Star freshmen Darryn Peterson at Kansas, Cameron Boozer at Duke declare for NBA draft
- Rockets Kevin Durant out for Game 3 vs Lakers with a sprained left ankle
- Fitzpatrick brothers pull within shot of Smalley and Springer at Zurich Classic
- Nelly Korda with another 65 leaves the field behind at Chevron Championship
- Millwall fumes after anti-racism booklet shows clubs logo on a Ku Klux Klan robe
- Reports: Jim France to step down as NASCARs chief executive officer, Steve ODonnell promoted
- Jim Furyk is returning as US Ryder Cup captain for 2027 with Tiger Woods out
- Reigning two-time champ Carlos Alcaraz out of French Open due to wrist injury
- The NHL playoffs are nearing a record for penalty shots and its still the first round
- AI smart glasses will help visually impaired runners take on the London Marathon
- Man who helped fellow runner across Boston Marathon finish line says it was natural instinct to help
- Spain heads to World Cup with its image battered by cases of racism, sexism and xenophobia
- Timberwolves take a 2-1 lead on the Nuggets with a dominant defensive effort in a 113-96 win
- Avalanche get a pair of lucky goals and hold off Kings 4-2, taking a 3-0 series lead
- Hurricanes beat the Senators 2-1 to take a 3-0 series lead
- Mike Vrabel says he takes accountability for distraction, doesnt address specifics
- QB Fernando Mendoza, edge rusher David Bailey, running back Jeremiyah Love go 1-2-3 in the NFL draft
- Schlittler says heckling `not too bad as he pitches at Fenway Park for first time against Red Sox
- McCollum ruins Knicks night again, leading the Hawks to a 109-108 victory and a 2-1 lead
- Sabres rally to beat Bruins 3-1, take 2-1 lead in NHL playoff series
- Nelly Korda off to a fast start with a 65 to lead by 2 in The Chevron Championship
- Fitzpatrick brothers 6 shots behind Smalley and Springer at Zurich Classic
- Victor Wembanyama travels with the Spurs to Portland and is listed as questionable to play in Game 3
Thu, 23 Apr 2026
- Rangers call up 30-year-old pitcher seeking MLB debut after putting reliever Garcia on IL
- George Pickens is planning to sign $27.3 million franchise tag with Cowboys, AP sources say
- Italy dismisses replacing Iran at the World Cup after suggestion by Trump official
- Head of basketball coaches association: Coaches input vital in age-based eligibility discussions
- Braves JR Ritchie rebounds from 1st pitch home run to win major league debut
- Bucks are finalizing a deal with Taylor Jenkins to take over as coach, AP source says
- Chiefs assistant coach Dave Merritt charged in suburban KC with misdemeanor domestic battery
- Slumping Phillies release high-priced righty Taijuan Walker and recall Nolan Hoffman
- Falcons James Pearce Jr. agrees to enter pretrial intervention program to resolve 3 felony charges
- AJ Dybantsa officially declares for the NBA draft and is a top candidate to be the No. 1 pick
- Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax wins Baseball Digest lifetime achievement award
- Yamal to miss rest of Barcelona season but be fit for World Cup with Spain
- Players say MLBs robot umpires are shrinking the strike zone
- Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling and will miss Day 3 of the NFL draft
- Alabama rewards Kalen DeBoer and Nate Oats with raises and contract extensions
- Iran government says mens soccer team is preparing for proud participation at World Cup in US
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