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Lakers look defenseless during big loss in Phoenix

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So the Phoenix Suns are alleged to worry this?

That’s been the prevailing logic, the rationale to maintain trudging via the ultimate month of the NBA schedule with a workforce that’s this badly flawed. The Lakers final yr, bear in mind, had a 2-1 lead within the first spherical of the playoffs earlier than Anthony Davis bought injured.

Earlier than the sport Sunday evening in Phoenix, the Lakers bought information that ought to’ve enhanced their beliefs. Davis, their star massive man who has been out since proper earlier than the All-Star break, will start on-court actions Monday, placing him on monitor for a pre-postseason return.

But the road between hope and delusion is skinny and the primary quarter Sunday evening made it clear what facet the Lakers’ postseason beliefs land on.

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The Suns scored 48 factors within the first quarter, a reminder of which workforce is on the high of the league standings and which one is left to hope that issues will get higher.

After embarrassing the Lakers within the first 12 minutes, Phoenix dominated for the remainder of the evening, simply beating the Lakers 140-111 — a doable playoff preview ought to the Lakers win their method into the postseason through the play-in match.

“Nothing we did tonight was ok,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel stated, calling the Lakers’ play “unacceptable.”

The Lakers allowed the Suns to shoot 20 of 33 from the sector, so lots of the pictures coming uncontested both on the rim following a turnover or on the three-point line after a botched protection.

The Lakers, who really opened the sport main 6-2, went ice chilly, struggling to search out any indicators of success on both facet of the ball.

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The Suns scored 17 fast-break factors within the first quarter.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that earlier than,” Vogel stated.

Whereas LeBron James would warmth as much as rating 31 factors, it didn’t come near mattering — the workforce by no means getting shut after the depressing begin. James spent the fourth quarter on the bench with a sport in opposition to Toronto on Monday evening at Crypto.com Area.

The loss spoiled one other historic achievement for James. Together with his second help of the sport, a move to an open Carmelo Anthony, he grew to become the lone NBA participant ever to have not less than 10,000 factors, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists in his profession.

Davis may’ve added some gasoline to the matchup earlier than the sport, talking for the primary time since he suffered a nasty mid-foot damage Feb. 16 in opposition to the Utah Jazz. Requested concerning the Lakers’ 2-1 lead within the playoffs final yr and the way his groin damage impacted the remainder of the collection, Davis didn’t hesitate in saying the collection was the Lakers’ to win.

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“It was. It was,” he stated. “I feel we all know that. I feel they know that. … Me taking place type of simply modified the entire collection.”

The Suns went on to the NBA Finals and have been the most effective groups within the league all season, flexing that truth with a lopsided win Sunday — even with Chris Paul out due to a thumb damage.

The Suns know they will win with out Paul; the Lakers can’t cease dropping with out Davis.

It’s a part of the rationale why he’s making an attempt to return, the Lakers in a struggle for a postseason berth that may embrace a visit via the NBA’s play-in match.

Lakers guard Malik Monk elevates previous Suns ahead Mikal Bridges on a drive to the basket in the course of the first half Friday evening in Phoenix.

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(Rick Scuteri / Related Press)

“I’m very optimistic about it,” Davis stated of a return. “Attempting every little thing. I wish to, particularly with the state of affairs we’re in — the play-in and making an attempt to really struggle to remain within the play-in sport. I’m making an attempt to get again on the court docket as quickly as doable.”

Coach Frank Vogel termed Davis’ return this season as “100% possibly.”

“We’ll see,” he added. “He’s bought to check it, and he’s bought to extend his workload and see how the damage responds.”

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That begins Monday with Davis performing capturing drills, his first on-court exercise in almost 4 weeks.

It’s the Lakers’ greatest hope — hope that the Suns simply squashed Sunday in Phoenix.

UP NEXT

VS. TORONTO

When: 7:30 p.m., Monday

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On the air: TV: Spectrum SportsNet; Radio: 710, 1330

Replace: The Raptors (37-30) come to Crypto.com Area with a three-game street successful streak, together with wins over Phoenix and Denver on back-to-back nights. Toronto is one sport behind sixth-place Cleveland within the Jap Convention playoff race.

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NASCAR driver belly-flops into massive flood on pit road as rain postpones race

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NASCAR driver belly-flops into massive flood on pit road as rain postpones race

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A monstrous rainstorm postponed Saturday’s NASCAR truck race, but those on the track still made the most of it.

The storm moved through North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, site of Sunday’s All-Star Open and Saturday’s Craftsman Truck Series Wright Brand 250.

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Pole qualifying was canceled Saturday morning, but the race started on time, as positioning was set per the rule book. However, lightning in the area brought the red flag out on Lap 81 at roughly 2:30 p.m. ET.

Signage old and new at North Wilkesboro Speedway.  (Jim Dedmon/USA Today Sports)

Fans were asked to clear the grandstand and take cover as rain began to fall.

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NASCAR then announced at 5:05 p.m. ET the remainder of the race would be postponed until 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday, and heat races for the All-Star Open slated for Saturday were canceled. Positioning for the race will be set based on the rule book.

Rain flooded pit road so badly, it was roughly thigh-high for some on the track.

North Wilkesboro track

Air driers at work before qualifying at North Wilkesboro Speedway.  (Jim Dedmon/USA Today Sports)

NASCAR STAR’S DAUGHTER BRINGS RACE-WINNING AMERICAN FLAG TO SCHOOL: I’M SO ‘PROUD’

One person in a video taken by FOX Business senior producer Justin Freiman could be seen swimming and diving in the water.

A few seconds later, a driver did a belly flop.

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The weather affected racing Friday night, as well. All-Star Race qualifying and a pit crew challenge at North Wilkesboro Speedway scheduled for Friday night has been postponed due to rain.

NASCAR announced Saturday and Sunday tickets would be honored Sunday with some stipulations.

Saturday ticketholders will receiver “priority seating” for the finish of the truck race, while those who have tickets for Sunday will then get seating for the All-Star Race, in the event of same-seat purchases.

NASCAR in rain delay

Cars covered and parked on the grid during a weather delay in qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway May 17, 2024, in North Wilkesboro, N.C. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Twenty drivers will participate in the $1 million All-Star Race following the conclusion of the Wright Brand 250.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Carson wins City softball title on Alana Langford's 14th-inning homer

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Carson wins City softball title on Alana Langford's 14th-inning homer

All night long, Alana Langford was waiting for her pitch.

It finally came with one out in the top of the 14th inning Saturday night in the City Section Open Division softball final and the first baseman did not miss it, working the count full and launching the ball high over the left-field fence for a home run that ultimately gave Carson a 1-0 victory over Granada Hills.

The contest took four hours and two minutes and fans at Long Beach State were treated to one of the best and longest playoff games in City history, lasting four hours and two minutes.

It was the second year in a row that Langford hit a game-winning homer in the championship game, having basted a two-run shot in the top of the eighth inning last spring against the Highlanders.

“I could see their pitcher was getting tired and I told myself when she misses it, I gotta be on it,” Langford said. “This one means so much because I’m a senior and it’s my last time playing with my team. My dad’s our biggest fan, he watches from the outfield and he’s my target!”

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Last year’s final ended 12-11, but on Saturday one run was all the Colts needed to defend their title, thanks to a herculean effort by junior pitcher Giselle Pantoja, who allowed only one hit with 17 strikeouts and seven walks in outdueling counterpart Addison Moorman, who struck out 19 batters in a five-hit masterpiece of her own.

Carson’s Alana Langford celebrates after a double for the game’s first hit in the seventh inning against Granada Hills in the City Section Open Division final on Saturday night.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

It was another heartbreaking loss for Granada Hills (28-3), which entered as the No. 1 seed. The only blemishes on their record were a pair of one-run losses to Southern Section programs Warren and Harvard-Westlake. A year ago, the Highlanders rallied for 10 runs in the sixth inning to even the score. This time they could not manage a single run against Pomale, who anticipated her moment in the circle in the title game.

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“In the 12th inning I was pushing past my limits, but I just told my teammates, ‘You got me, I got you!’” Pantoja said. “The last inning I was so tired and they have really tough hitters. I’ve been preparing for this since last season.”

Granada Hills, seeking its first section title since 1981, had two on and two out in the bottom of the 14th when Zoe Justman flied out to Riannah Maulupe and Colts players poured from the dugout to hug their heroic pitcher.

The game’s first hit did not come until the top of the seventh when Langford doubled over the left fielder’s head with one out, but Moorman then induced back-to-back popouts on the infield.

Carson threatened in the top of the ninth when Ruby Grajeda hit a two-out single to right and Langford was hit by a pitch, but Atiana Rodriguez struck out to keep the game scoreless.

In the top of the 12th, Grajeda led off with a bloop single to left and Langford followed with a bunt single. After a strikeout and a fly out, Alyssa Villasenor was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but on a 3-2 count Sandoval struck out looking

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In the bottom half of the 12th, Samantha Esparza smacked the ball through the right side and slid into first base ahead of the throw by Carson right fielder Kaleigh Allen for the Highlanders’ first hit and advanced to second on Malia Plourde’s sacrifice bunt, but after Justman struck out, Jeniece Jimenez grounded out.

Carson has won five City titles — all in the upper division.

In the preceding Division I final, top-seeded Garfield (20-5) beat No. 3 Kennedy 5-2 and in the first game of Saturday’s City triple-header No. 1 Chatsworth beat No. 2 Marquez 12-2 in five innings for the Division II title.

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Seize The Grey wins 149th Preakness Stakes; Mystik Dan finishes 2nd

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Seize The Grey wins 149th Preakness Stakes; Mystik Dan finishes 2nd

Seize The Grey won the 149th Preakness Stakes Saturday, closing at 9-1 odds, one of the longest shots on the board.

Mystik Dan, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, made a move late, but finished second in the field of eight horses running in the $2 million, 1 3/16-mile race. 

It was a wire-to-wire victory for Seize The Grey, who led by several lengths at the ¾-mile mark, with Imagination trailing closely behind.

Jockey Jaime Torres, riding Seize the Grey, celebrates after winning the 149th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course May 18, 2024, in Baltimore.  (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

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Mystik Dan and Imagination both crept up, and as much as Mystik Dan tried to maneuver past the leader, nothing worked. Seize The Grey crossed the finish line first.

D. Wayne Lukas, 88, became the oldest trainer to win the Preakness, his seventh victory in the race, one shy of Bob Baffert’s record.

The original favorite, Muth, trained by the controversial Baffert, was scratched earlier this week due to a spiking fever. That led to Mystik Dan becoming the favorite in his quest to be the first Triple Crown winner since Justify in 2018.

Seize The Grey winning preakness

Jockey Jaime Torres, riding Seize the Grey, celebrates after winning the 149th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course May 18, 2024, in Baltimore.  (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Muth opened as the 8-5 favorite, ahead of Mystik Dan at 5-2 (he later closed at 2-1). Baffert said the horse was ruled out after reaching a temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit roughly 12 hours after arriving at the racecourse.

It was unknown for a bit whether Mystik Dan would run after his Kentucky Derby victory, but ownership decided he was good to go.

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No one in the race’s 149-year history has saddled more horses in the Preakness than Lukas with 48 since debuting in 1980. He had two this time, with Just Steel finishing fifth.

Preakness sign

The wind vane at Pimlico Race Course ahead of the 147th Preakness Stakes May 18, 2022, in Baltimore.  (Getty Images)

Baffert was at Pimlico after missing his third straight Kentucky Derby due to suspension. He is slated to be back at Churchill Downs in 2025. His National Treasure won last year’s Preakness.

The final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, will take place at Saratoga Race Course June 8.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.

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