England Cricket boss Richard Gould fears the “financial viability” of Test cricket in his country if it is relegated in the proposed two-tier Test structure.
Kings fail to stop another Oilers comeback, losing in Game 4 OT heartbreaker
What started as a best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff is now a best-of-three series after the Edmonton Oilers rallied from a two-goal third-period deficit to beat the Kings 4-3 in overtime Sunday, evening the series at two wins apiece.
The winning goal came from Leon Draisaitl, who beat Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper on the power play with 1:42 left in the extra period. Kuemper deserved a better fate on a night he stopped 44 shots.
The teams will meet again Tuesday for Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena, where the Kings have won a league-leading 33 times, including the playoffs. Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday in Edmonton. Game 7, if needed, would be Saturday in Los Angeles.
None of that appeared necessary after the Kings, who won the first two games, took a 3-1 lead into the final 13 minutes of regulation. They were 28 seconds away from winning when Evan Bouchard blasted a slap shot by Kuemper from just inside the blue line, capping a wild third-period rally. It was Bouchard’s second goal of the period and his fourth of the playoffs.
It was also the third goal the Oilers have scored after pulling their goalie for an extra attacker, and it marked the third time in four games the Kings have blown a lead in the final 13 minutes.
The Oilers have outscored the Kings 12-5 in the third period and overtime in the series.
Read more:Kings must overcome power of rabid Edmonton Oilers fans after faltering in Game 3
The Kings’ goals came from Trevor Moore, Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala, and Phillip Danault had two assists. Corey Perry had the other Oilers goal; Draisaitl assisted on Edmonton's first three goals.
The Kings haven’t beaten Edmonton in a postseason series since 1989 — and haven’t eliminated anyone in the playoffs since 2014, when they won their second Stanley Cup.
The Kings set the tone early, peppering Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard with 10 shots in the first 10 minutes before Moore beat him from the center of the right circle on the 11th shot. The goal, 10:35 into the first period, marked the third time in four games the Kings had scored first.
Read more:Kings rally to take lead, only to collapse in third period of Game 3 loss to Oilers
Foegele, a former Oiler, doubled the lead 91 seconds into the second, spinning into the crease to collect a pass from Danault, then shoving the puck under Pickard.
The Oilers’ pulled that goal back on a power play less than three minutes later when Perry took three whacks at the puck before getting it by Kuemper. Fiala restored the two-goal lead later in the period, reaching up to bat down a high pass from Alex Laferriere, then deflecting the puck into the net off the Pickard's stick side.
But the Oilers wouldn’t quit, cutting the deficit with 12:09 to play on the first of Bouchard’s two goals. That set the stage for a desperate push from the Oilers, who put 15 shots on net in the final period, the last Bouchard’s tying goal that sent the game to overtime.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Damian Lillard leaves game after non-contact leg injury, he is feared to have a torn Achilles
"It's not very promising…" Bucks coach Doc Rivers said of Damian Lillard's Game 4 leg injury. "I feel bad for him. The guy tried to come back for his team."
Midway through the first quarter Sunday, Damian Lillard went down with a non-contact leg injury. He was helped off the court and did not return to the Bucks' eventual loss to the Pacers.
Damian Lillard goes down with a non-contact injury.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 28, 2025
Prayers.
pic.twitter.com/5tcfsPSOCb
It is feared to be a torn Achilles, reports Chris Haynes (who is tightly connected to Lillard’s camp). Lillard will get an MRI on Monday, Rivers said.
If that is his Achilles, Lillard will miss most, if not all, of next season.
Tyrese Haliburton sends his best wishes to Damian Lillard: pic.twitter.com/Fm1L5YR0gS
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 28, 2025
Lillard was out for six weeks from the end of the regular season through the start of the playoffs after deep vein thrombosis was discovered in his calf. He went on blood thinners and made a speedy recovery, however, during that process his workouts were limited. He's been working to get his game and conditioning back.
Lillard, 34, is a nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA player who was part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. He averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists a game this season.
Damian Lillard leaves game after non-contact leg injury, he is feared to have torn his Achilles
"It's not very promising…" Doc Rivers said of Damian Lillard's Game 4 leg injury. "I feel bad for him. The guy tried to come back for his team."
Midway through the first quarter, Damian Lillard went down with a non-contact leg injury. He was helped off the court and did not return to the Bucks' eventual loss to the Pacers.
Damian Lillard goes down with a non-contact injury.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 28, 2025
Prayers.
pic.twitter.com/5tcfsPSOCb
It is feared to be a torn Achilles, reports Chris Haynes. If that is the case, Lillard will miss most, if not all, of next season.
Tyrese Haliburton sends his best wishes to Damian Lillard: pic.twitter.com/Fm1L5YR0gS
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 28, 2025
Lillard, 34, is a nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA player who was part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. He averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists a game this season.
Celtics close Game 4 on 16-7 run, beat Magic to take commanding 3-1 series lead
Apr 27, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) moves the ball past Orlando Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) in the fourth quarter during game four of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Orlando was always going to be a tough matchup for Boston — they are big, physical, and Boston can’t just force switches and target someone, this is an elite defensive team who can hold their own after switches.
Boston, however, has Jayson Tatum and guys who know how to close out a game.
Orlando tied it up with Boston 91-91 with four minutes remaining, but the Celtics closed the game on a 16-7 run, led by Jayson Tatum, who was a force all night and scored 37 in the win.
JAYSON TATUM LEADS BOSTON TO VICTORY IN GAME 4!
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2025
37 PTS
14 REB
3 STL
A complete performance as the Celtics take a 3-1 series lead pic.twitter.com/d1FnbPNjCO
With the 107-98 victory, the Celtics have a commanding 3-0 series lead heading home for Game 5.
This game summed up a lot of what we have seen in this series: Orlando is an elite defensive squad that does not quit, but it lacks the firepower to hang with the defending champions.
Everything falls on the shoulders of Paolo Banchero, going into the teeth of an outstanding Boston defense. He scored 31 in Game 4, but shot 12-of-32 to get there. The Magic don’t have anyone else to turn to.
Boston is deep with scoring options (and were playing without Jrue Holiday again due to a hamstring strain. Beyond Tatum, this was the best game in the series for Kristaps Porzingis, who was getting position inside and finished with 9 points on 7-for-14 shooting despite playing through foul trouble. Jaylen Brown added 21 points.
The only thing we can say for sure about Game 5 on Tuesday is that Orlando is not going to roll over and let Boston have this one. The Celtics are going to have to earn it.
Lachlan Galvin lifts lid on emotional toll of Tigers saga after ‘tough’ few weeks
- Teenager stars in win over Cronulla on return to first grade
- ‘It’s been pretty difficult,’ says Wests playmaker of contract situation
Lachlan Galvin has described the last fortnight of his life as “difficult” and “tough” after the wantaway five-eighth made a triumphant return to Wests Tigers’ NRL side.
Galvin claimed he was undaunted by making his first grade comeback – after a six-day exile in NSW Cup – at a packed Leichhardt Oval as he starred in the Tigers’ 20-18 golden point win over Cronulla on Sunday.
Continue reading...Tucker Injury Another Tough Blow For Blues
ST. LOUIS -- It was shaping up to be another signature St. Louis Blues win in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets.
Well, as it turns out, the win was significant, and a signature one since the Blues evened the best-of-7 series at 2-2 with a commanding 5-1 win that came on the heels of a dominant 7-2 win in Game 3. But it ended on a bit of a down note.
Defenseman Tyler Tucker went down late in the third period with an apparent right leg injury.
Tucker was injured when he sort of toe-picked his right skate going to check Winnipeg's Brandon Tanev, then he ran into the corner glass and buckled on both of his legs, with the right one taking the brunt of his weight:
Tyler Tucker was in a ton of pain and needed assistance getting off the ice after falling on his knee awkwardly in the corner 🤕 pic.twitter.com/FASnBKM1L8
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 27, 2025
Tucker needed help of the ice and down the tunnel into the Blues' dressing room, and coach Jim Montgomery had no immediate update afterwards but it's believed he will likely miss at least the rest of this series, potentially longer, should the Blues prevail.
The defenseman, playing in his third game of the series, scored his first Stanley Cup playoff goal, which turned out to be the game-winner in the second period:
St. Louis goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 27, 2025
Scored by Tyler Tucker with 09:14 remaining in the 2nd period.
Assisted by Nick Leddy and Alexandre Texier.
St. Louis: 2
Winnipeg: 1#WPGvsSTL#stlblues#GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/YW85khNkaL
"His goal was huge for us getting a lead and being able to play with the lead," Montgomery said.
Tucker finished with 17:05 minutes played and was a plus-1 with two shots on goal (three attempts), two hits, two takeaways, two giveaways and two blocked shots.
"I thought he was really aggressive tonight, I thought that was his best game of the three games and I thought he was physical," Montgomery said of Tucker. "His ability, I’ve said it many times but he’s a really good offensive defenseman and it shows with how he gets shots off. They don’t get blocked because he puts himself in a shot-ready mindset."
Blues defenseman Colton Parayko added, "He’s been a big part of this team for a long time. He’s a great player, a great defender and we’re lucky to have him. Just hope everything is OK."
With Tucker sidelined, look for veteran Ryan Suter, a healthy scratch in Games 3 and 4 after playing in all 82 regular-season games and Games 1 and 2 of this series, to jump back into the lineup alongside Nick Leddy.
The Blues are already without talented young forward Dylan Holloway, who hasn't played since April 3 when he suffered a lower-body injury in a 5-4 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Victorian quick Fergus O’Neill emerges as potential Ashes weapon after impressive County Championship stint
Victorian seamer Fergus O’Neill has finished his County Championship stint as the competition’s leading wicket-taker, further cementing his status as a future Australian Test prospect.
Knicks' Tom Thibodeau pushing all the right buttons, outcoaching his competition
If it wasn’t clear before Game 4, Jalen Brunson’s play on Sunday removed any doubt that he’s the best player in this Knicks-Pistons series.
Brunson had 15 points and two assists in the fourth quarter to lead the Knicks back from a 10-point deficit in the Game 4 win. He finished with 32 points on 50 percent shooting, 11 assists, two turnovers and two free-throw attempts.
This is no slight to Cade Cunningham, who is an incredible young player. If he remains healthy, Cunningham is going to be one of the top guards in the NBA for a long time. But to say Cunningham is the best player in this series is to ignore what’s happening on the court.
Another Knick outplaying his competition? Tom Thibodeau. The oft-criticized head coach pushed the right button often in Detroit this week.
After taking just three shots in the second half of Game 2, Karl-Anthony Towns has gotten the ball – and delivered – over the past two games.
In Game 3, the Knicks got Towns open looks from the perimeter early on.
On Sunday, they got him touches deep in the paint.
The Knicks built double-digit leads early in both games.
If you’re going to criticize Thibodeau for Towns’ play in Game 2, doesn’t he also deserve some credit for what Towns did over four days in Detroit?
“(There’s) a lot of people who don’t give him that credit, but I’m happy to say he puts us in position where we’re prepared, we’re ready, and he lets us play,” Brunson said on Sunday. “… He lets us talk things out. He talks things out, too. But for the most part, he’s gonna let us play, he’s gonna let us figure it out, and we’re gonna have to figure it out together. He puts us in position to be successful, and that’s how he’s been since I’ve known him.”
The Knicks have succeeded often under Thibodeau. They have reached the playoffs in four of his five seasons as head coach. They’ve won 50 games in back-to-back seasons. Still, the stakes were high for Thibodeau coming into this series. If the Knicks failed to get out of the first round, there would have been a lot of tough conversations in the offseason. Those conversations would include an assessment of the head coach.
But Thibodeau’s Knicks took care of business in Detroit this week. They come home with a 3-1 series edge.
The last time the Knicks took two straight road games in a playoff series, Thibodeau was a 41-year-old assistant coach.
Rick Brunson was a 26-year-old guard. It’s been a while.
That Knicks team reached the NBA Finals. This Knicks team has the same championship aspirations.
First, they have to finish off Detroit on Tuesday. No matter how it plays out that night at the Garden, you can be sure Thibodeau will have the Knicks well prepared.
“We’re always, I feel like, one of the best prepared teams in the league,” Josh Hart said Sunday. “That’s a credit to him and his philosophy. Now we’ve gotta roll that into Game 5.”
Nailers' Quest For Kelly Cup Ends Following Game 5 Loss
The Wheeling Nailers fought off getting swept in their North Division Semifinals matchup with the Norfolk Admirals with a thrilling win on Friday night.
However, a sloppy third period in Saturday's Game 5 resulted in three goals against, and the Admirals went on to win 5-2, ending the Nailers' 2024-25 campaign.
It was a difficult start for Wheeling, which fell behind 2-0 before the game was four minutes old. Norfolk opened the scoring at 3:07 with a Denis Smirov goal, followed by a Brandon Osmundson tally at 4:00.
Your Guide To Ex-Penguins In The 2025 NHL PlayoffsThe Pittsburgh Penguins may not be participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.
The hometown team finally got on the board at 9:03 when David Jankowski lit the lamp thanks to assists from Chase Pietila and Kyle Jackson.
Neither team found the back of the net in the second period, while Norfolk's Colton Young tallied the game winner just 2:41 into the third.
Yet, the Nailers, down 3-1 at the midway point of their final period, kept pushing back, cutting the deficit back to one with a Jack Beck goal at 10:42. Gabe Klassen and Kyle Jackson set up the final goal of Wheeling's season.
Despite the pressure, Young scored his second of the period at 12:43, all but sealing the win with a little over seven minutes to go. The Admirals then put the game out of reach at 17:20 with a Darick Louis-Jean goal.
In his return to the Nailers crease, Taylor Gauthier made 21 saves on 26 shots (.807 SV%), suffering his first loss of the playoffs.
Penguins' Crosby Continues To Pace NHL In Top 10 Scoring Finishes During Salary Cap EraPittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby just finished his ninth 90-point campaign in the NHL, finishing as the league's 10th highest scorer, the 13th time he's accomplished that feat in 20 seasons.
Meanwhile, Norfolk switched things up, sitting Thomas Milic for the first time in the series, giving the start to Domenic DiVincentiis, who made 29 stops on 31 shots (.935 SV%).
Despite outshooting the Admirals 31-29, Wheeling gave up two power-play goals on four chances, while going 0-for-2 on the man advantage.
After compiling the first 40-win season since 2005-06, the Nailers' quest for their first Kelly Cup will need to wait for another season.
Cleveland fan ejected for heckling Red Sox star Jarren Duran, who revealed suicide attempt
CLEVELAND — Jarren Duran has found plenty of support from his Boston Red Sox teammates and others outside baseball since he revealed in a Netflix documentary that he attempted suicide three years ago.
His openness has also exposed him to hecklers, though.
Duran said a fan in the front row Sunday near the Red Sox dugout in Cleveland said “something inappropriate” to him after the All-Star left fielder flied out in the seventh inning of a 13-3 victory over the Guardians.
Duran stayed on the top step of the dugout and glared at the fan as the inning played out. During the seventh-inning stretch, before the singing of “God Bless America,” Red Sox teammates and coaches kept Duran away from the area as umpires and Progressive Field security personnel gathered to handle the situation.
The fan tried to run up the aisle, but was caught by security and taken out of the stadium.
“The fans just said something inappropriate. I’m just happy that the security handled it and the umpires were aware of it and they took care of it for me,” Duran said.
After the game, the Guardians released a statement apologizing to the Red Sox and Duran. The team said it has identified the fan and is working with Major League Baseball on next steps.
Duran said it was the first time he was heckled by a fan about his suicide attempt and mental health struggles since the Netflix series “The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox” was released on April 8.
“When you open yourself up like that, you also open yourself up to the enemies. But I have a good support staff around me, teammates, coaches. There were fans that were supporting me, so that was awesome,” he said.
Boston manager Alex Cora was in the opposite corner of the Red Sox dugout but lauded security for how the incident was handled.
Cora was even prouder of Duran's restraint. Duran was suspended for two games last season when he directed a homophobic slur at a heckling fan at Fenway Park when the fan shouted that Duran needed a tennis racket to hit.
“There’s a two-way street. That’s something I said last year. We made a mistake last year and we learned from it. We grew up, you know, as an individual and as a group,” Cora said.
The incident dampened what had been a solid game and series for Duran. He went 4 for 6 with an RBI and had at least three hits in consecutive games for the second time in his career.
In Saturday's doubleheader nightcap, Duran had Boston’s first straight steal of home plate in 16 years.
Duran went 7 for 15 with three RBIs as Boston took two of three games in the weekend series. Six of his hits in the series came against lefties after Duran was just 3 for 31 against southpaws coming into the weekend.
“I’ve been getting some good swings on lefties lately, just hitting it right at guys. I'm trying to stay with my process and it just happened to work good for me this series. So I’m just going to keep at it,” said Duran, who has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games and is batting .323 (20 for 62) with eight extra-base hits, including a home run, and six RBIs during that span.
The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Capitals Take 3-1 Stranglehold Over Montreal With Game 4 Victory
Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.
After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines, provide updates on the rest of the night's NHL slate and read your opinions.
On tonight's show, Michael Augello and Andrew McInnis react to the Washington Capitals defeating the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.
They also look around the NHL as the first round continues.
Check out the show right now and share your opinions in the live chat and in our comment section.
Hall of Famer Dick Barnett, champion with Knicks and NCAA legend, dies at 88
NEW YORK (AP) — Dick Barnett, a basketball Hall of Famer who played on both New York Knicks NBA championship teams after being part of a historic college powerhouse at Tennessee A&I, has died. He was 88.
The Knicks announced the death of the former guard Sunday. There were no details provided about his death.
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 27, 2025
“Throughout his illustrious career, Dick Barnett embodied everything it meant to be a New York Knick, both on and off the court," the Knicks said in a statement. "He left a positive impact on everyone he encountered and this organization is incredibly fortunate to have him be such an integral part of its history. His jersey will forever hang in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, and his play throughout his career will forever be a part of Knicks fans memories.”
Barnett played on the Knicks' title teams in 1970 and 1973 and reached the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and as a member of his college teams at Tennessee A&I (later Tennessee State), the first HBCU to win a national championship in basketball.
A native of Gary, Indiana, Barnett went on to star for the Tennessee A&I teams that made up one of college basketball's first dynasties. The Tigers won three straight NAIA championships starting in 1957, with Barnett being chosen an All-American each season and twice being selected the MVP of the NAIA Tournament.
He was taken by the Syracuse Nationals with the No. 5 pick in the 1959 draft and also played for the Los Angeles Lakers before coming to the Knicks in 1965. He spent nine years with the Knicks, averaging 15.6 points and playing on their championship teams in 1970 and 1973.
Barnett is ninth on the Knicks' career scoring list and his No. 12 jersey was retired in 1990.
Barnett led a long quest for recognition for his college team. The Tigers were eventually enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2019, represented on stage by Barnett, and in 2024 visited the White House to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barnett, who was selected for one NBA All-Star Game, was inducted in the Hall of Fame as a player in 2024.
2025 NFL Draft: 4 of the best player-team fits
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
Here are the best player-team fits from this draft class, as discussed by the "Football 301" crew — Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice, Matt Harmon and Charles McDonald — in the latest podcast episode.
RB Kaleb Johnson (Iowa), Pittsburgh Steelers
This was Harmon’s top “player-team fit” pick of the weekend. Johnson lands in an offense tailor-made for his running style. He’s a natural zone runner and the Steelers ran zone concepts at the second highest rate in the league. Harmon sees Johnson as a perfect fit for the Steelers' offensive philosophy and said he “could be the second-most productive rookie this year, behind Ashton Jeanty.”
McDonald compared Johnson’s running style to Arian Foster, citing his glide and vision.
Diamond Images via Getty Images
CB Darien Porter (Iowa State), Las Vegas Raiders
McDonald highlighted this as his favorite “process pick,” lauding the fact that Porter — an extremely athletic, big, long corner — lands with Pete Carroll, one of football’s best cornerback teachers. It’s a fit made for developing Porter’s raw traits, especially in a defensive scheme that has a strong track record with this cornerback archetype.
Edge Mykel Williams (Georgia), San Francisco 49ers
Tice loved this pairing, calling it “exactly where he should go” and “what they needed.”
The 49ers needed more punch up front, and Williams’ combination of upside and NFL-ready skills make him a plug-and-play fit alongside Nick Bosa and a defensive line that needs an injection of youth and athleticism.
OT Armand Membou (Missouri), New York Jets
Tice singled out this selection for the Jets, noting the great pairing of Membou at right tackle with Olu Fashanu at left tackle. The Jets wanted a true right tackle, and Membou is exactly that. Tice said the fit is “a lot of fun,” especially given how the Jets’ offensive line is shaping up for the run game and with Justin Fields at QB.
There were other fits discussed (like Ashton Jeanty with the Raiders and others), but these four got special recognition as “ideal matches”— the kind of selections where the player's skills and the team’s needs/philosophy lined up perfectly.
To hear more NFL discussions, tune into "Football 301" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
Hernández: With their season in danger of ending, Lakers are running out of answers
As the Lakers departed from the court at Target Center with their heads down, white towels were being whirled everywhere around them.
The crowd was doing more than celebrating the home team’s 116-113 victory on Sunday afternoon. The 19,289 fans here could see what was happening. They could feel what was happening.
Four games into this first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers haven’t figured out what to do.
Read more:LeBron and Lakers falter late in loss to Minnesota, moving to brink of elimination
They haven’t figured out how to stop Anthony Edwards. They haven’t figured out how to stop the Timberwolves from overwhelming them in the paint. They haven’t figured out how to stop their opponents from grabbing offensive rebound after offensive rebound.
Now, they’re down three games to one, and another defeat will finish their season.
Two days after stomach problems reduced him to practically being an on-court spectator, Luka Doncic returned to score 38 points.
That didn’t matter.
LeBron James contributed in every dimension of the game, finishing with 27 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and three blocks.
That didn’t matter either.
At this stage of the season, against this particular opponent, their shortcomings are outweighing the strengths, and coach JJ Redick doesn’t sound as if he has any answers.
“Certainly played well enough to win,” Redick said. “Gave the effort to win.”
Redick complained about a couple of late-game calls,and he was justified in doing so, but a referee’s whistle won’t be what saves the season.
The Timberwolves present matchup problems for the Lakers, and the Lakers might not have the necessary personnel to reverse their deficit.
As well as Doncic and James played, Edwards outshined them both, scoring a game-high 43 points while also contributing nine rebounds and six assists.
The Lakers’ desperation was perhaps best represented by Redick’s second-half substitutions: There weren’t any.
“We just made a decision at halftime,” Redick said.
The team’s third-quarter starters — Doncic, James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith — played the entire second half.
“Those guys,” Redick said, “gave a lot.”
The Lakers scored a series-high 36 points in the third quarter to take a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter but predictably ran out of gas against a Timberwolves team with a deeper roster.
“This is the playoffs,” Doncic said. “Fatigue shouldn’t play a role.”
That doesn’t mean it won’t.
“It was tough,” Finney-Smith acknowledged.
The team’s lack of a center came into even sharper focus, as Jaxson Hayes never reentered the game after picking up his second foul just four minutes into the game.
If the Lakers are to come back from this three-games-to-one deficit, it will start with Doncic, who was said by Redick to be throwing up “all afternoon” leading up to their Game 3 defeat.
Doncic said he spent the day between Games 3 and 4, “mostly laying down.”
“Today,” Doncic said, “I felt better.”
And the Lakers started better.
They did in the opening quarter what Redick implored them to do, which was to take better care of the basketball.
They committed only one turnover in the first 12 minutes of the game, after which they were ahead, 32-28.
They weren’t as careful in the second quarter, however.
The Lakers turned over the ball four times in the opening five minutes of the quarter. Their lead quickly vanished, and they went into halftime with a 61-58 deficit.
The Lakers deserved to be down by more, but James and Doncic kept them in the game by themselves, the two stars carrying nearly the entire offensive load as Reaves’ minutes were limited by early foul trouble.
James and Doncic scored 22 and 21 points in the first half, respectively. The last time the Lakers had multiple players score 20 or more points in a single half of a postseason game was on May 31, 2002 against the Sacramento Kings.
The two players who did it then: Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
Only three Lakers other than James and Doncic scored in the first half: Hachimura, Finney-Smith and Hayes.
The Lakers opened the second half with a 14-0 run, with a three-pointer by Reaves extending their lead to 72-61. They were ahead by as many as 12 points, only for the Timberwolves to do against them what they have done the entire series.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.