Lebron James Is Ready For His Closeup

LeBron James is playoff ready

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: Bright lights, large stage, aforesaid LeBron.

Unmoved by postseason pressure, superstar LeBron James said he doesn’t scheme to alteration his mentation up of the Lakers’ playoff opener against nan Houston Rockets connected Saturday. Approaching his record-tying 19th postseason appearance, James has logic to judge successful his well-established routine.

“Nothing changes for maine from nan regular play to nan postseason,” James said, “besides conscionable making moreover much heightened focus.”

The accordant attack that guided him done 23 regular seasons puts James successful position to prima successful different high-stakes crippled arsenic nan Lakers (53-29) pursuit nan franchise’s 18th NBA championship. James will bid almost nan full spotlight pinch guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves still sidelined.

The 41-year-old, 22-time All-Star has ne'er had a problem pinch being a starring man.

“I deliberation a batch of nan awesome players, nan champion players, what they’re addicted to is being nan showman,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, referencing Stephen Curry’s fourth-quarter heroics that pushed nan Golden State Warriors complete nan Clippers successful a thrilling play-in crippled Wednesday night. “And being connected nan shape and giving a performance. …

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Luka Doncic eligible for NBA’s postseason awards aft league, NBPA norm successful his favor

Lakers playoff schedule

First round
All times Pacific

Saturday: Houston astatine Lakers, 5:30 p.m, ABC
Tuesday: Houston astatine Lakers, 7:30 p.m., NBC
Friday, April 24: Lakers astatine Houston, 5:30 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
Sunday, April 26: Lakers astatine Houston, 6:30 p.m., NBC
*Wed., April 29: Houston astatine Lakers, TBD
*Friday, May 1: Lakers astatine Houston, TBD
*Sunday, May 3: Houston astatine Lakers, TBD

*-if necessary

Mike Trout homers again

Mike Trout deed his 5th homer of nan bid and the Angels overcame a homer by Aaron Judge successful their 11-4 victory complete nan New York Yankees connected Thursday day for a four-game split.

Trout, who precocious made a mechanical adjustment, went six for 16 pinch 5 homers and 9 RBIs successful nan series. Trout deed his latest homer pinch 1 retired successful nan seventh inning erstwhile he sent a 2-2 slider from reliever Angel Chivilli astir halfway up nan near section bleachers for a 7-4 lead.

Trout homered successful his 5th consecutive crippled astatine Yankee Stadium and became nan 4th to deed 5 homers successful a bid against nan Yankees. The others were Jimmie Foxx (1933), Darrell Evans (1985) and George Bell (1990), according to MLB interrogator Sarah Langs.

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Angels container score

MLB standings

Shocking upset for UCLA women’s gymnastics

From Marisa Ingemi: A amazingly shaky semifinal evening for UCLA gymnastics has nan Bruins leaving Fort Worth early aft finishing successful 3rd spot successful nan NCAA nationalist semifinals.

An early autumn from Jordan Chiles followed by immoderate wobbly vaults successful nan last rotations were excessively overmuch to flooded arsenic No. 13 seed Minnesota stunned successful their last rotation connected bars and nationalist favourite Oklahoma was dependable throughout. The apical 2 teams precocious to nan title connected Saturday.

The No. 4 seed Bruins scored a 197.2750, 0.1875 down Oklahoma and Minnesota and conscionable up of No. 9 seed Arkansas, which was besides eliminated. UCLA was nan only top-four seed that didn’t advance.

Chiles took nan individual level title pinch a 9.9750 score, her 2nd NCAA level championship.

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Rams unveil caller uniforms

Matthew Stafford shows disconnected nan Rams’ caller achromatic uniforms.

(Brevin Townsell / Rams)

From Gary Klein: The Rams’ bone-colored uniforms person been sent to nan graveyard.

In a merchandise connected Thursday, nan squad unveiled updated Royal Blue and achromatic uniforms and announced subtle changes to logos arsenic portion of what nan Rams described arsenic “a refined marque and azygous refresh.”

Later this year, according to nan release, nan Rams will denote 2 alternate uniforms to spell on pinch nan revamped Royal Blue and achromatic ensembles and nan achromatic “Midnite Mode” rivalry azygous they debuted past play successful a crippled against nan Seattle Seahawks astatine SoFi Stadium.

But nan squad “removed nan ‘Bone’ azygous from nan rotation,” nan merchandise said.

The Rams besides made different subtle changes. The “LA” monogram nary longer includes gradient coloring. The Rams caput logo has been “enhanced to look bolder and tougher for a fiercer expression, and nan horn features a sharper, much defined point,” nan merchandise said.

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UCLA gymnastics could triumph title

From Marisa Ingemi: UCLA could gain another nationalist title this weekend.

Led by Olympic golden medalist Jordan Chiles, nan Bruins’ gymnastics squad is having its champion play since 2018 and will compete successful Fort Worth successful an NCAA nationalist semifinal connected Thursday for a spot successful Saturday’s title meet.

The Bruins haven’t won an NCAA gymnastics title successful 8 years, a agelong spread for nan seven-time champions known for processing Olympic talent.

UCLA will compete successful a semifinal against Oklahoma, Arkansas and Minnesota. The Bruins will commencement connected nan bars, past spell to nan beam, level and vault.

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Kings suffer to Flames

Arsenii Sergeev made 27 saves successful his first NHL start, Zayne Parekh collapsed a third-period necktie and nan Calgary Flames hit nan playoff-bound Kings 3-1 connected Thursday nighttime to extremity nan season.

The Kings learned during nan crippled that they’d beryllium nan 2nd wild-card successful nan Western Conference and look NHL regular-season champion Colorado successful nan first information — pinch Game 1 connected Sunday successful Denver.

The Kings vanished 35-27-20. Earlier Thursday, Edmonton took 2nd spot successful nan Pacific Division pinch a 6-1 location triumph complete Vancouver, and nan Ducks won 5-4 astatine Nashville to decorativeness third.

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Kings summary

NHL standings

Kings (vs. Avalanche) and Ducks (vs. Oilers) look reliable first-round task successful NHL playoffs

Kings playoffs schedule

All times Pacific

Sunday: Kings astatine Colorado, noon, TNT, truTV, HBO Max
Tuesday: Kings astatine Colorado, 7 p.m., ESPN
Thursday: Colorado astatine Kings, 7 p.m., TNT, truTV, HBO Max
Sunday, April 26: Colorado astatine Kings, 1:30 p.m., TNT, truTV, HBO Max
*Wed., April 29: Kings astatine Colorado, TBD
*Friday, May 1: Colorado astatine Kings, TBD
*Sunday, May 3: Kings astatine Colorado, TBD

*- If necessary

Ducks conclusion nan Predators

Troy Terry scored connected a powerfulness play pinch 2:54 left, and nan Ducks hit nan Nashville Predators 5-4 Thursday night putting them adjacent to clinching nan 3rd seed successful nan Pacific Division for nan postseason.

The Ducks came into nan regular-season finale 3rd successful nan Pacific pinch 5 different scenarios still imaginable to fastener down nan last playoff slots. This win, mixed pinch Edmonton needing only a constituent against visiting Vancouver, intends the Ducks apt commencement nan first information Monday astatine Edmonton.

The Ducks besides took nan play bid against Nashville 2-1, though nan Ducks spell into nan postseason 2-6-2 complete their last 10.

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Ducks summary

NHL standings

Ducks playoffs schedule

All times Pacific

Monday: Ducks astatine Edmonton, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Wednesday: Ducks astatine Edmonton, 7 p.m., TBS, HBO Max
Friday: Edmonton astatine Ducks, 7 p.m., TNT, truTV, HBO Max)
Sunday: Edmonton astatine Ducks, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
*Tuesday, April 28: Ducks astatine Edmonton, TBD
*Thursday, April 30: Edmonton astatine Ducks, TBD
*Saturday, May 2: Ducks astatine Edmonton, TBD

*-if necessary

This time successful sports history

1939 — Joe Louis knocks retired Jack Roper astatine 2:20 of nan first information successful Los Angeles to clasp nan world heavyweight title.

1967 — Italian boxer Nino Benvenuti thumps American Emile Griffith successful a 15-round points determination to triumph world middleweight crown.

1976 — Australian tennis prima Evonne Goolagong Cawley wins her 2nd WTA Tour Championship astatine nan Los Angeles Sports Arena; thumps Chris Evert.

1982 — The Denver Nuggets’ Alex English, Dan Issel and Kiki Vandeweghe each mean 20 points a game, nan first beforehand tribunal to do truthful since Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan and Clyde Lovellette of St. Louis successful 1961.

1987 — Julius Erving of nan Philadelphia 76ers becomes nan 3rd subordinate to people 30,000 points successful his pro career. Erving scores 38 points to subordinate Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

1994 — Carl Lewis and his Santa Monica Track Club teammates rewrite their world grounds successful nan 800-meter relay astatine nan Mt. San Antonio College Relays. Lewis, Mike Marsh, Leroy Burrell and Floyd Heard are timed astatine 1:18.68, breaking nan grounds of 1:19.11 they had group connected April 25, 1992.

1995 — Wayne Gretzky reaches 2,500 profession points erstwhile he sets up a power-play extremity by Rob Blake successful nan Kings’ 5-2 nonaccomplishment to Calgary.

1997 — The New Jersey Devils’ Martin Brodeur becomes nan 2nd NHL goalie to people successful nan playoffs. Brodeur’s quiet nett extremity caps a three-goal 3rd play that gives nan Devils a 5-2 triumph and a 1-0 lead successful a first-round bid against Montreal.

1999 — Quarterbacks spell 1-2-3 successful nan NFL Draft arsenic Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith spell to Cleveland, Philadelphia and Cincinnati — nan first backmost trifecta since 1971.

2006 — Sidney Crosby, scores 3 assists successful Pittsburgh’s 6-1 triumph complete nan New York Islanders to go nan youngest subordinate successful NHL history to people 100 points successful a season. The 18-year-old becomes nan seventh NHL rookie to scope nan 100-point mark.

2011 — Jimmie Johnson wins nan Aaron’s 499, edging Clint Bowyer by astir a foot. The charismatic separator of 0.002 seconds, ties for nan closest decorativeness successful NASCAR Sprint Cup history.

2018 — Brayden McNabb scores against his erstwhile squad successful nan 2nd period, lifting Vegas to a 1-0 triumph complete nan Kings that makes nan Golden Knights nan first description squad successful NHL history to expanse its first playoff series. Marc-Andre Fleury turns successful different stellar performance, stopping 31 shots arsenic nan Knights decorativeness disconnected their 4th one-goal triumph of nan series.

Compiled by nan Associated Press

This time successful shot history

1932 — New York first baseman Bill Terry tied an NL grounds pinch 21 putouts arsenic nan Giants hit Boston 5-0 down Hal Schumacher’s two-hitter.

1951 — In his first awesome convention game, Mickey Mantle went 1-for-4 successful nan New York Yankees’ 5-0 triumph complete nan Boston Red Sox.

1953 — Mickey Mantle cleared nan bleachers astatine Griffith Stadium pinch a 565-foot location tally disconnected Chuck Stobbs. The changeable came successful nan 5th inning of a 7-3 triumph complete nan Senators.

1964 — The New York Mets mislaid their first crippled astatine Shea Stadium, falling 4-3 to nan Pirates. Pittsburgh’s Willie Stargell deed nan first homer astatine Shea.

1969 — Bill Stoneman of Montreal sounded a 7-0 no-hitter against nan Philadelphia Phillies successful nan 10th crippled of nan Expos’ existence.

1976 — Mike Schmidt of nan Philadelphia Phillies deed 4 consecutive location runs and a azygous successful an 18-16, 10-inning triumph complete nan Cubs successful Wrigley Field. Hitting .167 going into nan game, he connected doubly disconnected Rick Reuschel, erstwhile disconnected Rick’s brother, Paul, and erstwhile disconnected Darold Knowles. He drove successful 8 runs.

1983 — Nolan Ryan strikes retired 7 Expos successful a 6-3 Houston triumph to go only nan 2nd pitcher successful awesome convention history to grounds 3,500 profession strikeouts.

2000 — Major League Baseball owners ballot to o.k. nan $96 cardinal waste of nan Kansas City Royals to squad president David Glass.

2001 — Barry Bonds became nan 17th awesome leaguer to deed 500 location runs. Bonds’ two-run, eighth-inning thrust disconnected Terry Adams went into San Francisco Bay to lead nan Giants complete nan Dodgers 3-2.

2008 — Troy Tulowitzki’s RBI double pinch 2 outs successful nan 22nd inning scored Willy Taveras and nan Colorado Rockies hit nan San Diego Padres 2-1 successful nan longest crippled successful nan fields successful astir 15 years, a 6-hour, 16-minute marathon.

2008 — Chipper Jones, Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann deed consecutive location runs successful a span of 12 pitches successful nan 5th inning disconnected Florida’s Ricky Nolasco successful Atlanta’s 8-0 win.

2009 — Jason Kubel completed nan ninth rhythm successful Twins history pinch a go-ahead expansive slam successful nan eighth inning that helped Minnesota to an 11-9 triumph complete nan Angels.

2010 — Ubaldo Jimenez sounded nan first no-hitter successful nan Colorado Rockies’ 18-year history, dominating nan Atlanta Braves successful a 4-0 victory. Jimenez (3-0) walked six — each successful nan first 5 innings. He was helped by Dexter Fowler’s diving backhanded drawback successful left-center section successful nan seventh inning.

2010 — Jose Reyes deed a sacrifice alert successful nan 20th inning and nan New York Mets hit nan St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 successful nan longest crippled successful nan fields successful 2 years. Jeff Francoeur besides had a sacrifice alert for New York successful nan 19th inning, snapping a scoreless tie, but Yadier Molina singled successful Albert Pujols pinch 2 retired successful nan bottommost half. St. Louis near nan bases loaded successful nan 10th, 12th and 14th and stranded 22 runners, including 14 successful other innings.

2012 — Jamie Moyer, 49, became nan oldest pitcher to triumph a awesome convention game. He threw 7 masterful innings and Dexter Fowler deed a two-run homer, helping nan Colorado Rockies clasp connected for a 5-3 triumph complete nan San Diego Padres. Moyer’s 268th triumph tied him pinch Hall of Famer Jim Palmer for 34th connected nan profession list.

2014 — Major League Baseball suspended Seattle Mariners first baseman Ji-Man Choi 50 games pursuing a affirmative trial for a performance-enhancing substance.

Compiled by nan Associated Press

Until adjacent time...

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