Sports
LeBron Scores 30, And The Lakers Avoid 1st-Round Elimination With A 119-108 Win Over Champion Denver
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers managed to overcome the Denver Nuggets’ dominance in this rivalry and prolonged their presence in the playoffs for at least one more game.
Unsurprisingly, LeBron James took the lead.
James scored 30 points, while Anthony Davis contributed 25 points and 23 rebounds. On Saturday night, the Lakers secured a 119-108 victory over Denver in Game 4 of their first-round series, preventing their elimination from the postseason.
D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves scored 21 points for the Lakers, the seventh-seeded team that ended its 11-game losing run against the reigning NBA champions by securing its first victory against the Nuggets since December 2022.
The Lakers ultimately emerged victorious as the series, characterized by distinct patterns and rhythms, underwent a significant shift. For the fourth game in a row, Los Angeles established a double-digit advantage, but Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets led a second-half comeback.
AP – VOR News Image
LeBron Scores 30, And The Lakers Avoid 1st-Round Elimination With A 119-108 Win Over Champion Denver
However, in this series, the Lakers showed tenacity and refused to buckle under the pressure from the defending champions. James, who is 39 years old, scored 14 points in the fourth quarter by making 6 out of 8 shots. Once again, he single-handedly led the Lakers to victory in the late stages of his 21st NBA season.
The series’ fifth game will take place on Monday evening in Denver.
“We have granted ourselves an additional opportunity to succeed, and now we are facing a decisive game,” James stated. “The game on Monday holds utmost significance for us this season, and we fully comprehend that.”
Last season, Denver completely defeated Los Angeles in the Western Conference finals. However, despite being down 0-3, the current Lakers showed a remarkable performance that was more fitting for a club with a strong record of 12 victories in 15 games leading up to the tournament.
“We have the chance to play an additional game, and if we are victorious, we will have the opportunity to play another one and continue progressing,” Reaves stated. “Although the odds are not in our favor, we are always willing to face challenges and seize any opportunity to achieve something remarkable while maintaining our stability.”
Jokic achieved a remarkable performance with 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists, marking his 18th career triple-double and second in this series. However, despite his efforts, the two-time MVP and his teammates could not regain their typical late-game superiority against the Lakers.
AP – VOR News Image
LeBron Scores 30, And The Lakers Avoid 1st-Round Elimination With A 119-108 Win Over Champion Denver
The Lakers’ commanding 19-point advantage, which they held for over six minutes, gradually decreased to 113-106 after Jokic’s successful three-point play with 1:25 left on the clock. However, Reaves responded by making a quick jump shot and securing four free throws in the last minute.
Denver finally failed to overcome another sluggish offensive beginning in a series replete with such starts.
“Naturally, we desire to commence with greater speed. However, I have acquired knowledge from horse racing that emphasizes the significance of one’s conclusion rather than one’s initial performance,” Jokic remarked. “Our performance today was not satisfactory, so we aim to improve in the future.” Our intention was to take the lead and dominate the game, but it appears that we were unable to achieve that.
Michael Porter Jr. contributed 27 points and 11 rebounds to Denver’s performance, while Jamal Murray scored 22 points despite missing all four 3-point attempts. Aaron Gordon’s scoring output for the Nuggets was limited to just seven points, a significant drop from his 29-point performance in Game 3, his highest-scoring playoff game. However, Coach Michael Malone attributed the Nuggets’ struggles to factors other than offense.
“The defense in the paint was laughable,” Malone commented, expressing his dissatisfaction with his team’s performance as they conceded an astonishing 72 points.
“During every huddle, I repeatedly made the same point tonight,” Malone added. “Each huddle was focused on the task of painting.” Our opponents scored 70 points in the third game, but we won. They scored a total of 72 points tonight. That is an astounding figure. We lacked the necessary physical strength and sense of urgency. This game was not the final game in the series.
Last season, the Nuggets, ranked second, also lost a game that might have closed out the series against Minnesota in the first round. However, Denver managed to win the series in five games and only suffered three more losses on their path to winning their first championship.
Although Jokic had great skill and James attracted attention towards the end, Davis consistently performed exceptionally well for the fourth consecutive game. He achieved a career playoff high of 23 rebounds and led the Lakers’ team with six assists.
“Being swept is a challenging experience,” Davis remarked. “No one desires that sensation, particularly when heading into the summer season.” It would help if you endured that sensation throughout the entire summer. We did not engage in a discussion over the matter. We are aware of the potential consequences or risks involved. No one wants to experience that sensation in their oral cavity during summer. How we performed tonight is how we must perform throughout the remainder of the series.
AP – VOR News Image
LeBron Scores 30, And The Lakers Avoid 1st-Round Elimination With A 119-108 Win Over Champion Denver
In Game 4, despite their difficult situation, the Lakers demonstrated great determination by consistently attacking the basket and scoring 44 points in the paint throughout the first half. As a result, they managed to take the lead at halftime for the fourth time in the series.
The Lakers increased their lead to 15 points in the third quarter until the closing minutes. At that moment, Jokic and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ignited a rally for the Nuggets.
“They were exerting a significant amount of effort to maintain a fast tempo,” Jokic stated. “They had uncontested shots near the basket.” They were dominating us in the interior. We were unable to successfully take a shot. At times, they were also unable to make a shot, but it seemed that this greatly impacted our defense. “That team is excellent.”
Reggie Jackson, who sprained his ankle in the second half of Game 3, played for nine minutes for Denver.
Caleb Williams, a former USC quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy and was selected as the Chicago Bears’ first overall pick in the recent NFL draft, observed the game from a seat near the basketball court.
SOURCE – (AP)
The organization announced on Sunday night the passing of Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center dubbed “Mr. Raider” for his resilience in the face of several injuries. It was his 86th birthday.
It took some time to determine the cause of death.
“The Original Raider,” the team declared in a statement shared on the social media site X. Jim’s impact on the American Football League and professional football in general is impossible to overestimate, as he personifies consistency. His leadership and perseverance distinguished the successful Raider teams of the 1960s and 1970s.
Otto continued to be associated with the Raiders following their 2020 relocation to Las Vegas. After the Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos 27-14 in January to close the season, he was one of numerous former players in the locker room.
Jim Otto | AP News Image
Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86
The defense ended with the Las Vegas Raiders. Otto was a “complete legend & incredible person,” according to a post made by Maxx Crosby on X.
In 1960, Jim joined the Raiders during their initial season in the American Football League and remained a regular for the following fifteen years.
He had nine knee surgeries during his playing career, although he never missed a game due to an injury. He participated in 210 straight regular-season games and 308 straight overall. 2007 saw the amputation of his right leg.
Former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon famously remarked, “He’s a warrior.” “Jim comes to mind when you think of the rugged, vintage Raider.”
Considered one of the AFL’s all-time greats, Jim was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said, “Jim personified the aura and mystique of the Raiders.” He was known as “The Original Raider,” guiding a brand-new franchise from its birth through its initial golden age in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His renowned dependability—210 straight starts in the AFL and NFL—and the honors he has received bear witness to his commitment to the team and the sport.
Otto had reportedly undergone more than fifty surgeries, most of them for wounds sustained playing football. Those suffered from crippling neck and back issues, arthritis, and repeated joint replacements. 2007 saw the amputation of his right leg.
After his career, Jim also experienced two significant infections and prostate cancer.
He declared, “I can tolerate any kind of surgery in the world, with the exception of internal procedures.” Correcting your nose, knee, elbows, or anything else is insignificant if it is purely cosmetic.
Otto participated in nine AFL All-Star games and the first three AFC-NFC Pro Bowls while donning his renowned No. 00 jersey, a play on his name, “Aught-oh.” Jim was elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
“I always tried to stay one step ahead of everyone else in my career,” Otto once remarked. “I was the best center every day that I trotted onto the field. I desired to be that way. I kept playing at that caliber and according to those standards.
Otto played a crucial role as the Raiders rose to prominence as one of the top teams in the NFL. After losing to Green Bay in the 1967 Super Bowl, the squad finished with seven division victories in his remaining eight seasons.
Jim Otto | AP News Image
Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86
He played offensive line alongside fellow Hall of Famers Gene Upshaw and Art Shell during his last seasons. Those Raiders dominated their opponents on the physical level.
“Some intimidation was present,” he claimed. “The football team and Oakland’s fan base made it difficult for teams to visit.
The Raiders were known for their intense partying and impressive play. Players would reportedly arrive before bed check at 11 p.m. and then leave again.
Otto was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, on January 5, 1938. He was raised in extreme poverty and briefly lived with his family in a chicken coop. He departed to play football at the University of Miami, where he excelled as a linebacker and center.
In 1959, he was not selected by the NFL, but instead, he signed with the Raiders of the newly formed AFL the following year. Of the players who participated in the AFL for all ten years, he was one of only twenty.
Otto most recently served as the group’s director of special projects. In addition to making public appearances for the team, he arranged get-togethers for past players and fan gatherings in the luxury boxes.
Jim Otto | AP News Image
Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86
He also significantly impacted the negotiations to return the franchise to Oakland from Los Angeles prior to the 1995 campaign. In 2020, the Raiders moved from the Bay Area to Las Vegas.
My wife Sally, son Jim Jr., daughter-in-law Leah, and fourteen grandchildren (Alice, Sarah, Amy, Amanda, Josiah, Hannah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Jennifer, Avery, Noah, Aiden, Roman, and Ellie) survive Otto.
SOURCE – (AP)
Election News
Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead
IMOLA, ITALY Max – Verstappen defeated McLaren’s Lando Norris to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, extending his Formula One championship lead.
Verstappen began on pole and led Norris from the start but was pushed by the McLaren driver near the end, winning by less than a second.
“I lost grip, especially in the closing 10 to 15 laps. I slid a lot. “I saw Lando closing in,” Verstappen explained. “It’s quite difficult when the tires are no longer working, and you have to run flat out, so I couldn’t afford to make too many mistakes. Thankfully, we didn’t, and we’re overjoyed to have won here today.”
AP – VOR News Image
Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead
It was the defending champion’s fifth victory in seven Grand Prix races this year, following Verstappen’s defeat by Norris in Miami two weeks ago.
Norris’ Second Place Sunday demonstrated the McLaren team’s credentials as the closest contender to Verstappen and Red Bull this season. “It hurts me to say it, but one or two more laps, I think I would have had him,” stated Norris. “It would have been beautiful, but just not today.”
Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, the Italian team’s first podium finish in Imola since 2006.
Overtaking is always challenging on the narrow Imola track, and this year, asphalt run-off zones on key corners were replaced with gravel traps, discouraging risk-taking even more.
AP – VOR News Image
Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead
Leclerc got in on Norris midway through the race but made a mistake and ran across the grass, costing him time.
Oscar Piastri qualified second for McLaren but was relegated to fifth after a penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in a Haas. He got ahead of Sainz during the pit stops and finished fourth, ahead of the Spanish driver.
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time champion, and his teammate George Russell finished sixth and seventh following a challenging weekend for Mercedes.
Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, began 11th following a mistake in qualifying and finished ninth. His major impact on the race came when he briefly held up Norris and Leclerc following their pit stops, thereby assisting Verstappen.
AP – VOR News Image
Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead
Yuki Tsunoda took ninth place for RB, while Lance Stroll finished tenth for Aston Martin.
Verstappen has a 48-point advantage over Leclerc, who has surged ahead of Perez to second place.
SOURCE – (AP)
Seize The Gray has won the Preakness 2024. Favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan finished second, halting his pursuit for the first Triple Crown since Justify in 2018, NBC Sports Reports.
Seize the Grey won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday, defeating Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and six other horses. Seize the Grey led from start to finish, with Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in second place. Catching Freedom placed third.
D. Wayne Lukas, 88, becomes the oldest trainer in history to win a Triple Crown event. It marks his eighth Preakness victory in his career, tying Bob Baffert for second all-time. Lukas has won 15 Triple Crown races in his career.
Jaime Torres made a memorable Triple Crown debut with his triumph in Seize the Grey.
MyRacehorse owns Seize the Grey, and it sells thoroughbred “micro-shares” to the general public. There are 2,570 shareholders in Seize the Grey, representing 42 of the 50 states.
Seize the Grey is the Preakness’ 18th victory from the seventh post since 1909. No other post has resulted in more than 14 winners.
If Seize the Grey competes, his next race will be the 156th Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Preakness 2024 Full Race
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