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Deadspin | Lakers romp past Rockets, seal series in 6, set date with Thunder  May 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) reacts after a made basket against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter of game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images   LeBron James scored 18 of his 28 points in a runaway first half for the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, who cruised to a 98-78 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday and claimed their Western Conference first-round playoff series in six games.  By virtue of the 4-2 series victory, the Lakers advance to the Western Conference semifinals and will travel to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 1 on Tuesday.  James added seven rebounds and eight assists to his ledger. Teammate Rui Hachimura put up 21 points, hitting 5 of 7 from the 3-point arc. Austin Reaves, who started for the first time in the series, added 15 points for the Lakers.  Undermined by turnovers throughout the series, the Lakers committed just 11 giveaways while limiting Houston to 35% shooting. The Lakers finished with a 19-8 edge in fastbreak points, made 12 of 28 3-point shots (42.9%) and produced a plus-9 rebounding margin.  Alperen Sengun paired 17 points with 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who played without leading scorer Kevin Durant for the fifth time in the series. Amen Thompson added 18 points and eight rebounds while Tari Eason tallied 14 points. Reed Sheppard scored 10 points for Houston, but missed 15 of 19 shots, including 9 of 10 from 3-point range. Houston finished 5 of 28 (17.9%) from deep.  The Rockets’ promising bid to rally from a 3-0 series deficit and force a Game 7 in Los Angeles on Sunday fizzled quickly. Sengun gave Houston a 16-11 lead with a hook shot nearly seven minutes into the first quarter, but the Lakers seized control with a 12-0 run.   Reaves ignited the surge with a three-point play while Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia and Hachimura added treys to lift the Lakers to a 23-16 lead.  The Lakers opened the second with a 9-0 spurt keyed by James, who scored in the post, drilled a 3-pointer and tallied a driving layup.  The Rockets missed their first 11 shots of the second, with Sheppard ending the drought by driving for a layup at the 6:55 mark. After Thompson scored through a foul to cut what had been a 19-point deficit to 11, Ayton sank 1 of 2 free throws and then James assisted on a Hachimura trey before nailing a pull-up 3-pointer that helped the Lakers re carry a 49-31 lead into the intermission.  Los Angeles led by as many as 29 points in the second half.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Lakers #romp #Rockets #seal #series #set #date #Thunder

Deadspin | Lakers romp past Rockets, seal series in 6, set date with Thunder
Deadspin | Lakers romp past Rockets, seal series in 6, set date with Thunder  May 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) reacts after a made basket against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter of game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images   LeBron James scored 18 of his 28 points in a runaway first half for the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, who cruised to a 98-78 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday and claimed their Western Conference first-round playoff series in six games.  By virtue of the 4-2 series victory, the Lakers advance to the Western Conference semifinals and will travel to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 1 on Tuesday.  James added seven rebounds and eight assists to his ledger. Teammate Rui Hachimura put up 21 points, hitting 5 of 7 from the 3-point arc. Austin Reaves, who started for the first time in the series, added 15 points for the Lakers.  Undermined by turnovers throughout the series, the Lakers committed just 11 giveaways while limiting Houston to 35% shooting. The Lakers finished with a 19-8 edge in fastbreak points, made 12 of 28 3-point shots (42.9%) and produced a plus-9 rebounding margin.  Alperen Sengun paired 17 points with 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who played without leading scorer Kevin Durant for the fifth time in the series. Amen Thompson added 18 points and eight rebounds while Tari Eason tallied 14 points. Reed Sheppard scored 10 points for Houston, but missed 15 of 19 shots, including 9 of 10 from 3-point range. Houston finished 5 of 28 (17.9%) from deep.  The Rockets’ promising bid to rally from a 3-0 series deficit and force a Game 7 in Los Angeles on Sunday fizzled quickly. Sengun gave Houston a 16-11 lead with a hook shot nearly seven minutes into the first quarter, but the Lakers seized control with a 12-0 run.   Reaves ignited the surge with a three-point play while Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia and Hachimura added treys to lift the Lakers to a 23-16 lead.  The Lakers opened the second with a 9-0 spurt keyed by James, who scored in the post, drilled a 3-pointer and tallied a driving layup.  The Rockets missed their first 11 shots of the second, with Sheppard ending the drought by driving for a layup at the 6:55 mark. After Thompson scored through a foul to cut what had been a 19-point deficit to 11, Ayton sank 1 of 2 free throws and then James assisted on a Hachimura trey before nailing a pull-up 3-pointer that helped the Lakers re carry a 49-31 lead into the intermission.  Los Angeles led by as many as 29 points in the second half.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Lakers #romp #Rockets #seal #series #set #date #ThunderMay 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) reacts after a made basket against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter of game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

LeBron James scored 18 of his 28 points in a runaway first half for the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, who cruised to a 98-78 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday and claimed their Western Conference first-round playoff series in six games.

By virtue of the 4-2 series victory, the Lakers advance to the Western Conference semifinals and will travel to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 1 on Tuesday.

James added seven rebounds and eight assists to his ledger. Teammate Rui Hachimura put up 21 points, hitting 5 of 7 from the 3-point arc. Austin Reaves, who started for the first time in the series, added 15 points for the Lakers.

Undermined by turnovers throughout the series, the Lakers committed just 11 giveaways while limiting Houston to 35% shooting. The Lakers finished with a 19-8 edge in fastbreak points, made 12 of 28 3-point shots (42.9%) and produced a plus-9 rebounding margin.

Alperen Sengun paired 17 points with 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who played without leading scorer Kevin Durant for the fifth time in the series. Amen Thompson added 18 points and eight rebounds while Tari Eason tallied 14 points. Reed Sheppard scored 10 points for Houston, but missed 15 of 19 shots, including 9 of 10 from 3-point range. Houston finished 5 of 28 (17.9%) from deep.


The Rockets’ promising bid to rally from a 3-0 series deficit and force a Game 7 in Los Angeles on Sunday fizzled quickly. Sengun gave Houston a 16-11 lead with a hook shot nearly seven minutes into the first quarter, but the Lakers seized control with a 12-0 run.

Reaves ignited the surge with a three-point play while Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia and Hachimura added treys to lift the Lakers to a 23-16 lead.

The Lakers opened the second with a 9-0 spurt keyed by James, who scored in the post, drilled a 3-pointer and tallied a driving layup.

The Rockets missed their first 11 shots of the second, with Sheppard ending the drought by driving for a layup at the 6:55 mark. After Thompson scored through a foul to cut what had been a 19-point deficit to 11, Ayton sank 1 of 2 free throws and then James assisted on a Hachimura trey before nailing a pull-up 3-pointer that helped the Lakers re carry a 49-31 lead into the intermission.

Los Angeles led by as many as 29 points in the second half.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Lakers #romp #Rockets #seal #series #set #date #Thunder

May 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) reacts after a made basket against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter of game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

LeBron James scored 18 of his 28 points in a runaway first half for the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, who cruised to a 98-78 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday and claimed their Western Conference first-round playoff series in six games.

By virtue of the 4-2 series victory, the Lakers advance to the Western Conference semifinals and will travel to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 1 on Tuesday.

James added seven rebounds and eight assists to his ledger. Teammate Rui Hachimura put up 21 points, hitting 5 of 7 from the 3-point arc. Austin Reaves, who started for the first time in the series, added 15 points for the Lakers.

Undermined by turnovers throughout the series, the Lakers committed just 11 giveaways while limiting Houston to 35% shooting. The Lakers finished with a 19-8 edge in fastbreak points, made 12 of 28 3-point shots (42.9%) and produced a plus-9 rebounding margin.

Alperen Sengun paired 17 points with 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who played without leading scorer Kevin Durant for the fifth time in the series. Amen Thompson added 18 points and eight rebounds while Tari Eason tallied 14 points. Reed Sheppard scored 10 points for Houston, but missed 15 of 19 shots, including 9 of 10 from 3-point range. Houston finished 5 of 28 (17.9%) from deep.

The Rockets’ promising bid to rally from a 3-0 series deficit and force a Game 7 in Los Angeles on Sunday fizzled quickly. Sengun gave Houston a 16-11 lead with a hook shot nearly seven minutes into the first quarter, but the Lakers seized control with a 12-0 run.

Reaves ignited the surge with a three-point play while Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia and Hachimura added treys to lift the Lakers to a 23-16 lead.

The Lakers opened the second with a 9-0 spurt keyed by James, who scored in the post, drilled a 3-pointer and tallied a driving layup.

The Rockets missed their first 11 shots of the second, with Sheppard ending the drought by driving for a layup at the 6:55 mark. After Thompson scored through a foul to cut what had been a 19-point deficit to 11, Ayton sank 1 of 2 free throws and then James assisted on a Hachimura trey before nailing a pull-up 3-pointer that helped the Lakers re carry a 49-31 lead into the intermission.

Los Angeles led by as many as 29 points in the second half.

–Field Level Media

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Former F1 driver and Paralympic champion Zanardi dies at 59 <div id="content-body-70931232" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi, who lost both legs in a racing ​crash and went on to win Paralympic gold ‌medals, has died at the age of ​59, his family said on Saturday.</p><p>Zanardi, ⁠from Bologna, made his F1 debut in 1991 and later achieved success in the CART series in ‌the United States, winning back-to-back championships in 1997 and 1998.</p><p>His life took a ‌dramatic turn in September 2001 when ‌he ⁠was involved in a high-speed crash during ⁠a CART race in Germany that led to the amputation of both legs.</p><p>Zanardi refused to end his sporting career ​and instead turned ‌to para-cycling, becoming one of Italy’s most successful Paralympic athletes.</p><p>He won four gold medals and two silver medals at the 2012 London ‌and 2016 Rio Games.</p><p>“It is with deep ​sorrow that the family announces the passing of Alessandro Zanardi, which occurred ⁠suddenly yesterday evening, May 1,” his family said in a statement.</p><p>“Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by ‌the love of his family and friends.</p><p>“The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all those who are showing their support at this time and asks that their grief and privacy be respected during this ‌period of mourning.”</p><p>Zanardi also claimed multiple world championship titles ​in para-cycling and became a powerful advocate for athletes with disabilities.</p><p>His life took ⁠another blow in 2020 when he was seriously injured ⁠after being struck by a truck while competing in a charity para-cycling relay ‌in Tuscany. He sustained serious head injuries and spent years undergoing treatment.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on May 02, 2026</p></div> #driver #Paralympic #champion #Zanardi #dies

Deadspin | Bryan Reynolds displays his dominance of Reds in Pirates rout  May 1, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Justin Berl-Imagn Images   Bryan Reynolds continued his dominance of Cincinnati pitching with a tape-measure homer and an RBI triple in support of seven strong innings from Mitch Keller as the Pittsburgh Pirates routed the Cincinnati Reds 9-1 Friday night in Pittsburgh.  Henry Davis, who came into the game batting just .154 in 20 games, broke out of a season-long slump with two homers and three runs scored from the ninth spot in the order. Marcell Ozuna added a two-run shot and Nick Gonzales went 3-for-4 to raise his average to .333 for the Pirates, who snapped a five-game losing streak.  Cincinnati, which entered with a major league-best 10-3 road record, fell for just the fourth time away from home.  Keller (3-1) allowed only three hits and one run in seven innings, striking out six and walking just one on a season-high 104 pitches.  The Reds were held to three hits, two of which came off the bat of TJ Friedl. The Cincinnati outfielder collected the first hit off Keller in the third and doubled to open the sixth and scored on an Elly De La Cruz groundout.  The game, which was delayed 91 minutes at the start by rain, was played in raw conditions with temperatures hovering around 40 for most of the night.   In the Pittsburgh first, Reynolds crushed a fastball from Cincinnati starter and loser Brady Singer an estimated 443 feet to the shrubs beyond the centerfield wall for his fourth homer of the season.  Reynolds now has two home runs this season against Cincinnati pitching and 19 lifetime, the most against any opponent in his career.  Singer (2-2) was roughed up for four runs and seven hits over just 3 1/3 innings, striking out just one while walking two.  Pittsburgh has taken three of the first four meetings between the two clubs this season.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Bryan #Reynolds #displays #dominance #Reds #Pirates #routMay 1, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Justin Berl-Imagn Images

Bryan Reynolds continued his dominance of Cincinnati pitching with a tape-measure homer and an RBI triple in support of seven strong innings from Mitch Keller as the Pittsburgh Pirates routed the Cincinnati Reds 9-1 Friday night in Pittsburgh.

Henry Davis, who came into the game batting just .154 in 20 games, broke out of a season-long slump with two homers and three runs scored from the ninth spot in the order. Marcell Ozuna added a two-run shot and Nick Gonzales went 3-for-4 to raise his average to .333 for the Pirates, who snapped a five-game losing streak.

Cincinnati, which entered with a major league-best 10-3 road record, fell for just the fourth time away from home.

Keller (3-1) allowed only three hits and one run in seven innings, striking out six and walking just one on a season-high 104 pitches.

The Reds were held to three hits, two of which came off the bat of TJ Friedl. The Cincinnati outfielder collected the first hit off Keller in the third and doubled to open the sixth and scored on an Elly De La Cruz groundout.


The game, which was delayed 91 minutes at the start by rain, was played in raw conditions with temperatures hovering around 40 for most of the night.

In the Pittsburgh first, Reynolds crushed a fastball from Cincinnati starter and loser Brady Singer an estimated 443 feet to the shrubs beyond the centerfield wall for his fourth homer of the season.

Reynolds now has two home runs this season against Cincinnati pitching and 19 lifetime, the most against any opponent in his career.

Singer (2-2) was roughed up for four runs and seven hits over just 3 1/3 innings, striking out just one while walking two.

Pittsburgh has taken three of the first four meetings between the two clubs this season.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Bryan #Reynolds #displays #dominance #Reds #Pirates #rout">Deadspin | Bryan Reynolds displays his dominance of Reds in Pirates rout  May 1, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Justin Berl-Imagn Images   Bryan Reynolds continued his dominance of Cincinnati pitching with a tape-measure homer and an RBI triple in support of seven strong innings from Mitch Keller as the Pittsburgh Pirates routed the Cincinnati Reds 9-1 Friday night in Pittsburgh.  Henry Davis, who came into the game batting just .154 in 20 games, broke out of a season-long slump with two homers and three runs scored from the ninth spot in the order. Marcell Ozuna added a two-run shot and Nick Gonzales went 3-for-4 to raise his average to .333 for the Pirates, who snapped a five-game losing streak.  Cincinnati, which entered with a major league-best 10-3 road record, fell for just the fourth time away from home.  Keller (3-1) allowed only three hits and one run in seven innings, striking out six and walking just one on a season-high 104 pitches.  The Reds were held to three hits, two of which came off the bat of TJ Friedl. The Cincinnati outfielder collected the first hit off Keller in the third and doubled to open the sixth and scored on an Elly De La Cruz groundout.  The game, which was delayed 91 minutes at the start by rain, was played in raw conditions with temperatures hovering around 40 for most of the night.   In the Pittsburgh first, Reynolds crushed a fastball from Cincinnati starter and loser Brady Singer an estimated 443 feet to the shrubs beyond the centerfield wall for his fourth homer of the season.  Reynolds now has two home runs this season against Cincinnati pitching and 19 lifetime, the most against any opponent in his career.  Singer (2-2) was roughed up for four runs and seven hits over just 3 1/3 innings, striking out just one while walking two.  Pittsburgh has taken three of the first four meetings between the two clubs this season.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Bryan #Reynolds #displays #dominance #Reds #Pirates #rout

India’s top-ranked men’s shuttler, Lakshya Sen, will miss the Thomas Cup 2026 semifinal against France on Saturday due to injury, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) confirmed.

“Lakshya sustained an impact to his elbow following an intense quarterfinal match that involved multiple dives.

“Following a thorough evaluation by the team’s medical staff, the decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to allow Lakshya adequate recovery time and ensure he is in optimal condition for the final, should India progress,” the statement from BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra read.

“He is currently under close medical observation and receiving all necessary support. The team remains confident and optimistic about his swift recovery and return to peak form,” Mishra added.

Lakshya had beaten higher-ranked Chou Tien Chen 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in the first match of the quarterfinal, paving the way for India’s eventual 3-0 win.

Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikath and HS Prannoy will be the Indian athletes involved in the men’s singles ties. Satwik Rankireddy/ Chirag Shetty and M. Arjun/ A. Hariharan will be the pairs involved in the doubles fixtures.

Published on May 02, 2026

#Lakshya #Sen #Indias #Thomas #Cup #semifinal #France #due #injury">Lakshya Sen to miss India’s Thomas Cup semifinal against France due to injury  India’s top-ranked men’s shuttler, Lakshya Sen, will miss the Thomas Cup 2026 semifinal against France on Saturday due to injury, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) confirmed.“Lakshya sustained an impact to his elbow following an intense quarterfinal match that involved multiple dives.“Following a thorough evaluation by the team’s medical staff, the decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to allow Lakshya adequate recovery time and ensure he is in optimal condition for the final, should India progress,” the statement from BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra read.“He is currently under close medical observation and receiving all necessary support. The team remains confident and optimistic about his swift recovery and return to peak form,” Mishra added.Lakshya had beaten higher-ranked Chou Tien Chen 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in the first match of the quarterfinal, paving the way for India’s eventual 3-0 win.Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikath and HS Prannoy will be the Indian athletes involved in the men’s singles ties. Satwik Rankireddy/ Chirag Shetty and M. Arjun/ A. Hariharan will be the pairs involved in the doubles fixtures.Published on May 02, 2026  #Lakshya #Sen #Indias #Thomas #Cup #semifinal #France #due #injury

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