SPORT

Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez rushed to help a ball girl who fainted during the qualifier’s surprise first-round victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Australian Open.

As Alexandrova was serving for the second set to level the tie, the ball girl – stood beside the umpire’s chair – fell flat on her back before quickly getting back up.

Sonmez sprinted over to her and helped her walk over to the side of the court, where she received medical attention in the shade.

The ball girl managed to get back to her feet and was helped off court by medical staff, with play resuming after a six-minute delay.

Russian 11th seed Alexandrova went on to win the set, but world number 112 Sonmez fought back from 3-0 down in the decider to complete a 7-5 4-6 6-4 upset on her fourth match point.

It is the biggest win of the 23-year-old’s career and moves her into the second round at Melbourne Park for the first time.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS

CITY SECTION

El Camino Real 51, LACES 46

Granada Hills Kennedy d. Manual Arts, forfeit

SOUTHERN SECTION

Adelanto 51, Lancaster 38

Arcadia 70, Burbank 49

Calvary Baptist 56, Ayala 54

Cantwell-Sacred Heart 80, Westminster 44

Carpinteria 42, Nordhoff 41

Compton 86, Ocean View 59

Corona Centennial 66, Rolling Hills Prep 60

Damien 53, North Torrance 32

Garden Grove Pacifica 85, Valor Academy 14

Gardena Serra 61, Shadow Hills 43

Heritage Christian 68, St. Anthony 45

Los Alamitos 73, St. Francis 70 (OT)

Loyola 70, Oakwood 26

Monrovia 67, Glenn 41

Murrieta Mesa 70, Orange County Pacifica Christian 69

Paramount 51, Artesia 48

Pasadena 89, Burbank Burroughs 44

Rancho Cucamonga 66, Anaheim Canyon 62

Rancho Mirage 64, La Salle 50

Redondo Union 82, JSerra 53

Rio Hondo Prep 48, Edgewood 34

Santa Paula 71, Oxnard Pacifica 66

Trinity Classical Academy 62, PACS 46

Viewpoint 75, Blair 73

Webb 76, Southlands Christian 18

Windward 73, Eastvale Roosevelt 71

INTERSECTIONAL

Agoura 75, LA Marshall 64

Alemany 69, Bakersfield North 65

Bellflower 82, Foshay 34

Bernstein 56, Long Beach Cabrillo 54

Beverly Hills d. San Fernando, forfeit

Birmingham 82, Valencia 71

California City 77, Corcoran 52

Corona Santiago 61, Carlsbad 54

Culver City 90, Sylmar 84

Del Norte 62, Chaparral 58

Elsinore 74, Chula Vista Mater Dei 45

Etiwanda 63, Torrey Pines 54

Fairfield (CT) Notre Dame Prep 72, Mater Dei 57

Gahr 82, LA Wilson 42

Garden Grove Pacifica 85, Valor Academy 14

Howard 65, Westmark 40

Huntington Park 54, Lynwood 34

Inglewood 81, West Haven (CT) Notre Dame 80

Lab School (Washington D.C.) 73, Westlake 40

La Mirada 67, Francis Parker 55

Leuzinger 82, Sotomayor 36

Mayfair 68, Bakersfield 61

Palisades 72, Legacy Christian Academy 48

Palm Desert 83, Calexico 60

Rancho Bernardo 64, Temescal Canyon 30

Rancho Christian 83, Rancho Buena Vista 53

Richmond Salesian 71, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 43

Sierra Canyon 75, Miami (FL) Columbus 58

St. Bernard 77, Washington 56

St. John Bosco 58, Logan-Rogersville (MO) 53

Summit 57, Taft 50

Temecula Prep 64, Coronado 54

Thousand Oaks Hillcrest Christian 83, Fulton 65

Vistamar 60, Samueli Academy 37

Warren 81, Carson 43

Winston Salem Christian National (NC) 80, DNA Prep Academy 64

GIRLS

CITY SECTION

Arleta 58, LACES 35

Fairfax 41, Bravo 16

SOUTHERN SECTION

Aquinas 26, Vista del Lago 22

Arroyo 47, Mountain View 8

Avalon 40, Webb 17

Bishop Amat 46, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 37

Bishop Diego 54, Thacher 29

Bonita 69, South Pasadena 38

Burbank Burroughs 69, Pasadena 32

Chino Hills 52, Anaheim Canyon 49

Crescenta Valley 104, Hoover 22

Esperanza 53, Buena Park 40

Etiwanda 72, Lakewood St. Joseph 44

Flintridge Prep 62, Troy 35

Gardena Serra 72, St. Mary’s Academy 25

JSerra 85, Windward 44

Knight 37, Louisville 33

Marlborough 65, Saugus 52

Mary Star of the Sea 40, Pomona Catholic 24

Mission College Prep 59, Coastal Christian 15

North Torrance 50, Keppel 39

Palm Desert 55, Riverside Prep 19

Patriot 49, La Habra 33

Ramona 79, Linfield Christian 26

Riverside King 67, Hillcrest 23

Santa Maria 57, Carpinteria 50

Santa Maria St. Joseph 69, Oxnard Pacifica 40

Silverado 43, Corona 39

South Torrance 53, St. Anthony 51

St. Bonaventure 53, Leuzinger 39

St. Margaret’s 58, Maranatha 28

St. Paul 48, St. Bernard 31

St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 52, Ramona Convent 17

Summit 58, Rolling Hills Prep 48

Trinity Classical Academy 83, PACS 11

Valencia 74, Santa Monica 25

Ventura 59, Redondo Union 47

Viewpoint 36, Louisville 34

Villanova Prep 51, Santa Barbara Providence 24

Vistamar 31, Samueli Academy 28

Westminster La Quinta 35, Garden Grove Pacifica 11

West Torrance 52, San Clemente 47

Yucca Valley 49, Elsinore 20

INTERSECTIONAL

Bakersfield Christian 72, Beckman 67

Brentwood 73, La Jolla Bishop’s 42

Birmingham 84, El Segundo 43

Calabasas 60, Van Nuys 29

King/Drew 61, Lawndale 59

Mira Costa 40, Palisades 39

Oakwood 65, Larchmont Charter 16

Ontario Christian 78, St. John-Vianney (NJ) 70

Riverside Poly 56, Rancho Buena Vista 44

Westlake 57, Cleveland 55

PORTLAND, Ore. — Before the Lakers took the court Saturday night, they added two more starters and a key reserve to the injured list. But the Lakers still had LeBron James and they hoped he could carry them past Portland.

Starters Luka Doncic (left groin soreness) and Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) did not play. In the fourth quarter, Marcus Smart went down amid a pile of players in the lane and eventually limped to the locker room never to return.

As for James and the rest of the Lakers, all of the injuries were too much to overcome in a 132-116 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.

Smart had 25 points before he went to the locker room. James had 20 points but was just six for 16 from the field. He had nine rebounds and eight assists for a Lakers team that has lost five of its last six games.

Lakers guard Marcus Smart shoots over Portland center Donovan Clingan in the first half Saturday.

(Amanda Loman / Associated Press)

Drew Timme was a positive for the Lakers, scoring a career-high 21 points. Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber each had 11 points.

Shaedon Sharpe led Portland (21-22) with 25 points. Jerami Grant and Caleb Love each scored 22 points and Donovan Clingan finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Doncic, who underwent an MRI and is listed as day-to-day, was dealing with the injury all of last week despite playing against the Kings, Hawks and Hornets.

“I think it was an accumulation of a longer week, more lingering, if anything,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game.

The Lakers (24-16) aren’t sure if Ayton will play against Toronto on Sunday. The center is day-to-day with left knee soreness.

“He took a hit in his knee and there was no swelling, just some soreness,” Redick said.

The Lakers were also without backup center Jaxson Hayes, who didn’t play against the Trail Blazers because of left hamstring tendinopathy. Redick said there’s a chance Hayes could play Sunday.

James missed his first five shots in the first quarter, finishing one-for-seven from the field for just two points.

The Lakers were called for 13 fouls in the first quarter, leading to 22 free-throw attempts for the Trail Blazers, a big reason why they opened a 40-27 lead after the first 12 minutes of play.

SEATTLE — Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Kenneth Walker III rushed for three scores and the Seattle Seahawks advanced to the NFC championship game with a dominant 41-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night.

Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass and got his first career playoff win in his first season with the Seahawks (15-3), who will host either the Chicago Bears or the Rams next Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl at stake.

The Seahawks led 7-0 13 seconds into the game thanks to Shaheed, who fielded the opening kick and took it 95 yards to the end zone. It was the fourth kickoff return for a touchdown to open a playoff game since 2000 and the longest postseason kick return in franchise history.

Darnold, who had been listed as questionable because of an oblique injury, guided the Seahawks on two more scoring drives before San Francisco got on the board with the first of its two field goals.

After he flopped in his playoff debut last season with the Minnesota Vikings by taking nine sacks in a 27-9 loss to the Rams, Darnold completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in the star receiver’s playoff debut.

The 49ers (13-6) were never competitive in the second-most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history. San Francisco lost 49-3 to the New York Giants in the divisional round in the 1986 season.

The Niners were missing three injured All-Pros: tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa.

San Francisco’s Brock Purdy completed 15 of 27 passes for 140 yards with an interception and a lost fumble against the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense. Seattle also recovered a fumble by tight end Jake Tonges.

Walker’s three rushing touchdowns tied him with Shaun Alexander for the most in a playoff game in franchise history.

Earlier, Nix threw three touchdowns to book the Broncos’ first appearance in the AFC Championship game since winning the Super Bowl in February 2016.

Nix has played an instrumental role in Denver finishing as top seed in the AFC with a 14-3 record in the regular season.

The second-year quarterback has led eight game-winning drives this season, the most by any player in the Super Bowl era aged 25 or under.

He has thrown 25 touchdowns, rushed for four and thrown for 3,931 yards in the Broncos’ best season since last winning the Lombardi Trophy.

Stidham is in his third year in Denver but appeared in just one game this season and has not attempted a pass in the NFL since the 2023 season.

“We’ll be ready for the next challenge,” said Payton, who now has to plan how to make it to the Super Bowl without their star man at quarterback.

Santa Anita’s experiment of placing a similar version of Historical Horse Racing at the race track on Thursday came to an abrupt halt on Saturday afternoon when law enforcement officials physically removed the machines after racing ended.

Two officials at Santa Anita confirmed that representatives of the state Department of Justice removed the betting machines that were installed on Wednesday and have been confiscated and removed from the track.

According to eyewitnesses a representative of the Arcadia Police Department, along with several law enforcement officers with patches that read “California Department of Justice Attorney General,” came into the grandstand area where the Racing on Demand machines were located and unplugged them, placed them on handcarts and removed them from the building.

The employees working in the area were told to leave as about 15 officers confiscated the machines, including all the cash in the machines.

The machines, which allow people to bet on past horse races in a slot-machine-type format, were put into the grandstand area of Santa Anita on Thursday with no notice. Santa Anita did not advertise the machines or mention it in its fan newsletter. It was called a soft opening. The move to install the machines came without advance notice to the California Horse Racing Board.

It’s unclear who or what precipitated the removal but the tribes, which control most non-pari-mutuel wagering in the state, told The Times that it would have a “full throated” response to the installation of the machines, which it says violates the tribal compact on gambling. The tribes are a very powerful force in state politics and contribute millions of dollars to political candidates.

A tribal leader who specializes in gambling did not respond to a message.

Santa Anita believes the machines, which offer first, second and third betting on three past races, does not violate the rules for pari-mutuel gambling. The tribes contend the slot-machine-like machines are a game of chance and under its purview. Santa Anita says because the mutuel pool is not held in-house but between bettors that it is a game of skill and allowed.

No doubt this is headed for litigation and the fact that the machines were removed so quickly by the state attorney general’s office might tip which side has the early edge. The consortium that was trying to bring this type of wagering to California said it sent a copy of its legal opinion to the attorney general in advance of the installation.

The CHRB also called for a legal opinion on the issue although the contents have not been made public.

At stake is the future of California racing. The state is one of the few that receives no supplemental income from casino-type gambling. Historical Horse Racing, allowing people to bet on past races with little handicapping information, has greatly increased purses in Kentucky and other states, where it is legal.

California is at a big disadvantage in purses because it does not have the supplemental income. Santa Anita has not disclosed how much of this type of wagering would go to purses.

Quarterback Josh Allen endured more play-off heartache as the Denver Broncos beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime to move within one win of the Super Bowl.

Having secured the AFC’s top seed, Denver had home advantage and led 23-10 during the third quarter, before the Bills twice came from behind to make the final score 30-30.

Allen had a chance to clinch victory in overtime, but the Broncos claimed an interception before kicking a field goal to win 33-30.

That means that despite reaching the play-offs in seven straight seasons, racking up eight play-off wins, the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player is still to reach the sport’s biggest game.

The Broncos, however, have claimed their first play-off success since winning the Super Bowl for the third time in February 2016.

That game took place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, which will also stage this year’s edition, Super Bowl 60, on Sunday, 8 February.

Now, Denver can look forward to the AFC Conference Championship game next weekend at home to the winners of the Houston Texans at the New England Patriots on Sunday (20:00 GMT).

More to follow.

Sierra Canyon, ranked No. 1 in high school basketball in the Southland, traveled to Springfield College on Saturday for the Hoophall Classic and came away with a 75-58 win over Miami Columbus.

Brandon McCoy earned game MVP honors by scoring 24 points and collecting 10 rebounds. Maxi Adams also had 24 points.

Sierra Canyon (18-1) has an even bigger test coming on Wednesday in Mission League play when it faces defending champion Harvard-Westlake (21-2) in a home game that should be sold out quickly.

Fairfield (Conn.) Notre Dame Prep 72, Mater Dei 57: The Monarchs (14-9) were beaten at the Hoophall Classic.

Los Alamitos 73, St. Francis 70: The Griffins won in overtime behind Tyler Lopez, who had 25 points. Sophomore Cole Ragsdale scored 19 points for St. Francis, which played without 7-foot-4 Cherif Millogo (illness).

Damien 53, North Torrance 32: The surging Spartans improved to 20-4 behind Eli Garner, who scored 20 points on eight-for-12 shooting from the field.

Heritage Christian 68, St. Anthony 45: Dominic Loehle finished with 24 points and 10 assists for Heritage Christian.

Girls basketball

Brentwood 73, La Jolla Bishops 42: The Eagles received 21 points from Mikaella Kawahito in the win in San Diego.

South Torrance 53, St. Anthony 51: Laila Hughes of St. Anthony had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Birmingham 84, El Segundo 43: Kiara Wakabi had 21 points while Jaydin Walker 20 points and 11 rebounds for Birmingham.

John Higgins stunned world number one Judd Trump as he fought back from 3-0 and 5-3 down to win 6-5 and reach his first Masters final since 2021.

The Scot will now face Kyren Wilson in Sunday’s best-of-19 showpiece match beginning at 13:00 GMT, after he defeated Chinese debutant Wu Yize 6-5 in another thrilling last-four encounter.

Higgins had lost his previous seven matches against Trump and appeared to be toiling as he made a series of errors in the opening three frames.

However, Trump, whose highest break until that point was just 60, failed to convert two good opportunities to take the fourth frame which provided Higgins with a route back into the contest.

“He should maybe have been 4-0 in front and I maybe made it too easy for him,” Higgins, who won the second of his two Masters titles 20 years ago, told BBC Sport.

“The fourth frame was massive because if he goes 4-0 it’s done, but at 3-1 I felt good.”

“People will laugh but I think I’m a better player now than I’ve ever been. You play these great champions like Judd and I am so proud because I’ve lost the last few against him.”

With the momentum shifting, Higgins, 50, also took the fifth with a superb 104 break.

The Englishman pinched the sixth and eighth frames with half centuries after his opponent missed reds, but Higgins made a 57 clearance in similar fashion to take frame seven.

Trump, 36, who has generally held sway in meetings between the pair since triumphing in their 2019 world final, looked set to seal victory in the ninth frame but with just four balls to pot, remarkably missed a routine brown.

And that gave Higgins the impetus to craft pressure-breaks of 70 and 57 on his way to reeling off three tense frames in a row to complete a remarkable turnaround and become the oldest player to reach the final of a Triple Crown event.

Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson claim a bronze medal in the European Figure Skating Championships. After starting the final round in second place, timing issues cost the pair the chance to clinch gold.

REPORT: GB’s Fear and Gibson fall short of European gold

Available to UK users only.

In a city where he has played for the longest stretch of his life, LeBron James should be considered one of the greatest Lakers ever.

Yet, by most accounts, he’s barely in the top 10.

James set the career scoring record here, set the career longevity record here, and won a long-awaited NBA championship here.

Yet he is generally ranked behind Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy … and maybe even Pau Gasol?

When he likely leaves the team after this season, James should get a statue. He won’t. He should get a farewell game similar to Kobe Bryant’s final good-bye. He won’t.

For eight breathtaking seasons, LeBron James has poured his soul into pleasing a passionate fan base such that he still fills Crypto.com Arena with joy and light and tomahawk dunks at age 41.

Yet most fans can’t wait for him to leave.

They’re tired of his drama, unconvinced of his loyalty, dissatisfied with the results, and ready to embrace fresh new franchise faces. One of those belongs to Austin Reaves, who was unwittingly pitted against James this week during unfortunate speculation from James’ agent and close friend Rich Paul.

Bottom line? If forced to choose between James and Reaves, here’s guessing the majority would choose Reaves. If forced to keep either James or Reaves, almost certainly the Lakers would keep Reaves.

These sorts of questions will matter at the upcoming Feb. 5 trade deadline, when, with the team going nowhere, perhaps James should realize that his days here are numbered and consider lifting that no-trade clause.

If unanswered, the questions will surface again this summer, when Reaves becomes a free agent and can command a maximum contract of $241 million over five years. The Lakers are going to pay him, which leaves James, who would also be a free agent, and his contract demands deep on the bench.

If James leaves the Lakers for whatever reason — retirement, seeking a title elsewhere — the Lakers can sign Reaves and still have $50 million in cap space.

Think about that.

Lakers forward LeBron James hugs teammate Austin Reaves after he was fouled on a three-point shot during a game against Utah.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Fifty million in cap space on a team that’s already locked up its two best scorers? Are you kidding me?

If James gets out of the way, the Lakers can finally fully commit to a retooling around Luka Doncic and Reaves.

It’s all pretty simple, isn’t it? It only became complicated this week when the suddenly struggling Lakers were hit with the most damaging opinion during the most detrimental of times.

Paul popped off on his podcast about trading, of all people, Reaves.

In “Game Over With Max Kellerman and Rich Paul,” Paul cited the advantages of trading Reaves to Memphis for Jaren Jackson Jr.

“This comes with a very unemotional attachment because Austin is beloved, which he should be, he’s an underdog,” Paul said on the podcast. “There’s a world where you can do what’s best for your team, and do what’s best for Austin. Because Austin deserves to get paid. Now, I love him as a Laker, but if that was a situation where we’re getting balance — because if you put all the money into just the backcourt and then your flexibility is restricted going forward to fill out the rest of the team…”

Paul went so far as to say Memphis would be the perfect place for Reaves.

“Memphis would definitely pay Austin,” Paul said. “He would become … probably their point guard and leading scorer, for sure. … But definitely their highest-paid player.”

A similar opinion urging the Lakers to trade Reaves appeared in this column last summer, but that was written before Reaves had a breakout start this season, averaging 27 points a game on 51% shooting before being sidelined with a calf injury.

He’s hot. He’s arrived. He’s him.

The idea of trading Reaves now feels foolish. Even worse, it feels like an idea that was co-signed by James himself.

Trading Reaves would give more touches to James. Acquiring Jackson would offer more room for James. The entire speculation could be summed up in one sentence that has nothing to do with Reaves or Jackson.

The Lakers should do what’s best for LeBron James.

No, they shouldn’t. No, they absolutely shouldn’t. Yet that’s what Paul was saying, and one would be naive to think that’s not what James is thinking, even though he denied any association in an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“I think you all know by now, Rich is his own man and what Rich says is not a direct reflection of me and how I feel,” James told McMenamin. “And I hope people know that. I hope people know that and if they’re not sensible to know that, then I don’t know what to tell them.”

In the same interview, James also expressed his love for Reaves. Smart man.

“AR knows how I feel about him,” James told McMenamin. “All you got to do is look at us on the bench. Me and AR talk every single day. So, AR knows how I feel about him and I hope AR — or his camp — don’t look at me and think this is words from me are coming through Rich.”

Turns out, Reaves’ camp thought these words were exactly coming from James, witness the brief courtside meeting between Reggie Berry, one of Reaves’ agents, and Paul during a Lakers game earlier this week. According to ESPN, Berry approached Paul in search of an explanation for his comments.

Later on his podcast, Paul said he told Berry, “I want Austin to know this is not about Austin Reaves because I love the player, love the person.”

Everybody, it seems, loves Austin Reaves, and he’s not going anywhere. Meanwhile, after another tumultuous week in the passive-aggressive life of a king, it feels like LeBron James is as good as gone.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It might be time for UCLA to consider some possibilities about its basketball team, starting with the obvious: It’s just not shaping up to be all that good.

The Bruins can’t defend for long stretches, and when they do they often give up an offensive rebound. Xavier Booker’s transition to center is not working out. Tyler Bilodeau can’t seem to find enough consistent offensive support. Donovan Dent appears to be an average point guard at the Big Ten level.

UCLA’s limitations were on full, frustrating display once more Saturday afternoon during an 86-74 loss to Ohio State at the Schottenheim Center.

The Bruins got hammered on the boards, gave up too many big runs and couldn’t generate consistent offense in having their two-game winning streak snapped.

Some might say it’s tough to win on the road in this conference — especially with guard Skyy Clark sidelined once more by a hamstring injury — but the Bruins fell short in the energy and toughness departments while falling behind by as many as 19 points.

After giving up 12-0 and 8-0 runs early in the second half, UCLA (12-6 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) was further deflated when it gave up two offensive rebounds on the same possession and then committed a foul to send a Buckeyes player to the free-throw line.

Ohio State (12-5, 4-3) shot 52.8% from the field and won the rebounding battle, 37-27, with 12 offensive rebounds leading to 17 second-chance points. Buckeyes guard John Mobley Jr. (28 points, six three-pointers) and forward Devin Royal (22 points, nine rebounds) were a major nuisance for a defense incapable of providing more than token resistance.

Bilodeau’s 30 points weren’t nearly enough on a day that Dent added 13 and forward Eric Dailey Jr. fouled out with nearly nine minutes left after tallying 12 points and four rebounds. Three days after he had a career-high 30 points, UCLA guard Trent Perry could manage only seven while making two of nine shots.

Almost nothing went the Bruins’ way more than halfway across the country.

A first half that was something of an exercise in frustration for UCLA ended in fitting fashion.

Mobley curled around in the backcourt to take the inbounds pass and dribbled his way into an open three-pointer that pushed the Buckeyes into a 42-36 lead. Mobley was up to 18 points by then, the Bruins unable to slow him no matter who tried to defend him.

As he walked off the court toward the locker room, UCLA coach Mick Cronin had some words for Dent, who extended his arms in frustration.

The Bruins remained within striking distance thanks largely to Bilodeau, whose 15 points came largely on the strength of making three of four three-pointers. Dent made two of three three-pointers, which was noteworthy considering he entered the game having made just two of 22 this season.

UCLA played a fourth consecutive game without guard Clark, who continues to close in on a return from the injury he suffered in the second half of his team’s loss to Iowa earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Cronin might be closing in on another decision — what to do about Booker. The big man got another start Saturday before providing very little in return. He got yanked after only two minutes, never to return after Cronin pointed to the spot of an apparent defensive breakdown as Booker walked past him on his way to taking a seat on the bench.

Steven Jamerson II started the second half in Booker’s place. It made no difference for a team with too many deficiencies.

Toulouse: Ramos; Delibes, Gourgues, Chocobares, Lebel; Kinghorn, Dupont (capt); Baille, Marchand, Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Banos, Willis, Jelonch.

Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Mallez, Brennan, Roumat, Cros, Graou, Thomas.

Sale: Davies; Ene, Ma’asi-White, Louw (capt), Wills; Curtis, Warr; Rodd, Jibulu, Harper, Burrow, Andrews, Gilmore, Woodman, Dugdale.

Replacements: Caine, McIntyre, Bell, Hogg, Logan, Hanson, Bedlow, Grace.

West Ham United forward Callum Wilson made light of the uncertainty surrounding his future, as he reacts to scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

READ MORE: Late West Ham winner piles pressure on Spurs boss Frank

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner was left frustrated after his side’s defeat by Sunderland, saying the clubs board are “abandoning'” them and that he has “always kept his mouth” but no longer can because he wants to “defend his players”.

He adds that the team has had its “heart tore out” twice in the day before a game this season with Eberechi Eze’s move to Arsenal in the summer and captain Marc Guehi’s proposed move to Manchester City in the January transfer window.

MATCH REPORT: Sunderland 2-1 Crystal Palace

Available to UK users only.

Jonbon’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, admitted he had not expected the 10-year-old to take victory as they approached the final stretch of the Grade One two-miler, but he believed stamina helped him.

Speaking to ITV, he said: “I came in here thinking his record of never being out of the first two was under big threat. I really did fear that.

“He was amazing. That was an end-to-end gallop. It seemed to test them all. I thought he was beaten three out, but then he keeps going.

“He was a very fast horse. Now he’s not as fast as he was, but his stamina kicks in. He’s got older legs, but he’s brave, he jumps.

“You’ve got to be proud of him. That was a brave boy to come and do that.”

He was unsure, though, when asked whether Jonbon would now be a Cheltenham Champion Chase contender.

“I’d love to be trying him over further [distances], but things have invariably gone wrong [when I have],” Henderson said.

Gidleigh Park pulled up with six fences to go, but a fall for Il Etait Temps proved a bigger shock.

Ridden by Paul Townend, the grey had beaten Jonbon in their previous two encounters.

Sean McVay, taking a cue from quarterback Matthew Stafford, will don an upper-body neoprene undergarment. Perhaps a heated vest. And his gelled hair spike will be covered with a beanie.

The Rams’ coach does not need any weather-related distractions on the field or on the sideline when his team plays the Chicago Bears on Sunday in an NFL divisional-round game at Soldier Field, where the wind-chill factor could fall below zero.

“What do you think, I’m going to dress up like the Michelin Man or something?” McVay said when queried about his planned sideline attire. “And now that I’m not being too stubborn about throwing a beanie on after my mom and my wife ripped my ass, I’ll be in good shape there too.”

• Share via Close extra sharing options

Gary Klein breaks down everything you need to know heading into the Rams’ NFC divisional playoff game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

The Rams are aiming for a better ending and warmer feeling than they experienced the last time they played a divisional-round game in cold weather.

Almost exactly one year ago, the Rams traveled to Philadelphia and lost to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Eagles in the snow.

The Rams could have avoided being on the road for the playoffs this year had they held onto the top seed in the NFC, but they lost three of their last six games and fell to No. 5.

So here they are again.

The Rams are coming off a 34-31 wild-card victory over the Carolina Panthers, a win that followed a familiar script: The Rams led early, allowed the opponent to get back into the game with lulls and costly errors, and then pulled out a victory.

“Are we looking for consistent execution for a full 60 [minutes]?” McVay said this week, “No doubt about it. We’re going to continue to strive for that. Maybe this week is the week.”

Stafford played 12 seasons for the Detroit Lions in the NFC North, so he is accustomed to playing in cold weather.

Stafford suffered a sprained right index finger against the Panthers but has said the finger felt “great” and he was a full participant in practices this week.

Stafford faces a Bears defense that led the NFL with 23 interceptions and recovered 10 fumbles.

Under first-year coach Ben Johnson, and with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams having made huge strides, the Bears won multiple games with comebacks, including their 31-27 divisional-round victory over the Green Bay Packers.

“You have to give them a lot of credit,” Stafford said. “They have a quarterback, a team, a coach that all believe in each other and as they should. They’ve proven it a bunch of times this year.”

The Rams are buoyed by the return of right guard Kevin Dotson, who was sidelined for three games because of an ankle injury. Dotson adds a layer of protection for Stafford to connect with receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and he could be pivotal if McVay opts to go with three tight ends and a run-heavy approach that highlights running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.

“If we throwing the ball, we running the ball, we screening the ball — it don’t matter,” Williams said. “I’m going to be ready for it. … Whether it’s a 100 mph-wind and we got to run that ball, or if it’s no wind and we’re just going to throw the ball, it don’t matter.”

The Bears rely on running back D’Andre Swift to set up a passing game that features called and off-schedule plays by Williams.

“The key to not being too cold out there on the field is to not let them sustain super-long drives,” defensive lineman Kobie Turner said. “So how about let’s get some three-and-outs and get back to the heat of the benches.”

Rams center Coleman Shelton played last season for the Bears. He experienced multiple cold-weather games. Keeping hands warm between snaps is key.

“Hand warmers, whatever you’ve got to do to keep the feel so your hands don’t go numb,” he said.

The Rams got experience in cold-weather games last season against the New York Jets and the Eagles. Players said they were not affected by the elements when action was happening on the field.

“It’s when you get TV timeouts and all that,” offensive lineman Steve Avila said. “That’s when you’re like, “Awww, this sucks.”

The Rams, however, are not complaining.

They got a good week of practice in sunny and warm weather.

If they defeat the Bears, they will advance to the NFC championship game against the winner of Saturday’s game between the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks and the No. 6 San Francisco 49ers.

“We’re playing for our lives here,” Turner said, “so it doesn’t matter if we’re playing in the middle of a parking lot, it doesn’t matter if it’s snowing or how hot it is out here at practice.

“Wherever the ball drops, we’re locked in.”

Sam Kerr scored twice as holders Chelsea put five goals past WSL2 side Crystal Palace to reach the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup.

Millie Bright found an early opener for Sonia Bompastor’s side, nodding in a corner at the back post to take the lead in the 13th minute.

The Blues made it 3-0 by the half-hour mark, with Kerr coolly rolling the ball under Shae Yanez after being slipped through by Erin Cuthbert before Guro Reiten converted from the penalty spot.

The 32-year-old Australian added another in the 52nd minute when she headed in a Reiten cross, before Alyssa Thompson provided Chelsea’s fifth.

Sunderland, the other WSL2 side in action on Saturday, were also unable to cause an upset as they were beaten by London City Lionesses.

London City were dominant throughout but managed to produce few chances against a Sunderland side who set up well at the back and reduced the available space.

With open-play opportunities being limited, it took a set piece for the visitors to find the game’s only goal in the 50th minute as Wassa Sangare met a corner at the near post and sent a headed effort over Grace Moloney.

The draw for the fifth round will take place on Monday, 19 January.

Tennis stars travel globally more than any other group of athletes due to the international nature of the sport.

With tour-level tournaments held in 29 countries across five continents, men’s players travelled a combined 2.3 million km across the 2024 season, according to ATP data.

Every player knows the importance of getting over jetlag quickly and has their own method of attempting to regulate their circadian rhythm.

Novak Djokovic, known for meticulously fine-tuning his body, tries to “over-hydrate” on his flight, adding lemon, mint, and salt to his water.

“When I arrive at the hotel, I ground myself with bare feet on natural ground as soon as possible, followed by a hot bath with Epsom salts,” the 24-time major champion told Travel + Leisure magazine, external.

“Then on the first morning, I try to watch the sunrise, to reset my brain.”

Natural herbal tablets, often containing plant-based ingredients like valerian, hops, chamomile and passionflower are a popular coping strategy, while many players have turned to melatonin as a sleep aid.

Taking the hormone, which your brain produces in response to darkness and therefore helps you sleep, has led to serious repercussions for some leading players, though.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek was banned for one month in 2024 after failing a doping test because the melatonin she took to avoid jetlag was contaminated.

In 2023, Greece’s then-world number five Stefanos Tsitsipas blamed the tablets for a sluggish performance in his French Open quarter-final thrashing by Carlos Alcaraz.

Sho Evans of Cleveland High was thrown into the fire as a freshman guard last season.

“It was hard,” he said. “I was trying not to mess up.”

This season as a 6-foot-4 sophomore, you can see his growing confidence and calmness. He’s had a 39-point game and isn’t afraid to launch a three.

“I learned to play with confidence and take what the defense gives me,” he said.

The development of Evans gives Cleveland another offensive weapon to go with 6-8 center Sergine Deme and guards TJ Wansa and Charlie Adams.

Evans had 17 points on Wednesday in a win over Granada Hills. His first name comes from his Japanese roots.

The Dodgers have Shohei Ohtani, but Cleveland is happy to have its own Sho.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

We are in the thick of the NFL playoffs, which also means teams that need a new head coach are busy shopping. And this year, there are a lot of shoppers, after more than 25% of teams said “thank you and goodbye” to the guy they started the season with.

Most of the coaches were fired. Most of them didn’t make the playoffs this year. Most of them didn’t even finish .500. None of that describes Mike Tomlin.

After leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to the team’s 25th division title — eight because of him — he decided to step down after 19 years on the job. Upon hearing the news, the Athletic reported, players became very emotional, including future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was said to be in tears. The players’ response is consistent with Tomlin’s decades-long reputation in the league as a great mentor and friend.

Unfortunately, because we’re all trapped in this what-have-you-done-for-me-lately meets rage-bait world, there is this narrative out there that Tomlin is not an all-time great coach. In fact, some Steelers fans online and former NFL players on podcasts are suggesting he was mediocre because the team hasn’t won a Super Bowl since President Obama’s first month in office. About a third of the league’s teams have won a championship since Tomlin. For the fanbase for teams like the Cleveland Browns or the Arizona Cardinals, a Super Bowl in any year would be enough. However, the Steelers faithful have a different history and higher expectations.

I get it.

That is still no reason to disrespect one of the greatest coaches in league history as he walks out the door. Recency bias typically comes with a dash of amnesia. Sprinkle in the pace of the modern news cycle and the algorithms’ insatiable hunger for outrage, and you can see why people are tempted to say negative things about someone who has never had a losing season. That achievement is not perfection, which is commonly the bar set on social media by naysayers in search of clicks, but it is unequivocal excellence. No other NFL coach with his number of years in charge can make such a claim. That is also true in the NBA, the MLB and the NHL.

The only quarterback the Steelers drafted in the first round during his era, Kenny Pickett in 2022, is currently on his fourth team. For perspective, Brock Purdy, the current San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback, was available. That’s not meant to be a dig at the Steelers front office. Every team has its hits and misses during the NFL draft. That’s just to remind you of Pittsburgh’s decadelong carousel under center. As coach, Tomlin has more seasons using three different starting quarterbacks than he does finishing the year 8-8.

There’s no medal or ring for never having a losing season. However, that accomplishment should always come with respect. Because winning an NFL game has never been easy.

For perspective, in 2022, while the Steelers were busy not drafting a franchise quarterback, former Rams coach Dick Vermeil was inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 15 years, Vermeil had seven losing seasons. Like Tomlin, he has one Super Bowl ring. Vermeil, who was famous for turning teams around in three seasons, left the game with a .525 win percentage. After two decades, Tomlin won 63% of his games, which ranks in the top 10 all time and is the best in Steelers history.

To question if he’s an all-time great isn’t just counterintuitive.

It’s disrespectful. And for what? To generate some content between playoff games? An irrational need to be a contrarian?

There’s more to Tomlin’s story that is being underdiscussed. Less than 2% of all K-12 teachers are Black men. The percentage of Black head football coaches in the top division has never been more than 15. Chances are Tomlin is the first Black man many of his players have ever witnessed be in charge. There have been stretches in which he was the only Black NFL head coach and thus the first person journalists reached out to when it’s time to talk about the Rooney Rule. He’s carried that unspoken responsibility, that invisible weight, quietly for 19 years.

And he did so without ever ending the season having lost more than he won.

Instead of asking if Tomlin is an all-time great, the conversation in the sports world should be focused on how great Tomlin is.

YouTube: @LZGrandersonShow

Rookie Beckett Sennecke had two assists and then scored in the shootout, sending the Ducks to a 3-2 victory over the Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Mason McTavish ended it with a third-round shootout goal for the Ducks, who rallied from an early two-goal deficit for their second straight victory after a nine-game skid.

Tim Washe scored his first NHL goal and Ryan Strome got his first goal in a month for the Ducks when Southern California’s two NHL teams opened a back-to-back, home-and-home chapter of the rivalry by going to their second shootout of the season. Lukas Dostal made 26 saves.

Joel Armia had a goal and an assist in his return from a five-game injury absence for the Kings, who have lost five of six.

Darcy Kuemper stopped 26 shots, but the Canadian Olympian couldn’t stop the famously deliberate shootout style of McTavish, one of the NHL’s most successful shootout scorers.

Quinton Byfield put the Kings ahead on their first shot on goal 98 seconds after the opening faceoff, beating Dostal for his ninth goal off a rush set up by Armia.

Neither team mounted a consistent offensive attack for two periods, but Armia made it 2-0 for the Kings midway through the second with a one-timer off a backhand pass from Andre Lee.

Strome answered 39 seconds later, putting a shot past a screen from Sennecke for his second goal in 22 games.

Less than three minutes after that, Washe alertly located a rebound off the boards and beat Kuemper from a sharp angle for his inaugural goal in his sixth NHL game. The 24-year-old undrafted forward won an NCAA title last spring with Western Michigan.

The Ducks played without their top two scorers because of injury. Leo Carlsson had treatment earlier in the day on a thigh injury that could endanger his participation in the Olympics, while Troy Terry (upper body) went on injured reserve before missing his fourth straight game.

The Kings were without captain Anze Kopitar, Trevor Moore and Corey Perry.