SPORTS

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Los Angeles Lakers guards Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard were fined by the NBA on Monday for criticism of officiating following a playoff loss at Houston, the league announced.

Smart was fined $35,000 for questioning the integrity of game officials. Smart complained to referee James Williams about unnecessary ejections.

Kennard was fined $25,000 for directing inappropriate language toward referees. Both incidents took place in the moments after Houston's 115-96 triumph over the Lakers on Sunday, which lifted the Rockets within 3-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round playoff series.

The Lakers can advance to the second round with a home victory over the Rockets on Wednesday.

The Rockets avoided a sweep but must win on Wednesday to force a sixth game on Friday at Houston.

A winner-take-all seventh game, if needed, would be played on Sunday in Los Angeles.

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Cade Cunningham kept top-seeded Detroit's NBA playoff run alive against the Orlando Magic, as the Los Angeles Lakers again failed to close out their series with Houston on Wednesday.

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Players at the upcoming FIFA World Cup could face stricter disciplinary action following new rule changes approved by International Football Association Board. The decision, reached during a special meeting in Vancouver, Canada, introduces the possibility of a red card for players who cover their mouths while speaking during on field confrontations. The move is part of a broader effort to address misconduct and improve transparency in the game.

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The Houston Rockets will be without injured star Kevin Durant as they try to fend off elimination in the NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Photo Credit: Source: AFP / Justin Tallis

Kenyan athlete Sabastian Sawe has become the first person to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race, winning the London Marathon in 1:59:30. The 30-year-old’s time broke the previous world record of 2:00:35, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, by over a minute. While Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour barrier in 2019, Sawe’s performance is the first to be achieved in a sanctioned, record-eligible competition.

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Joel Embiid scored 33 points and made eight assists to spark Philadelphia over the Boston Celtics 113-97 on Tuesday, keeping the 76ers from being eliminated in the NBA playoffs.