LeBron James has done and seen it all during his 20-year NBA career, so the Los Angeles Lakers superstar was not about to be drawn into a war of words with Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks.
James refused to respond when asked about Brooks' comments after practice on Friday before the teams meet in Los Angles for Game 3 of their first-round series on Saturday.
"I’m not here for the bulls***," James said before cutting off his media availability after sidestepping Brooks-related questions for roughly five minutes. "I'm ready to play and that's it."
Brooks took a shot at James after the Grizzlies’ 103-93 victory in Game 2 evened the series, doubting the veteran’s effectiveness at this point in his career.
"I don’t care – he’s old. You know what I mean?" Brooks said Wednesday after staring down James on the floor when he hit a three in the fourth quarter. "I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that Game 4, Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should have been saying that earlier on. But I poke bears. I don't respect no one until they come and give me 40."
James didn’t place any significance on the extracurricular activity.
"The game is won in between the four lines. Always has been and always will be," James said.
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura weighed in on Brooks’ comments.
"I heard about. I’m not really into social media, but I heard about it," he said. "Honestly, that’s all they can do. They’re a young team. They just want to talk. We just don’t really care. We’re going to play our game and we’re trying to win the games."
Two of the most important players in the playoffs will miss their respective Game 4s as Philadelphia 76ers MVP favourite Joel Embiid and Los Angeles Clippers franchise player Kawhi Leonard battle injuries.
It was announced on Friday that Embiid had suffered a knee sprain and would be unable to suit up for Game 4, although he is expected to return "early next week", per ESPN.
The 76ers lead their series against the Brooklyn Nets 3-0, with Tyrese Maxey stepping up as Philadelphia's top scoring option down the stretch of Game 3.
Embiid is having a down series by his lofty standards, averaging 20.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.3 blocks in the three games so far, shooting 46.2 per cent from the field and only hitting one of his eight three-point attempts.
Meanwhile, Leonard was a surprise absentee in Game 3 with a knee injury of his own, and he has not been able to recover in time to make it back for a crucial Game 4 with his Clippers trailing 2-1.
Leonard has returned to his status as one of the best players in the league, and he was averaging 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals through his two games against the Phoenix Suns this series, shooting a blistering 54.5 per cent from the field, 60.0 per cent from deep and 88.2 per cent from the free throw line.
The Clippers lost Game 3 despite receiving a 42-point outburst from Norman Powell and a 30-point, 12-assist showing from the resurgent Russell Westbrook.
After a disappointing opening round, the defending champion team of Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele shot Friday's best round to climb into the top five at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The highest-ranked duo in the field, world number four Cantlay and world number five Schauffele made the foursomes format look easy, posting a nine-under 63 in the alternate shot style. It set a new tournament record for a foursomes round.
It comes after they finished Thursday's first round outside of the cut-line as they could only muster a five-under 67 in the easier four-ball format, but they were three strokes better than every other team on their second trip around TPC Louisiana.
They are two strokes off the outright leading pair of Wyndham Clark with Beau Hossler, following their 61 with a solid 67 to be the only team at 16 under heading into the weekend.
One stroke behind in a tie for second are the teams of Im Sung-jae with Keith Mitchell and Doc Redman with Sam Ryder, while the Cantlay/Schauffele team are in a five-way tie for fourth.
The highly-rated team of Sam Burns and Billy Horschel are at 11 under in a tie for 20th, where they are joined by strong South Korean duo Tom Kim with Kim Si-woo, and also the Fitzpatrick brothers – Matt and Alex.
One of the favourites coming into the tournament, the team of Max Homa and Collin Morikawa missed the cut at eight under.
Jurgen Klopp says Darwin Nunez is "a long-term project" at Liverpool and insists the striker is "still adapting" to life with the Reds.
The Uruguay international, who moved to Anfield from Benfica ahead of this season for an initial fee of £64million, has scored 15 goals in 37 appearances during his debut season with Liverpool, who are eighth in the Premier League and nine points off the top four.
Although, Nunez has found game time hard to come by in recent times, starting just one of the Reds' last four matches, with Klopp opting for a front three of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota.
But the Reds boss, who will be without Roberto Firmino for the visit of Nottingham Forest on Saturday due to a muscle injury, insists the 23-year-old will get plenty of opportunities between now and the end of the season.
"Darwin is a player with a different skill set to our other players, which is good," Klopp said during his pre-match press conference. "He's a real handful, a machine.
"He will score a lot of goals, and he's scored a decent number already. But of course, he's still adapting. His English still isn't great, but we're working on that.
"It's not helpful to go through a debut season when it's difficult for the whole team. How can a striker shine when the whole team is struggling? It's not impossible, but he's had some super moments.
"He was injured in some moments, suspended in others. This is a long-term project.
"I understand that he wants to play desperately from the beginning, but we have to find a way that really works for us again and then fit in the players we can use with the specific strengths.
"I am completely fine with the situation and I understand that Darwin isn't always fine. He doesn't smile in my face when he realises he won't start and say: 'thank you, boss'.
"But when you have five or six players available up front, you have to make decisions. The door is miles open. He came on the other night and was exceptional. It was exactly the right way. With five games in the next two weeks, Darwin will start games, definitely."
With Luis Diaz also returning to fitness in recent weeks, what must Nunez do to give himself the best opportunity to regain his place in the starting line-up?
"The ticket into this team must be and will be counter-pressing," Klopp added. "We had so many games where I didn't like that, and it's a pretty strict thing.
"All five available now can do it pretty well. If you do it in a game you play, then you'll have a good chance of starting again.
"We have opportunities to change and with five games in the next two weeks, there will be changes. Everyone will play, everyone is super important to us.
"But the ticket will be the desire to win the ball back after we've lost it, because we had so many times when that made the difference in games. It's super important against deep-defending sides."
Mikel Arteta praised his Arsenal players for fighting back to salvage a 3-3 draw against Southampton and says he "loves them more than ever".
Arsenal were made to settle for a point in Friday's contest at Emirates Stadium after finding themselves two goals down inside 14 minutes.
Gabriel Martinelli restored hope before half-time after Carlos Alcaraz had scored one and assisted another for Theo Walcott, only for Duje Caleta-Car to head in the Saints' third.
But Martin Odegaard curled in an impressive goal in the 88th minute and Bukayo Saka had Arsenal on level terms in added time to deny the Premier League's bottom side.
The Gunners have now dropped points in three successive matches, but Arteta was pleased with the way his side fought back against Southampton.
"We made it very difficult again for ourselves – mistakes are part of football, but the way we reacted, I love my players more than ever," he told Sky Sports.
"It is incredible. We were on the way back, we conceded again with a sloppy goal but in the end we should have won the game.
"We created enough chances and opportunities, but it didn't happen and we are disappointed.
"You can't concede three goals in this league. If you concede three like we did in a sloppy way it is very difficult to win matches.
"This young team reacts in a way that is incredible. When it is against the odds but the chances they created and the spirit they had it was a joy to watch.
"The message is clear that I love them. We are down and they are more willing than anybody to win it. You can see that spirit and fight in the dressing room."
Arsenal are five points clear of second-place Manchester City, but they have played two games more than their in-form title rivals and travel to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
"It hasn't changed," Arteta said. "Obviously the task is even bigger but now we have to do the simple things better and cut out mistakes and then you will win games.
"The [Man City game] is not a final because there are still six games to go. The concern is turning around these moments especially if the players in some moments are in doubt.
"In football you go through moments when you make errors and are not in a good moment but you have to come away from that.
"I have not seen anybody hiding – the opposite. They are willing to do more and more.
"Today is a good example of the level they can show, how capable they are to play against a different type of opponent. The spirit is incredible and we have to try and do it again."
Christophe Galtier insists Paris Saint-Germain "can't afford to only play one half" following their narrow 2-1 victory over bottom side Angers in Ligue 1.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice at Stade Raymond-Kopa as runaway leaders PSG moved 11 points clear at the summit, while pushing their opponents to the brink of relegation.
However, it was a generally below-par display by the visitors, who failed to press home their advantage after the restart and were denied a clean sheet when Sada Thioub struck three minutes from time.
In fact, Angers registered six more shots than PSG (10) during the 90 minutes and while Galtier was pleased to see his side edge closer to another league title, the head coach conceded he expects more from his players.
"Tonight, it was important to win," he told Amazon Prime.
"But I must say, however, that if in the first half, we were serious and effective. In the second half, there was a total relaxation. We only carried the ball, without wanting to improve the advantage.
"Of course, we win. But when you're at PSG, you can't afford to only play one half.
"Is there also fatigue and wear and tear over a long season? Maybe, but we haven't done anything yet.
"The title is not yet ours. The gap is considerable, but we will see on Sunday [against Lorient] how things go. There are still several games to win."
Gabriel Jesus vowed Arsenal will "fight until the end" in pursuit of the Premier League title after handing the initiative to Manchester City with their 3-3 draw against Southampton.
Arsenal failed to win for a third game running in Friday's enthralling contest at Emirates Stadium, but they did at least salvage a point in a game they trailed 2-1 after 87 minutes.
The Gunners travel to City on Wednesday with a five-point lead on their rivals, though they have played two games more and therefore realistically have to win in Manchester.
Rather than rue two points dropped at home to the division's bottom side, Jesus is remaining upbeat ahead of the huge trip to the Etihad Stadium.
"We don't want to come here and talk negative because we are very positive. What we are doing this season is amazing. The Premier League is tough," he told Sky Sports.
"Now is a difficult moment. It is time now to stick together until the end. We still have a lot of things to do this season. It is not over – we are still five points clear.
"Manchester City have two games in hand but if we want to be champions we have to go there to win the game – that is all.
"We are the youngest team in the league, though I'm not making excuses. Sometimes we do right and sometimes we do wrong.
"Everyone can make mistakes that is why it is so important to stick together. Anything can happen.
"Obviously we are not happy with the last three games. We dropped points and we know this is true – no one has to tell us. We dropped a little bit of our level and focus.
"This is the Premier League. It is so difficult to win this competition. But we are still there, we are still fighting and we will fight until the end."
Having squandered 2-0 leads to draw 2-2 in their past two games, Arsenal found themselves behind by that same scoreline inside 14 minutes against the struggling Saints.
Carlos Alcaraz took full advantage of Aaron Ramsdale's error inside 27 seconds and then teed up former Arsenal player Theo Walcott for Southampton's second.
Duje Caleta-Car restored the visitors' two-goal lead after Gabriel Martinelli had pulled one back, but late goals from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka ensured it finished level.
Arsenal are the first side to avoid defeat in a Premier League game despite trailing by two goals as late as the 88th minute since Newcastle United versus Everton in January 2020.
As for Southampton, they are the first team in Premier League history to start the day bottom of the table and score three-or-more goals against the team starting the day top.
Ultimately, though, it was a wasted opportunity for Ruben Selles' men as they are three points from safety having played a game more than the sides above them.
"We came here with the intention to win the game, to put a big performance and show that we are still a team that is alive. I think we did it," Selles said.
"We showed character and different variations we can do. We're proud of the work and what we did as a unit together. That's the way we need to follow for the rest of the season."
Novak Djokovic had only words of praise for his opponent after being beaten in straight sets by fellow Serbian Dusan Lajovic at the Srpska Open in Banja Luka.
Lajovic bested the 22-time grand slam winner 6-4 7-6 (8-6) on Friday in the quarter-finals, dumping Djokovic out against the odds.
The key for Lajovic was saving break points, managing to rescue an incredible 15 of 16 that Djokovic earned.
Speaking after his loss, the number one seed said: "Dusan is a fantastic person, great guy. Someone I've known for a very long time, since he started playing professional tennis. So many times on the Davis Cup team together, trained together. I'm happy for him, to be honest.
"I know this is an important win for him considering the last 12 months that he's been through, it's not been easy for him. He's playing well and he deserved to win today."
It was the first time Djokovic had lost to a compatriot since Janko Tipsarevic beat him at the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid in May 2012.
Lajovic declared it his biggest ever victory, and reciprocated the words of kindness from Djokovic.
"I'm overwhelmed, it is the biggest win of my career," Lajovic said on-court. "The emotions are very mixed because I'm playing here in front of the home town and I'm also playing against Nole, who is a good friend and he's a hero of our country.
"Beating him, it's something that I didn't even think is going to be possible, but it happened."
Lajovic will face another Serbian in the semi-finals in Miomir Kecmanovic, who beat Jiri Lehecka 7-5 6-0.
Arsenal recovered from two goals down late on to draw 3-3 with bottom side Southampton, though the Premier League leaders ultimately dropped points for a third game running.
After squandering 2-0 leads to draw 2-2 in their past two games, Arsenal found themselves behind by that same scoreline inside 14 minutes in a thrilling contest at Emirates Stadium on Friday.
Carlos Alcaraz took advantage of an Aaron Ramsdale error inside 27 seconds and former Gunner Theo Walcott added a second, before Gabriel Martinelli pulled one back before half-time.
Duje Caleta-Car added a third for Southampton, but Martin Odegaard's strike was followed up by Bukayo Saka's 90th-minute leveller, leaving Arsenal five points ahead of Manchester City – who they face on Wednesday – having played two games more.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain edged out Angers 2-1 at Stade Raymond-Kopa.
Moving 11 points clear at the Ligue 1 summit despite a generally below-par display, the runaway leaders did the damage in the first half against the division's bottom side, whose relegation could be confirmed this weekend.
Mbappe's pair of well-taken goals inside the opening 26 minutes took his tally for the season to 34 in all competitions, though the visitors were denied a clean sheet by Sada Thioub's late strike.
Nevertheless, PSG registered their 14th successive league win over Angers, equalling their own record for consecutive victories over a single opponent in the French top flight (against Nantes).
Angers had the first opportunity when Batista Mendy's throughball released Ibrahima Niane, but Gianluigi Donnarumma was quickly out of his goal to deny him.
PSG broke the deadlock just four minutes later. Juan Bernat cushioned Lionel Messi's delicious diagonal ball into Mbappe who, despite fluffing his first attempt, recovered to eventually scramble home.
Messi was instrumental again as the visitors doubled their lead in the 26th minute, playing a sublime throughball for Mbappe to latch onto and round Angers goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni before slotting in.
The visitors pushed to stretch their advantage, with Achraf Hakimi firing over nine minutes into the second half, while Mbappe went close to completing his hat-trick when Bernardoni tipped over his dipping 35-yard effort.
Angers rallied and halved the deficit three minutes from time when Abdallah Sima cushioned Yan Valery's cross for Thioub to tuck home. But PSG held out to edge a step closer to yet another Ligue 1 title.
Projected number one pick for the 2023 NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama, has officially confirmed his participation.
The 19-year-old Frenchman is one of the most highly-anticipated picks in recent history, with all eyes on the draft lottery on May 15 where the team that gets the number one selection will be confirmed, almost certainly determining Wembanyama's destination.
He is averaging 21.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 2.3 assists per game in France, and stands at seven-foot, five inches tall.
Speaking to ESPN, Wembanyama confirmed he has submitted his paperwork to the NBA to declare himself for the draft, which will take place on June 22.
"Declaring for the draft ... it's something crazy I'm not realising yet," he said. "I realised pretty young I wanted to play in the NBA but it becomes a reality more every day. I'm so lucky to have this dream within the reach of my hand."
Wembanyama also said he is preparing himself for the physical rigours of the NBA, aiming to make himself robust enough for what the league will throw at him.
"I've been working more than ever on my body with my personal trainer Guillaume [Alquier]," he said. "I'm ready to go over all sorts of obstacles. So far it's worked pretty well. I haven't missed a game yet. I've been there for my guys every game.
"There's so many games in an NBA season. It's hard to play all 82 games, some players are built a certain way. Others got to rest. My goal is to play the most games I can, and help my team as much as I can."
It was a day for comebacks at the Stuttgart Open, with number one seed Iga Swiatek recovering from a set down to beat Karolina Pliskova in the quarter-finals.
Swiatek made a disastrous start, going 4-0 down, and though she broke back once, was unable to find the second as Pliskova took the opening frame 6-4.
The determined Pole stepped up a level though to take the second 6-1, before breaking early in the third.
It was still an improvement for the Czech player, who lost 6-0 6-0 to Swiatek in their only previous meeting in Rome in 2021.
Pliskova kept her opponent honest on her own serve, but Swiatek had too much for the world number 17 as she clinched the decider 6-2.
Aryna Sabalenka also showcased her powers of recovery as she beat Paula Badosa despite going a set down.
The second seed won 4-6 6-4 6-4 in an even contest that saw nine breaks of serve, before the Belarusian eventually got over the line.
Sabalenka is now the player with the joint-most comeback wins over the last two seasons (13) level with Caroline Garcia, though the French star was actually the victim of a comeback herself on Friday.
Garcia won the first set against Anastasia Potapova, before the Russian came back to take it 4-6 6-3 6-3 to set up a semi against Sabalenka.
There was no need for such drama from Ons Jabeur, who eased to a 6-3 6-0 victory against Beatriz Haddad Maia in just 68 minutes to confirm a clash with Swiatek.
Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and head coach Marco Silva will not be punished further after the Football Association's appeal to lengthen their bans was rejected.
Mitrovic was banned for eight games for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during Fulham's 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final loss at Manchester United last month.
Silva was given a two-match ban after being sent off in the same game for improper conduct and using "abusive and insulting" language.
The FA argued the punishments, imposed by an independent regulatory commission, were "clearly insufficient" and deserved to be extended.
But the governing body confirmed on Friday its appeal had been rejected, meaning Silva is free to return to the touchline, while Mitrovic will be back for Fulham's final three games.
Mitrovic and Silva both apologised last month for their actions.
Among Fulham's final three Premier League games is a trip to Old Trafford on May 28.
Carlos Alcaraz kept his Barcelona Open title defence on track following a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 victory over compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarter-finals.
The world number two is aiming to become the first player to successfully defend the Barcelona crown since Rafael Nadal won three in a row between 2016 and 2018.
And though run close by Davidovich Fokina, the reigning champion has now reeled off six sets without reply, taking his overall record at the ATP 500 event to 8-1.
The Spaniard, who is now 9-1 against his fellow countrymen since the start of 2022, will play Dan Evans in the last four. The Briton came from behind to defeat 15th seed Francisco Cerundolo 2-6 7-5 6-3.
They are joined by Stefanos Tsitsipas, whose quest for a first title of the campaign continues after a commanding 6-4 6-2 victory over eighth seed Alex De Minaur.
The second seed, who was runner-up at this event in 2018 and 2021, sealed the deal in one hour and 21 minutes to claim his ninth successive win against the Australian.
His reward is a showdown with Lorenzo Musetti, who received a walkover into the last four following Jannik Sinner's withdrawal.
Over in Munich, reigning champion Holger Rune booked his semi-final place with a dominant 6-2 6-4 win over Cristian Garin.
The world number seven, who is now 7-0 in this event, will play Christopher O'Connell. After defeating Alexander Zverev earlier in the week, the Australian qualifier built on his momentum by seeing off Flavio Cobolli 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-3.
Second seed Taylor Fritz also advanced in straight sets with a 6-3 6-4 victory over former world number three Dominic Thiem, who overcame eighth seed Marc-Andrea Huesler earlier in the day.
Fritz's semi-final opponent will be Botic van de Zandschulp after the fourth seed saw off Marcos Giron 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.
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