Mike Krzyzewski is still struggling to come to terms with the end of his coaching career at Duke after overseeing his final home game on Saturday.

After 42 years, 'Coach K' is leaving the Blue Devils at the end of this season.

A host of celebrities and 96 former players were in attendance for his farewell against rivals North Carolina, although a 94-81 defeat put a dampener on the occasion – at least in Krzyzewski's eyes.

"I'm sorry about this afternoon," he told the crowd in a post-game ceremony, although that apology was drowned out by cheers.

"Today was unacceptable, but the season has been very acceptable. And the season isn't over, all right?"

Indeed, Krzyzewski has already this year delivered Duke their 13th ACC regular season title of his tenure, the first since 2010 and first outright since 2006.

And attention now turns towards the ACC tournament before a tilt at Krzyzewski's sixth national title with the school.

"We're 0-0," the coach said. "We'll be that twice: now and next Sunday, we'll be that again.

"Hopefully, the lessons we learned from 31 games, including especially this last one, will help us in both situations."

However, this game – one of the biggest in basketball – was instead all about a celebration of Krzyzewski.

Reflecting on his long and successful stay at Duke, he said: "We have loved being a part of the Duke family.

"It's hard for me to believe this is over. I'm just going to say the regular season is over."

Stephen Curry acknowledges things are "rough right now" for the Golden State Warriors, with time running out to fix their form before the playoffs as rival superstars continue to capitalise.

LeBron James put up 56 points as the Los Angeles Lakers handed the Warriors their fourth straight loss and eighth in 10 games.

The Warriors had won nine in a row prior to that run but have now slipped to 43-21 and third place in the West.

Saturday's 124-116 defeat followed a familiar, frustrating theme, according to Curry, whose 30 points paled next to James' efforts.

His 56 were the most by any opposition player against the Warriors this season, meaning three of the top four such performances have come in their past three games.

Luka Doncic had 41 for the Dallas Mavericks against the Warriors, while Karl-Anthony Towns scored 39 for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"Obviously LeBron played amazing, he hit some tough shots and we've got to acknowledge that, for sure, but we still had some self-inflicted wounds," Curry said.

"That's tough when you're trying to get out of a hole. We're bringing the right energy, it's just IQ, effort plays, simple breakdowns and obviously boxing out.

"It's rough right now. Keeping it plain and simple: it's rough.

"We've got to figure out how to claw our way out, because as you've seen the last four games, it's self-inflicted wounds but also guys are playing with confidence on the other end and coming at us, having not career nights but performances that are unlike the previous five games or whatever.

"You're coming in and you're giving teams confidence as well. We've got to figure that out."

Two-time MVP Curry accepted: "Right now, if the playoffs started tomorrow, we'd be in some trouble."

He added: "We know we've shown who we are, in terms of how we started the season. I feel like we can get back to that – that's the confidence that has to remain – but we cannot give in to this losing spirit of just finding different ways to lose basketball games.

"The clock will tick out on you and you'll go into the summer thinking what could have been, should have been, have regrets. I don't want to let us get into that vibe.

"What are there, 18 games left? We have to figure out how to turn things around pretty quick."

"There's no words" for LeBron James' brilliance after his 56-point haul in the Los Angeles Lakers' 124-116 win over the Golden State Warriors, according to head coach Frank Vogel.

James almost single-handedly hauled the Lakers over the line, rallying from a half-time deficit with a 35-22 fourth quarter to end their four-game losing run.

The four-time NBA MVP's 56 points was his most as a Laker and tied for the third most in a single game in his storied 19-year career.

James labelled it a "desperation" win after the game, shooting 19-of-31 from the field along with six-of-11 from beyond the arc, with 10 rebounds and three assists.

“There’s no words for it," Vogel told reporters after the game. "An incredible performance by the best to ever do it in my opinion."

James' 56-point haul meant he became the fourth player aged 37 or older to score 50 or more points in a single game, alongside Michael Jordan (2001), Kobe Bryant (2016) and Jamal Crawford (2019).

"It's just remarkable, his will," Vogel added. "What he's done to transition his game to this stage of his career, in terms of his shooting, it's an example to every player to put the work into his craft.

"it's just remarkable to be doing it at this stage in his career."

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr added: “He was brilliant tonight. LeBron was amazing."

The win improves the Lakers' record to 28-35, sitting ninth in the Western Conference ahead of the final stretch of games before the playoffs.

"It feels like earlier in the season when we first lost Anthony [Davis], we lost five in a row, we were in an adjustment phase and trying to figure it out," Vogel said. "Hopefully this is the win that changes that momentum."

Colby Covington dominated former friend Jorge Masvidal with a unanimous decision victory in UFC 272's welterweight main event before calling out Dustin Poirier on Sunday.

Covington totally outpointed Masvidal to clinch a 49-46, 50-44, 50-45 over his former teammate in a grudge match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The 34-year-old American controlled the majority of the fight, although Masvidal dropped him in the fourth round with a right hand.

The polarizing Covington took out his mouthguard immediately after the final bell, sticking his tongue out in Masvidal's direction, before blowing him kisses.

Covington went on to call out former UFC lightweight champion and his ex-training partner Poirier for his next bout, with the win improving his record to 17-3.

"Louisiana swamp trash," Covington labelled Poirier, before adding: "I'll see you soon. You're next!"

The fight was billed as a grudge match rather than anything significant for titles or rankings with a lot of animosity between Covington and Masvidal given their history.

Covington spent long periods of the fight on Masvidal's back, with his superiority grappling, attempting to secure a rear-naked choke in the first round.

The American landed elbows in the third round as 37-year-old Masvidal's pace started to slow in the latter rounds, with his best moment being his fourth round hit which dropped Covington.

"I should have had more moments like that, but I was off today," Masvidal said. "I didn't have it."

Meanwhile, former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos won a bloody stand-up battle against Renato Moicano by unanimous decision.

Bryce Mitchell was dominant in his featherweight bout with Edson Barboza, claiming victory by unanimous decision. 

Kevin Holland and Sergey Spivak both won by TKO in the earlier welterweight and heavyweight bouts against Alex Oliveira and Greg Hardy respectively.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rovers says he pays no attention to the Eastern Conference standings after Saturday's loss left them three games behind the Miami Heat.

Rivers opted not to play 2018 MVP James Harden in the second game of their back-to-back as they went down 99-82 to the Eastern Conference-leading Heat.

Joel Embiid scored 22 points with 15 rebounds for the 76ers but was often double-teamed in Harden's absence, while Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro both contributed 21 points for the Heat.

The decision to leave out Harden was curious given the relative significance of the fixture with seedings in mind, with the Heat top of the east with a 43-22 record ahead of the second-placed 76ers at 39-24.

“I really don’t look at the standings,” Rivers said at the post-game news conference. “What do they matter? You have to win.

"I swear to God, after 82 [games], someone’s going to tap me and say ‘This is who you’re playing.’ ... You can only control what you can control. The other stuff is for everyone else to talk about."

The 76ers head coach clarified that Harden was left out due to managing a left hamstring complaint which was "nothing".

“It’s nothing, really,” Rivers said pre-game. “He’s just played a lot of games, he’s been out, and that’s about it really. There’s nothing to read into it.”

LeBron James inspired the Los Angeles Lakers to end their four-game losing run with 56 points in a 124-116 win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

James' 56-point haul was his most as a Laker and also meant he became the fourth player aged 37 or older to score 50 or more points in a game, alongside Michael Jordan (2001), Kobe Bryant (2016) and Jamal Crawford (2019).

The four-time NBA MVP made 19-of-31 from the field along with six-of-11 from beyond the arc, while he dished off three assists, including a key late pass for Carmelo Anthony's three-pointer. James also had 10 rebounds.

Russell Westbrook added 20 points for the Lakers, while Stephen Curry scored 30 points including four three-pointers for Golden State.

The result snaps the Lakers' skid and improves their record to 28-13, but it leaves the Warriors having lost four in a row, while they have only won twice in their past 10.

Harden absent as Heat move clear

Eastern Conference leaders Miami Heat made a statement with a 99-82 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers who were missing James Harden. The 76ers, playing on back-to-back nights, managed Harden's left hamstring complaint. Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler scored 21 points each as the Heat moved three games clear of the east's second-placed 76ers. Joel Embiid had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the 76ers.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 36 points with 15 rebounds and five assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves won 135-121 over the Portland Trail Blazers. Emerging star Anfernee Simons had 38 points for the Blazers.

Ja Morant scored 25 points with seven assists as the Memphis Grizzlies continued their strong run with a 124-96 win over the Orlando Magic. Desmond Bane added 24 points with 10-of-15 shooting.

Kings blew big lead against Mavs

The Sacramento Kings blew a 19-point lead as they lost 114-113 to the Dallas Mavericks who were without All-Star Luka Doncic with a toe strain. Dorian Finney-Smith hit a three-pointer with 3.3 seconds left, while Spencer Dinwiddie scored a season-high 36 points. De'Aaron Fox had an equal career-high 44 points for the Kings.

Leylah Fernandez's title defence at the Monterrey Open remains on track after progressing through to the final where she will face Camila Osorio.

The Canadian second seed, who reached last year's US Open final, comfortably accounted for Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1 6-4 on Saturday.

Fernandez triumphed in one hour and 12 minutes, even as Haddad Maia took a medical timeout in the second set.

The 2021 US Open runner-up was exceptional on first serve, making 77.6 per cent, while she was not broken once throughout the match, taking three of her four break points.

Colombian fifth seed Osorio defeated sixth seed Nuria Parrizas Diaz 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 29 minutes.

Osorio's triumph means she qualifier for her third WTA Tour singles final, having claimed her only title in Bogota last year.

Struggling Granada have axed head coach Robert Moreno following a run of nine games without a win in LaLiga, with Ruben Torrecilla to take over.

Granada have spent most of the decade in the top flight, besides for two years in the Segunda Division from 2017 to 2019, and are in threat of relegation.

The club confirmed Moreno's departure following their 3-1 defeat away to midtable Valencia on Saturday.

Granada are currently 17th in LaLiga, three points above 18th-placed Alaves in the drop zone having collected one point from their past seven league games.

Moreno, who previously coached Monaco and Spain on an interim basis, had been in charge at Nuevo Los Carmenes since 2021.

Recreativo Granada's Ruben Torrecilla will take over as interim head coach until the end of the season.

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick says the club's transfer strategy needs to improve and is one of the key reasons why they have fallen behind Manchester City and Liverpool.

United trail Sunday's Premier League opponents Manchester City by 19 points and have not finished above their Mancunian neighbours on the table since 2012-13 when Sir Alex Ferguson retired.

The Red Devils have spent more than £1 billion on players since Ferguson's departure yet have not been genuine title contenders in that time.

"It’s a question of consistency, continuity, knowing exactly how I want to play as a club, as a manager," former RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg head coach Rangnick told reporters.

"Having a clear transfer strategy, signing players who fit into that system and that’s what both clubs have been doing in the last five or six years.

"If I look at their transfer success, they haven’t had many players who after one or two years somebody would have said, ‘maybe that wasn’t the right signing’. They’re pretty successful, both clubs and this is where I think Manchester United has to go again.

"Under Sir Alex they were there until 10 years ago but since then, there’s been quite a few different managers here at the club and in order to close the gap towards those two clubs, I wouldn’t say we have to do the same thing.

"We have our own identity, Manchester United as a club, we should always go down our own pathway but in total, professional football is pretty easy.

"You have to have a clear identity of how you want to play, how even the supporters want to see you play and this has always been attractive, offensive, proactive, entertaining football and then from there, make sure that the recruitment is right, that you get the best possible players, that you’re quick enough in the transfer market, knowing the transfer market and then signing the right players at the right moment.

"Then, on top of that, having the best possible manager, head coach, coaching staff who can develop those players.”

Angel Di Maria, Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Donny van de Beek, Jadon Sancho and Harry Maguire are among the big-money transfers United have made since Ferguson's exit.

Norwegian world number four Viktor Hovland surrendered his lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with two bogeys to finish the third day at Bay Hill on Saturday.

Hovland, who was the leader at halfway, carded a three-over 75 with six bogeys, saving face with a hole-out eagle from the bunker on the sixth and birdie on the eighth.

The Norwegian had retained his lead until bogeys on 17 and 18 allowed American pair Billy Horschel and Talor Gooch to claim a share of the lead.

Horschel and Gooch are seven-under after 54 holes, with Hovland one stroke back, followed by Scottie Scheffler at five-under after he carded a joint round-high four-under-68.

"I was really in a good rhythm until some bad shots on the back nine," Hovland told reporters.

On his hole-out eagle, he added: "That was awesome. Obviously, not the greatest start to the day. Even the pars that I made on the next few holes was really scrappy. Hit some really bad shots.

"Then obviously walking up to the greenside bunker on that hole was hard on the downslope and no green to work it. I thought I was in no man's land, just try to chunk it out there and give myself a putt at it. It came out really soft and landed in the first cut and just died and went in."

Horschel carded a one-under-71 to claim the joint lead, with three bogeys and four birdies, including closing out with an important birdie putt.

Gooch had an even round for 72, bogeying the 18th to settle for a share of the lead after he had birdied both the 15th – with a 33-foot putt - and 16th.

Scheffler surged up 16 spots and into contention with a round that included three birdies and an eagle on his back nine. The American rolled in a 21-footer for eagle on the 16th.

Max Homa, playing alongside Scheffler, landed a rare ace on the 14th hole although he is off the pace with an even card overall in a group featuring top-ranked Jon Rahm.

Gary Woodland is behind Scheffler at four-under, with Rory McIlroy among a group of three at three-under ahead of the final day.

Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City are in need of a striker.

The Citizens have not had an out-and-out attacker in the traditional sense since Sergio Aguero left the club at the end of last season.

Attempts to recruit a quality replacement last summer ultimately proved to be thwarted for Guardiola, with multiple offers for Harry Kane knocked back, among others.

An approach to Cristiano Ronaldo was also hijacked by neighbours Manchester United, who sealed a homecoming for the Portuguese from Juventus.

Since then, a host of players including Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus have helped to plug the gap up front, while Ferran Torres was occasionally used before his move to Barcelona

While the lack of a traditional player in that role has not dented City's prospects this season, nor hindered their grip on the summit, Guardiola has admitted that City will look to recruit for the role again at the end of the campaign.

"I think the club needs a striker, definitely," the Spaniard said ahead of Sunday's derby clash with United.

"You say we play fantastically well without a striker because we are winning. When we are not winning, you say we need a striker.

"[You say] 'how do these guys play without a striker? In the Premier League you have to play with a striker'. So, we need a striker, I think the club is going to try [to buy one]."

City did purchase Julian Alvarez in January, before loaning him immediately back to River Plate, but it remains to be seen whether the Argentina international could be a long-term solution.

Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool rode their luck to overcome West Ham 1-0 and further intensify the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City.

The Reds ground out a narrow victory at Anfield on Saturday thanks to Sadio Mane's 27th-minute strike as they moved to within three points of top spot.

Despite being without star midfielder Declan Rice and losing Jarrod Bowen to injury early in the second half, West Ham more than held their own on Merseyside.

Pablo Fornals had an effort saved off the line by Trent Alexander-Arnold, and big chances went begging for Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio in the final 20 minutes.

Liverpool finished with a higher expected goals (xG) return than their opponents – 2.0 compared to 1.4 – but Klopp accepts his side could easily have dropped valuable points.

"I don't know if we will remember this game as one of the most important. It was a tricky fixture but we did really well in the first half," he told Sky Sports. 

"We know about all the different things West Ham are really good at, and in the first half we denied them in all these situations. 

"We could've scored more, we didn't and then the game is open. I told the boys if you are not well organised you have to defend with passion and that's what we did.

"For their first chance Ali [Alisson] was calm, Trent cleared the situation. But this situation is a good example – people say we defend with a high line.

"But there was no pressure on the ball at all, we still had a high line and forgot completely Fornals, and that's obviously not how you defend. 

"The other situations were different. We lost the challenges and they were really there, had their big chances.

"We were lucky in these moments, but you can't win the number of games the boys have in the last few weeks without stressing a bit of luck."

Liverpool have now won seven top-flight games in a row, making this their best such run since stringing together 18 victories on the bounce two seasons ago.

The Reds went on to win a maiden Premier League title that campaign and are well in the hunt for another crown this time around after closing the gap on City.

City can restore their six-point lead at the summit on Sunday with victory over Manchester United, albeit having played a game more than their closest challengers.

Klopp will have one eye on events at the Etihad Stadium, where Liverpool are still to travel next month in what is shaping up to be a potential title-deciding showdown.

"Of course, we are interested in that game, but we have no influence on it," he said.

"We have to win the games we play. Those we do not play in we have no hand in it. We don't think about it or talk about it, we just try to win our games."

Alexander-Arnold's assist for Mane's winner was his 16th of the season, setting a new benchmark for the full-back having previously registered 15 in two separate seasons.

Only Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Muller (19) has set up more goals than the right-back this season among players from clubs in Europe's top five leagues.

Klopp hailed Alexander-Arnold's latest match-winning contribution from the back, while also praising Mane for getting on the end of what appeared to be a shot from the defender.

"When you see him [Alexander-Arnold] playing I think we help him a little bit with positioning and stuff like this," Klopp said.

"We try to bring him into positions, formation-wise, where he can be that influential but of course it's all about him and his skill-set and his quality and his right foot.

"That's it, that he is really in the situation and focused to set up goals in these moments, that he knows where the dangerous situations and positions in the opposition box are.

"It's very helpful if you work together for a longer time because the strikers obviously expect that as well. It was a brilliant run from Sadio for the goal.

"And I don't think it was a shot, by the way, I really think he wanted to… bring the ball in the box and then you need somebody who picks it up. It was a really good goal."

Mauricio Pochettino has suggested Paris Saint-Germain's defeat against Nice came down to misfortune more than anything else, after Andy Delort struck late to sink the Ligue 1 leaders.

The title frontrunners came up short against Christophe Galtier's hosts at Allianz Riviera thanks to the Algerian striker's late finish.

With the suspended Kylian Mbappe's absence leaving Les Parisiens short in attack, they have now lost consecutive league games on the road for the first time since April 2019.

Pochettino admitted that his side had not done enough to claim victory, but maintained Nice had not earned their three points either, chalking it up as something of a sporting incident.

"We thought it was going to end in a draw because neither of them had done enough to win," the Argentine stated in his post-game news conference.

"We had control of the game, especially in the second half, but we took a goal in transition and we lost. There's not much to analyse. There are times when if you cannot win, you mustn't lose."

With a Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid to come, Pochettino was keen to re-focus thoughts towards the future, rather than dwell on Saturday's result.

"We are preparing for a competition that everyone in Paris is waiting for and that everyone dreams of," he added. "Wednesday will be a different game, a different opponent, a different competition. I have no doubts that we will play the game that we have to do".

Having guided Lille to the top-tier crown last term before a shock exit, Galtier has set about returning Nice to the upper echelons of the domestic pyramid in the south of France.

His win over PSG notched his fourth consecutive clean sheet as a manager against Saturday's opponents, while match winner Delort was one of his major signings last summer.

Speaking to Canal+ after the match, the Algeria striker was quick to heap praise on his coach too, stating: "He's the best coach in Ligue 1 and I hope he'll stay with us for a long time."