LeBron James defied his age again with 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied for a 122-119 win over the Phoenix Suns to snap a three-game skid.

The 38-year-old James was 11 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers, and played a team-high 36 minutes, 23 seconds.

Kevin Durant scored 38 points and Bradley Beal had 24 for the Suns, who again played star Devin Booker for the fourth straight game.

Austin Reaves’ layup with 9:25 remaining was part of a 14-0 run and gave the Lakers their first lead of the second half at 97-96.

Cam Reddish scored 17 points and hit a corner 3 on a pass from James to extend Los Angeles’ lead to 118-113 with 70 seconds to go.

Anthony Davis returned after missing one game with a hip injury and had 18 points, 11 boards and four assists.

76ers beat Pistons for 7th straight win

The 76ers and Pistons continued to head in opposite directions as Joel Embiid had 33 points and 16 rebounds in Philadelphia’s 114-106 victory.

Tyrese Maxey has 29 points, 10 assists and no turnovers and former Piston Tobias Harris added 24 points as the 76ers won their seventh straight since a season-opening loss at Milwaukee.

Killian Hayes scored 23 points and Cade Cunningham had 21 for the Pistons, who dropped their seventh in a row and lost center Jalen Duren to an ankle injury.

Philadelphia closed the third quarter with a 15-6 run to go ahead 83-77 and outscored Detroit 35-21 in the period behind 16 points from Embiid.

Streaking Timberwolves overcome Wembanyama, Spurs

Karl-Anthony Towns had 29 points and 12 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves won their fifth straight, 117-110 over the San Antonio Spurs despite 29 points from Victor Wembanyama.

Anthony Edwards added 28 points for Minnesota, which notched it first road win of the season to go with impressive home victories over Boston and Denver.

Wembanyama was 12 of 21 from the field and 3 for 7 on 3-pointers, while adding nine boards, four assists and four blocks.

Devin Vassell scored a career-high 29 points for San Antonio in his return to the starting lineup after missing two games with a strained left groin and coming off the bench in Wednesday’s loss to the Knicks.

Stuart Lancaster resigned as England head coach on this day in 2015 after his side’s poor showing at the Rugby World Cup.

England became the first host nation to be knocked out at the pool stage after a 28-25 defeat to Wales and a 33-13 loss to Australia at Twickenham.

A Rugby Football Union inquest into England’s performances saw Lancaster sacked after three years in the job – he took over from 2003 World Cup winner Martin Johnson in 2012.

“I ultimately accept and take responsibility for the team’s performance,” Lancaster said after stepping down.

“I took on the role in difficult circumstances and it has been a huge challenge to transition the team with many hurdles along the way.

“However, I am immensely proud of the development of this team and I know that there is an incredibly strong foundation for them to progress to great things in the future.”

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie said: “The Rugby World Cup was hugely disappointing for everyone associated with the England team and the subsequent review into the team’s performance was always intended to be extremely comprehensive, which it has been.”

Eddie Jones, who helped Japan to a historic 34-32 victory over South Africa in 2015, took over as England head coach and led them to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan before he departed in 2022 following a poor run of form.

Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist to lead the Florida Panthers to a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference finals on Friday.

Sam Reinhart set up two goals and Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves to win his fourth straight start for Florida, which improved to 6-1-1 in its last eight games.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Sebastian Aho scored for the Hurricanes, which entered having won five of six.

The Panthers have won 10 of the last 12 meetings in the series, including all four in last season’s playoffs.

Golden Knights blank Sharks to avoid third straight loss

Alec Martinez scored twice and Adin Hill made 20 saves for his second shutout in three games as the Vegas Golden Knights got back on track with a 5-0 rout of the San Jose Sharks.

Alex Pietrangelo had a goal and two assists for the Knights, who were coming off consecutive losses following an 11-0-1 start to the season.

The Sharks failed in a bid to win three straight after they went winless in their first 11 games (0-10-1).

Vegas has dominated the all-time series with San Jose, going 22-2-5.  

Capitals score 2 in 15 seconds, hold off Devils

Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Beck Malenstyn scored 15 seconds apart in the first period and the Washington Capitals continued their surge with a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.

Evgeny Kuznetsov had two goals and Charlie Lindgren turned aside stopped 24 shots to help the Capitals improve to 5-1-1 in their last seven games following a 1-3-1 start.

Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer scored third-period goals for New Jersey, which has lost three or four.

Vitek Vanecek allowed two goals on five shots for the Devils before he was replaced by Akira Schmid midway through the first period.

England flanker Tom Curry stands by his accusation that South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi racially abused him in the World Cup semi-final.

World Rugby found “insufficient evidence” to back up Curry’s claim that he was called a “white c***” by the Springboks player midway through the first half of the match in Paris.

Hooker Mbonambi has accused England of being “unprofessional” over the allegations, insisting “misunderstanding” arose because Curry failed to realise he was speaking Afrikaans, a common practice among the Springboks to ensure opponents do not understand their messages.

But Curry, whose girlfriend and family have since suffered online abuse, insisted “I heard what I heard.”

He said in an interview with the Daily Mail: “I didn’t really want to speak about it from the start.

“For me, on both occasions, the ball was out of play. Me and Bongi were talking and there’s no misunderstanding from my part. I went to the referee straight away. I heard what I heard. That’s all I really want to say about it and I won’t really be talking about it again.

“It was tough for my family, my girlfriend and my brother. It was a tough experience but it is what it is. The investigation’s been done and that’s all I want to say about it.”

Elixir De Nutz ran out a gutsy winner of the Betway Haldon Gold Cup for Joe Tizzard at Exeter.

Fit from a recent run at Chepstow, he was one of two runners in the race for Tizzard with stable jockey Brendan Powell riding War Lord.

That meant Freddie Gingell, Tizzard’s nephew, came in for the ride and he was positive from the outset on the grey.

A 13-2 chance for the Grade Two, Elixir De Nutz was kept handy and surged ahead as others were faltering around the final turn for home.

A game and accurate string of jumps saw him extend his lead on the run in to the line and though Paul Nicholls’ Solo gave chase, it was the young jockey who prevailed by three and a quarter lengths.

“That is unreal. A big thank you to Terry Warner (the horse’s owner) and his family and to Joe and Colin (Tizzard) as well,” Gingell said.

“I went in and schooled him on Wednesday and Joe said ‘where would you rather go, Fontwell or Exeter’. I said I would love to go to Exeter to ride him as it is a big race and Joe has won it a few times. Riding in it was a big thing, but I never thought this would happen.

“The plan was to get a good start and go from there as there were five other very good horses in it. He was a bit slow going to the first, but he then jumped the first and took off with me. He was jumping outside the wings every time I gave him a squeeze and asked him.

“Harry (Cobden on Solo) came upsides me turning in and I thought ‘I will see what happens’, but I managed to get a breather into him as I thought Harry was coming with a very big challenge now. I thought ‘I will keep plugging onto the line’, but I thought we might have got racing a bit too early.

“For a moment or two I couldn’t believe it happened. I looked around and thought did I just win it sort of thing then Brendan (Powell) came and patted me on the back and it then really started to hit me.

“It is a big day and the last three years haven’t been easy. I can’t thank them enough for supporting me as it has been a really tough time. I passed my driving test last Tuesday and I have ridden a few winners, so it is all going well.”

The victory also left triumphant trainer Tizzard, who won the race three times as a jockey aboard Lake Kariba (1998), Flagship Uberalles (1999) and Cue Card (2012), fighting back the tears in an emotional response to the win as Gingell is the son of his late sister Kim.

Tizzard said: “We said it after we left Ayr last year about going for the Haldon Gold Cup. I said he always needs his first run and that worked a treat. The race suited him today. We were a bit worried about the ground, but the trip and the track were perfect for him. It is emotional.

“That is as good a ride that I’ve seen Fred give a horse to be honest. I wanted to get him revved up to be positive on him. He is only 17 years old, but he asked him at every fence. It is lovely for Terry and his wife who have made it down as they don’t get to the races all the time.

“That’s why me and dad are a little bit emotional (because we are thinking of Kim), but he (Freddie) didn’t need a lot of help.

“Fred is part of the family so it is lovely. I’m proud of Fred. He is a 17-year-old boy and he is a 7lb claimer. He has got a great job with Paul (Nicholls), but we are trying to give him a chance in these bigger races.

“He is razor sharp and he is a good jockey. He gave him an absolute belter I thought. I’m chuffed to bits with him. He is riding with lots of confidence and that is what you need. He gave that a proper ride and I don’t think he could have ridden it any better. “

Jack Draper defeated Jan-Lennard Struff at the Sofia Open to become the youngest Briton to reach an ATP Tour final since Andy Murray 14 years ago.

The 21-year-old is really hitting his stride at the end of an injury-plagued season and is chasing a second successive title having picked up the trophy at the second-tier Challenger event in Bergamo last week.

After knocking out top seed Lorenzo Musetti in the second round in Sofia, Draper did the same to third seed Struff in the last four, winning 6-3 6-4, and is yet to drop a set.

Murray was already a grand slam finalist when he made the Miami Open showpiece in 2009, but this is a landmark moment for his young compatriot, who had narrowly lost his previous two tour semi-finals.

“Obviously I am very proud,” said Draper. “Andy is an amazing player. I hope one day I can do what he’s done in the sport but it’s a long way to go and I’ll keep trying.”

Of his performance, he said: “I didn’t serve as well today but the opponent was putting a lot of pressure on my serve. I think I’ve got to just try and keep the rhythm. It was tough out here with some tense moments. It was a semi-final to get into my first final so I was nervous, but I came through it well.”

Gordon Elliott dominated on the first day of Down Royal’s big meeting, saddling six of the seven winners.

Elliott is currently leading the trainers’ championship, with jockeys’ title frontrunner Jack Kennedy enhancing his tally by riding four of the victors.

“I am lucky to be in the position I am in with the horses that I have and the staff, the owners and the jockeys,” said Elliott.

“It is not easy to do it (send out six winners on a card) – a brilliant day.”

The highlight was arguably Brighterdaysahead, who maintained her unbeaten record by winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle.

Stepped into Grade Three company after winning easily at Thurles on her debut, she was taking on much more experienced rivals.

However, she loomed up alongside Banntown Girl at the second last and while she needed to be driven out to win by four and three-quarter lengths, the 2-1 favourite will have learned plenty.

Elliott said: “It happened that quick for the first mile that she didn’t know what she was doing as they were going that fast but, once she got into her rhythm, he (Kennedy) said he was very happy with her.

“She has no experience, but she has a fair engine. She’s a proper mare and she still has a lot to learn, she is still very green. The rest of the field has two or three runs over hurdles, so I thought it was a good performance.

“No (need to go beyond two miles), but I’d say she will be better when she goes (further). I’d say she is a mare that could definitely step up in trip. She hasn’t put a foot wrong so far, so she is exciting.

“She is in the Royal Bond and obviously I will talk to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud) and see. She has got the pace for two miles.

“I think we will keep her in her own category (mares) at the moment.”

Irish Point (5-6 favourite) won the other feature race on the card for Elliott and Kennedy, the Bottlegreen Hurdle.

A Grade One winner at Aintree, he was giving lumps of weight to a smart mare in Magical Zoe but try as she might, she could not get by and went down by a length and three-quarters.

“We know he wants further, but he picked up and galloped. We are very happy with him,” said Elliott.

“He (Kennedy) was in the right spot and he kicked at the right time and made plenty of use of him.

“We didn’t want to make it, but we had to because there was nothing else to make it. I’d say we will definitely step him up in trip. He really stays.

“We will keep all options open, but it wouldn’t shock me if you saw him going three miles at some stage.”

The pair were also on the mark earlier on the card with Hunting Brook (5-4 favourite) in the Lough Construction Ltd. Handicap Hurdle, while Jordan Gainford took advantage of Kennedy’s fall in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle to win on stablemate Zefiro Dodville (12-1).

Found A Fifty made it five on the day for Elliott and four for Kennedy in the Eventco Marquees Ltd. Beginners Chase.

“He’s a good horse. He got very revved up last year and just blew his top, but Jack was delighted with the way he settled there,” said Elliott.

“I like the way he quickened as well down the straight, he quickened well.

“He’s in the Drinmore, but we’ll see where we go.”

Firefox (1-6 favourite) then landed the concluding Freixenet INH Flat Race under Harry Swan.

The only race to escape Elliott’s clutches was the Try Racing TV For Free Now At racingtv.com/freetrial Handicap Chase, in which he had three runners but went to Edward Cawley’s Dont Go Yet (18-1) who made all.

A week on from Big Evs conquering America, Mick Appleby is still coming to terms with the Breeders’ Cup achievement of his speedster.

The son of Blue Point was already inked in the history books at the trainer’s Rutland base having provided Appleby with a first Royal Ascot winner in the summer, but he went one step further in Santa Anita, blitzing America’s best with a devastating display to give the handler a maiden success at the highest level.

The jetlag may now be subsiding, but the memories and magnitude of what his stable star accomplished are still hitting home for the Barnsley-born trainer, who has worked his way up from humble beginnings.

“It was absolutely amazing, I still don’t think it has sunk in yet,” said Appleby.

“All trainers would like Grade or Group One winners and going out to the Breeders’ Cup and getting our first one was something amazing, it was really special.

“I have to pinch myself and its hard to believe it has happened. It’s just been amazing and I’m still on cloud nine – it’s been like a dream.”

There were of course victories in California for the powerhouse operations of Godolphin, Juddmonte and Coolmore.

However, this was also the Breeders’ Cup where the lesser lights got their moment and the victory of Big Evs is testament to the hard work and ambition of a trainer who has served his time as all-weather champion and is eager to showcase his talent on the big stage.

His commitment to the cause has seen him treading a familiar beat around the all-weather circuit since returning from US, but he is proud to disprove the theory he is a one-trick trainer.

Appleby said: “We’ve always been pigeonholed as an all-weather trainer, but hopefully that disappears now and the world realises we are as good on grass, especially with two-year-olds, as we’ve never been renowned for having juveniles. But if you don’t have the ammunition, you can’t win with them.

“It’s hard work, it’s really hard work just keeping the horses sound, fit and injury free.

“I think its a great achievement and we’ve got a great team here – without the team it wouldn’t be possible. It’s great for everyone concerned. It means a lot to the whole yard.”

That hard work has seen the likes of Danzeno, Caspian Prince and Raasel pass through Appleby’s hands at his Langham training base, but he is in little doubt that his Breeders’ Cup champion is top of the class.

“He’s very quick and you have to very fast to go with him. He’s just speed,” said the Yorkshireman.

“He reminds me a lot of a horse we had called Caspian Prince, he would be the quickest horse I’ve ever had and won the Dash (at Epsom) a few times. He was lightning quick. I think Big Evs would definitely be up there with him.

“He was our first Group One winner so I would say he is (the best we have had). I’ve never seen a horse as quick as him, he’s absolute lightning.

“When we first started working Big Evs with the likes of Raasel and Annaf, we knew he was something special and really quick because none of the other two-year-olds could get anywhere near him.”

Like all underdog tales, this was a story that started with disappointment and in Big Evs’ case, defeat at Redcar on debut.

“We were gobsmacked he got beat, but it was the draw that beat him at Redcar and if you were on the stands side you had no chance whatsoever,” explained Appleby.

“He had to go right the way across the track to get to the leaders and if he had a better draw he would have won. We weren’t disappointed and he showed enough to convince us he was decent.”

He would go on to prove Appleby’s assessment of “decent” to be a slight underestimation when winning the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot on his second start, with a battling victory in the Goodwood mud soon to follow.

A chastising defeat when supplemented for the Nunthorpe is the sole blot on the Big Evs’ copybook, but he was soon back on form when demolishing the Flying Childers field at Doncaster.

“Obviously we had the blip in the Nunthorpe and we just had to put a line through that and then he bounced back so impressively at Doncaster,” continued Appleby.

“To be fair, I was umming and ahhing whether we should have gone to York, but the owner was very keen and it was his home track and a race he has always wanted to win.

“It was worth going for it and I think, in hindsight, Goodwood took a lot out of him on the heavy ground and was the contributing factor to him running poorly there. If he had another two weeks after Goodwood before the Nunthorpe, I think it might have been a different story all together.

“It was a relief he went to Doncaster and bounced back and I think that was his most impressive win. The time he did was staggering and after that we were definitely going to the Breeders’ Cup.”

There was little doubt in the Big Evs camp that their speedball would rise to the occasion, and when the bell rang and gates opened on the opening night of Breeders’ Cup action, he showed all of his champion qualities to cruise to victory in the hands of Tom Marquand.

Appleby said: “The good thing with him, he has good gate speed. He’s lighting out and straight into stride and gone.

“He was very good and especially first time around a bend. That was always going to be our concern whether he would be able to cope with a bend going as quick as he does.

“Tom gave him a brilliant ride and let him just find his feet round the bend and find the right leg. Once he got into the straight, he quickened away again. Tom said as soon as that one was closing on him, he had lots in the tank and went again. It was a great ride.”

Although there was Santa Anita glory for Appleby, there was disappointment for fellow Brit Adam West and both Big Evs and the Epsom handler’s Live In The Dream will return in 2024 attempting to lay claim to the title of the world’s fastest racehorse.

“There probably is someone faster somewhere and obviously some of the American horses are very quick, but I don’t know if there is any faster in this country,” continued the Langham handler.

“Live In The Dream is probably one that is quick. I would imagine we will be clashing at some point and that will be interesting.”

Next season will be top-level action all the way for Big Evs as Appleby searches for more famous victories on the big stage with his horse of a lifetime.

He added: “The good thing is Paul (Teasdale, owner) is not going to sell him. You get a lot of owners who when the offers come in would be snapping it up, but Paul has no intention of selling which is good for us.

“He’s already won his Group One and hopefully we will be aiming at all the Group races over five furlongs next year.

“We’ve just got to stay up there with him. We’re going to look forward to him next year, but obviously it will be a bit nervy as well about if he will train on, because you do always have that nagging thought in your mind. But I see no reason why he wouldn’t.”

Katie Boulter feels she has come “full circle” as she prepares to lead Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup team in this weekend’s play-off against Sweden at the Copper Box.

It was at the same venue four and a half years ago that Boulter secured victory over Kazakhstan to put Britain back at the elite level of the competition formerly known as Fed Cup.

But she suffered a stress fracture in her back that kept her out for more than six months and sent her ranking plummeting out of the top 100.

It has taken until this year for Boulter to get back to and now surpass that level, and at 58 in the world she is by some distance the highest-ranked player in the tie.

“It really was something that stuck in my memory for many, many years,” said Boulter of the Kazakhstan clash.

“But I think I see the positives and the negatives of that tie. I really do. And I learned a lot from the situation that I was in, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

“It’s a full circle for me. I’m glad to be back here, and I don’t think I’d be in the position I am right now if it wasn’t for that tie. So I’m glad to be back here with a great team behind me.”

Boulter has been sharing her memories of that weekend with her good friend Jodie Burrage, who will make a long-awaited debut in the competition.

Burrage, ranked 93, has been unlucky to miss out in previous ties, and she said: “I’ve absolutely loved this week. The vibe’s been great. I’m really happy that (captain) Anne (Keothavong) has trusted me to play tomorrow and I will go out there and do my absolute best to come away with the win.

“It’s just a really proud moment for me, walking out on the court tomorrow, but once I get that done then it’ll be all down to business. Playing at home as well in this arena, the girls told me that this is one of the best places that they have played, so I can’t wait to experience that tomorrow.”

This time last year Britain were on their way to a historic semi-final appearance in the competition having been given a wild card for the final stages as hosts in Glasgow.

Defeat by France in Coventry in April meant they missed out this year and they must beat Sweden to have another shot at qualifying in 2024.

Anything but victory would be a disaster given the visitors are without their only two top-200 players in Rebecca Peterson and Mirjam Bjorklund, who both withdrew through injury.

Instead, they are relying on world number 372 Kajsa Rinaldo Persson, who will take on Burrage first up on Saturday, and 532nd-ranked Caijsa Hennemann.

Keothavong insisted there will be no complacency, saying: “There’s absolutely no room for that, and I think we’ve seen in this competition that anything’s possible. This team need to go out there and impose themselves. You can’t underestimate anyone out there.

“These are the kinds of ties we want, on home soil with a full house. The players know what they need to do and hopefully they’re going to go out there tomorrow and execute it.

“I think all of us collectively are motivated to get back into the world group because we know what we’re capable of as a team. When we come together, we really do rise to the challenge.”

Meanwhile, Britain’s junior Billie Jean King Cup team reached the semi-finals of the under-16 competition with a 3-0 victory over Sweden and will play the Czech Republic for a place in the final.

Stay Away Fay made a winning debut over fences when taking the Betway ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase at Exeter.

The Paul Nicholls-trained bay won the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle last season, after which an eventual switch to chasing was immediately mentioned.

Exeter was his first outing over the larger obstacles and he started as the 5-6 favourite under Harry Cobden, with the race only attracting five runners and Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning seeming to be his main rival.

There were no concerns over the market leader’s jumping as he looked totally at ease over each of his fences, leading for much of the way before looking to falter slightly on the turn for home.

When passed by other horses he quickly rallied, however, and was able to reel in those before him when easing up to a length-and-three-quarter success.

Nicholls said: “He stays, he jumps and he gallops. He is classy and that is what you want. I’m thrilled with that.

“I was a bit worried all week as I thought he looked big and round and that he would improve for a run. You almost expect too much from these horses and you have got to have them ready to do that, but also have them ready to improve. There is lots to come from him.

“He absolutely winged the last and I thought from there he would stay on strong. Harry said he could have done with them coming to him a bit earlier as he was idling a little bit in front. It is a great start to the season for him and he is a really classy horse.

“I was fairly confident he would gallop all the way to the line. I just thought he might need the run, and he might still have done.”

Sandown’s Betfair Esher Novices’ Chase on December 8 is the next port of call on his way to the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Christmas

Nicholls said: “There is a new novice chase at the Tingle Creek meeting at Sandown over three miles worth sixty odd thousand pounds, so he will go there then to Kempton Park and then we will give him a break. That is a good route here, Sandown then Kempton.”

As a result of the victory, Coral made the gelding a 10-1 chance from 12-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and 10-1 from 14-1 for the National Hunt Chase, but the trainer only has the first-named contest in mind.

He added: “He will run in the three-miler at the Cheltenham Festival as he is too classy for the National Hunt Chase. He will run in that and you would like to think he will ultimately end up being a Cheltenham Gold Cup horse. That is what the owners dream of.

“It is a long way up that ladder put he has put his foot on the first step. I think there is a lot to come from him.”

Nicholls and Cobden enjoyed another promising triumph on the card as Insurrection made light work of the Betway Novices’ Hurdle at 11-4.

The six-year-old was a point-to-point winner who had just one bumper outing before a wind operation in readiness for his debut run over hurdles.

The market was focused on Joe Tizzard’s Diamond Ri, the evens favourite, but it was Insurrection who made all of the running and swept to an easy eight-and-a-half-length win.

Nicholls said: “We have won this race with some good horses and that was really good. We always thought a lot of him last season, but he was disappointing at Ffos Las (beaten bumper run), but that was because he was choking so we put that right and you wanted to see him do that well today.

“He has won a point-to-point over three miles, he obviously stays and he was fit, so the thing to do was bowl along in front. What I liked more than anything was that he sprinted from the back of the last.

“He has (taken me by surprise) a bit, but that is what novice hurdles are about as you get some that are disappointing and some that go well.

“He might be the sort of horse to go down the route Tahmuras did last season, by finding another race like this then go for what was the Tolworth Hurdle.”