From The Sports Desk: Farewell LeBron? - BERITAJA

After the Oklahoma City Thunder completed their expanse of the Los Angeles Lakers past night, each eyes turned to LeBron James, the Lakers’ 41-year-old star. Had that been James’ last NBA game? His past crippled successful a Laker uniform? We dive successful below.

Also, Takefusa Kubo, the Japanese Messi, is today’s World Cup subordinate spotlight. Plus, there’s a caller docuseries retired that takes you down the scenes pinch the U.S. men’s nationalist team.

Stay tuned present for much NBA and World Cup coverage, and connected the Beritaja website.

NBA Playoffs

Last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder hit the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 to complete a four-game expanse of their second-round series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder pinch 35 points, while Ajay Mitchell added 28. The Thunder improved to 8-0 successful the playoffs and will now play the victor of the San Antonio-Minnesota bid successful the convention finals.

But today, the attraction has shifted to James, who whitethorn person conscionable played his last NBA game. In past night’s loss, James scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. But he besides missed a precocious floater that would person fixed Los Angeles the lead pinch about 20 seconds remaining. He wouldn’t sprout again connected the Lakers’ last 2 possessions.

For the first clip successful his career, James played this play connected an expiring contract, making him an unrestricted free supplier this summer. After the game, James offered nary hints connected his future, saying he would talk it pinch his family earlier making a decision.

“With my future, I don’t know, honestly,” James told reporters.

LeBron James struggles to get a changeable disconnected Monday complete Thunder halfway Isaiah Hartenstein.Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per crippled successful his 23rd season, expanding each of those numbers successful the postseason. No subordinate successful NBA history has played 24 seasons.

Earlier, the Cleveland Cavaliers held location court, defeating the Detroit Pistons 112-103 to moreover their bid astatine 2-2. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell had his champion crippled of the playoffs, scoring 43 points, including 39 successful the 2nd half, tying the playoff grounds for points successful a half.

World Cup Countdown

Leading up to the 2026 World Cup, we’re counting down 26 players to watch. Today’s introduction is Japan’s Takefusa Kubo.

Known by immoderate fans arsenic the Japanese Messi, Kubo is simply a blur connected the helping who is looking to make a awesome effect successful his 2nd World Cup appearance.

Kubo spent a important chunk of his younker profession astatine the famed La Masia academy successful Barcelona, generating hype arsenic a imaginable star. After Real Madrid loaned him to a bid of clubs from 2019 to 2022, Kubo recovered his location successful La Liga astatine Real Sociedad, pinch whom he’s scored 23 goals successful 122 appearances since 2022.

Kubo has made world appearances for Japan since 2019, though his profession has really taken disconnected since 2023. In his past 26 matches for Japan, Kubo has six goals, including 3 successful World Cup qualifiers.

Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad successful action against Sevilla FC connected May 4, 2026 successful Seville, Spain. Fran Santiago / Getty Images

What makes Kubo special, however, is not his goal-scoring ability. Instead, his velocity and method precision will beryllium cardinal for Japan’s violative attack. While Ayase Ueda is the team’s striker, Kubo is the motor that drives Japan into advantageous positions.

Kubo should besides beryllium plentifulness motivated aft a disappointing showing astatine the about caller World Cup. He did not person a extremity aliases assistance successful 2 appearances during the tourney successful Qatar, successful which Japan made it to the Round of 16.

The Samurai Blue person yet to make it further than that information successful immoderate of its World Cup appearances. This time, however, Kubo whitethorn person the correct operation of youthful power and acquisition to thief push his state further into contention.

Yesterday’s introduction was Norway’s Erling Haaland. Read about him here.

Team USA

For the past 4 years, head Rand Getlin and his unit filmed the U.S. men’s nationalist shot team, starring up to this summer’s World Cup. They captured moments connected the transportation and down the scenes, getting to cognize the players intimately.

“We filmed for 600 hours. We went to thing for illustration 11 aliases 12 countries,” Getlin said. “We flew complete 300,000 miles capturing these guys. And you sewage to distill it to 5 hours, right?”

Today, the vanished product, a five-part docuseries titled “U.S. Against the World: Four Years With the Men’s National Soccer Team,” premieres connected HBO Max. At first, about studios would not prime up the project. In America, wherever winning is everything, the USMNT’s estimation was not helping to waste executives connected specified a behemoth of a project.

But the last docuseries is what Getlin described arsenic an “emotional ramp” to the 2026 World Cup tourney for audiences.

“Sports is the backdrop and, you know, if you consciousness for illustration we’re astatine a spot successful nine wherever we could usage immoderate positive, uplifting stories and you’re looking to put successful a group of young group who are desperately trying to make america proud, this is the show for you,” Getlin said.

For much connected the USMNT docuseries, read here.

What We’re Reading

She’s the best female pickleball player ever. And she’s only 19.

Memphis Grizzlies guardant Brandon Clarke has died astatine 29 years old, the team announced successful a statement.

A judge ruled that Florida prosecutors could summation access to Tiger Woods’ medicine records.

When will the USMNT uncover its World Cup roster? Here’s what to know.

Craig Morton, who was the first QB to commencement successful the Super Bowl for 2 different teams, died astatine 83.

The post positions for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes were wished by random draw.

In an interview pinch Vanity Fair, assemblage shot coach Lane Kiffin cited “diversity” arsenic a quality betwixt his aged schoolhouse Ole Miss and his caller schoolhouse LSU.

What We’re Watching

In the NBA playoffs, there’s a pivotal Game 5 coming connected NBC/Peacock. The San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves are tied 2-2, and everyone will beryllium watching to spot really Victor Wembanyama responds aft being ejected successful the 2nd 4th of Game 4.

Wembanyama has exited 2 games early this postseason, the different owed to a concussion. In his six afloat games, he has averaged 24.6 points and 12.6 rebounds per game.

All times are Eastern:

• 7 p.m.: No. 1 Buffalo Sabres vs. No. 3 Montreal Canadiens, connected ESPN
• 8 p.m.: No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, connected NBC/Peacock
• 9:30 p.m.: No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 3 Anaheim Ducks, connected ESPN

That’s it for now! We’ll beryllium backmost tomorrow.