LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James sat out of the Los Angeles Lakers' game against Minnesota with flu-like symptoms, and Anthony Davis left late in the first quarter with an eye injury Sunday night.
The Lakers announced three hours before tipoff that James would miss his 11th game of the season. Los Angeles then lost its other superstar when Davis was hit in the face by Kyle Anderson while making a tip-in basket with 25 seconds left in the first quarter.
The area around Davis' eye was already sore after he got hurt in a game last month against Golden State.
James had 24 points and 12 assists Saturday while the Lakers beat Cleveland 116-97 for their ninth victory in 10 games. The win finally moved the Lakers into eighth place in the Western Conference standings for the first time since late December, even though Los Angeles is on a 26-12 surge since midseason.
The 39-year-old James has been outstanding in his 21st NBA season, averaging 25.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in 68 games.
Davis had four points and four rebounds while playing the entire first quarter. The Timberwolves streaked to a 15-point lead with a 46-point second quarter without Davis patrolling the paint.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) directs his teammates as he dribbles up the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after being called for a foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
IMOLA, Italy (AP) — Max Verstappen held off a challenge from McLaren’s Lando Norris to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday and extend his Formula 1 championship lead.
Verstappen started on pole position and stayed ahead of Norris at the start but was put under pressure by the McLaren driver again near the end and won by less than a second.
“Especially the last 10, 15 laps, I had no grip any more. I was really sliding a lot. I saw Lando closing in,” Verstappen said. “It’s very difficult when the tires are not working any more and you have to go flat out, so I couldn’t afford to make too many mistakes. Luckily, we didn’t and super happy, of course, to win here today.”
It was the defending champion's fifth win in seven Grand Prix races this year and followed Verstappen being beaten by Norris in Miami two weeks ago.
Norris' second place Sunday underlined the McLaren team's credentials to be the closest challenger to Verstappen and Red Bull this season. “It hurts me to say it, but one or two more laps, I think I would have had him,” Norris said. “It would have been beautiful, but just not today.”
Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari, the Italian team's first podium finish at Imola since 2006.
It's never easy to overtake on the narrow Imola track, and risk-taking was further discouraged this year when asphalt run-off areas on key corners were replaced with gravel traps.
Leclerc closed in on Norris mid-way through the race but made a mistake and ran across the grass, losing time.
Oscar Piastri had qualified second for McLaren but was dropped to fifth because of a penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in a Haas. He got ahead of Sainz at the pit stops and finished fourth, ahead of the Spanish driver.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and his teammate George Russell were sixth and seventh after a difficult weekend for Mercedes.
Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez started 11th after a mistake in qualifying and finished eighth. His main impact on the race was when he briefly held up Norris and Leclerc after their pit stops, indirectly helping Verstappen.
Yuki Tsunoda took ninth for RB and Lance Stroll took the last point in 10th for Aston Martin.
With the victory, Verstappen opened up a 48-point standings lead over Leclerc, who moved above Perez into second.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Italy's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix race at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, celebrates after winning the Italy's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix race at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands crosses the finish line to win the Italy's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix race at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, Pool)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the Italy's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix race at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car after a pit service during the Italy's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix race at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, Pool)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Italy's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix race at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Italy's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix race at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
