England loses 3 wickets before lunch and at risk of losing 3rd test against New Zealand

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — Jacob Bethell and Joe Root made half centuries in a 104-run partnership but both fell before lunch Tuesday as England battled to save the third test against New Zealand on the fourth day.

Root was out for 54 after compiling his 65th half century and 101st test innings of 50 or more while Bethell posted his third half century of the series and fell for 76.

At lunch England was 193-5, still trailing New Zealand by 464 runs with Ollie Pope 17 not out and Gus Atkinson 19.

England has an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after winning the first test by eight wickets and the second by 323 runs.

England began the day at 18-2 after losing Ben Duckett and Zac Crawley late on the third day and after New Zealand declared with a mammoth lead of 657. The tourists lost Root, Bethell and Harry Brook (1) in an extended first session.

While an England win was always improbable as it would have to eclipse the previous highest winning fourth-innings score in tests of 418, there was at least a possibility it could bat for two days to draw the test and win the series 2-0.

The loss of Root, who looked in good form and of Brook who scored centuries in both of the first two tests has made that outcome more remote.

Play began half an hour early to make up time lost to rain on the third morning and Root, who resumed on 0, and Bethell, who started on 9, looked untroubled at first.

Bethell reached his half century from 53 balls with eight fours and a six and Root followed him to that milestone from 59 balls with nine fours.

The England batters were unsettled by another fiery spell by New Zealand fast bowler Will O'Rourke who, bowling with a strong wind at his back, reached speeds of 153 kph (95 mph).

He struck Root in the groin, which left him in discomfort for the rest of his innings, and hit Pope on the helmet as he ducked into a short ball.

Root was out soon after, trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner as he knelt to sweep. New Zealand's appeal was turned down by the on-field umpire but the replay showed the ball that had pitched on leg stump was straightening and hitting the middle stump.

Brook faced a series of extremely quick balls from O'Rourke and was caught when he fended a difficult delivery to Daryl Mitchell at first slip.

Bethell made 10 and 50 not out in the first test, 16 and 96 in the second and 12 and 76 in the third after stepping into a vacancy at No. 3 in the England order. He had reached 76 from 96 balls Tuesday when he sliced a ball from Tim Southee to Glenn Phillips at deep third man.

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England's Jacob Bethell bats during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

The New Zealand cricket team pose for a group photo ahead of play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Jacob Bethell bats during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Jacob Bethell bats during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Joe Root bats during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Jacob Bethell and Joe Root gesture during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Joe Root bats during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Mitchell Santner appeals successfully for a LBW decision to dismiss England's Joe Root during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)