LONDON (AP) — West Ham handed relegation-threatened Leicester its fourth straight Premier League loss by beating Ruud van Nistelrooy's team 2-0 on Thursday.
Leicester failed to score in each of those defeats — and allowed a total of 12 goals — to remain 19th in the standings, five points from safety. The Foxes have lost 11 of their past 12 league games.
Tomas Soucek scored in the 21st minute for the home team at London Stadium and the Hammers doubled the lead when Jarrod Bowen's strike deflected off Jannik Vestergaard for an own goal just before halftime.
Leicester shook up its coaching staff after last Friday's 4-0 home loss to Brentford but kept Van Nistelrooy in charge.
In 14 Premier League games under the Dutch manager, Leicester has two wins, one draw and 11 losses.
"We were way too passive," Van Nistelrooy told TNT Sports. “Of course we're in a situation where we're not winning games and we’re in a situation where we are in the bottom three, and the pressure's on. But I think the way to get out of it is to literally move forward — on the pitch as well. We have to take initiative.”
West Ham moved past Everton into 15th place and has recorded back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season.
Graham Potter, who replaced the fired Julen Lopetegui as manager seven weeks ago, said Thursday's victory was a “professional performance," following up from a 1-0 victory at Arsenal last Saturday.
“For us, we're just delighted with two wins, two clean sheets and six points,” he said of the mini-run.
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West Ham United's Evan Ferguson, right, and Leicester City's Facundo Buonanotte in action during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Leicester City at the London Stadium, London, Thursday Feb. 27, 2025. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)
West Ham United's Edson Alvarez, left, and Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Leicester City at the London Stadium, London, Thursday Feb. 27, 2025. (John Walton/PA via AP)
West Ham United's Tomas Soucek celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Leicester City at the London Stadium, London, Thursday Feb. 27, 2025. (John Walton/PA 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)
