CLEVELAND >> The path to an NBA championship for nearly the past decade became a rite-of-passage that involved handling two different uncomfortable scenarios. Either find a way to stop Kobe Bryant’s scoring outbursts or somehow limit LeBron James’ ability to master all five positions. But much to th...

The nostalgia swept over Lakers coach Byron Scott as he reflected on coaching Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving during his first two NBA seasons. “He was the most talented point guard I had,” Scott said. “He didn’t have any weaknesses offensively.” The realism hit Scott as he evaluated Lakers p...

St. Anthony High’s boys soccer team closed out the regular season Wednesday afte oon with a 1-1 draw at Verbum Dei. The Eagles got the scoring started in the 28th minute, netting just the sixth goal against Saints’ goalkeeper Cameron Perron during Santa Fe League play. Senior co-captain Bryan Zamora...

CLEVELAND >> The path to an NBA championship for nearly the past decade became a rite-of-passage that involved handling two different uncomfortable scenarios. Either find a way to stop Kobe Bryant’s scoring outbursts or somehow limit LeBron James’ ability to master all five positions. But much to th...

BOSTON >> The way the Boston Celtics are scoring right now, they may want to try bottling a little of it before they leave for the All-Star break. Whatever it is, it has the Celtics looking like a probable playoff team heading into the second half of the season. Isaiah Thomas had 36 points and 11 as...

LONG BEACH >> Branford Jones was on the ground, writhing in obvious pain. The Pyramid crowd was grimacing at the sight. It was a tight Big West Conference game against a gritty Cal State Northridge team, and with a pair of point guards already on the bench injured, Jones had stepped up as a leader. ...

LONG BEACH >> The Jaguars scored three quality goals in the first half against visiting Long Beach Poly and cruised to a 4-0 win in the regular season finale. Currently ranked No. 2 in CIF Southe Section Division 2, Cabrillo (19-4-5, 9-2-1) clinched just its second Moore League championship in schoo...

LONG BEACH >> Cabrillo’s coronation as Moore League boys soccer champions on Wednesday was equal parts beautiful and emphatic. The Jaguars scored three quality goals in the first half against visiting Long Beach Poly and cruised to a 4-0 win in their regular-season finale. Currently ranked No. 2 in ...

The two local football powerhouses, St. John Bosco and Long Beach Poly, have developed a reputation for scheduling big-time football games. That trend is going to continue at least into the 2016 football season, as coaches from both programs have confirmed they’ll be hosting marquee games this upcom...

Antron Brown, the defending NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Top Fuel champion, has not enjoyed the season-opening Winte ationals nearly as much as the season-ending Auto Club Finals at Pomona. But that’s a bit misleading. He reached the finals in both events in 2015, only to lose both times to S...

mark.whicker@langnews.com @MWhicker03LANG on Twitter Boxing fans have spent the past three years on the edge of their seats. When will Ge ady Golovkin’s dress rehearsals end? When does the Big Drama Show begin? You develop sciatica in that position, and April 23 will not relieve it. Golovkin will fi...

BOSTON — Paul Pierce started his career in the shadows of Celtics legends. When his career ends — possibly one day soon — his name will surely be among them. As Los Angeles Clippers forward prepared to play what may be his final game in Boston’s famed Garden on Wednesday night, 15 years of memories ...

HALEIWA, Hawaii — Legendary surfer Eddie Aikau would have gone out. But Wednesday’s surf in Hawaii didn’t stack up to his namesake competition’s big-wave standards and the event was called off hours before it was supposed to happen. “Eddie would go” is the mantra of the Quiksilver surfing competitio...

NEW YORK — Lisa Borders has been a fan of the WNBA ever since she helped bring a team to Atlanta. Now she’s the league’s new president. The WNBA a ounced the move Wednesday, three months after former president Laurel J. Richie stepped down. “I have been more than a fan. I led the effort to bring thi...

@InsideUSC on Twitter USC athletic director Pat Haden was treated by emergency medical perso el outside Heritage Hall and taken to his doctor by ambulance after feeling lightheaded Wednesday. Haden, 63, felt similar to an incident last October when he dropped to a knee on the sideline before the Not...

COMPTON >> It’s been a historic couple of years for the Compton boys basketball team. Last season, the Tarbabes won their first CIF-SS championship in more than 40 years, and on Tuesday night, they likely clinched a share of their first Moore League title since current NBA player DeMar DeRozan was a...

PHILADELPHIA >> Rickard Rakell was so upset following his performance on Monday that he couldn’t sleep. Rest assured, he got some shut-eye after this one. Rakell had two goals, Chris Stewart scored on a penalty shot and Andrew Cogliano had an empty-netter to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-1 victory o...

James Hahn was once known as a fun-loving PGA Tour player who did a great version of the Gangnam-style dance at the Tour stop in Phoenix. Maybe you didn’t know his name, but you knew his dance game. Then Hahn won his first PGA Tour event at the Northe Trust Open last February and ea ed the two-year ...

If there was any question whether the National Football League would be well received upon retu ing to Los Angeles, local fans made sure to squash those conce s. Specifically Los Angeles Rams fans, who gobbled up more than 56,000 deposits to purchase season tickets for the 2016 season at the Los Ang...

COMPTON >> It’s been a historic couple of years for the Compton boys basketball team. Last season, the Tarbabes won their first CIF-SS championship in more than 40 years, and on Tuesday night, they likely clinched a share of their first Moore League title since current NBA player DeMar DeRozan was a...