Why Jason Robertson isn't on Team USA at Olympics — and more

The Dallas Stars star has had to miss out.

Konyuncu was seen bleeding profusely from a wound on the side of his head, and the judges made the call to end the fight there, awarding victory to Gordon.

Israeli Muay Thai (Thai boxing) fighter Ahavat Hashem Gordon beat his Turkish opponent on Saturday evening after the two had a tense face-off the day before.

On Friday after the weigh-in, Gordon, who wore an Israeli flag over his shoulders, faced Ali Konyuncu, and the two exchanged the customary threats before high-profile boxing matches.

During the heated exchange, Konyuncu lunged at Gordon's neck, and the two were both immediately restrained. Both tried to break free of the men holding them back, according to video of the event which circulated on social media. Despite the restraints, Konyuncu managed to kick Gordon in the midsection before the two were effectively separated.

The fight, held in Kaunas, Lithuania, on Saturday night, lasted only two rounds. The first round was inconclusive, with neither side able to gain a clear advantage.

In the second round, Konyuncu socked Gordon with an uppercut before Gordon knocked him to the floor with a blow to the head. When the two were pulled apart, Konyuncu was seen bleeding profusely from a wound on the side of his head, and the judges made the call to end the fight there, awarding the victory to Gordon.

Israel's Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar (Likud) responded to Gordon's win in a Twitter/X post late on Saturday night, saying: "Another brilliant victory for our Israeli fighter."

Israelis in combat sports

Israel has produced a number of excellent athletes in combat sports over the last several decades, including judokas Yael Arad and Oren Smadja, who won Israel its first two Olympic medals (silver and bronze, respectively), at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Since then, Israel has won several other Olympic medals in judo, and sent athletes - including world champion Muay Thai fighters Sarah Abraham and Nili Block - to a variety of high-level boxing competitions.

In November, the Israeli kickboxing delegation put on a strong showing at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, returning home with 7 medals. The event featured around 2,000 athletes from approximately 85 countries.

Westwood, Calif. — Inside Pauley Pavilion on Saturday night, Illinois’ Big Ten title hopes hung by a thread.

When Illinois was on the verge of hanging onto a shaky win, the Bruins’ Donovan Dent took off like a rocket, in the matter of moments, he made his way from one end of the court to another and scored the final bucket to shock Illinois, and the nation and hand the Illini it’s most stagerring loss of 2025-2026, 95-94.

Kylan Boswell lumbered into the locker room with his face splattered with blood and stitches below his eyebrow. Even with the Illini walking away with a thrilling win, that’s how Illinois walked away from this one.

In Illinois’ third overtime game of the season, the Illini avoided the same mistakes they made at Michigan State and against Wisconsin. At UCLA, they didn’t lose any of their core guys due to foul trouble.

Offensive boards were key. Especially in the critical moments of overtime. Andrej Stojakovic missed one, which put Illinois ‘ hopes to escape with this one on hold.

Perhaps the most shocking part of this loss is that this is one that featured a fully healthy Illinois team.

At one point, Brad Underwood’s team clung to a 23-point lead, but a total collapse threatened to hand Illinois its sixth loss of the season. Illinois became a stranger to momentum.

In the late stages of the first half of Friday night’s game at UCLA, Illinois star freshman Keaton Wagler took a scary tumble. Wagler clutched his right shoulder, and for a brief moment, Illinois fans everywhere gasped.

To make matters worse, after holding what was once a 23-point lead, Illinois stagnated. Of course, much to the relief of Illinois fans everywhere, Wagler returned to action before the first half ended. But Wagler’s absence gave UCLA life.

And the Bruins kept chipping away at the rather big hole Illinois pinned them in.

As the first half frayed, David Mirkovic sent a bold bounce-pass intended for Wagler. Seconds before the buzzer ended the half, Mirkovic committed a three-point foul.

The perfect storm to set up UCLA in the second half. A 23-point lead suddenly evaporated into a 7-point lead to end the half.

Losing momentum

Illinois came into UCLA with all the confidence in the world. And who could blame them? The Illini had just come off a blistering win over USC and walked into Pauley Pavilion with orange draped over the blue seats.

For about the first quarter of the game, for as much resistance as it felt like UCLA was offering, it felt like it wasn’t going to work. This version of Illinois felt inevitable.

But they weren’t. Even fully healthy, Illinois struggled mightily against the speed of the Bruins. They were able to drive into the paint with ease.

Especially on the last possession of the game.

First half difference-making stats

Especially after the blitz Brad Underwood ordered following a flagrant foul, an elbow was shoved to the back of the head of Mirkovic. It gave the Illini the keys to the car for an explosive first-half performance.

Illinois got 21 bench points, including a handful of threes from Ben Humrichous and a couple of exhilarating dunks from Zvonomir Ivisic.

But the difference was 15 second-chance points that gave Illinois a big early lead. But ultimately, it was a lead they failed to retain.

Up Next

Illinois will return to Champaign and gear up for a big primetime game against No. 1 Michigan at the State Farm Center on Friday night.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 28 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Sacramento Kings 139-122 on Saturday night for their eighth straight win and a sweep of their two games in Austin.

Sacramento lost a franchise record 16th straight game, the last two after center Domantas Sabonis and guard Zach LaVine had season-ending surgery.

De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson each scored 18 for the Spurs, while Wembanyama added six assists and four blocks.

Keegan Murray and DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 20 points apiece. Malik Monk scored 19 while Maxime Raynaud — a rookie from Stanford and a friend of Wembanyama from France — had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

San Antonio, playing in a city the organization considers part of a megaregion that they’ve cultivated for several years, scored the first 11 points of the game, setting an aggressive tone that included three blocks by Wembanyama in the first 90 seconds.

Undermanned Sacramento hustled its way back into the game and trailed by just one with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Kings' determination resulted in seven offensive rebounds by Raynaud. Several times he tapped the ball back to teammates for open shots.

But that was not enough against Wembanyama, who made a 3-point basket and assisted on one by Harrison Barnes, both in the final minute of the third quarter, to give the Spurs a 105-94 lead heading to the fourth.

Fox and Wembanyama scored inside to start the fourth quarter, completing a 12-0 run as San Antonio eventually pushed the lead to 28.

Up next

Sacramento: Visits Memphis on Monday night.

San Antonio: Visits Detroit on Monday night.

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

Luke Hales via Getty Images

It will cost a lot to be a Los Angeles Lakers fan next season. The Lakers' ticket prices will reportedly skyrocket next season, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

Online basketball personality Rob Perez revealed a 2026–2027 season ticket invoice with a 14% price increase and a 3% "Admin Fee" if the price was not paid in full. Perez posted that the five-month and nine-month payment plans were available for the previous season without a percentage penalty.

ESPN reported that a season ticket in the 300 level has increased from $5,494 in 2024–25 to $6,192 in 2025–26 to $9,035 for 2026–27. This is reportedly a 45.9% hike going into next season, compared with a 12.7% hike in the last renewal cycle.

The Lakers' most notable change between now and last season was October’s approved sale of the team to new owner Mark Walter. The Lakers reportedly sent a statement saying the prices reflect today’s market and the demand to see the team.

The Lakers are also depending on the legacy of the franchise and its current players to justify the prices.

Walter, an owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, saw that team set a franchise record in attendance during its second straight title run. The Lakers last won a championship in the 2020 bubble season.

"Luka is shaping the present and future of the game in real time with vision, control, and impact every night. LeBron continues to define what longevity, excellence, and leadership look like in this league. Year after year, the benchmark holds. Austin's star power has no ceiling; his dedication to the game is unmatched."

Right now, it is uncertain if that will be enough to keep Crypto.com Arena at its 99.8% occupied capacity. It is also uncertain if LeBron James will still be with the Lakers next season. James will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and next season will be his 24th if he decides to play. Austin Reaves has a player option and is reportedly expected to opt out of his $14.9 million player option for 2026–27 to pursue a long-term extension.

Currently, the Lakers have a record of 34–21 and are fifth in the Western Conference standings.