The Sports Report: Kings lose in overtime, series tied

Howdy, I’m your host, Houston Mitchell. Let’s get right to the news.

From Helene Elliott: As well as they had played during the first three games of their Stanley Cup playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers, the Kings believed they were capable of reaching a better, higher gear.

They had held NHL scoring champion Connor McDavid scoreless during five-on-five play and to three points on the power play. They scored enough timely power-play goals of their own to win the first and third games in overtime, and they matched the Oilers hit for crunching hit.

The Kings’ resilience had allowed them to compensate for their disadvantage in size and skill, while goaltender Joonas[cq] Korpisalo repeatedly made timely saves that gave his teammates confidence he’d keep them in the game no matter what the high-scoring Oilers did.

All of that was commendable, but as they prepared for Game 4 on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena, the Kings believed they hadn’t come close to their peak.

“We know what we got and we know how we can play and I think that’s just executing and bringing it,” defenseman Matt Durzi said after the team’s morning skate in El Segundo. “That’s important to say, that we have another level, and I think guys in here believe that. It’s going to ramp up every game and we know we’ve got to bring it.”

The Kings elevated their game Sunday, but the Oilers had a few tricks left in their hockey bags, too, and Zach Hyman scored on a shot from the left circle--the Oilers’ 40th shot of a wildly seesawing game--10 minutes and 39 seconds into overtime to give the Oilers a 5-4 victory and tie the series at two games each.

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NHL PLAYOFFS
Results, schedule
All times Pacific

Western Conference

Edmonton [P2] vs. Kings [P3]
Game 1: Kings 4, at Edmonton 3 (OT)
Game 2: at Edmonton 4, Kings 2
Game 3: at Kings 3, Edmonton 2 (OT)
Game 4: Edmonton 5, at Kings 4 (OT)
Tuesday at Edmonton, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Saturday at Kings, TBD
*Monday, May 1 at Edmonton TBD

Colorado [C1] vs. Seattle [WC1]
Game 1: Seattle 3, at Colorado 1
Game 2: at Colorado 3, Seattle 2
Game 3: Colorado 6, at Seattle 4
Tonight at Seattle, 7 p.m., TBS
Wednesday at Colorado, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
*Friday at Seattle, TBD
*Sunday at Colorado, TBD

Dallas [C2] vs. Minnesota [C3]
Game 1: Minnesota 3, at Dallas 2 (2OT)
Game 2: at Dallas 7, Minnesota 3
Game 3: at Minnesota 5, Dallas 1
Game 4: Dallas 3, at Minnesota 2
Tuesday at Dallas, 5 p.m., TBS
Friday at Minnesota, TBD
*Sunday at Dallas, TBD

Vegas [P1] vs. Winnipeg [WC2]
Game 1: Winnipeg 5, at Vegas 1
Game 2: at Vegas 5, Winnipeg 2
Game 3: Vegas 5, at Winnipeg 4 (2 OT)
Tonight at Winnipeg, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Thursday at Vegas, 7 p.m., ESPN2
*Saturday at Winnipeg, TBD
*Monday, May 1 at Vegas, TBD

Eastern Conference

Boston [A1] vs. Florida [WC2]
Game 1: at Boston 3, Florida 1
Game 2: Florida 6, at Boston 3
Game 3: Boston 4, at Florida 2
Game 4: Boston 6, at Florida 2
Wednesday at Boston, 4 p.m., ESPN
*Friday at Florida, TBD
*Sunday at Boston, TBD

Toronto [A2] vs. Tampa Bay [A3]
Game 1: Tampa Bay 7, at Toronto 3
Game 2: at Toronto 7, Tampa Bay 2
Game 3: Toronto 4, at Tampa Bay 3 (OT)
Today at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m., TBS
Thursday at Toronto, 4 p.m., TBS
*Saturday at Tampa Bay, TBD
*Monday, May 1 at Toronto, TBD

Carolina [M1] vs. NY Islanders [WC1]
Game 1: at Carolina 2, NY Islanders 1
Game 2: at Carolina 4, NY Islanders 3 (OT)
Game 3: at NY Islanders 5, Carolina 1
Game 4: Carolina 5, at NY Islanders 2
Tuesday at Carolina, 4 p.m., ESPN
*Friday at NY Islanders, TBD
*Sunday at Carolina, TBD

New Jersey [M2] vs. NY Rangers [M3]
Game 1: NY Rangers 5, at New Jersey 1
Game 2: NY Rangers 5, at New Jersey 1
Game 3: New Jersey 2, at NY Rangers 1 (OT)
Today at NY Rangers, 4 p.m., ESPN
Thursday at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
*Saturday at NY Rangers, TBD
*Monday, May 1 at New Jersey, TBD

*-if necessary

LAKERS

From Dan Woike: It’s been insinuated throughout the season. It’s been inferred since he was acquired. And, if you’ve heard it all, you might have caught Darvin Ham or LeBron James outright say it.

Since the early months of this marathon season, the Lakers coach and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and premiere alpha player have anointed Anthony Davis as the team’s No. 1 offensive option — the player they must get going and the one who, if all is going well, cannot be stopped.

It’s long been the plan, bridging from the James era to the Davis era with one future Hall of Famer ceding some responsibility to a younger future Hall of Famer. Yet injuries and some inconsistencies have made that sometimes easier said than done. James’ continued effectiveness, certainly, has factored into it as well, the Lakers at times having the luxury of a pair of go-to options.

With the Lakers set to play a pivotal Game 4 in a series they lead 2-1 on Monday in Los Angeles, Davis’ position literally and figuratively in the middle of the Lakers’ plans seems as important as ever.

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CLIPPERS

From Dylan Hernández: His play was striking. Even more so was how he presented himself after the Clippers’ 112-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.

Russell Westbrook was calm. He was philosophical. He was everything he wasn’t with the Lakers.

Now on his fifth NBA stop, the 34-year-old Westbrook has found an unlikely late-career calling as the leader of an overmatched team making its final stand.

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NBA PLAYOFFS
Results, schedule
All times Pacific

Western Conference

No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 7 Lakers
Game 1: Lakers 128, at Memphis 112
Game 2: at Memphis 103, Lakers 93
Game 3: at Lakers 111, Memphis 101
Tonight at Lakers, 7 p.m., TNT
Wednesday at Memphis, 4:30 p.m., TNT
*Friday at Lakers, TBD
*Sunday at Memphis, TBD

No. 4 Phoenix vs. No. 5 Clippers
Game 1: Clippers 115, at Phoenix 110
Game 2: at Phoenix 123, Clippers 109
Game 3: Phoenix 129, at Clippers 124
Game 4: Phoenix 112, at Clippers 100
Tuesday at Phoenix, 7 p.m., TNT
*Thursday at Clippers, TBD
*Saturday, April 29 at Phoenix, TBD

No. 1 Denver vs. No. 8 Minnesota
Game 1: at Denver 109, Minnesota 80
Game 2: at Denver 122, Minnesota 113
Game 3: Denver 120, at Minnesota 111
Game 4: at Minnesota 114, Denver 108
Tuesday at Denver, 6 p.m., NBA TV
*Thursday at Minnesota, TBD
*Saturday, April 29 at Denver, TBD

No. 3 Sacramento vs. No. 6 Golden State
Game 1: at Sacramento 126, Golden State 123
Game 2: at Sacramento 114, Golden State 106
Game 3: at Golden State 114, Sacramento 97
Game 4: at Golden State 126, Sacramento 125
Wednesday at Sacramento, 7 p.m., TNT
Friday, April 28 at Golden State, TBD
*Sunday, April 30 at Sacramento, TBD

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Milwaukee vs. No. 8 Miami
Game 1: Miami 130, at Milwaukee 117
Game 2: at Milwaukee 138, Miami 122
Game 3: at Miami 121, Milwaukee 99
Today at Miami, 4:30 p.m., TNT
Wednesday at Milwaukee, 6:30 p.m., NBA TV
*Friday at Miami, TBD
*Sunday at Milwaukee, TBD

No. 2 Boston vs. No. 7 Atlanta
Game 1: at Boston 112, Atlanta 99
Game 2: at Boston 119, Atlanta 106
Game 3: at Atlanta 130, Boston 122
Game 4: Boston 129, at Atlanta 121
Tuesday at Boston, 4:30 p.m., TNT
*Thursday at Atlanta, TBD
*Saturday 29 at Boston, TBD

No. 3 Philadelphia vs. No. 6 Brooklyn
Game 1: at Philadelphia 121, Brooklyn 101
Game 2: at Philadelphia 96, Brooklyn 84
Game 3: Philadelphia 102, at Brooklyn 97
Game 4: Philadelphia 96, at Brooklyn, 88

No. 4 Cleveland vs. No. 5 New York
Game 1: New York 101, at Cleveland 97
Game 2: at Cleveland 107, New York 90
Game 3: at New York 99, Cleveland 79
Game 4: at New York 102, Cleveland 93
Wednesday at Cleveland, 4 p.m., NBA TV
*Game 6 at New York, TBD
*Game 7 at Cleveland, TBD

*-if necessary

DODGERS

From Jack Harris: his hasn’t exactly been the offense the Dodgers had in mind.

The club might not have gone all-in on maximizing Major League Baseball’s new rules, designing a roster only partially suited to small-ball tactics such as stolen bases and slap hitting.

Still, one month into the season, the Dodgers also didn’t expect to be so home run reliant.

“When we put together this ballclub, we felt that the [batting] average, that the hit tool, was going to play a little bit more than it has and maybe kind of cut into the homers,” manager Dave Roberts said.

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ANGELS

From Sarah Valenzuela: Logan O’Hoppe has not been a major leaguer for long but has impressed early this season. Then his season was put on pause, the Angels’ rookie catcher tearing the labrum in his left shoulder last week. He was told this weekend that he will need surgery to repair it.

“It’s like, you wait your whole life and you get here,” O’Hoppe said Sunday, “and you get a taste at the end of last year and then you work even harder and then you get a taste of hopefully what the whole year has in store, and I think that’s the toughest part to deal with.

“Gonna do everything I can to get back here and help this team win.”

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ANGEL CITY

From Kevin Baxter: The future of U.S. women’s soccer met the sport’s present Sunday in a late-afternoon matinee at BMO Stadium. And Alex Morgan, the sport’s current leading lady, showed she’s not ready to step aside just yet, helping the San Diego Wave to a 2-0 win over Angel City and teenager Alyssa Thompson, her possible heir apparent.

The goals, both from second-half substitutes, came less than six minutes apart late in the second half, the first when Sofia Jakobsson converted a Christen Westphal pass into a score at the end of a counterattack and the second when Makenzy Doniak deflected a shot from distance off Angel City defender Sarah Gorden.

Morgan got the assist on the second goal, shutting the door on Angel City’s first home loss to its Southern California rival. For the Wave, the shutout was their second in as many games.

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THIS DATE IN SPORTS

1945 — Albert B. “Happy” Chandler, junior Senator from Kentucky, is elected baseball commissioner by a unanimous vote of the major league club owners. Chandler is elected to a seven-year term and succeeds Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who died in November 1944.

1962 — Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax’s has his second 18-strikeout game in a 10-2 win over Cubs in Chicago.

1963 — Bob Cousy ends his 13-year career by scoring 18 points as the Boston Celtics win their fifth consecutive NBA championship, beating the Lakers 112-109 in Game 6.

1967 — The Philadelphia 76ers win the NBA championship in six games with 125-122 comeback victory over the San Francisco Warriors. Billy Cunningham scores 13 points in the final 12 minutes as the 76ers overcome a five-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.

1974 — Tampa, Fla. is awarded the NFL’s 27th franchise.

1978 — Angels pitcher Nolan Ryan strikes out 15 Mariners, 20th time he has 15 in game.

1981 — San Antonio blocks 20 Golden State shots to set NBA regular season game record.

1988 — NFL Draft: Auburn tight end Aundray Bruce first pick by Atlanta Falcons.

1993 — George Branham III becomes the first black bowler to win a PBA Triple Crown event when he beats Parker Bohn III 227-214 in the Tournament of Champions.

1994 — David Robinson scores 71 points to win the NBA scoring title as the San Antonio Spurs end the regular season with a 112-97 victory over the Clippers. Robinson, the fourth NBA player to score more than 70 points in a game, edges Orlando’s Shaquille O’Neal for the scoring title.

1994 — NFL Draft: Ohio State defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson first pick by Cincinnati Bengals.

1996 — Petr Nedved scores a power-play goal with 44.6 seconds left in the fourth overtime, ending the longest NHL game in 60 years and giving the Pittsburgh Penguins a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals.

2003 — Petr Sykora scores 48 seconds into the fifth overtime as the Ducks outlast Dallas 4-3 to win the opener of the Western Conference semifinal series. The game is the fourth-longest in NHL history.

2004 — NFL Draft: Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning first pick by San Diego Chargers.

2010 — Jamaican Usain Bolt dazzles a capacity crowd with a lightning-fast final leg, overtaking USA Blue’s Ivory Williams to win the 4x100-meter relay at the Penn Relays. A quartet of Mario Forsythe, Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson and Bolt finishes in 37.90 seconds for Jamaica Gold, setting a Penn Relays record. Trailing entering the final leg, Bolt takes the handoff and finishes the final 100 meters in an unofficial time of 8.79 seconds.

2016 — Klay Thompson scores 23 points and the Golden State Warriors set an NBA playoff record with 21 3-pointers to overcome another injury to Stephen Curry and beat the Houston Rockets 121-94 for a 3-1 series lead. The Warriors made eight 3s in the third quarter alone to set a franchise playoff record for 3-pointers in a period. Thompson led the way from long range, going 7 of 11, and Draymond Green made four.

—Compiled by the Associated Press

And finally...

Petr Sykora scores in the fifth overtime to lift the Ducks past Dallas in the playoffs in 2003. Watch and listen here.