The sports report: Another narrow defeat for the Clippers

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By Broderick Turner: Just last week the Clippers hosted the Phoenix Suns and just nine days later they played them again at the Intuit Dome.

Before the game, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said there weren't many advantages to playing a team like the Suns again so soon, especially a team with lethal weapons Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. At least they didn't have to face Bradley Beal, who couldn't play Thursday because of an elbow injury.

It looked like the Clippers had found an advantage as they went after the Suns early, building a 19-point lead in the first quarter that grew to 21 in the third quarter.

However, the Clippers couldn't hold onto the lead and lost 125-119 to the Suns despite five players scoring in double figures.

“We have to keep getting better. We were able to finish games better and we just have something to continue to learn from,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “All five of our games were close to the point. We were lucky to win two of them. But if we win one of these games we could be 0-5. We could be 5-0. So we just stay the course and understand that our room for maneuver is very small.

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RAMS

By Gary Klein: A week after his spectacular return to the Rams lineup, star receiver Puka Nacua left practice Thursday because of a right knee injury, a team official said.

His status for Friday's practice and Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle has yet to be determined, the official said.

The setback is the latest issue related to a knee sprain Nacua suffered during a joint practice with the Chargers during training camp.

The 2023 Pro Bowl selection completed most of the preseason drills before the opener against the Detroit Lions, but he caught four passes for 35 yards before the injury aggravated in the overtime loss.

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Unexpectedly, Ernest Jones IV gets to prove his linebacker trade to the Rams

By Anthony De Leon: USC freshman edge rushing duo Kameryn Fountain and Sam Greene showed why they were recruited to the Trojans' defense: to get to the quarterback.

“It was a lot of hard work, a lot of late nights and early mornings,” Greene said. “I do extra little things just to contribute to the team. That’s all I’ve wanted to do since I signed the paper to come here.”

Both players secured their first collegiate sack last Saturday in a decisive win over Rutgers.

Fountain struck out early in the second half while Greene passed right tackle late in the fourth quarter.

“(I) left the ball, worked out my move, planned it in my head and just executed it,” Greene said. “I just go out there and play for my team.”

Greene jumped at the chance to earn a spot in the defensive rotation, calling the opportunity “very fun.”

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DUCKS

Sidney Crosby scored his second goal of the game 2:35 into overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Ducks 2-1 on Thursday night, ending a six-game losing streak.

Crosby stood alone on Lukas Dostal and slammed on the brakes before firing the puck over the Ducks' goaltender for the 93rd game-winning goal of his career.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 22 saves for Pittsburgh (4-7-1), which helped the Ducks (4-4-2) outscore 46-23. Dostal stopped 44 shots to keep the Ducks in the game, but it still wasn't enough.

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THIS DATE IN SPORTS

1913 – Notre Dame meets Army for the first time and earns a 35-13 victory behind Gus Dorias' 14 of 17 passes for 243 yards.

1938 – George Woolf, riding for regular jockey Red Pollard, leads Seabiscuit to a four-length victory over the heavily favored US Triple Crown champion War Admiral in the Pimlico Special Match Race in Baltimore. 40,000 spectators come to the match race, which is all about the winner and offers prize money of 15,000 US dollars.

1946 – In the first NBA game (known as the Basketball Association of America), the New York Knickerbockers defeated the Toronto Huskies 68-66 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

1959 – Montreal goaltender Jacques Plante revolutionizes his position – and the sport of hockey – by wearing a face mask. Plante is hit in the face with a shot by New York Rangers forward Andy Bathgate at 3:06 of the first period. After receiving stitches to close a wound from the corner of his mouth to his nostril, Plante returns to the ice wearing a mask. The Canadiens win 3-1.

1964 – Cleveland's Jim Brown rushes for 149 yards and becomes the first player to rush for more than 10,000 yards in his career as the Browns record a 30-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown had 47 games with 100 or more yards rushing for 10,135 yards.

1966 – The NFL awards a franchise to New Orleans on All Saints Day.

1968 – Detroit pitcher Denny McLain wins the AL Cy Young Award after finishing the season 31-6.

1970 – Mercury Morris of the Miami Dolphins gains 302 combined yards (89 rushing, 68 receiving and 145 on kickoff returns) in a 35-0 loss to the Baltimore Colts.

1987 – Ibrahin Hussein of Kenya and Priscilla Welch of Great Britain win the men's and women's classes of the New York Marathon, completing the 26.2 miles in 2:11:01 and 2:30:17, respectively.

1996 – Shaquille O'Neil makes his Hollywood debut as the Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 96-82 at the Forum; O'Neil scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in 35 minutes.

1997 – Tom Osborne reaches 250 wins faster than any other coach in college football history as Nebraska defeats Oklahoma 69-7, the worst loss in Sooners history.

1998 – Steve Young and Jerry Rice connect for the 80th touchdown of their careers in the Niners' 36-22 loss to GB Packers at Lambeau Field; surpasses the previous NFL mark set by the Miami Dolphins tandem of Dan Marino and Mark Clayton.

2000 – Pat Riley earns his 1,000th coaching victory as Miami earns its most lopsided victory in its opening game with a 105-79 win over Orlando. Riley reached the plateau in 1,434 games – fewer than any other coach or manager in any sport.

2003 – DeCori Birmingham rushes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in the seventh overtime, in Arkansas' 71-63 win over Kentucky. The seven overtime periods equal the longest game in NCAA history. The Razorbacks also won this game in 2001, defeating Mississippi 58-56.

2008 – Michigan's 48-42 loss at Purdue drops the Wolverines to 2-7, ending Michigan's streak of 33 consecutive bowl appearances. Michigan, assured of its first losing season since 1967, also sets a school record for losses.

2008 – Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses sets NCAA single-game records with 57 completions and 85 pass attempts in a 34-31 second-overtime loss to Sam Houston State. Moses completed passes for 501 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions and completed passes to 11 different receivers. The sophomore breaks the previous record of 83 single-game attempts set by Drew Brees at Purdue in 1998. The previous record for completions was 56, set by Jarrod DeGeorgia at then-Division II Wayne State in 1996.

2009 – Meb Keflezighi becomes the first American in 27 years to win the New York City Marathon. Keflezighi, who moved to San Diego from his native Eritrea in sixth grade, finished the race with a personal best of 2:09:15.

2015 – Simone Biles takes gold medals number nine and ten in the balance beam and floor exercise at the end of the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships. Biles breaks the career record for most gold medals by a gymnast at world championships.

2023 – The Texas Rangers win the first title in franchise history; defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 at Chase Field, Phoenix, securing a 4-1 series win; MVP: Rangers SS Corey Seager; Manager Bruce Bochy's fourth World Series victory.

Compiled by Associated Press