Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Soccer-New York City offering $50 World Cup tickets for residents

New York City will offer its residents a chance to snag $50 tickets ​to World Cup games in New Jersey this summer, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Thursday, with 1,000 affordable ​tickets up for grabs through a lottery system. The discounted tickets come with free round-trip ‌bus ​transportation to the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey and will be split across five group-stage and two knockout games, with 150 tickets available per match.

LeBron James puts focus on winning, unwilling to 'start over' in Year 24

LeBron James might not be willing to play for the league minimum, but if the potential Lakers free agent keeps retirement on the backburner, he's prioritizing winning ‌over all other factors when considering his options for 2026-27. James has not officially determined his plan for next season but he's expected to inform the Lakers of his intentions before the NBA draft next month. But he made several comments indicating he's not done as his 42nd birthday (December 30) approaches.

Rams reward Matthew Stafford with 1-year, $55 million extension

The Los Angeles Rams signed quarterback Matthew Stafford to a one-year extension on Thursday, according to multiple reports. The Rams now have the NFL's reigning Most Valuable Player under contract through the ‌2027 season. The 38-year-old's new deal is reportedly worth $55 million and can increase to as much as $60 million with incentives.

Motor racing-Kyle Busch dies at 41 after sudden illness

Kyle Busch, a generational talent whose aggressive driving style earned him the ‌nickname "Rowdy" and won him two NASCAR Cup Series championships, has died at the age of 41, his family announced on Thursday. News of his death came just hours after Busch's family released a statement saying he had been hospitalized with a severe illness.

Report: Status for Thunder's Jalen Williams (hamstring) is game-to-game

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams' status in the Western Conference finals is game-to-game while he is evaluated daily for a left hamstring injury, ESPN reported on Thursday. Williams is getting treatment after a second injury to the same hamstring in less than a month. He started but played only seven minutes and totaled four points, one ⁠rebound and two ​steals before exiting Game 2 with left hamstring tightness on Wednesday, when ⁠the host Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 122-113 to even the best-of-seven series.

ATP roundup: Tommy Paul, Aleksandar Kovacevic make Hamburg semis

Americans will comprise half the semifinals of the Hamburg Open, as No. 6 seed Tommy Paul defeated Germany's Daniel Altmaier 6-2, 7-5, and lucky loser Aleksandar Kovacevic extended his run in ⁠a three-set win over Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli on Thursday. One day after upsetting top-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, Kovacevic outlasted Ugo Carabelli 6-4, 6-7 (10), 6-2 in two hours and 43 minutes. The marathon second-set tiebreaker featured Ugo Carabelli saving one match point on his way to forcing the ​third set. But Kovacevic finished with nine aces and a perfect 7-for-7 mark in saving break points.

Giants give GM Joe Schoen multiyear extension

The New York Giants signed general manager Joe Schoen to a multiyear contract extension on ⁠Thursday. The move comes several months after the Giants fired the head coach who was hired the same year as Schoen, Brian Daboll, and replaced him with former Super Bowl champion John Harbaugh.

Knicks ride third-period explosion to 2-0 lead over Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are accustomed to climbing out of holes during the NBA playoffs. ⁠They ​haven't had to overcome an opponent as red hot as the New York Knicks, though.

MLB roundup: Guardians complete 4-game sweep of Tigers

Patrick Bailey had a solo homer while Brayan Rocchio had three hits, including two doubles, as the visiting Cleveland Guardians won their sixth straight game, a 3-1 triumph over the slumping Detroit Tigers on Thursday. Daniel Scheemann and Jose Ramirez knocked in the other runs for the Guardians, who completed a four-game series sweep while winning for the ninth time in their ⁠past 10 games. The Tigers have lost six straight and 14 of their last 16.

Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. (thumb) exits game but hopes to play Friday

The Atlanta Braves pulled right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. in the sixth inning of their Thursday ⁠game against the Miami Marlins due to pain in his left ⁠thumb, but the ailment isn't considered serious. Manager Walt Weiss said X-rays on the thumb were negative, though Acuna received a bone bruise. Acuna hopes to play on Friday when Atlanta opens a series against the visiting Washington Nationals, he and Weiss said.

Soccer-Ebola risk minimal for World Cup fans, logistics challenges remain

The risk of Ebola affecting fans at the World Cup is ‌low, according to Dr Oliver Johnson, a global ‌health academic at King's College London, but heightened screening and travel restrictions could complicate logistics. The expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, ​Canada and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)