Before the Lakers embarked on their 1,700-plus mile flight to Milwaukee for tonight’s preseason matchup against the Bucks at Fiserv Forum, star forward LeBron James questioned why the game was scheduled in the first place.

“Can someone please explain to me why we’re getting on a (plane emoji) and heading to Milwaukee for [one] pre-season game!?!?” James posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

Tonight’s matchup will be the Lakers’ third of six preseason games, with all their exhibitions being played away from their home arena of Crypto.com Arena. The downtown L.A. venue is going through the final phase of a three-year renovation plan, affecting more than just the Lakers’ preseason schedule.

The NHL’s Kings will play their first seven regular-season games on the road before their home opener on Oct. 24 — two days after the Lakers’ regular-season home opener against Minnesota.

After tonight’s game, the Lakers will get a couple of days off before playing their final three preseason games in four days, including two against the Warriors. Golden State and the Lakers will play at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday and then meet at Chase Center on Oct. 18.

“Not an ideal preseason for us,” Lakers coach JJ Redick responded after Tuesday’s practice when asked about the preseason travel schedule.

Unlike the regular season, teams are mostly responsible for creating their preseason schedules.

Motorsports

Teams suing NASCAR seek injunction >> The two teams suing NASCAR asked a judge for a preliminary injunction so they can compete next season under the charter system they are challenging as their antitrust case moves through federal court.

23XI Racing, which is owned by Michael Jordan, veteran driver Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins, sued NASCAR and chairman Jim France last week in the Western District of North Carolina. The two teams accused NASCAR of being “monopolistic bullies” after refusing to sign new charters proposed by the stock car series.

The charter system is a revenue-sharing model that is similar to a franchise in other professional sports. Although charters can be sold and leased, the charters have contractually binding terms, expiration dates and can be revoked by NASCAR. Teams fought to have them made permanent but NASCAR would not consider the issue and the newest extension runs through 2031.

23XI and Front Row allege in their suit that the agreement that goes into effect next season limits competition by unfairly binding teams to the series, its tracks and its suppliers.

NWSL

Ex-employees sue San Diego Wave, NWSL >> Five former employees of the San Diego Wave have filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court accusing the women’s soccer club of discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination, among other allegations.

The lawsuit stems partly from claims made earlier this year on social media by former Wave video and creative manager Brittany Alvarado. She was joined by four other plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed Monday.

The lawsuit names the Wave and the National Women’s Soccer League as defendants. It says both the team and the league failed to act on complaints about a toxic workplace culture.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages for lost wages and benefits and for emotional distress, as well as punitive damages.

The lawsuit claims the NWSL investigated complaints against the Wave twice but ultimately nothing was done.

Tennis

Sinner beats Shelton in Shanghai >> Jannik Sinner avenged his defeat to Ben Shelton in the fourth round of last year’s Shanghai Masters with a 6-4, 7-6 (1) to spoil the 22-year-old American’s birthday.

Sinner will play fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev, who earlier beat long-time rival Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz made it 12 consecutive wins with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Gael Monfils.

College sports

Transfer portal changes approved >> The NCAA’s Division I Council has approved changes that will shorten the transfer portal windows for football and basketball from 45 to 30 days while keeping an additional 30-day window in all sports after the departure of a head coach.

The decisions will take effect immediately.

Football’s current fall portal window runs Dec. 9 to Jan. 7, 2025 and April 16-30 in the spring. The new fall window will be 20 days after Bowl Subdivision conference championships from Dec. 9-28, with the remaining 10 days occurring from April 16-25 next spring.

Basketball’s current window of March 17-April 30, 2025, will shorten to 30 days after the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Men’s soccer

SoCal to host CONCACAF final four twice >> The semifinals and final of the 2025 and 2027 CONCACAF Nations League will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

The site was announced by CONCACAF, the governing body of North and Central American and Caribbean soccer. Next year’s event will take place from March 20-23.

SoFi Stadium, which opened in 2016, is scheduled to host eight matches during the 2026 World Cup. It was the site of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final.