The NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area.

It is the second straight day a game slated to be played in downtown Los Angeles has been postponed. The NHL’s Los Angeles Kings were scheduled to host the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.

The date for the rescheduled games will be announced at a later time.

Three major fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex following two days of extraordinary winds. A major threat broke out Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, close to the heart of the entertainment industry, but had been contained by Thursday morning.

The NFL has moved the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona. The game will be played Monday night at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, in suburban Glendale, Arizona.

The league announced the decision a few hours after yet another fire broke out in an area several miles from the Rams’ training complex in the Woodland Hills neighborhood.

NFL

Raiders fire general manager Telesco after just one year >> The Las Vegas Raiders continued their house cleaning, firing general manager Tom Telesco just two days after dismissing coach Antonio Pierce.

The moves took place after the Raiders went 4-13 this season.

The Raiders will become just the second franchise in the Super Bowl era to enter a season three years in a row with a new GM and coach. Coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were in charge to open the 2023 season. The Cleveland Browns in 2012-14 are the other club to hold such a distinction.

Baltimore WR Flowers won’t play against Pittsburgh >> Baltimore Ravens receiver Zay Flowers will miss this weekend’s playoff game against Pittsburgh after injuring his knee in the regular-season finale.

Flowers was hurt during a 35-10 victory over Cleveland last weekend that clinched the AFC North title for Baltimore. The second-year receiver made the Pro Bowl, catching 74 passes for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week that Flowers’ injury was not expected to be season-ending.

‘Music City Miracle’ star Wycheck had CTE >> Frank Wycheck, the NFL tight end best known for throwing the lateral that started the “Music City Miracle” and launched the Tennessee Titans’ run to the franchise’s lone Super Bowl appearance, had stage III chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he died on Dec. 9, 2023, at his Chattanooga home, his family said.

Wycheck died at the age of 52 after apparently hitting his head in a fall at home. He had made clear his wishes to work with experts for CTE research and on-going brain injury.

Researchers at Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center confirmed Wycheck had CTE stage III, with stage IV the most severe form of the neurodegenerative disease that can lead to dementia, memory loss and depression.

MLB

Rockies finalize 1-year deal with infielder Estrada >> Thairo Estrada and the Colorado Rockies finalized a one-year contract, a deal that includes a mutual option for 2026.

Primarily a second baseman during the last three seasons, the 28-year-old hit .217 with nine homers and 47 RBIs last year with the San Francisco Giants.

He was assigned outright to Triple-A Sacramento on Aug. 30 and on Oct. 1 elected to become a free agent, his right as a player with at least three years of major league service.

Soccer

Man United forward Diallo signs contract extension >> Manchester United forward Amad Diallo has signed a contract extension with the Premier League club until 2030.

Diallo, who scored a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw with league leader Liverpool on Sunday, has been rewarded for his impressive form this season. He also struck a 90th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in December.

The 22-year-old Diallo joined United from Atalanta in 2021 and has had loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland.

Brazilian star Marta re-signs with Orlando >> Brazilian star Marta is staying with the Orlando Pride.

The six-time FIFA world player of the year has re-signed with the defending National Women’s Soccer League champions through 2026.

Marta, 38, has played for the Pride since 2017. She defied her age in captaining the Pride to a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit in the league championship game last year. Along the way, Orlando won the NWSL Shield, the team’s first-ever trophy.

Swimming

Hosszu retires after stellar career >> Three-time Olympic champion Katinka Hosszu of Hungary, one of the greatest all-around swimmers, has announced her retirement.

Known as the “Iron Lady” of swimming for her gruelling repertoire of events, the 35-year-old Hosszu competed at five Olympic Games. She was only 15 when she made her Olympic debut at the 2004 Athens Games.

Hosszu won her three individual gold medals in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, in the 100-meter backstroke, as well as her signature 200 and 400 individual medleys. She added a silver medal in the 200 backstroke.