Reuters Sports News Summary

Boulter, ranked 49th in the world, crushed the third seed, Emma Navarro of the U.S., 6-3, 6-1. NBA roundup: LeBron James hits milestone, but Nuggets win Nikola Jokic scored 35 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 25 as the visiting Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to six games with a 124-114 victory Saturday over the Los Angeles Lakers, spoiling the latest milestone for LeBron James.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Tennis-Nadal hopes to leave Indian Wells unscathed with focus on claycourt season

Rafa Nadal said he hopes to avoid any injury setbacks at Indian Wells so he can be fully fit for the upcoming claycourt season in what could be his final year on the ATP Tour. The 37-year-old, who has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles on the red clay of Roland Garros, has suggested his career could be coming to a close and missed this year's Australian Open due to pain in his surgically repaired hip.

NHL roundup: Preds rout Avs for 8th straight win

Cody Glass recorded his first career hat trick, and the Nashville Predators extended their season-high winning streak to eight games with a 5-1 home victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Glass, a light-scoring forward, entered the contest with two goals in 33 games this season but doubled that total by securing his first career multi-goal game through the two periods. He then added an empty-netter for his first hat trick in his five-year career.

Athletics-Lyles helps U.S. to world indoor 4x400 podium in possible Paris preview

Noah Lyles helped the U.S. team to a silver medal in the 4x400 metres relay -- a distance he rarely runs -- at the world indoor athletics championships on Sunday, a preview perhaps of his Paris Olympic intentions. Running the third leg, the 100 and 200m specialist received the baton in first place and handed off without giving up any ground in a 45.68-second split, the third fastest of his team.

WTA roundup: Marta Kostyuk tops 1 seed Jessica Pegula in San Diego

Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine stormed back in the first set and won a tense tiebreaker, and then cruised to a semifinal victory over top-seeded Jessica Pegula of the U.S. at the Cymbiotika San Diego Open on Saturday night. With the 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory, Kostyuk, the sixth seed, will take on Katie Boulter of Great Britain in Sunday's final. Boulter, ranked 49th in the world, crushed the third seed, Emma Navarro of the U.S., 6-3, 6-1.

NBA roundup: LeBron James hits milestone, but Nuggets win

Nikola Jokic scored 35 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 25 as the visiting Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to six games with a 124-114 victory Saturday over the Los Angeles Lakers, spoiling the latest milestone for LeBron James. While James had the spotlight early, becoming the first player in NBA history to pass the 40,000-point mark, the Nuggets owned the game by getting 24 points and 11 assists from Jamal Murray and 18 points from Aaron Gordon. Porter was 10 of 10 from the floor, while Porter and Jokic each had 10 rebounds.

NBA-LeBron James becomes first player to score 40,000 points

LeBron James on Saturday became the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points, hitting a scoop layup off the glass in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers home game against the Denver Nuggets. James, who entered the game needing nine points to reach the milestone, used a spin move to create separation from Denver's Michael Porter Jr. and put the ball in with his left hand as the all-time scoring leader continues to put his record further out of reach.

Tennis-De Minaur sinks Ruud to retain Mexican Open crown

Third seed Alex de Minaur successfully defended his Mexican Open crown on Saturday, romping to a 6-4 6-4 victory over Casper Ruud in the Acapulco title clash. The result helped the 25-year-old Australian snap a four-match losing run in finals and bag his eighth ATP Tour title - his seventh on hard courts - to secure his place in the top 10 of the world rankings that will be updated on Monday.

Motor racing-Jos Verstappen's outburst raises big questions for Red Bull

Jos Verstappen's call for the sacking of Red Bull Formula One boss Christian Horner has raised questions about his son Max's future just as the team and their triple world champion celebrate a truly crushing win in Bahrain. Saturday's season-opening race at the Gulf kingdom's Sakhir circuit offered fewer twists and turns, and considerably less drama, than the apparent power play being acted out in the paddock.

Athletics-Charlton lowers 60m hurdles world record again at world indoors

Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas is again the sole owner of the women's indoor 60-metre hurdles world record after the 28-year-old blazed to a time of 7.65 seconds at the world indoor championships on Sunday. She beat the previous mark of 7.67 she shared with American Tia Jones.

Rowing-Australia stacks men's eight in bid for elusive Olympic gold

Australia has stacked its rowing men's eight with three Olympic champions in a bid to finally secure the gold medal in the blue riband event at the Paris Games later this year. With 13 gold medals, Australia has enjoyed plenty of success on the Olympic rowing lake, but silvers in Mexico in 1968 and Sydney in 2000 is the best they have managed in the men's eight.