Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. California's Sacramento Kings to launch precursor to in-arena sports betting

Sports betting is not yet legal in California, but the Sacramento Kings want fans to come as close as they can to the real thing with a new "predictive gaming" lounge. Starting with the Kings' home game on March 17 against the Chicago Bulls, some basketball fans will be able to place free "predictions" on game outcomes in the new Sacramento Kings Skyloft Predictive Gaming Lounge, Kings' owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé is expected to announce on Friday. Soccer: Sala's body arrives in Argentina for weekend funeral

The body of footballer Emiliano Sala arrived in Argentina on Friday, ahead of this weekend's wake and burial in his home town. TV pictures showed a van carrying the body being slowly escorted out of the Buenos Aires airport by police vehicles. North, South Korea eye joint march, teams for Tokyo 2020

North Korea and South Korea want a joint march at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and have requested to have some unified teams in different sports, the president of the International Olympic Committee said on Friday. South and North Korean sports and government officials met with the IOC in Lausanne, buoyed by the role the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics played in easing tensions between the two countries, amid initial planning for a joint bid for the 2032 Olympics. Messi backing Pique in new Davis Cup venture

Lionel Messi is one of the investors in the Davis Cup Finals in Madrid later this year, according to Barcelona team mate Gerard Pique whose Kosmos company has been instrumental in a revamp for the historic tennis competition. Pique's investment firm Kosmos has backed the new format to the tune of $3 billion over 25 years and will jointly run the competition alongside the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Alpine skiing: Pinturault and Hirscher locked in giant slalom battle

France's Alexis Pinturault was on course for his second medal at this year's Alpine skiing world championships as he set the fastest time in the first run of the giant slalom on Friday. Pinturault, bidding to become the first Frenchman to win the GS world title since Jean-Claude Killy in 1968, faces a tough task to add to his gold in the combined though. Spieth shares clubhouse lead at rain-hit Genesis Open

American Jordan Spieth surged into a share of the lead during the first round at the weather-hit Genesis Open on Thursday. The three-times major champion notched five birdies to move five-under-par after 12 holes at Riviera, while South Korean Sung Kang was on the same score through 14 holes. NHL roundup: Lightning slam Stars, win fourth straight

Steven Stamkos scored two power-play goals and assisted on another tally to help the Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL's top team, stroll past the visiting Dallas Stars 6-0 on Thursday to win their fourth consecutive game. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 32 shots to shut out the Stars for the second time this season. He has five shutouts this season and 17 in his five-year NHL career. Vasilevskiy has made 67 saves against Dallas in the past two outings and is now 5-0-1 in his career against the Stars. NFL notebook: Riley dismisses concerns over Murray's height

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray likely will be one of the most talked about -- and divisive -- prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft, mixing electric Heisman-winning talent in a package that is usually considered too short by league standards. Murray, who was listed as 5-foot-10 by Oklahoma, will get an official measurement when he attends the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis later this month. NBA roundup: Davis injured in Pelicans' win

Jrue Holiday and Julius Randle combined for 65 points to lead host New Orleans to a 131-122 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, but the Pelicans lost All-Star forward Anthony Davis to a shoulder injury. Davis missed the second half, finishing with 14 points and four rebounds in 15 minutes. It wasn't immediately known whether the injury would keep Davis out of the All-Star Game on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. Golf: Tiger will win a major in 2019 says Feherty

Tiger Woods will build off the momentum he generated in his comeback season from spinal fusion surgery and inch closer to the all-time record of 18 major victories, according to former Ryder Cup player and TV analyst David Feherty. Woods silenced even his harshest critics when he earned what some consider to be one of the greatest victories of his career at last year's Tour Championship season finale and Feherty feels the 43-year-old American may have more in store this year.