Welcome to the Daily Sports News :
- Kevin Durant admits Draymond Green spat played role in leaving Warriors;
- United States Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton says he can still get better;
- WGC-HSBC Champions: McIlroy in contention as Li sets Shanghai pace;
- Breeders' Cup: Santa Anita in the spotlight after racehorse welfare concerns;
- New Zealand v England: James Vince stars in seven-wicket win;
Kevin Durant admits Draymond Green spat played role in leaving Warriors
Kevin Durant has admitted his heated exchange with Draymond Green last season was part of the reason he left the Golden State Warriors in free agency.
A verbal altercation broke out between the pair during a game last November when Green grabbed a rebound against the Los Angeles Clippers and did not pass to Durant, who was open.
The incident carried over into the locker room, with Green subsequently suspended by the Warriors for one game without pay for conduct "detrimental to the team".
After losing the NBA Finals to the Toronto Raptors, Durant left at the end of his contract and signed for the Brooklyn Nets, although he is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season through injury.
Pressed on the exchange with Green and whether it played into his thinking when deciding his future, Durant told ESPN: "A little bit. Yeah, for sure.
"I mean, if your team-mate talks to you that way, you think about it a bit. We talked about it, but definitely. For sure. I'm not going to lie about it.
"I just felt like I needed a switch. I felt like a lot of stuff in Golden State had reared its head and I felt like it was going to be the end, no matter what - especially for that group.
United States Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton says he can still get better
Lewis Hamilton says he can still get better as he embarks on the weekend when he should clinch a sixth Formula 1 drivers' championship.
Hamilton is almost certain to seal the title at Sunday's US Grand Prix, needing only to ensure he does not lose 22 points to Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
"I never thought I would have five titles. If I am able to get a sixth one, it will be pretty unreal," Hamilton said.
"I don't think I've hit peak yet and I plan to continue to get stronger."
Hamilton emphasised that "nothing is a given" and that he is "approaching it exactly as I have all year, one race at a time".
The only way Bottas can keep the championship alive is to win the race - and even then Hamilton only has to finish eighth to secure the title.
The 34-year-old Briton has won the race at the Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas five times in the seven years it has been on the calendar.
WGC-HSBC Champions: McIlroy in contention as Li sets Shanghai pace
World number two Rory McIlroy is three shots off the pace after carding an opening-round 67 at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
Haotong Li shot an eight-under-par 64 to lead Frenchman Victor Perez by a single shot.
Li, 24, had seven birdies, an eagle and a bogey to card his best round at Sheshan Golf International.
Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick and defending champion Xander Schauffele are well-placed on six-under-par.
McIlroy, who finished in a tie for third at last week's Zozo Championship in Japan, started slowly to reach the turn in level par before five birdies in six holes during the back nine catapulted him up the leaderboard.
The Northern Irishman, who has finished in the top five at this event on four previous occasions, trails Li by three alongside Corey Conners and Matthias Schwab.
Breeders' Cup: Santa Anita in the spotlight after racehorse welfare concerns
All the razzmatazz and the welcoming smiles will be there at the opening of the 36th staging of flat racing's Breeders' Cup, but behind the scenes nerves are jangling.
It's because preparations at Santa Anita, California, for the $28m (£22m) 'world championship of horse racing' have been taking place against a backdrop rather uglier than the spectacular expanse of the distant San Gabriel Mountains.
The historic racetrack has found itself in the eye of a welfare storm following the deaths on its courses of 60 horses since the beginning of 2018, either during training - 1,800 are stabled trackside - or while racing - the incidents have taken place on both dirt and turf.
Animal rights protests have become commonplace, the California authorities are involved and a usually indifferent general media has been shining a bright light on events; the state regulator, the California Horse Racing Board, will publish the results of its inquiry before Christmas.
New Zealand v England: James Vince stars in seven-wicket win
James Vince ensured England began their winter tour of New Zealand on a high with a seven-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 in Christchurch.
Vince struck a fine 59 off 38 balls as England overhauled a target of 154 with nine balls to spare in Chris Silverwood's first game as head coach.
Ross Taylor made 44 in New Zealand's 153-5, with Chris Jordan taking 2-28 and debutant Pat Brown 1-30.
The second game of the five-match series is in Wellington on Sunday.
England, who have rested several first-choice players, made the most of winning the toss, with New Zealand unable to find any fluency with the bat.
Although New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner impressed with 3-23, England were always in control of what proved to be a simple run chase.