Mario Balotelli makes first Serie A appearance in 4 years in Genoa's win over Parma

Mario Balotelli made his first Serie A appearance in four years when he came on as a late substitute in Genoa's 1-0 win over Parma on Monday and earned a yellow card within five minutes.

Balotelli came on in the 86th minute and was booked in injury time for a foul.

The former Italy international signed with relegation-threatened Genoa last week, having last played in Italy’s top division with hometown club Brescia in 2019-20.

Parma's winless streak reached nine games with the loss, even though the host had the best of the first half with Valentin Mihaila and Anas Haj Mohamed coming close to opening the scoring.

But Genoa took control after the break as Morten Thorsby had a goal disallowed after 49 minutes and Andrea Pinamonti hit the post shortly after. Pinamonti scored the winner with 11 minutes remaining when he slotted home the rebound from Jeff Ekhator’s low shot.

It was Genoa’s first win since beating Monza on Aug. 24 and moves it off the bottom of the standings and into 17th place. Parma is 15th.

Also, Empoli earned its first home win of the Italian league season after a goal two minutes into the second half from Pietro Pellegri was enough to beat Como 1-0.

The on-loan Torino striker took advantage of poor defending before driving into the penalty box and scoring from an angle.

It was Empoli’s first goal at home this season. The club has scored only eight times in 11 matches but is still in 11th place in Serie A thanks to a strong defense that has conceded just nine times.

Como stayed in 16th.

Lazio beat Cagliari 2-1 thanks to a late penalty from Mattia Zaccagni.

The home side was gifted the lead after just two minutes when Simone Scuffet spilled Luca Pellegrini’s free kick right at the feet of Boulaye Dia, giving him easiest of finishes to notch his eighth goal of the season.

Zito Luvumbo equalized for Cagliari four minutes before halftime when the Angolan striker spun and his shot took a deflection that wrongfooted the Lazio keeper and rolled into the net.

Zaccagni then made no mistake from the spot with 14 minutes remaining after Pellegrini was felled by Nadir Zortea.

Two Cagliari players were sent off shortly afterward as Yerry Mina was first shown a second booking for a foul and Ndary Adopo also earned a second yellow for complaining about the decision.

The win lifts Lazio into fifth place, a point above Juventus and level with Fiorentina and Atalanta. Cagliari remains in 16th.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Genoa's Mario Balotelli warms up during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Genoa at Ennio Tardini Stadium in Parma, Italy, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Genoa's Mario Balotelli looks on during Genoa warm up during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Genoa at Ennio Tardini Stadium in Parma, Italy, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Genoa's Mario Balotelli, front, fights for the ball with Parma's Emanuele Valeri, right, during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Genoa at Ennio Tardini Stadium in Parma, Italy, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Lazio's Taty Castellanos, right, and Cagliari's Sebastiano Luperto vie for the ball during a Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Cagliari, at Rome's Olympic stadium, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Lazio's Boulaye Dia, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Cagliari, at Rome's Olympic stadium, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Lazio's Taty Castellanos controls the ball during a Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Cagliari, at Rome's Olympic stadium, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Empoli's Emmanuel Gyasi runs with the ball during the Serie A soccer match between Empoli and Como, at the "Carlo Castellani - Computer Gross Arena" stadium in Empoli, Italy, Monday , Nov. 4, 2024. (Marco Bucco/LaPresse via AP)

Empoli's Pietro Pellegri celebrates after scoring his team's first goal, during the Serie A soccer match between Empoli and Como, at the "Carlo Castellani - Computer Gross Arena" stadium in Empoli, Italy, Monday , Nov. 4, 2024. (Marco Bucco/LaPresse via AP)

Genoa's Andrea Pinamonti, center, reacts during the Serie A match between Parma and Genoa at the Ennio Tardini Stadium in Parma, Italy, Monday Nov. 4, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Parma's Anas Haj Mohamed reacts during the Serie A match between Parma and Genoa at the Ennio Tardini Stadium in Parma, Italy, Monday Nov. 4, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Parma's Dennis Man vies for the ball with Genoa's goalkeeper Nicola Leali during the Serie A match between Parma and Genoa at the Ennio Tardini Stadium in Parma, Italy, Monday Nov. 4, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder won their franchise-record 13th consecutive regular-season game, 116-98 over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

The Thunder trailed by 16 in the first half before pulling within 52-48 at halftime. Shaking off a cold shooting first half, the Thunder exploded for 42 third-quarter points and an 18-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander also had a game high eight assists for the Thunder, who are 28-5 and have won 17 of their last 18 regular-season games. He did not play in the fourth quarter.

Jalen Williams scored 18 points and Isaiah Hartenstein added 11 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City.

Amir Coffey led the Clippers with 26 points.

After shooting just 31% in the first half, the Thunder wound up at an even 50% for the game and added to their league-leading steal total with 11 takeaways.

Despite the slow start, the Thunder's depth eventually overwhelmed the Clippers, who were without James Harden, a late scratch.

Williams hit a runner at the halftime buzzer to cut the Clippers lead to four, then scored the first six points of the second half to jumpstart a 23-5 run that put the Thunder in control.

Norman Powell came into the game averaging a career high 24.3 points per game. He missed his first nine shots and didn’t get a basket until eight minutes remained, finishing with six points on 1-of-11 shooting including 0-for-5 from 3-point range.

The Thunder continue their homestand Friday night against the Knicks. The Clippers return home to host Atlanta on Saturday with the expected return of Kawhi Leonard.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr. (77) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams, center, looks to pass the ball away from Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) and guard Kevin Porter Jr. (77) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, knocks the ball away from Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, looks for an outlet as Los Angeles Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)