Update on the latest sports
APNBA-76ERS-EMBIID
Knee injury has Embiid questionable
UNDATED (AP) — Joel Embiid’s (joh-EHL’ ehm-BEEDZ’) status for Game 1 of Philadelphia’s playoff series against Atlanta is still unknown because of a knee injury that leaves him day to day.
The NBA MVP finalist suffered a small lateral meniscus tear in his right knee during Game 4 of the opening round against Washington.
In other NBA news:
— Bucks guard Jrue Holiday has won the 2020-21 Joe Dumars Trophy that goes annually to the NBA player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. Boston’s Kemba Walker finished second in the balloting this year after winning the award in 2017 and 2018.
— Katherine Evans is joining the Wizards as the first woman to head the research or analytics department of an NBA franchise. Her new title is vice president of research and information systems.
NHL-JETS-SCHEIFELE SUSPENDED
Jets’ Scheifele won’t appeal 4-game suspension
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele (SHYF’-lee) won’t be appealing his four-game suspension for a crushing blow to the head and shoulder of Montreal’s Jake Evans.
Scheifele calls the NHL’s punishment “excessive” but says he doesn’t want to be a distraction for his team. He says he did not intend to injure Evans and was only trying to stop him from scoring.
The hit came in the final minute of Montreal’s 5-3 win in Game 1 of their second-round series Wednesday night. Evans’ head struck the ice and he was taken off the ice on a stretcher. He wasn’t hospitalized but the Canadiens say he has a concussion and is out indefinitely.
In other NHL news:
— Penguins center Evgeni Malkin has had surgery on his right knee and will not be available when the team reports for training camp in September. Malkin injured the knee in a collision against Boston on March 16. He missed seven weeks before returning to appear for the final four games of the regular season.
— Blue Jackets center Max Domi (DOH’-mee) is expected to miss the beginning of the 2021-22 season after surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder. Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen (YAHR’-moh kehk-eh-LY’-nehn) says Domi is expected to make a full recovery in five to six months.
MLB-NEWS
20 of 30 MLB teams reach 85% vaccinations, relax protocols
UNDATED (AP) — Two-thirds of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams have been able to relax coronavirus protocols after four additional clubs reached 85% vaccinations for players and other on-field personnel.
Two additional teams have reached the level of having received final doses and will be able to relax protocols within the next two weeks once they are fully vaccinated.
In other MLB news:
— The Red Sox have received three minor leaguers to complete a trade that sent Andrew Benintendi to the Royals. Boston also gave Kansas City $2.8 to defray the cost of Benintendi’s contract.
— Wrigley Field is going to start packing the place beginning next Friday against the Cardinals. The team has received approval from state and city officials to host games at 100% of Wrigley Field’s capacity.
— Major League Baseball will offer incentives to unvaccinated fans through a program called “MLB Vaccinate At The Plate,” taking place throughout June. Each of the 30 teams will host at least one event in June where unvaccinated fans will be able to receive a free ticket to a game if they get a COVID-19 vaccination shot at the event.
PITCHER HIT IN HEAD
AAA pitcher hospitalized but stable after liner to head
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Minor league pitcher Tyler Zombro was kept overnight at a hospital and remains in stable condition. He was struck in the head by a line drive, a frightening scene that prompted Triple-A Durham to suspend its game.
Zombro crumbled awkwardly to the ground, lay motionless for a moment face down, then began to convulse uncontrollably as teammates and a trainer rushed toward the mound.
The Rays said Friday morning that they had received positive updates on his status.
Durham postponed Friday’s game.
FRENCH OPEN-DAY 6
Serena Williams beats Collins…Top 3 women out
PARIS (AP) — Serena Williams recovered from a 4-1 deficit in the second set of a 6-4, 6-4 win over fellow American Danielle Collins in the third round of the French Open.
Williams next faces Elena Rybakina, who defeated Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-4 to reach the fourth round for the first time at a major.
The seventh-seeded Williams is again chasing a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title.
No. 15 Victoria Azarenka also reached the Round of 16 by downing American Madison Keys, 6-2, 6-2.
The women’s bracket is now without its top three seeds. Third-seeded Aryna Sabalenka was upset by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-4, 2-6, 6-0. Top-seeded Ash Barty retired from her second-round match with an injury on Thursday. Second-seeded Naomi Osaka withdrew after the first round.
Men’s second seed Daniil Medvedev, fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 6 Alexander Zverev won their third-round matches. Medvedev advanced to the fourth round after never having previously reached the second round at Roland Garros.
FRENCH OPEN-ARREST
Russian player arrested for match-fixing at 2020 French Open
PARIS (AP) — A Russian tennis player suspected of match-fixing last year arrested Thursday during the French Open.
The prosecutor’s office says Yana Sizikova was arrested on charges of “sports bribery and organized fraud for acts likely to have been committed in September 2020.”
The prosecutor’s office said the probe centered on suspicions about one match at Roland Garros last year. It did not specify the match.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS-PRINCIPAL CHARITY CLASSIC
Jaidee leads Tour Champions event
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thongchai Jaidee closed with a birdie on the par-3 ninth for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke lead through one round of the PGA Tour Champions’ Principal Charity Classic.
The 51-year-old from Thailand eagled the par-5 15th and had seven birdies and two bogeys at Wakonda Club.
Dicky Pride and Doug Barron were tied for second.
NFL-NEWS
Giants ink first-rounder Toney
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Giants have completed signing their draft picks, getting first-rounder Kadarius Toney under contract.
The Giants selected Toney at No. 20 overall after swapping first-round picks with Chicago. He played 38 games with 13 starts at Florida, catching 120 passes for 1,490 yards and 12 touchdowns.
In other NFL moves:
— The Vikings have addressed a need in their secondary by reaching contract terms with Bashaud Breeland. The former Kansas City cornerback played in two Super Bowls with the Chiefs. Breeland was a fourth-round draft pick out of Clemson by Washington in 2014.
— A person with knowledge of the deal says punter Michael Dickson has reached agreement on a four-year, $14.5 million extension with the Seahawks. Dickson has been one of the league’s best punters since being drafted in the fifth-round by the Seahawks in 2018. He was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection as a rookie.
TRACK-DOPING-ROLLINS-MCNEAL
Olympic champ Rollins-McNeal banned 5 years in doping case
MONACO (AP) — Olympic hurdles champion Brianna Rollins-McNeal was banned for five years on Friday in a doping case, ruling her out of this year’s Tokyo Games and the 2024 Paris Games.
The Athletics Integrity Unit said the American’s second career ban was for “tampering within the results management process” of doping control samples.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport made an interim decision to freeze her ban so she can run at this month’s U.S. Olympic trials. The full appeal will be heard before the Tokyo Olympics open on July 23.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-CORRUPTION
Appeals court upholds guilty verdicts in NCAA bribes case
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions of a sports business manager and an amateur basketball coach in a conspiracy to bribe top college coaches.
The ruling Friday by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan came after Christian Dawkins and youth basketball coach Merl Code were convicted in 2019 of a single conspiracy count. Dawkins was also convicted of bribery. They were acquitted of some other charges.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-LOUISVILLE-PLEA DEAL
Former Louisville assistant gets plea deal in extortion case
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A former University of Louisville basketball assistant has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of attempted extortion and will avoid prison time.
Dino Gaudio was dismissed from the team along with another assistant in March after the Cardinals missed the NCAA tournament. During a meeting with coaches, Gaudio threatened to go to the media with alleged NCAA violations by the team, according to federal prosecutors.
Gaudio agreed to a plea deal that will include probation and a fine.
