Update on the latest sports
APNBA-DRAFT
Cunningham goes to Pistons at No. 1
NEW YORK (AP) — The Detroit Pistons are hoping Cade Cunningham will be a key component to their rebuilding program.
The Pistons have used the first pick in the NBA Draft to take Cunningham, who a first-team Associated Press All-American as a freshman this past season. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound point guard averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Oklahoma State.
He possesses a game that allows him to hit from 3-point range, score off the dribble or find teammates out of traps.
The Rockets used the second selection to take G-League product Jalen Green. The Cavaliers went with center Evan Mobley with the third choice.
Also in the NBA:
— A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that the Cavaliers have agreed to acquire veteran guard Ricky Rubio from the Timberwolves. Cleveland is sending small forward Taurean Prince, cash and a second-round pick in 2022 to Minnesota for the 30-year-old Rubio.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-SEC/BIG 12
UNDATED (AP) — The Southeastern Conference is preparing to expand by the middle of the decade.
SEC university presidents have voted to invite Big 12 members Texas and Oklahoma to the league and create a 16-team powerhouse on the field and at the bank.
The vote comes two days after the Longhorns and Sooners requested to join the SEC in 2025, when the schools’ media rights agreement with the Big 12 expires. Texas and Oklahoma both have board of regents meetings schedule for Friday with conference affiliation on the agenda.
There is the possibility the Longhorns and Sooners will join the SEC earlier that 2025. That’s provided they can negotiate a buyout with the Big 12 and ESPN, which has the broadcast rights to the conference games.
OLYMPICS
Lee wins all-around gymnastics gold for U.S.
TOKYO (AP) — The Friday Olympic schedule is about to begin in Tokyo.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Lilly King will be a gold medal contender alongside Annie Lazor in the women’s 200-meter breaststroke. King won a bronze medal in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke earlier this week.
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy will attempt to win a second consecutive gold medal in the men’s 200-meter backstroke. Like King, Murphy won bronze this week in the 100-meter backstroke.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Giants pad division lead
UNDATED (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have concluded a successful 10-day stretch against the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking five of their seven meetings.
The Giants’ lead in the NL West is back up to three games following a 5-0 win over the second-place Dodgers.
Brandon Crawford doubled home two runs in his first at-bat since returning from a left oblique strain. Wilmer Flores, Austin Slater and LaMonte Wade Jr. also drove in runs for San Francisco, which took the rubber back of the three-game set.
Winning pitcher Johnny Cueto earned his first win since June 25th, yielding four hits over 5 2/3s. The loss went to David Price, who was reached for three runs over 4 1/3.
In other major league action:
— Brad Miller’s walk-off grand slam off Sam Clay in the bottom of the eighth allowed the Phillies to salvage the finale of their doubleheader with the Nationals, 11-8. Washington led 7-0 in the nightcap before Rhys Hoskins, Andrew McCutchen and Alec Bohm all went deep. J.T. Realmuto tied the game with an RBI single in a-three-run seventh.
— Max Scherzer was sharp in what might have been his final start for Washington, allowing three runs over six innings of a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia in Game 1. Scherzer can become a free agent this fall and is the subject of rampant trade rumors with the deadline set for Friday. The split leaves the Phils 3 ½ games behind the NL East-lead Mets.
— Austin Riley concluded his three-day assault on the Mets with a two-run homer and three RBIs, sending the Braves to a 6-3 win. Riley opened the scoring with a fourth-inning blast and added an RBI single in the fifth. He delivered four home runs and seven ribbies in the last three games of the five-game set, helping Atlanta win the series and get within four games of New York.
— Joey Votto (VAH’-toh) set a Reds record by homering for the sixth straight game, slamming a two-run blast in the first inning to ignite a 7-4 downing of the Cubs. The 37-year-old Votto homered six times in the four-game series at Wrigley Field, and has eight home runs over his record stretch. Tucker Barnhart drove in two runs on a soft groundball single for a 4-3 lead.
— The Royals blanked the White Sox, 5-0 as Carlos Hernandez limited the AL Central leaders to four hits over six innings. Salvador Perez opened the scoring with his 25th home run, a two-run shot off loser Carlos Rodon. Kansas City won three out of four games in the series that ended with a blistering matinee.
— Luis Patino outpitched Gerrit Cole and the Rays exploded for 10 runs in the sixth inning of a laugher against the Yankees, 14-0. Brett Phillips launched a grand slam during the big sixth inning. Austin Meadows homered twice and had five RBIs as Tampa Bay avoided a three-game sweep.
MLB-NEWS
Yanks get power bats before trade deadline
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Yankees have added sluggers Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo in less than 24 hours as the trade deadline nears.
Gallo’s trade to New York from the Rangers has been completed, giving the heavily right-handed Yankees a much-needed powerful lefty bat. The Yanks acquired Gallo, left-hander Joely Rodriguez and cash from the Rangers for minor league right-hander Glenn Otto and infielders Ezequiel Duran, Trevor Hauver and Josh Smith.
The 27-year-old Gallo is hitting .223 with 25 homers, 55 RBIs and a major league-leading 74 walks.
The Cubs sent Rizzo to the Yankees in a trade for prospects. That’s according to a person familiar with the deal.
Rizzo is batting .248 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs this season and can become a free agent in November.
In other major league news:
— Cleveland manager Terry Francona is stepping down for the remainder of this season to undergo hip replacement surgery. The 62-year-old Francona has been wearing a boot on his right foot all season after undergoing toe surgery for a staph infection in February. The toe issue has exasperated the hip problem.
— The Indians have shipped second baseman Cesar Hernandez to the first-place White Sox for minor league pitcher Konnor Pilkington. The 31-year-old Hernandez is hitting .231 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 96 games.
— The Dodgers got left-hander Danny Duffy and cash from the Royals for a player to be named. The 32-year-old Duffy is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left flexor and last pitched on July 16. He is 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA this season.
— The Blue Jays have picked up closer Brad Hand from Washington for catcher Riley Adams.
— The Mariners quickly found a replacement for the back end of their bullpen, acquiring right-hander Diego Castillo from the Rays for reliever JT Chargois and a minor league infielder.
— Reliable reliever Ryan Tepera is heading from the North Side to the South Side. The struggling Chicago Cubs traded the 33-year-old right-hander to the AL Central-leading White Sox for minor league lefty Bailey Horn.
NBA-NEWS
NBA’s Jaxson Hayes arrested in Los Angeles police struggle
UNDATED (AP) — Los Angeles police say New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest after a struggle with officers responding to a report of a domestic dispute.
A police statement Thursday says officers found Hayes in the front yard of a home early Wednesday and ordered him to stay outside but he repeatedly tried to get in and a struggle ensued. Officers used a Taser and other force before handcuffing him.
NHL-NEWS
Saad to Blues
UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Blues have signed forward Brandon Saad to a five-year, $22.5 million contract.
The 28-year-old Saad is a five-time 20-goal scorer, including 31 for the Blue Jackets in 2015-16. He had 15 goals and 24 points in 44 games for Colorado this past season.
Saad won the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2013 and 2015 and is heading to his fifth NHL organization.
Elsewhere in the NHL:
— The Stars have signed two more free agents: defenseman Jani Hakanpaa and veteran forward Michael Raffl (RAH’-ful).
— The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning have signed veteran winger Corey Perry to a $2 million, two-year contract.
NFL-NEWS
Jets ink Wilson
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Jets have signed their latest quarterback of the future.
Jets have worked out contract terms with Zach Wilson, the second overall selection in this year’s NFL draft.
Wilson received a fully guaranteed four-year, $35.15 million rookie contract that includes a signing bonus of $22.9 million and a fifth-year team option. He missed the first two practices of training camp as contract terms were being hammered out.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
— The Falcons have placed defensive end-outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Coach Arthur Smith would not say whether Fowler tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
— Browns center and NFLPA President JC Tretter feels the NFL is trying to shame players by urging teams to require vaccinated and unvaccinated players to wear different colored wristbands. Tretter said it’s easy to identify who isn’t vaccinated because those choosing not to get the shots are required to wear masks and follow other protocols. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he didn’t want to divide his team with the wristbands.
— Washington Football President Jason Wright tells The Associated Press the organization has substantially narrowed the list of potential names for the team. The unveiling is expected before the 2022 NFL draft. Wright says
