Update on the latest sports
NBA-DRAFT LOTTERY
Pistons get top pick
NEW YORK (AP) — Detroit Pistons fans finally have something to celebrate after the team finished with the NBA’s second-worst record during the regular season.
The Pistons have won the NBA Draft lottery and will have the first pick next month. Detroit just recorded a 20-52 record that was the worst in the Eastern Conference and 14 wins away from a playoff berth.
If the Pistons keep the pick, it’ll be the first time they select No. 1 overall since taking Bob Lanier in 1970.
Houston will choose second after finishing with the league’s worst record. Cleveland will select third, followed by Toronto, Orlando, Oklahoma City, Golden State, Orlando, Sacramento and New Orleans.
Oklahoma State freshman guard Cade Cunningham is the top prospect in the draft.
NBA-BRYANT SUIT
Settlement agreement filed in Bryant helicopter crash
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant’s widow has agreed to settle a lawsuit against the pilot and owners of the helicopter that crashed last year, killing the NBA star, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others.
The Bryant family and relatives of other victims filed a settlement agreement notice Tuesday with a federal judge in Los Angeles but terms of the confidential deal weren’t disclosed.
If approved by the court, the settlement would end a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit filed against the estate of the pilot and the owner and operator of the helicopter that crashed into a hillside on Jan. 26, 2020.
The settlement was first announced by KABC-TV.
MLB SCHEDULE
Astros extend win streak
UNDATED (AP) — The Houston Astros have continued their surge by knocking off the American League’s worst team.
The Astros picked up their ninth straight win by topping the Orioles, 3-1 in Baltimore. Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) allowed one run and five hits with four strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings to improve to 8-2.
Myles Straw hit a solo shot in the second inning and singled in the tiebreaking run in the seventh. Chas McCormick added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
In other major league action:
— Cavan Biggio (BIH’-zhee-oh) and Lourdes Gurriel (gur-ee-EHL’) Jr. doubled on consecutive pitches to break a ninth-inning tie and push the Blue Jays past the Marlins, 2-1. The hits came with one out against Yimi García who entered the game after Sandy Alcantara (al-KAN’-tah-rah) stymied the Blue Jays while throwing only 86 pitches in eight innings. MLB RBIs leader Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled home to help Toronto improve to 12-2 in interleague games.
— The Tigers hammered the Cardinals, 8-2 as Jonathan Schoop (skohp) and Jake Rogers each drove in three runs. Schoop smacked a three-run homer and Rogers hit a two-run double in Detroit’s six-run fourth. Kyle Funkhouser was credited with the victory for 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.
— Pinch-hitter Erik Gonzalez’s two-run single highlighted a four-run rally in the seventh inning of the Pirates’ 6-3 downing of the White Sox. Adam Frazier homered and Bryan Reynolds had two RBIs as Pittsburgh dealt Chicago its season-high fifth straight loss. A three-run homer by pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal (yahs-MAH’-nee grahn-DAHL’) in the top of the seventh put the White Sox ahead 3-2 after they were held scoreless on two hits.
— Tyler Naquin (NAY’-kwihn) capped his 4-for-4 performance by ripping a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the ninth inning of the Reds’ 10-7 win over the Twins in Minnesota. Tucker Barnhart homered and had three RBIs and Jesse Winker hit a two-run double for the Reds. The Twins stormed back from a 7-2 deficit with a five-run eighth against Cincinnati’s bullpen before ending a five-game winning streak.
MLB-NEWS
Indians expect MLB wins leader Civale to be out with injury
UNDATED (AP) — Cleveland Indians right-hander Aaron Civale (sih-VA’-lee) appears headed to the injured list because of soreness in the middle finger on his pitching hand.
The major league wins leader this season left in the fifth inning of Monday’s victory over the Chicago Cubs. Manager Terry Francona says the Indians are “prepared that he’s going to miss some time.”
The loss of Civale would be a big blow for Cleveland, which is playing without ace Shane Bieber and right-hander Zach Plesac (PLEE’-sak) due to injuries. Civale is 10-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 15 starts.
In other MLB news:
— Reds first baseman Joey Votto served his one-game suspension Tuesday, three days after being ejected for arguing with an umpire. Votto was already slated to rest in Tuesday’s series finale at Minnesota. He and Reds manager David Bell were tossed in the first inning on Saturday at San Diego after a heated spat with home plate umpire Ryan Additon after Votto was called out on a checked swing.
— Outfielder George Springer was in the Blue Jays’ lineup Tuesday night for only his fifth game this year. The three-time All-Star began the season on the injured list because of a strained right quadriceps muscle. He played in four games in late April before going back on the IL.
— Blue Jays rookie Alek Manoah received a five-game suspension from MLB after senior vice president Michael Hill concluded the right-hander intentionally threw at Maikel (MY’-kehl) Franco Saturday in Baltimore. Manoah has appealed the punishment and will be allowed to pitch until the appeals process is completed.
— Mets left-hander Joey Lucchesi (loo-KAY’-see) will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on Thursday. Lucchesi was placed on the injured list Saturday, one day after he threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals. Lucchesi solidified himself at the back of the Mets’ rotation by posting a 1.19 ERA over his previous five starts.
— Mets outfielder Michael Conforto is close to returning to the active roster after being out since suffering a right hamstring strain May 16. Conforto was hitting .230 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 33 games before the injury.
NHL-NEWS
Barzal avoids suspension
UNDATED (AP) — New York Islanders forward Mat Barzal as avoided a suspension for his cross-check in Monday’s 8-0 loss to Tampa Bay.
However, Barzal has been fined $5,000 for by the NHL for hitting Tampa Bay’s Jan Rutta in the neck with his stick at the end of the second period. Barzal received a five-minute major and a game misconduct on the play.
In other NHL news:
— Islanders President of Hockey Operations Lou Lamoriello has won the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award. The Isles finished just six points off the East Division lead and are in the semifinals for the second straight year. Lamoriello was named on 30 of 41 ballots, including 12 first-place selections.
— Former Sabres high-scoring right wing Rene Robert (roh-BEHR’) has died at age 72 less than a week after suffering a heart attack. Robert was one-third of the Sabres’ French Connection line, one of the league’s highest-scoring units during the 1970s. He registered a career-high 40 goals twice during his seven-plus seasons in Buffalo, and collected 552 points in 524 games as a Sabre.
NFL-NEWS
Seahawks to allow full crowds at Lumen Field next season
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks intend to have full capacity crowds at Lumen Field for the upcoming season after the team received approval from the NFL and local and state health officials to completely reopen the stadium.
Fans will not be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend games, but those who are not vaccinated will be required to wear masks. The team says it won’t require proof of vaccination for fans.
CREIGHTON-NCAA
Creighton put on probation by NCAA amid fallout of FBI probe
UNDATED (AP) — The Creighton men’s basketball program has been placed on two years’ probation and docked scholarships each of the next two seasons by the NCAA. The organization investigated allegations that a former assistant coach accepted cash from a management agency.
The NCAA says Creighton athletic director Bruce Rasmussen violated ethics rules after he conducted his own investigation without notifying or coordinating with the compliance office.
The penalties are the latest in a wide-ranging FBI probe into college basketball corruption that has ensnared numerous coaches and several high-profile schools.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-PLAYOFF EXPANSION
CFP presidents OK expansion evaluation
DALLAS (AP) — The 11 university presidents and chancellors who oversee the College Football Playoff have authorized the continued evaluation of a proposed 12-team playoff. Any plan could still be another five years away.
The presidents and chancellors say the next step is a summer review phase to hear the opinions from a wide array of people, including athletes, campus leaders and coaches.
OLYMPICS-SWIMMING-SUN YANG
Chinese swimmer banned, will miss Olympics
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Chinese swimmer star Sun Yang has been banned for more than four years for breaking anti-doping rules. The verdict by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ends Sun’s hopes of defending his Olympic title in the 200 meters freestyle in Tokyo next month. His ban expires in May 2024.
EURO 2020-WEMBLEY ATTENDANCE
Wembley capacity increased for Euro 2020 semifinals, final
LONDON (AP) — The British government says more than 60,000 fans will be allowed into the semifinals and final of the European Championship at Wembley Stadium.
The stadium normally seats about 90,000 for soccer.
No details have been provided yet on how fans from overseas can attend without having to quarantine after flying into London.
