Celts to open at UMass
The Celtics yesterday announced their 2016 preseason schedule, which will open on Oct. 4 when they face the Philadelphia 76ers as the visiting team at the Mullins Center on the UMass campus in Amherst.
The Celtics move on to face the Charlotte Hornets twice, first at the Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum on Oct. 6 and second at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Oct. 8.
The preseason lineup also includes games at the Brooklyn Nets (Oct. 13) and New York Knicks (Oct. 15).
The Celtics close preseason play at home as they host the Nets and Knicks at the Garden on Oct. 17 and Oct. 19. . . . Veteran forward Richard Jefferson, 36, has re-signed with the NBA champion Cavaliers for two seasons after saying he would retire.
Akpom helps top MLS stars
Chuba Akpom scored the deciding goal in the 87th minute from about 4 yards out on a cross from the left side by Nacho Monreal, and Arsenal topped the MLS All-Stars, 2-1, in the Major League Soccer All-Star Game in San Jose, Calif.
Moments before halftime, Montreal’s Didier Drogba scored on his third try following two deflections in one quick sequence for MLS to notch it at 1. Joel Campbell scored on a penalty kick in the 11th minute for Arsenal. . . . Manchester City manager Pep
Guardiola says midfielder Samir Nasri hasn’t featured yet in the preseason friendlies because he is overweight.
Naumec ahead in Ouimet
Matt Naumec of GreatHorse fired a 5-under par 67 at Oyster Harbors Club to grab a 3-shot lead going to the final round of the 49th Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament in Osterville. This is his second consecutive year with the event lead after two rounds.
College football playoff fix
The College Football Playoff has abandoned a plan to play most of its semifinals on New Year’s Eve after television ratings tumbled last year, moving the dates of future games to ensure they will be played either on a weekend or a holiday.
The changes will start with the 2018 season. The TV ratings for last year’s semifinal games played on Thursday, Dec. 31, dropped 36 percent from the semifinals played the season before on New Year’s Day.
This season’s semifinals are still set for Saturday, Dec. 31. Next season’s playoff is scheduled to be back on Jan. 1. In 2018, the games initially scheduled to be played on New Year’s Eve, will now be played Saturday, Dec. 29. The 2019 games will move to Saturday, Dec. 28.
Coyotes sign defensive duo
The Arizona Coyotes locked up two of their best young defenseman, signing Connor Murphy to a six-year contract and Michael Stone to a oneyear deal.
Murphy’s deal is for $23.1 million with a salary cap hit of $3.85 million. Stone’s deal, which allows him and the team to avoid a salary arbitration hearing next week, is worth $4 million. . . .
The Minnesota Wild and defenseman Matt Dumba have agreed to terms on a two-year, $5.1 million contract. Dumba, who was a restricted free agent, will make $2.35 million this season and $2.75 million next season. . . .
The New Jersey Devils have signed free agent defenseman Brandon Gormley to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 at the NHL level.