NBA bans Morant for eight games
Ja Morant will be back with the Grizzlies next week after the NBA handed the All-Star guard an eight-game suspension without pay Wednesday, saying his displaying a firearm at a club in suburban Denver earlier this month was “conduct detrimental to the league.”
Morant missed his sixth consecutive game when the Grizzlies lost 138-119 to the Heat in Miami on Wednesday night. He will miss the next two games — at San Antonio on Friday and home against Golden State on Saturday — then be eligible to return on Monday when Memphis plays Dallas, though he is not expected to play that night.
“Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him.”
♦ Joel Embiid had 36 points and 18 rebounds and played the final 4:12 after initially being called for his sixth foul (which was overturned on appeal), leading the 76ers to their sixth consecutive victory, 118-109 over the Cavaliers.
♦ Warriors forward Andre Iguodala is set to have surgery next week on his fractured left wrist.
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Moncada, Robert help Cuba advance at WBC
Yoán Moncada of the White Sox had two hits and two walks, and fellow Sox Luis Robert had an RBI groundout as Cuba beat Australia 4-3 to advance to the World Baseball Classic semifinals for the first time since 2006.
♦ All-Star closer Edwin Díaz of the Mets was taken off the field in a wheelchair after being injured while celebrating Puerto Rico’s 5-2 victory over the Dominican Republic that clinched a spot in the WBC quarterfinals. The Mets said in a statement about an hour after the game that Díaz had a right knee injury and would undergo imaging Thursday.
♦ Randy Arozarena had two doubles and five RBI, Rowdy Tellez added a two-run single and solo homer, and Mexico pulled away late from Canada, winning 10-3 to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. Canada played without Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman, who left Tuesday’s game because of a hamstring injury.
AUTO RACING
Hendrick draws hefty fine, suspensions
NASCAR levied the largest combined fine on one team in series history — $400,000 — against Hendrick Motorsports for modifying air-deflecting pieces last weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The team’s four crew chiefs also were suspended for four races.