Falcons shut facility after 2nd positive test; Vikings game on
ATLANTA » The Atlanta Falcons shut their facility Thursday following one new positive test for COVID-19. The team remains scheduled to play at Minnesota on Sunday.
Defensive tackle Marlon Davidson was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list this week, and the addition of a second unidentified person caused the Falcons to act out of caution. All team activity will be done virtually.
A team spokesman said the second person was not a player. The spokesman added that, barring any changes, the Falcons are expected to be back at their facility on Friday.
The Falcons’ decision to shut their facility follows outbreaks with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots.
CHIEFS DOWNSEVERAL OF
FENSIVE PIECESWITH BUFFALO ON DECK » The Kansas City Chiefs will be without offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele and wide receiver Sammy Watkins when they visit the Buffalo Bills on Monday night for a game that was pushed back because of COVID-19 protocols.
Osmele tore tendons in both of his knees andWatkins hurt his hamstring during Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, which also ended the Chiefs’ franchise-record 13-game win streak. Mike Remmers finished the game at guard and will get the start in Buffalo, coach Andy Reid said Thursday, and Mecole Hardman will take most of the snaps in Watkins’s place.
NBA
SOURCE: GENERAL MAN
AGER DARYL MOREY LEAVING ROCKETS » Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on
condition of anonymity because the move hasn’t been announced. It was first reported by ESPN.
The Rockets have made the playoffs 10 times since Morey was hired in 2007, including the last eight seasons.
Morey was responsible for the blockbuster trade that brought James Harden to Houston from Oklahoma City. The Rockets reached the Western Conference finals twice underMorey but were unable to win their first championship since the team captured consecutive titles in 1994-95.
TYRONN LUE AGREES TO
BECOME NEXT CLIPPERS COACH » Tyronn Lue has agreed to become the next coach of Los Angeles.
A person with knowledge of the situation said final terms were still being
worked on.
The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no contract had been signed.
Lue will replace Doc Rivers, who had coached the Clippers for the last seven seasons and is now coaching the Philadelphia 76ers. Lue, 43, was onthe 59-yearold Rivers’ staff this season when the Clippers wasted a 3-1 lead over Denver and lost in theWestern Conference semifinals.
ESPN first reported the agreement between Lue and the Clippers, saying it was a five-year deal.
Soccer
QUAKES GET BACK ON WIN
NINGTRACK, BLANKINGGALAXY » Nick Lima scored twice, while Andres Rios and Tommy Thompson also had goals, as the San
Jose Earthquakes were able to get back on track with a 4- 0 road victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy late Wednesday.
The Earthquakes (6-7-5, 23 points) have won four of their past five matches. San Jose stayed above the playoff linewith the victory, despitewins by twotrailing teams inReal Salt Lake and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Tennis
AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHIEF
WANTS QUARANTINE RELAXED FOR PLAYERS » Australian Open chief executive Craig Tiley wants international tennis players arriving for the first Grand Slam tournament of 2021 to be exempt from the 14- day strict hotel quarantines that are mandatory now for inbound travelers.
Tiley on Thursday said he remains “absolutely” confident the Australian Open will go ahead as planned at Melbourne Park from Jan. 18-31, along with lead-up events including themen’s ATPCup and tournaments in Brisbane, Sydney and Hobart.
He said he is counting on Australia’s state and federal governments to relax border restrictions and grant special approval for players to go into a bio-secure training bubble, similar to what the U.S. Open and French Open did recently, to prepare for the tournament but remain isolated from the public.
Olympics
IOC GIVES ASSURANCE TO SPORTS BODIES THAT TOKYO ISONTRACK » The International Olympic Committee tried to assure dozens of international sports federations that the postponed Tokyo Games will open on July 23.
The IOC and Tokyo organizers have been holding online sessions this week with about 200 national Olympic committees, and with the more than 30 summer sports bodies that are represented on the program.