Curry hopes to return in Game 3
Stephen Curry was expected back on the court for more light shooting to test his sprained right knee, with the hope he could be ready to return for Golden State’s Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals Saturday at Portland. Coach Steve Kerr said that the most valuable player wouldn’t be available for Tuesday night’s Game 2.
Brian Stuard birdied the second playoff hole to beat Jamie Lovemark at the waterlogged Zurich Classic in Avondale, La., to take his first PGA Tour victory. Stuard, who shot 69, didn’t bogey throughout the weather- delayed tournament, which was shortened to 54 holes. Lovemark, Stuard and Byeong- Hun An entered the playoff at 15 under par. An bogeyed the f irst playoff hole and Lovemark parred the second while Stuard hit his 160yard approach on to within 21⁄ 2 feet.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop J. J. Hardy will be sidelined for at least a month because of a hairline fracture in his left foot, Manager Buck Showalter said. The injury occurred Sunday, when Hardy fouled a ball off his foot in the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox. He is expected to be put on the 15- day disabled list Tuesday. Manny Machado will probably move from third base to shortstop during Hardy’s absence. Machado has played four games at shortstop this season, including two starts.
Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval, a $ 95million free agent who lost his starting job before going on the disabled list, will have exploratory surgery on his left shoulder to determine the source of the injury. The Red Sox said they had no timetable for Sandoval’s return, but ESPN reported that the twotime All- Star is expected to miss the rest of the season.
The Cincinnati Reds put catcher Devin Mesoraco on the 15- day disabled list after an MRI exam detected a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Also, right- handers Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani won’t be allowed to throw for at least a few more days.
Third- seeded Roger Federer announced he was withdrawing from the Madrid Masters clay- court tournament because of a back injury. He said that he was hurt in practice and didn’t want to take any chances aggravating the injury. In the men’s draw, Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon and Lucas Pouille advanced to the second round, along with local favorite Feliciano Lopez and 11th- seeded Milos Raonic. Fourth- seeded Victoria Azarenka swept Alize Cornet, 6- 3, 6- 2, and next faces 130thranked Louisa Chirico, a 19year- old U. S. qualifier who upset 14th- seeded Ana Ivanovic, 5- 7, 6- 1, 6- 3. Also advancing were Petra Kvitova, who next faces Daria Gavrilova, and two Americans Christina McHale, who topped 13th- seeded Karolina Pliskova, 7- 6 ( 3), 6- 4, and Madison Keys, who eliminated Barbora Strycova, 6- 3, 6- 3. Sixteenth- seeded Sloane Stephens fell to qualifier Patricia Maria Tig, 6- 2, 6- 3.
Former San Francisco 49ers Dana Stubblefield was arrested on suspicion of the rape of a “developmentally delayed” woman, prosecutors announced. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Off ice said Stubblefield, 45, assaulted the woman on April 9, 2015, at his Morgan Hill home after interviewing her for a baby- sitting job. He is charged with f ive felony counts and faces a “substantial prison sentence” if convicted. Bail for Stubblefield is set at $ 250,000.
The Long Beach State men’s volleyball team will face Erskine on Tuesday at Penn State in a play- in match to the NCAA championships. In the national semifinals Thursday, the winner will play top- seeded Brigham Young, and secondseeded UCLA will play the winner of Ohio State and George Mason.
Illinois’ interim chancellor Barbara Wilson has indicated that the campus will begin the process of picking a new mascot but not change the Fighting Illini nickname. The university retired the Chief Illiniwek mascot in 2007 under pressure from the NCAA and others who considered it racist. Some students oppose the idea of a new mascot and remain upset over the decision.