Braves’ Acuña tears ACL
The Atlanta Braves will have to adjust to playing without all-star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. for the remainder of the season.
The 23-year-old Acuña tore the ACL in his right knee in the fifth inning of Atlanta’s 5-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday night.
An MRI showed the severity of the injury and the Braves made the announcement after the game, finishing the year for one of the most dynamic players in the majors.
“I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know the severity of it until the doctor notified me later on,” Acuña said on Sunday through an interpreter.
“I have no control over what happened and just have to do my best to come back stronger than ever.”
No timetable has been set for the surgery.
NBA
Jamahl Mosley has agreed to become the new coach of the Orlando Magic, the team announced Sunday, giving the longtime NBA assistant his first chance at running his own club.
Mosley replaces Steve Clifford, who left Orlando by mutual agreement after three seasons and two playoff appearances. He becomes the 14th coach in Magic history.
The 42-year-old Mosley has spent the last 15 years as an assistant in Denver, Cleveland and Dallas. The last seven seasons were with the Mavericks, and his name has been discussed as a candidate in coaching searches for some time.
“Congrats my guy,” Mavericks star Luka Doncic tweeted.
The Magic said it plans to introduce Mosley formally on Monday.
CYCLING
American rider Sepp Kuss won the grueling 15th stage of the Tour de France on Sunday as race leader Tadej Pogacar remained on course for his second overall victory.
Kuss is the first American to win a stage at cycling’s biggest race since Tyler Farrar 10 years ago.
The 26-year-old Colorado native left it late to make his move in the punishing 191-kilometer (118mile) ride from Ceret at the foothills of the Pyrenees to the tiny mountain-bound nation of Andorra.
Kuss attacked going up the 1,796-meter Col de Beixalis and maintained his hard-fought advantage over Spanish veteran Alejandro Valverde, who was 23 seconds behind. Dutch rider Wout Poels finished third and took over the polka dot jersey for the best climber.
MMA
Dustin Poirier beat Conor McGregor for the second time in six months when McGregor badly injured his left leg in the closing seconds of the first round at UFC 264 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
The fight was stopped after the first-round bell when McGregor (22-6) was unable to continue. The biggest star in mixed martial arts never got up after falling to the canvas following a final-minute blow by Poirier (28-6), who will get the UFC’s next lightweight title shot.
Poirier said he thought McGregor’s leg broke when he checked one of McGregor’s kicks earlier in the fight.
UFC President Dana White said he was told McGregor broke his shin near the ankle. McGregor had surgery Sunday morning.
White confirmed Poirier will get the next shot at new lightweight champ Charles Oliveira. He also said he expects a fourth fight between McGregor and Poirier at some point after McGregor’s leg heals.
BASKETBALL
The United States overcame a mammoth performance by 7-foot-2 Victor Wembanyama to beat France, 83-81, Sunday and win the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Riga, Latvia.
Wembanyama recorded 22 points, 8 rebounds and 8 blocks but fouled out with 2:42 to play and the Americans held on for the victory, led by 16 points apiece from Jaden Ivey of Purdue and Kenneth Lofton Jr. of Louisiana Tech.
Chet Holmgren, a 7-foot-1 incoming freshman at Gonzaga, added 10 points and 5 assists and was named MVP of the tournament.
Incoming UW-Milwaukee freshman Patrick Baldwin Jr., who played at Sussex Hamilton scored eight points while rising Wisconsin Badgers sophomore Jonathan Davis scored one point for the U.S.
MLB
Four people have been arrested and more than a dozen weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition have been seized at a downtown Denver hotel that is close to several events planned in conjunction with the upcoming Major League Baseball AllStar Game.
Officers responding to a tip searched two rooms at the Maven Hotel, a block from Coors Field, on Friday night. Three men and a woman in their 40s were arrested, and two vehicles were impounded.
So far, investigators have not found any evidence to suggest the group was plotting a mass shooting or other similar attack, the official said, while cautioning that the investigation is still in its early stages. The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.