INJURED ANKLE BUMPS MURRAY FROM WORLDS

Add Jamal Murray to the list of marquee NBA players no longer competing in this year’s FIBA World Cup.

The Nuggets star sprained his ankle and will not travel with the Canadian national team to exhibition games in Australia or the World Cup in China, according to the Toronto Star’s Doug Smith.

Murray is one of two Nuggets who have pulled out of the World Cup, with Paul Millsap deciding in July to not attend Team USA’s World Cup training camp.

Mason Plumlee and Torrey Craig have been added to the training camp roster for Team USA in recent weeks, but several other NBA players have already opted out. Nikola Jokic is expected to play for the Serbian team, and Juancho Hernangomez is on Spain’s roster.

— Matt Schubert, The Denver Post

Cyclist Lambrecht dies after crash.

LS» Belgian cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht B RUSS E has died after crashing in the Tour of Poland. He was 22.

His team, Lotto Soudal, announced that Lambrecht had fallen during the third stage of the event and that he was taken to hospital, where he died. The team said in a statement on Twitter: “The biggest tragedy possible that could happen to the family, friends and teammates of Bjorg has happened . ... Rest in peace Bjorg.”

Lotto Soudal did not provide additional details.

Lambrecht had secured a series of strong finishes during one-day classics in the spring and was named most promising youngster in the June tour of the Dauphine, a preparatory event of the Tour de France.

NFL writer Banks dies at 57.

Don Banks, a longtime NFL writer who worked at Sports Illustrated for 16 years, died after covering the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions in Canton, Ohio. He was 57.

Paramedics on Sunday were called to his hotel, where he was pronounced dead. No cause was given.

Banks covered pro football for more than three decades. He recently was hired by the Las Vegas ReviewJournal to oversee league coverage. The Raiders are moving to Las Vegas next year. His first story for the newspaper was published Sunday, hours before his death.

One more record year of “Vinsanity.”

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» Vince Carter is putting off retirement for at least one more season.

With that, he’ll claim the longest career in NBA history all to himself.

A person familiar with the situation confirmed that Carter has agreed to terms on a one-year contract to return to the Atlanta Hawks for his record 22nd season.

The 42-year-old Carter never wavered in his desire to play with someone this season. He is tied with Robert Parish, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Willis and recently retired Dirk Nowitzki — who all played for 21 seasons — for the longest career in NBA history.

Messi to miss U.S. trip.

IN» Spanish championship team Barcelona said Lionel Messi has strained his right calf and will not travel to the United States for two preseason games.

The team said Messi withdrew from Monday’s training session because of “discomfort in his right leg.” The club did not say when it expects him to be fit again.

Barcelona’s first official match of the season is its Spanish league opener at Athletic Bilbao on Aug. 17.

Before that, the team will visit the U.S. and play a friendly against Napoli in Miami on Thursday. It will then play another game against the same Italian opponent at the University of Michigan on Saturday.

Shattenkirk signs with Lightning.

Veteran defenseman

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Kevin Shattenkirk signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning after being bought out by the New York Rangers.

Shattenkirk played for the Avs during the 2010-11 season.