OKC’s Westbook may miss opener against Warriors
Thunder All-Star guard Russell Westbrook underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on Wednesday, putting his availability for the season opener against the Warriors in doubt.
The team says Westbrook decided after suffering from inflammation in the knee this past weekend that he’d have the procedure. He’ll be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks, close to the season opener at Golden State on Oct. 16.
Westbrook was the league MVP in 2016-17 and averaged a triple-double last season for a second straight season. He averaged 25.4 points, a leagueleading 10.3 assists and 10.1 rebounds last season. HEAT LOCK UP ADEBAYO >> The Miami Heat exercised its third-year option on Bam Adebayo, a move that not only locks the center into a $3.5 million salary for 2019-20, but also keeps him under team control for at least one additional season.
WNBA Finals
SEATTLE ROLLS TO CHAMPIONSHIP >> Breanna Stewart led the Seattle Storm to their third WNBA title, scoring 30 points in a 9882 victory over the Washington Mystics in Game 3 of the best-of-five series in Fairfax, Va. Stewart was the league MVP and was selected the Finals MVP after averaging 25.6 points in the three games. She scored 17 points in the first half as the Storm raced to a 47-30 lead. Natasha Howard added career-high 29 points and 14 rebounds for the Storm. Sue Bird, also a member of a Seattle’s championship teams in 2004 and 2010, had 10 points and 10 assists.
Elena Delle Donne scored 23 points for the Mystics. Kristi Toliver had 20 points.
Hockey
HUMBOLDT BRONCOS RETURN TO ICE >> Brayden Camrud and Derek Patter were back on the ice for the Humboldt Broncos in the team’s first game since 10 teammates and six other people were killed in a bus crash. Camrud and Patter are the
only survivors back with the junior hockey team. In a game televised commercial-free in Canada and the United States, the Broncos lost 2-1 to the Nipawin Hawks, the team they were travelling to face the night of the April crash with a tractor-trailer. The Broncos will board a bus again Friday to head to Nipawin for a rematch.
Soccer
SPAIN ENTERTAINS HOSTING INTERNATIONAL CUPS >> Spain is reportedly considering a bid to host the 2028 European Championship or the 2030 World Cup. Spanish media reports say the idea was brought up on Wednesday in a meeting involving FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and soccer federation president Luis Rubiales. Several reports, citing government sources, said a bid to host the 2030 World Cup could possibly be made jointly with Portugal and Morocco. Spain hosted the 1982 World Cup. The city of Bilbao will host matches
during Euro 2020.
Gambling
BETTING SCORES BIG IN NEW JERSEY >> Sports betting is a second-inning home run in New Jersey, where gamblers plunked down more than $95 million on sporting events in August, helping Atlantic City’s casinos to one of their biggest monthly revenue increases in three decades. The $95.6 million wagered on sports in August was more than twice as much as the amount bet in July as New Jersey’s sports betting market is soaring. Nearly $74 million was wagered at onsite betting windows, and $21.7 million was bet on sports via online or mobile phone apps.
NHL
BLUE JACKETS GIVE COACH EXTENSION >> The Columbus Blue Jackets have given coach John Tortorella a two-year contract extension. The team announced Wednesday that Tortorella, who has led the Blue Jackets to the playoffs in his first two full seasons, has been signed through the 2020-21 season. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. Tortorella, 60, is the franchise’s all-time leader in wins, guiding Columbus to a 129-87-23 record since being named coach in October 2015. His current $2 million-a-year contract runs through this season. BLUES GOALIE OUT 10-14 DAYS >> Blues goaltender Jake Allen is expected to miss the first week or more of training camp because of back spasms. General manager Doug Armstrong announced Allen’s injury Wednesday on the eve of camp. Allen is out at least 10-14 days, which would put him in position to return for the end of the preseason and be ready for the start of the regular season. HURRICANES ALLOWED TO START CAMP EARLY >> The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes will start training camp a day early in anticipation of Hurricane Florence. General manager Don Waddell said the NHL is allowing the team to hold its first practice today. The team expects to cancel either Friday’s or Saturday’s practice, depending on when the worst of the storm reaches Raleigh, North Carolina. PREDATORS’ WATSON SUSPENDED FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE >> Predators forward Austin Watson has been suspended without pay for the entire preseason and first 27 games of the regular season for domestic abuse. Commissioner Gary Bettman handed down the suspension after an investigation and a hearing with Watson last week.
Cycling
YATES LOSES TIME >> Simon Yates lost a few seconds of his Spanish Vuelta lead on a difficult mountain stage won by Michael Woods. Woods outlasted the field in the 97.5-mile 17th stage that finished with a tough climb up Balcon de Bizkaia in Basque Country. The Canadian rider crossed the line five seconds in front of Dylan Teuns and 10 seconds ahead of David de la Cruz. Yates’ gap to Alejandro Valverde was cut from 33 seconds to 25 seconds after a solid climb by the veteran Spaniard.