Sports shorts Raptors official fined $25,000

The NBA has fined Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri $25,000 for walking onto the court at halftime of Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers to verbally confront officials for reversing a call.

The league announced the fine Sunday. It stems from an incident that occurred Saturday night during the Raptors’ 105103 loss to the Cavaliers.

Toronto had been called for 14 fouls in the first half, compared with eight for Cleveland. The Raptors were irate that what had appeared to be a Serge Ibaka basket and potential free throw was downgraded to a foul with no basket and no free throw.

All-Star DeMar DeRozan, coach Dwane Casey and his assistants all screamed at the referees. Jason Day channeled his inner LeBron James and captured his second PGA Tour event of the season.

Day said he drew inspiration from James’ Game 3 buzzer-beater against the Toronto Raptors before he pulled off his own clutch shot on Sunday.

Leading by a stroke, Day’s 7-iron hit the flagstick on the 230-yard, par-3 17th hole, setting up a 3-foot birdie putt and a two-shot victory over Aaron Wise and Nick Watney at the Wells Fargo Championship.

“That is what I am most happy about,” Day said. “When you are on call to do something good and you pull it off, to be clutch like that, with a lot of heart . ... I’m glad I watched LeBron James this morning.”

The 30-year-old Australian — an Ohio resident who can be found courtside at Cavaliers games — fought through some wayward tee shots and self-doubt to shoot a 2-under 69 on Sunday. He finished at 12-under 272.

“One of the best wins I have ever had,” said Day.

He missed more than half the fairways — including an ugly hook into the water on the par-4 14th — hit just eight greens in regulation and made four bogeys on the day, squandering a three-shot lead on the back nine. But he toughed it out on the final three holes at Quail Hollow nicknamed the “Green Mile,” playing them in 2 under.

It took Bernhard Langer nine starts to pick up his first PGA Tour Champions victory of the year, and it was tougher than he imagined.

He started with a one shot lead and before he could reach the turn, Langer fell as many as four shots behind. He rallied to take the lead, only to block a tee shot toward the trees on the final hole, catch a small break because a TV structure was in his way, and scramble for par.

It ended with Langer knocking in a par putt just inside 4 feet for a 2-under 70 and a oneshot victory in the Insperity Invitational.

“I was very, very fortunate in the end to pull this off,” the 60-year-old Langer said. “I’ve got a lot more gray hair right now.”

Langer won for the 37th time on the PGA Tour Champions.

Mike Matheny knows all too well the usual aches and pains associated with catching in the major leagues.

That experience told the St. Louis Cardinals manager that the pain Yadier Molina was in after being hit in the groin by a foul tip on Saturday was anything but normal.

Matheny’s intuition proved correct later that night when Molina underwent surgery for what the team called a “pelvic injury with traumatic hematoma.” The eight-time All-Star was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday, and he’s expected to miss at least four weeks with the injury.

“It’s like nothing you’ve ever felt,” said Matheny. “You’re always just hoping it’s one of those that just takes a couple of minutes, then it’s manageable. But you could see that was a different level.”