Warriors add another guard to battle for final roster spot
SAN FRANCISCO » The Warriors will feature a pair of fresh faces battling for a roster spot in their third preseason game Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Gary Payton II, who missed the first two weeks of training camp recovering from hernia surgery, will make his preseason debut, while free agent guard Quinndary Weatherspoon joined the team Monday.
Coach Steve Kerr said the Warriors would carve out time for Payton, who’s a strong candidate for the 15th and final spot on the regular-season roster along with veteran Avery Bradley, another defensive stalwart.
Kerr said the competition for the final spot has been fierce, but there’s still no guarantee that the Warriors opt to use it on anybody. Golden State carries the largest payroll and luxury tax burden in the league; Kerr and general manager Bob Myers have previously said that would be a factor in deciding whether to fill the 15th roster spot.
“I’m thrilled with the performances of all the guys who are fighting for that spot,” Kerr said. “I like the competition for it. I think all the guys we have here are really good NBA players, all of them. … But it also ties into what the front office decides to do, what ownership decides to do, obviously we’re a huge tax team. So ultimately, we have to figure all that stuff in before we make a decision.”
NFL
BENGALS QB BURROW OK AFTER PRECAUTIONARY HOSPITAL VISIT » Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is healthy and expected to play Sunday after suffering a bruised throat during the loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Burrow was taken to the hospital afterward as a precaution but wasn’t admitted, coach Zac Taylor said Monday.
“I think he was just having a little difficulty talking, but as the night went on he was better, and as he woke up this morning he came right to the facility and was ready to go,” Taylor said.
BILLS 38, CHIEFS 20 (SUNDAY) » Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score, sending Buffalo to a victory over Kansas City in an AFC title game rematch delayed more than an hour by lightning.
MLB
BRAVES 3, BREWERS 0 » Joc Pederson credits his postseason success to “not making any moment bigger than it needs to be.”
With another jolt, Pederson put Atlanta on the verge of advancing in the playoffs.
Pederson kept enhancing his “Joctober” nickname with a three-run, pinch-hit homer and the Braves shut down Milwaukee once again, beating the Brewers to take a 2-1 edge in the NL Division Series.
In a matchup dominated by pitching, Ian Anderson and the Braves bullpen combined on a five-hitter and won by a 3-0 score for the second straight game. WHITE SOX 12, ASTROS 6 (SUNDAY) » Two big swings by pint-sized Leury García. A rule-testing run by Yasmani Grandal. Solid relief work from Liam Hendriks and company.
Right when the Chicago White Sox got in big trouble, they found a way.
García and Grandal homered, and Grandal’s borderline baserunning helped the White Sox top Houston to stay alive in their AL Division Series RED SOX 6, RAYS 4 (SUNDAY) » Saved by a bizarre bounce and an obscure rule, Boston staggered on a walk-off, two-run homer by Christian Vázquez in the 13th inning to move one victory from eliminating the 100win Rays from the AL Division Series.