Quick Hitters
PHOENIX — A person with knowledge of the situation says the Phoenix Suns have decided not to re-sign center Alex Len and point guard Elfrid Payton, clearing some $10 million in salary cap space as the team prepares to make a run at free agents.
The person asked to remain anonymous because those intentions have not been made public. Free agency begins in the NBA on Sunday. The moves were expected. The 7-foot-1 Len, who comes from the Ukraine, was the fifth overall pick in the 2013 draft after one season at Maryland. He played in 335 games over four seasons with Phoenix, averaging 7.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, never becoming the dominant big man the Suns had hoped he would be. Last season, Len appeared in 69 games, averaging 8.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.
Acquired from Orlando for a second-round pick at last season’s trade deadline, Payton averaged 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 19 games with Phoenix but shot 44 percent from the field, 20 percent from 3-point range.
The Suns’ decision not to re-sign the players first was reported by azcentral (The Arizona Republic).
Brazil wins group
MOSCOW — Worried no more, Brazil is through at the World Cup.
Paulinho and Thiago Silva scored a goal each Wednesday to give the five-time champions a 2-0 victory over Serbia and first place in their group.
Brazil struggled in its opening two matches, first held to a 1-1 draw and then needing late goals to win the other. But they controlled this one.
Paulinho gave his team the lead when he met a lofted ball from Philippe Coutinho in the 36th minute. The defensive midfielder let the ball bounce in front of him near the penalty spot and kicked his right leg in the air to tap it over the goalkeeper’s fingertips.
Silva later scored with a powerful header in the 68th from Neymar’s corner.
Brazil finished first in Group E and will next face Mexico in the round of 16 on Monday in Samara. Serbia was eliminated, finishing third in the group behind Switzerland.
Both of Brazil’s goals came when Serbia threatened to get back into the match.
The Serbs nearly scored in the 61st when Brazil goalkeeper Alisson pushed the ball into the path of forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, whose shot bounced off the keeper and was bound for goal before being cleared by Silva.
It may not be basketball season but after a day-long tournament some local teams are definitely thinking about it.
Cibola won the fourth annual Imperial Valley-Yuma Summer League Tournament on Wednesday night after holding off a comeback by Gila Ridge to win 42-37.
The tournament capped off a summer basketball league that featured six teams from the Yuma area and several others from Imperial Valley.
“This is our fourth year running it and I think this was a very good turnout,” Gila Ridge coach Joe Daily said. “We hope to get more Imperial Valley teams in it. Maybe next year we can play a one day tournament over there to try to get some of them involved.”
Cibola beat Brawley 5140 in one semifinal and Gila Ridge beat Kofa 46-33 in the other semifinal to set up the championship game.
The Hawks started the game slow after having some trouble with the Cibola pressure to help the Raiders jump out to a 10-0 lead. Cibola was able to work inside-out for most of the game with the help of Glenn Baxter in the low block. Baxter finished with 13 points.
Gila Ridge calmed down a bit near the end of the first half and only trailed 22-15 at the break.
Hawks point guard Jamison Kay came out firing after the half with nine of his 11 points. He made a three about 20 seconds into the half to cut the deficit to 22-18.
Each time Gila Ridge would make a run, Cibola responded with plays from Baxter, Derrick Barnes, Jason Sandoval and company.