Golden State’s Kevin Durant out indefinitely with injury.
BASKETBALL Durant out indefinitely
Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant will be out indefinitely after he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and bruised a bone in his leg during Tuesday night’s loss at Washington. Now, the NBA’s top team will push toward the playoffs without its leading scorer and rebounder — for the month of March, at least. The Warriors said Wednesday that their medical staff hasn’t ruled out a Durant return before the end of the regular season, though nobody is predicting at this stage. The All-Star forward hyperextended his knee early in the Warriors’ 112-108 loss to the Wizards and later underwent an MRI exam, which revealed a Grade 2 — or moderate — sprain in the knee as well as a bruised tibia. Durant leads the Warriors in scoring and rebounding with 25.3 points and 8.2 boards along with 4.8 assists in his first season with Golden State. At 50-10, the Warriors have the NBA’s best record.
Cavs waive McRae
The Cleveland Cavaliers have opened up a roster spot for free agent Andrew Bogut by waiving guard Jordan McRae. Bogut was expected to clear waivers Wednesday and the 7-foot center’s agent said he intends to sign with the defending NBA champions. Bogut, who gives Cleveland a needed rim protector and backup for Tristan Thompson, will join the Cavaliers later this week. His addition comes two days after the Cavs signed veteran point guard Deron Williams, a former All-Star who gives the team depth, experience and another playmaker. McRae averaged 4.4 points, made four starts and played in 37 games this season for Cleveland.
Embiid’s season over
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid’s season is over because of continued issues with his left knee. The 76ers made the announcement Wednesday, hours before the team’s game against the Miami Heat. Embiid missed his first two NBA seasons with right foot issues, then finally
made his debut this season and appeared in 31 games with the 76ers. Embiid averaged 20.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in those games. The 76ers said a scan performed this week showed “more pronounced” problems related to his previously diagnosed meniscus tear, and that the next steps with Embiid are still being determined.
FOOTBALL Salary cap up $12M
The NFL salary cap for the upcoming season will be $167 million per team, up more than $12 million over last year. The league and the NFL Players Association compile the cap from specific revenues, and it has risen annually. It was $143.28 million two years ago. This is the fourth consecutive year the cap has risen at least $10 million. Player benefits also are included under the 10-year labor agreement reached to end the 2011 lockout. That comes to $37 million per team, bringing the players’ total compensation package
to over $200 million per club for the first time. Since 2011, the cap has increased by $47 million. Also, 2017 is the first year of a four-season minimum spending period of 89 percent per club and 95 percent leaguewide.
TENNIS Nadal routs Lorenzi
Rafael Nadal routed Italian Paolo Lorenzi 6-1, 6-1 on Wednesday night in Acapulco to advance to the Mexican Open quarterfinals. The 30-year old Spanish star will face Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, a 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 winner over Australia’s Jordan Thompson. The third-seeded Marin Cilic beat countryman Borna Couric 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals for the second tournament in a row. He will play American Steve Johnson, a 7-6 (5), 6-3 winner over Ernesto Escobedo. Earlier, American Sam Querrey beat fifth-seed David Goffin 6-2, 6-3 of Belgium. Querrey will face the winner of the match between defending champion Dominic Thiem of Austria and Adrian Mannarino of France. Also, Australian Nick Kyrgios had a 6-2, 6-4 victory over American Donald Young. Kyrgios will play the winner of the match between the top-seeded Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina. On the women’s side, Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig, the fourth-seed, beat Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-4. In a match between Americans, Christina McHale beat Taylor Townsend 6-1, 7-6 (5), and third-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia advanced with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over American Madison Brengle.
Federer upset in Dubai
Roger Federer squandered three match points in a shock 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) second round loss to Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday. Federer, who has just won his 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, failed to take advantage of three match points in the second-set tiebreaker, losing two of the three opportunities on unforced errors. Federer netted a forehand on Donskoy’s one set point in that second-set tiebreaker to extend the match to a third set. Earlier, top-seeded Andy Murray earned a place in the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. Murray will play Philipp Kohlschreiber in the quarterfinals. Kohlschreiber posted a 6-4, 6-4 second round victory over Daniil Medvedev. Fourth-seeded Gael Monfils struggled with Dan Evans before securing a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory to reach the quarterfinals, where he faces left-hander Fernando Verdasco. Verdasco upset sixth-seeded Roberto Bautista
Agut 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. Robin Haase upset fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal meeting against Damir Dzhumur, who defeated Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-4.
Sousa, Delbonis advance
Fourth-seeded Joao Sousa of Portugal defeated Renzo Olivo of Argentina 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the clay-court Brazil Open in Sao Paulo. In another match, No. 7 Federico Delbonis of Argentina defeated 18-year-old Casper Ruud of Norway 7-5, 6-3 to make the last eight. Ruud reached the semifinals last week in Rio de Janeiro before losing to Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain. Carreno Busta is seeded No. 1 in the Brazil Open and plays his first match today after getting a bye into the second round.