MJ joins DraftKings
DraftKings had a big bounce Wednesday on Wall Street on news that Bulls legend
Michael Jordan is taking an ownership stake in the sports betting site. Shares of DraftKings Inc., which went public in April, ended up 8%.
Jordan is getting stock in DraftKings in exchange for providing ‘‘guidance and strategic advice’’ to the Boston-based company’s board of directors, the company said. DraftKings didn’t release details of Jordan’s stake.
Jordan is the majority owner of the NBA’s Hornets, and the deal has the approval of the league. His interest in DraftKings isn’t expected to affect the Hornets’ presence on the site.
NBA Butler, Heat open 2-0 lead on Bucks
Jimmy Butler made two free throws with no time left after being fouled by Giannis
Antetokounmpo on a jumper from the corner with a tenth of a second to play, and the Heat edged the Bucks 116-114 to open a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series in the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida. Butler finished with 13 points.
Goran Dragic led seven players in double figures with 23 points for the Heat, who are 6-0 in the playoffs. Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 14 rebounds for the Bucks.
† Robert Covington and Eric Gordon each scored 21 points, and James Harden overcame a 4-for-15 shooting effort with a clutch block in the final five seconds to help the Rockets nip the Thunder 104-102 and win their first-round series 4-3.
Lu Dort had 30 points and Chris Paul 19 points and 12 assists for the Thunder.
NHL Avalanche top Stars, force Game 7
Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon each had a goal and an assist, Michael
Hutchinson made 27 saves and the Avalanche defeated the Stars 4-1 to level their Western Conference semifinal series at three games apiece in Edmonton, Alberta. Game 7 is scheduled for Friday.
The Blues traded goalie Jake Allen and a seventh-round draft pick in 2022 to the Canadiens for third- and seventh-round draft picks this year in a move that clears $4.35 million in salary-cap space and gives them a better chance to re-sign defenseman
Alex Pietrangelo, a pending free agent. The Panthers hired Blue Jackets senior vice president of hockey operations and associate general manager Bill Zito to be their GM. He replaces Dale Tallon, whose contract wasn’t renewed after 10 seasons.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Wake moves game vs. Notre Dame
Wake Forest said it will move its football game Sept. 26 against Notre Dame from Charlotte, North Carolina, to its home field in Winston-Salem. On Tuesday, the school said it wouldn’t host fans to open the football and other fall-sports seasons amid the coronavirus.
Quarterback Jamie Newman, who was the projected starter for Georgia, announced on Twitter that he is opting out of the season to prepare for the NFL Draft next spring. He said his decision was influenced by ‘‘the uncertainties of this year amid a global pandemic.’’
UCF coach Josh Heupel said 10 players, including two projected starters, are opting out of the 2020 season because of concerns about the coronavirus.
MLB Yankees-Rays suspensions
Major League Baseball suspended Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman for three games and managers Aaron Boone of the Yankees and Kevin Cash of the Rays for a game each stemming from an incident that saw Chapman throw a fastball near the head of Rays pinch hitter Michael Brosseau during the ninth inning Tuesday. Chapman appealed and can continue to pitch until he gets a hearing.