Mitchell to fill in for Flip Saunders
Minnesota Timberwolves associate head coach Sam Mitchell will serve as the team’s interim head coach while Flip Saunders continues to recover from cancer treatments, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The length of Mitchell’s appointment as interim head coach is uncertain, but it’s expected to be at the very least through October. Yahoo Sports reported Mitchell will coach at least half the season.
The Brooklyn Nets have signed veteran swingman Dahntay Jones, who played last season for the Clippers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Golden State Warriors standout Draymond Green is donating $3.1 million to Michigan State in support of its men’s basketball program. Green helped the Warriors to the NBA championship last season and then signed an $82-million, five-year contract to stay with Golden State.
Serbia finished the toughest group undefeated at the European basketball championship by beating Italy 101-82. Defending champion France also finished the group stage undefeated, resting Tony Parker and still routing Group A runner-up Israel, 86-61.
The first court hearing for former Kings center Mike Richards was essentially a procedural matter in Emerson, Canada, adjourned until Dec. 8, and no plea was entered in the case involving a charge of possession of a controlled substance, allegedly Oxycodone.
Richards did not appear in court in what was a brief session Thursday. He was arrested in June at a Canadian border stop in Manitoba.
Following Richards’ arrest, the Kings terminated his contract, citing a material breach. The team has not commented on the case beyond a brief statement and the NHL Players Assn. subsequently filed a grievance. The NHL and the union have not yet set a date for a hearing before an impartial arbitrator.
The Buffalo Sabres added veteran depth to their defense by signing free agent Cody Franson toa two-year contract worth $6.65 million.
A two-match U.S. tour by the Australian women’s soccer team was called off Thursday, a day after a players union said stalled contract talks meant the team would not make the trip. U.S. Soccer announced that Haiti would replace Australia in the matches in Detroit on Sept. 17 and Birmingham, Ala., on Sept. 20.
Little League is changing its age requirement, phasing 13-year-olds out of the division that plays in the annual Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa. The change will take place in 2018.
Two-time Olympic champion Benjamin Raich of Austria retired after 19 years on the Alpine skiing World Cup circuit.
Nicolas Roche of Ireland won the hilly 18th stage of the Vuelta a España, while Dutchman Tom Dumoulin protected his slim lead over Fabio Aru of Italy.