Harden signs NBA’s richest contract
James Harden signed a fouryear, “supermax” extension with the Houston Rockets on Saturday, a whopper of a deal that guarantees Harden about $228 million over the next six seasons and makes it the richest contract in league history.
The extension alone tacks another $170 million or so on to a contract that still had two more years and nearly $60 million remaining. The deal keeps Harden under contract through the 2022-23 season.
Harden is coming off of his finest season. Moving to point guard for new coach Mike D’Antoni, Harden averaged 29.1 points, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds.
The New York Knicks signed free-agent guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to a four-year, $71-million contract. The 6-foot-5 Hardaway returned to the Knicks after two seasons with Atlanta . ... The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly reached agreement with guard Jamal Crawford on a two-year deal said to be worth about $4.2 million for next season . ... No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz was helped off the court with an apparent sprain to his left ankle in the Philadelphia 76ers’ summer league game against Golden State.
Munoz still in front
Sebastian Munoz shot a twounder 68 to maintain a two-stroke lead over Robert Streb after the third round of the Greenbrier Classic at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The 24-year-old Colombian was at 14-under 196 at Old White TPC. Streb shot a 65. Davis Love III, who at 53 would become the PGA Tour’s oldest winner with a victory, was tied for fifth place with two others after a 68. Rookie Xander Schauffele and Jamie Lovemark were at 11 under after 66s. Kelly
Kraft (67) and Russell Henley (68) joined Love at 10 under.
Katherine Kirk shot a sevenunder 65 to open a four-stroke lead in the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Oneida, Wis., and move into position to challenge the tour’s 72-hole record. Coming off a 63 on Friday, the Australian reached 20under 196.
South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai was second after a 65. Japan’s Ayako Uehara (65) and England’s
Jodi Ewart Shadoff (66) were tied for third at 13 under.
Jon Rahm shot a second straight five-under 67 at the Irish Open and moved into a share of the lead with Daniel Im in the third round. On a day of good scoring over the links at Portstewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland, the 11thranked Rahm moved to 17 under par overall. Im, who was tied for the lead with Benjamin Hebert after the first two rounds, birdied five of his opening 14 holes and scrambled superbly at the end to shoot a 68. Hebert (69) is a stroke behind.
After nearly 900 miles in eight days of racing, Tour de France leader Chris Froome is only 61 seconds ahead of 10th-place Rafal Majka of Poland. That is likely to change on the succession of seven climbs in eastern France’s Jura Mountains on Sunday. When all the ascents are added together: 15,000 feet.
Saturday’s stage, also in the Jura Mountains, was far from easy. Lilian Calmejane won Stage 8 to the Rousses ski station. Froome rode in 50 seconds after Calmejane in a group with all of the other top contenders. Dutch rider Robert Gesin was second in Saturday’s stage, 37 seconds behind Calmejane.
Center Alex Dostie signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ducks. Dostie had 71 points in 63 games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season before he made his professional debut for the San Diego Gulls in the playoffs.
— Curtis Zupke
Martin Truex Jr. was dominant throughout and had enough left on a final restart to win the NASCAR Cup race Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway.
Truex started second beside Kyle Busch and won the first two stages. He led the final segment by as many as 15 seconds before a final caution created overtime and bunched the field together. Truex flew past Busch on the restart and went on to his third victory of the season and 10th of his career. He led 152 of 274 laps in the No. 78 Toyota to draw within a point of standings leader Kyle Larson, who finished second in a Chevy.
Chase Elliott was third in a Chevy, followed by Denny Hamlin and Busch in Toyotas. Busch won the afternoon’s Xfinity Series race on the Sparta track.