76ers fire Rivers after latest flop
Doc Rivers’ penchant for playoff collapses and second-round exits cost him his coaching job with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers fired Rivers on Tuesday after a third straight exit in the second round of the playoffs, and the second time in that span he lost a series lead and a Game 7.
Rivers led the 76ers to their second straight 50-win season behind NBA MVP Joel Embiid but again failed to lead them to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2001.
Ja Morant spoke out about his latest troubles, three days after the Memphis guard apparently held a firearm again while being broadcast on social media and was suspended by the Grizzlies from all team activities. “I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” Morant said in a statement released by his representatives. “This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions.” ... Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that if Draymond Green did not return to the team, “we’re not a championship contender.” ... Memphis guard Desmond Bane had surgery on his right big toe after initially breaking a bone during a game Nov. 11.
ETC. Striker Balogun to play for U.S.
Promising striker Folarin Balogun opted to play for the U.S. national team rather than England.
FIFA said in a statement to the Associated Press that it approved a request to change Balogun’s national team affiliation from England, which he had represented at the under-21 level.
Balogun, 21, was born in New York and grew up in London.
Inter Milan reached its first Champions League final in more than a decade with a 1-0 victory against city rival AC Milan . ... A new league will be kicking off in August 2024 with 10 to 12 teams that will play at the same level as the National Women’s Soccer League, the top tier in the United States.
Miami Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. was put on the 10-day injured list because of a right toe turf injury . ... The Cleveland Guardians put All-Star third baseman José Ramírez on the bereavement list . ... Texas Rangers pitching prospect Kumar Rocker, a top-10 pick in the last two MLB drafts, has a torn ligament in his right elbow and will need Tommy John surgery.
The Arizona Coyotes' bid for a new arena appears to be dead. In the first release of results, voters in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe were strongly against propositions to build a $2.3-billion entertainment district.
Sydney McLaughlin Levrone, world-record holder in the 400-meter hurdles, announced she would not compete at the Los Angeles Grand Prix, set for May 27 at UCLA. McLaughlin-Levrone released a statement through her agent, citing the decision of her coach Bobby Kersee, who did not respond to messages for comment.
— Andrew Greif
Novak Djokovic Cameron
rolled to a 6-3, 6-4 win over
Norrie at the Italian Open, but the 22-time Grand Slam champion was upset with his opponent for what he said was “not fair play,” including being hit by an overhead smash and calling a medical timeout before Djokovic served for the match.“Those are the things that we players know in the locker room ... it’s not how we treat each other,” he said.
Marlene Hagge-Vossler, a Hall of Fame player and the last surviving founder of the LPGA Tour, died at 89, her family said.