Rockets obtain Westbrook
Russell Westbrook and James Harden are together again, and Chris Paul is leaving Houston to make that reunion happen.
A person with knowledge of the situation said the Oklahoma City Thunder have traded Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for Paul in a swapping of top point guards. The Thunder also are getting firstround picks in 2024 and 2026, plus the right to swap first-rounders in two other seasons.
Paul is a nine-time all-star, Westbrook an eighttime selection. Paul has 9,181 career assists, the most among active players. Westbrook has 138 triple-doubles, tied with Magic Johnson for secondmost in NBA history behind only Oscar Robertson’s 181.
Westbrook and Harden were Thunder teammates for three seasons, the last of those in 2011-12 when that duo and Kevin Durant took Oklahoma City to the NBA Finals.
BASEBALL
Houston Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick was suspended for two games by Major League Baseball after his violent home plate collision with Los Angeles Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy.
The suspension was announced Thursday before the AL West-leading Astros played a series opener at Texas in their first game after the all-star break. Marisnick also was fined.
Lucroy was carted off the field last Sunday after the collision at the end of the eighth inning of a game at Houston the Astros won, 11-10, in 10 innings. The Angels catcher sustained a concussion and broken nose.
Ortiz has more surgery: Former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is recovering from a third surgery after experiencing complications resulting from his gunshot wound.
Ortiz’s wife, Tiffany, said that he is “recovering well and in good spirits.” He had the surgery earlier this week at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Ortiz was shot in the back at a bar in the Dominican Republic last month. Dominican police have said he was mistaken for another man who was sitting near him at the club.
CYCLING
Two Tour de France rookies stole the show on the first mountain stage, with Dylan Teuns of Belgium winning Stage 6 and Giulio Ciccone of Italy taking the overall race lead.
Teuns and Ciccone were rewarded for their enterprise and endurance on the terrible climb to the Planche des Belles Filles ski station in the woody Vosges mountains of eastern France. Some riders were so exhausted at the top that race workers had to help them stay upright on their bikes after they crossed the line.
Teuns and Ciccone, both racing their first Tour, were part of a breakaway of 14 riders that sped away from the pack early in the 100-mile trek. By the end, at the top of the climb, they were the last two survivors of that group, fighting head-to-head for the win.
NFL
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ryan Smith was suspended for the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancers.
Smith is eligible to participate in all off-season and preseason practices and games. He will be allowed to return to the team Sept. 30.
Smith is entering his fourth NFL season with the Buccaneers. He was a fourth-round pick in 2016 by Tampa Bay.
AUTO RACING
Tyler Ankrum took the lead when Brett Moffitt ran out of fuel with less than two laps to go and cruised to his first NASCAR Truck Series victory in the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 in Sparta, Kentucky.
The 18-year-old Ankrum finished 7.373 seconds ahead of Stewart Friesen on the 1.5-mile tri-oval to earn a spot in the eight-man series playoffs.