Westbrook signs $205M extension to stay in OKC
Russell Westbrook is staying with the Thunder. The superstar point guard and reigning NBA MVP has signed a contract extension to remain in Oklahoma City, the team announced Friday. ESPN first reported the agreement and said it would be for five years and worth $205 million.
Westbrook said this week that Oklahoma City is where he wanted to be. He said he was thrilled with the offseason additions of four-time All-Star Paul George and 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony.
l The NBA is recommending teams address fans or show videos expressing themes of unity before their first home games, while reminding them of the rule that players must stand for the national anthem. A memo was sent to teams a day after Adam Silver said he expected players would stand for the anthem.
SOX DON’T CLINCH
The Boston Red Sox once again failed to clinch the AL East title as Alex Bregman homered and drove in three runs, giving the Houston Astros a 3-2 victory at Fenway.
l The AL Cen- tral champion Indians romped to a 10-1 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox and maintained their one-game lead — while owning the tiebreaker — over Houston for the best record in the AL with two left.
l Giancarlo Stanton went 2 for 4 with a single and a double and the Miami slugger remained at 59 home runs as the Atlanta Braves beat the host Marlins 6-5.
l Pete Mackanin is out as Phillies manager after 21/2 seasons but will remain in the dugout for the final three games this weekend and return as a special assistant to general manager Matt Klentak in 2018.
l Minnesota Twins slugger Miguel Sano is coming back just in time for the playoffs. The Twins activated their All-Star third baseman on Friday, in time for the season’s final series.
l The visiting Milwaukee Brewers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
l A crowd-funding campaign started by Houston Astros outfielder Carlos Beltran has already raised nearly $1.3 million to help with hurricane relief in his native Puerto Rico.
l Chad Bettis picked up his second win since his return from testicular cancer and the host Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-1 to remain on the verge of clinching their first postseason spot since 2009.
MIAMI DOMINATES DUKE
Malik Rosier threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and No. 14 Miami’s defense shut down Duke ina 31-6 victory in Durham.
SPARKS FLY IN GAME 3
Nneka Ogwumike and Odyssey Sims each scored 16 points to help the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Minnesota Lynx 75-64 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals in L.A. The Sparks have taken a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five game series.