Nets’ Aldridge retires due to health scare

LaMarcus Aldridge retired from the NBA on Thursday after saying he experienced an irregular heartbeat during his final game with the Nets on Saturday.

Aldridge, 35, who was diagnosed with an abnormality that can cause a rapid heartbeat as a rookie in 2007, said he feels better now after getting it checked out but nevertheless decided to end his 15-year career.

The seven-time All-Star big man signed with the Nets on March 28.

Aldridge, the No. 2 pick in the 2006 draft, also played for the Trail Blazers and Spurs, and was a fivetime All-NBA selection. College football: Leroy Keyes, a two-time consensus All-American running back and one of the greatest players in Purdue history, died. He was 74. Keyes had been in poor health recently, suffering from congestive heart failure and a cancer recurrence. He previously had prostate cancer. Keyes was third in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1967 and was the runner-up to O.J. Simpson in 1968. Golf: Cameron Smith shot an opening-round 9-under 62, his career low on the PGA Tour, to take a one-shot lead over Stewart Cink at the Heritage in Hilton Head Island, S.C. The 47-year-old Cink shot his lowest score in 75 career rounds at Harbour Town. He won the tournament in 2000 and 2004. NHL: The league delayed the Canucks’ return to competition. The Canucks, who haven’t played a game since March 24 due to a COVID-19 outbreak, had been scheduled to host the Oilers on Friday. A new timetable hasn’t been set. ... All-Star center Auston Matthews missed the Maple Leafs’ game against Jets with an injury. Tennis: Top-ranked Novak Djokovic lost 6-4, 7-5 to Dan Evans in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters for his first loss in 11 matches this year. 11-time tournament champ Rafael Nadal advanced to the quarterfinals.