Rockets: Brown victim of assault
Rockets forward Sterling Brown suffered facial lacerations during an assault Sunday night, the team announced in a statement Monday.
The Rockets said Brown “had no prior knowledge of or interaction with the assailants.” He’s expected to make a full recovery.
Brown, 26, who’s in his first season with the Rockets after spending the last three with the Bucks, alleged in 2018 that Milwaukee police officers targeted him outside a Walgreens in 2018. He alleged he was targeted because he’s Black. They used a stun gun when he didn’t immediately remove his hands from his pockets when ordered to while waiting for a parking citation.
Brown first filed a lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee in June 2018 after body-camera footage was released showing a police officer stepping on his ankle during the arrest while others mocked his potential civil rights complaint.
Brown reached a $750,000 settlement with the city in November.
Hornets rookie PG LaMelo Ball was cleared to return to individual basketball activity by doctors after having a cast removed from his right wrist. It’s unclear at this point when he’ll be ready to play in a game. Ball sustained a fractured right wrist during March 20 . ... Kevin Durant will miss the Nets’ game against Pelicans on Tuesday after suffering a left thigh contusion early in Sunday’s loss to the Heat.
College football: Former Michigan QB Joe Milton plans to transfer to Tennessee as a graduate student, ESPN reported. Milton passed for 1,077 yards with four TDs and four INTs last season. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Golf: A limited number of spectators will be allowed at the U.S. Women’s Open in San Francisco and the U.S. Open in San Diego in June provided they’re vaccinated or can show proof of a negative test for the coronavirus. The USGA announced the policy after consulting with California health officials, but didn’t indicate how many fans would be allowed at either championship.
NFL: Attorney Rusty Hardin filed an answer to the 22 lawsuits filed against Deshaun Watson that says the Texans QB’s legal team has “already uncovered evidence that numerous allegations in this onslaught of cases are simply not true or accurate.” From March 16 to April 14, 23 lawsuits were filed against Watson alleging inappropriate conduct and sexual assault. One lawsuit was dropped by a plaintiff “for now.” ... A warrant was issued for the arrest of new Seahawks DE Aldon Smith for an alleged second-degree battery that occurred in the New Orleans area Saturday night. Smith allegedly choked a victim unconscious during a confrontation that began inside a coffee shop. Smith played for the Cowboys last year after missing more than four seasons because of an indefinite suspension for multiple off-field incidents and violations of the substance abuse policy . ... QB Patrick Mahomes said he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery after having surgery for turf toe shortly after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Buccaneers. He expects to return to the field “by the end of the offseason.” NHL: The league suspended Canucks D Alexander Edler for two games for kneeing Maple Leafs F Zach Hyman on Sunday.