NBA PROBES 76ERS FOR POSSIBLE TAMPERING
The Philadelphia 76ers are being investigated by the NBA for possible tampering in offseason free-agency moves involving James Harden, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Friday night.
The person said the team is cooperating with the investigation.
Harden signed a deal worth slightly over $68 million, paying him about $33 million this season with a $35 million player option for the 2023-24 season. Harden, though, will make about $14.5 million less this coming season than he could have earned under his previous deal.
ESPN reported there are questions involving Harden and the Sixers having “a handshake agreement in place on a future contract.”
Tucker signed a $30 million, three-year contract and House signed for $8.4 million over two years. The Sixers were able to sign Tucker to the full mid-level exception and sign House to the bi-annual exception because Harden declined his option.
More basketball
A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum each scored 22 points and the Las Vegas Aces handed the Indiana Fever their club-record 13th straight WNBA loss, 93-72.
Motorsports
Felix Rosenqvist continued to fight for his seat in the IndyCar Series with a polewinning run on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Swede earned his second pole of the season with a run of 1 minute, 10.2265 seconds in Friday qualifying heading into today’s race. It’s the second pole of the season for Rosenqvist.
• Roger Penske added another major event to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for 2023 with the return of the IMSA sports car championship. The “IMSA Battle on the Bricks” will bring the NASCAR-owned series to Indy’s 14-turn road course for a 160-minute race. The event is scheduled for Sept. 17.
Soccer
• Almost three weeks after being appointed D.C. United’s head coach, Wayne Rooney will make his MLS sideline debut Sunday at Audi Field. Chad Ashton, United’s interim coach since late April, confirmed that Rooney, an Englishman who played for the club in 2018-19, had received his work visa and will oversee the match against Orlando City.
Tennis
• Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz raced past Facundo Bagnis 6-0, 6-4 at the Croatia Open to reach his seventh semifinal of the year. He next plays Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri who beat Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain 7-5, 6-4. Second-seeded Jannik Sinner reached his first semifinal this year after a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Roberto Carballes Baena. Sinner will face Franco Agamenone.
• Third-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut will have to wait to find out who he will play in the final at the Generali Open as rain delayed play for the second straight day. Bautista Agut advanced after beating fifth-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 7-6 (3).
• Fifth-seeded Caroline Garcia advanced to the semifinals of the Poland Open after ending the clay-court winning streak of top-ranked Iga Swiatek at 18 matches. Garcia won 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
• Anastasia Potapova upset top-seeded Anett Kontaveit 6-1, 6-1 to reach her third straight WTA semifinal.
Also
The Anaheim Ducks signed John Klingberg away from Dallas to a one-year, $7 million contract. Anaheim landed the top defenseman on the NHL free agent market by attracting the offensive-minded Swede.
• A six-year saga that started with smiles and handshakes ended with a sterile settlement document, Under Armour agreeing to pay UCLA $67.491 million to resolve the school’s lawsuit against the sports apparel giant, according to a document reviewed by The L.A. Times.