WALTON TO BE NEXT COACH OF L.A. LAKERS
los angeles» The Los Angeles Lakers reached an agreement with Golden State assistant Luke Walton to become their head coach.
The Lakers made the announcement Friday night, five days after firing Byron Scott.
Walton will join the Lakers after the Warriors’ playoff run. The 36year-old former Lakers forward returns to become the 26th head coach in franchise history.
Walton became a top candidate for coaching jobs earlier this season when he led Golden State to a 39-4 record as the interim head coach, including a spectacular 24-0 start by the defending champions.
He won’t have nearly the same level of talent in Los Angeles, which is rebuilding after the retirement of Kobe Bryant. Scott led the Lakers to the worst two seasons in franchise history, going 17-65 this season.
Lovemark, Vegas lead at Zurich
B avondale, la.» Jamie Lovemark and Jhonattan Vegas shared the Zurich Classic lead at 11-under when second-round play was suspended because of darkness.
Lovemark had a 27-hole day at hot and humid TPC Louisiana, completing a 5-under 67 in the first round and adding a 66 in the second in the event that fell behind schedule Thursday with a long rain delay.
“Just happy to be alive,” said Lovemark, winless on the PGA Tour. “It was hot, humid. It’s a tough walk, just soft, so ate a ton, walked slow. Not too bad.” Vegas, from Venezuela, shot 64-69. “Long day,” Vegas said. “I played 30½ holes today. I knew it was going to be an extremely long day, so I just kind of kept the mentality and hit one shot at a time and just played as hard as I can.”
None of the players in the afternoon wave finished the round, with top-ranked Jason Day at 5-under and facing a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-5 11th when play resumes.
• Gerina Piller made herself right at home in the LPGA Tour’s Volunteers of America Texas Shootout, shooting a 6-under 65 to take the lead in the suspended second round.
The long-hitting U.S. Solheim Cup player lives in Plano, about 20 miles from Las Colinas Country Club. She birdied three of the final five holes in her bogey-free round to reach 10-under 132.
Drug dealers sell “Curry” heroin
B philadelphia» Philadelphia drug dealers looking to market their heroin as top of the line are stamping packets with the likeness of Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.
Regional transit police chief Thomas Nestel tweeted a picture of several packets featuring Curry’s face and name. His caption read, “Thinking Steph Curry wouldn’t be happy that he is this week’s brand for heroin in Philly.”
Philadelphia is known for having the most potent heroin in the country.
Nestel said he noticed the Curry heroin-branding this week after an officer stopped a man with the packets.
Footnotes.
Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators and Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks are the finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman. … The New York Red Bulls have acquired veteran center back Aurelien Collin from Orlando City FC in exchange for a conditional fourthround pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. … University of Denver lacrosse players Trevor Baptiste, Connor Connizzaro and Zach Miller are among 25 nominees for the Tewaaraton Award, a honor given annually to the best player in college lacrosse. … Maddy Stevenson tied a career high with 12 saves, but it wasn’t enough for the University of Denver women’s lacrosse team in a 10-5 loss to Southern California in the semifinals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation conference tournament.