N.B.A
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The NBA is investigating the Philadelphia 76ers for possible tampering with offseason free agency moves involving James Harden, PJ Tucker and Danuel House, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, said the team is cooperating with the investigation.
Harden signed a deal for just over $68 million, paying him about $33 million this season with a $35 million player option for 2023-24. Harden, however, will make about $14.5 million less this coming season than he could have made under his previous deal. Harden had a $47.4 million option for next season that he declined last month, saying he wanted to give the 76ers flexibility to improve their roster and compete for a championship.
ESPN reported Friday that there are questions involving Harden and the Sixers having “a handshake agreement on a future contract.”
Tucker signed a three-year, $30 million contract and House signed for $8.4 million over two years. The Sixers were able to sign Tucker to the mid-level exception and sign House to the two-year exception because Harden declined his option.
NFL
The wait for a decision on possible discipline for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson following allegations of sexual misconduct will continue for another week.
Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that retired Judge Sue L. Robinson would not issue a ruling Friday on Watson’s disciplinary hearing that concluded a month ago. They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.
Watson was accused of sexual harassment and assault by 24 massage therapists in Texas and has settled 20 of the civil lawsuits filed against him. Four lawsuits remain pending, and the attorney representing the women has said he hopes to take them to trial sometime next spring.
Two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal charges stemming from the allegations.
Watson, who played four seasons with Houston before being traded to Cleveland in March, has been practicing with the Browns while Robinson has spent weeks trying to determine whether the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy and if he imposed discipline. .
HOUSTON (AP) – Before the Houston Texans started camp this week, they got a special message from a team member who couldn’t be there.
Rookie wide receiver John Metchie III, who previously announced he would likely miss the season after being diagnosed with leukemia, addressed the Texans in a video before the season began.
Coach Lovie Smith, who was promoted to defensive coordinator this offseason after David Culley was fired, said he usually opens the field with a speech to the team. But this year he felt it was more important that the boys listen to Metchie first.
Metchie said Sunday that he was recently diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Alabama’s second-round pick said he was taking time off from football to focus on his health and recovery.
Smith did not provide details on what Metchie, 22, shared with the team, but said his teammates and coaches were moved by his words.
BASEBALL
NEW YORK (AP) – Aaron Judge became the first major league player with 40 home runs this season, hitting a grand slam for No. 41 and stealing a home run to right field as the New York Yankees they rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 11-5. .
Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning as New York completed its major league-leading 29th comeback win.
A free agent at the end of the season, Judge has 66 homers, which would surpass Roger Maris’ club record of 61 in 1961. Judge, Maris and Babe Ruth in 1928 are the only Yankees with at least 40 homers by the end of July , according to MLB.com.
The judge was lavished with “MVP!” chants throughout the night, none louder than after his eighth-inning slam capped another Yankee rally. He also had a single and finished with six RBIs.
Judge and Anthony Rizzo homered early on a rainy night in the Bronx, but Kansas City came back against Gerrit Cole, with Whit Merrifield’s two-run single in the fifth ending a 31-game scoreless drought 2/3 innings for the Royals. Salvador Perez followed Merrifield with a three-run homer in his return from the disabled list for a 5-3 lead.
New York erased it by hitting during a messy eighth inning that followed a 23-minute rain delay.
HOUSTON (AP) – Justin Verlander hit a one-run ball in the eighth inning to win his MLB-leading 14th game, Aledmys Diaz hit two home runs and Yordan Alvarez hit his 30th home run of the season when the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 11. -1.
Verlander (14-3) allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings and allowed five hits with five strikeouts and edged Seattle’s Robbie Ray, last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner.
Verlander held Seattle scoreless until Jesse Winker and Julio Rodriguez doubled in the seventh inning.
Verlander allowed just three earned runs in four starts and 26 2/3 innings in July. The 39-year-old right-hander, in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, has allowed one earned run or fewer in six straight starts.
HOUSTON (AP) – The Seattle Mariners acquired the best starting pitcher on the trade market, acquiring All-Star Luis Castillo from the payroll-making Cincinnati Reds for four minor league prospects.
Seattle has not been to the playoffs since 2001, the longest postseason drought in the four major American professional sports.
At 54-46, the Mariners are in second of the three AL wild-card spots, a half-game ahead of Tampa Bay (53-46) and three games ahead of Cleveland (50-48).
Seattle won its last 14 games before the All-Star break, one shy of the longest winning streak in team history and the best streak by any club heading into the break since 1933. But the Mariners are 3-5 since then, after an 11-1 loss at Houston on Friday night.
Cincinnati got infielders Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo, and right-handers Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore. Marte was the Mariners’ top-rated prospect, Arroyo was third and Stoudt fifth.
GOLF
DETROIT (AP) – Canada’s Taylor Pendrith shot a 7-under 65 to take a lead over Tony Finau over the weekend at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Pendrith and Finau shared the first-round lead at 8 under and will be in the final group Saturday, pairing a 31-year-old PGA Tour rookie with a 32-year-old veteran coming off his third career win.
Debutant Lee Hodges (66) was three shots back.
PGA Tour Player of the Year Cameron Young tied a Detroit Golf Club record 63 for a share of fourth place – five shots back – with Russell Henley (65) and Stewart Cink (66).
Debutant Sahith Theegala (67) was another bounce back from a pack that includes defending FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay, who bounced back from a first-round 70 with a 65.
BEDMINSTER, N.J. (AP) — Henrik Stenson had a happy return to golf after being ousted as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, carding eight birdies in his LIV Golf Invitational debut in Bedminster for a 7-under 64 to share the 18-hole lead with Patrick Canya.
Phil Mickelson’s return to the ring was not entirely happy. When he was playing at Trump National Bedminster, a spectator shouted: “Do it for the Saudi royal family!”
The rest of his day didn’t get much better, especially the end. He missed a 12-foot birdie putt on his final hole, then ran the 3-footer for a 6-foot par on the hole. His bogey-bogey finish gave him a 75.
Former President Donald Trump, who played the pro-am on Thursday at his home course, watched the first round again.
