NBA
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers are under investigation by the NBA over possible manipulations in offseason free agency moves involving James Harden, PJ Tucker and Danuel House, a person familiar with the situation told The on Friday night Associated Press.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the investigation is ongoing, said the team is cooperating with the investigation.
Harden signed a contract worth just over $68 million and paid him about $33 million that season with a $35 million player option for the 2023-24 season. However, Harden will earn approximately $14.5 million less next season than he could have earned under his previous contract. Harden had a $47.4 million option for the upcoming season, which he declined last month and said he wants to give the 76ers flexibility to improve their roster and fight for a championship.
ESPN reported Friday that there are questions surrounding Harden and the Sixers having “a handshake agreement regarding a future contract.”
Tucker signed a three-year, $30 million deal and House signed a two-year, $8.4 million contract. The Sixers were able to sign Tucker for the full mid-level exemption and House for the semi-annual exemption due to Harden declining his option.
NFL
The wait for a decision on a possible disciplinary action 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 make a decision Friday on Watson’s disciplinary case, which concluded a month ago. They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity as discussions are private.
Watson has been 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 hopes to bring them to court 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 moving to Cleveland in March, has been practicing with the Browns while Robinson has spent weeks trying to determine if the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback violated the NFL’s personal conduct guidelines and whether he was showing discipline shall impose.
HOUSTON (AP) — Before the Houston Texans started camp this week, they received a special message from a member of the team who couldn’t be there.
Rookie wide receiver John Metchie III, who previously announced he was likely to miss the season after being diagnosed with leukemia, addressed the Texans in a video before they began preparations for the season.
Coach Lovie Smith, who was promoted from defensive coordinator this offseason after David Culley was fired, said he usually opens camp with a speech to the team. But this year he felt it was more important for the boys to hear from Metchie first.
Metchie said Sunday he was recently diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The Alabama second-round pick said he is taking time off from football to focus on his health and recovery.
Smith didn’t give details of what the 22-year-old Metchie shared with the team but said teammates and coaches alike were moved by his words.
BASEBALL
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge became the first Big Leaguer with 40 homers this season, hitting a grand slam for No. 41 and robbing a home run in right field as the New York Yankees rallied to take on the Kansas City Royals with 11-5 to beat .
Isiah Kiner-Falefa scored a singles tie in the eighth inning as New York recorded its 29th major league comeback win.
A season-ending free agent, Judge has 66 home runs under his belt, 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 home runs as of late July, per MLB.com.
The judge was showered with “MVP!” Chants all night, none louder than after his slam in the eighth cemented another Yankees rally. He also had a single and ended up with six RBIs.
Judge and Anthony Rizzo scored 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 scoreless 31 2/3-innings drought for the Royals. Salvador Perez followed Merrifield with a three-run go-ahead homer on his return from the injured list for a 5-3 lead.
New York put it out by flying around during a chaotic eighth inning that followed a 23-minute rain delay.
HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander threw a one-run ball in the eighth inning to win his MLB-leading 14th game, Aledmys Díaz hit two home runs and Jordan Alvarez hit his 30th home run of the season as the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 11 defeated -1.
Verlander (14-3) allowed a run in 7 2/3 innings and allowed five hits with five strikeouts and dueled Robbie Ray of Seattle, last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner.
Verlander kept Seattle scoreless until Jesse Winker and Julio Rodríguez 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, who is returning in his first season after Tommy John’s surgery, has allowed a deserved run or less in six straight starts.
HOUSTON (AP) — The Seattle Mariners acquired the best starting pitcher in the trade market, bringing in All-Star Luis Castillo from the Cincinnati Reds with payroll for four minor league prospects.
Seattle hasn’t made the playoffs since 2001, the longest postseason drought in the big four North American professional sports.
At 54-46, the Mariners are second of three AL wildcards, 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 short of the longest winning streak in team history and a club’s best run before the break since 1933. But the Mariners have been 3-5 since then, after an 11-1 Loss in Houston on Friday night.
Cincinnati received infielders Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo and right-handers Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore. Marte was the Mariners’ top-rated prospect, with Arroyo third and Stoudt fifth.
GOLF
DETROIT (AP) — Taylor Pendrith of Canada blasted a 7-under 65 to take a one-shot lead over Tony Finau into the weekend of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Pendrith and Finau shared the first-round lead by 8 and will be in the final group on Saturday, where they pair a 31-year-old PGA Tour rookie with a 32-year-old veteran who is celebrating his third career win.
Rookie Lee Hodges (66) was three shots behind.
PGA Tour rookie of the year leader Cameron Young tied with Russell Henley (65) and Stewart Cink (66) a Detroit Golf Club record with 63 for a fourth-place share – five shots back.
Rookie Sahith Theegala (67) was another setback in a pack that includes defending FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay, who bounced back from a 70 in the opening round with a 65.
BEDMINSTER, NJ (AP) — Henrik Stenson made a happy return to golf after being deposed as captain of the European Ryder Cup, making eight birdies for a 7-under 64 in his LIV Golf Invitational debut at Bedminster sharing the 18-hole lead with Patrick Reed.
Phil Mickelson’s return to the area was not entirely fortunate. As he teeed off at Trump National Bedminster, a spectator shouted, “Do it for the Saudi royal family!”
The rest of the day didn’t get much better, especially the end. He missed a 12 foot birdie putt on his last hole and then ran the 3 foot putt for par about 6 feet off the hole. His bogey-bogey finish earned him a 75.
Former President Donald Trump, who was playing the Pro-Am on his home court Thursday, returned to watch the first round.