SAN ANTONIO (AP) β San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker says he plans to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday against Miami despite a sore left ankle that caused him to miss much of Saturday’s Western Conference finals victory. Parker didn’t practice Tuesday but said he expects to be back Wednesday. He is averaging a team-leading 17.2 points and 4.9 assists this postseason but has been bothered by injuries the past two rounds.
UNDATED (AP) β Jeff Bower has resigned as head basketball coach of Marist to become the Detroit Pistons’ general manager. Bower had been the New Orleans Hornets GM in 2009-10. And Washington Wizards coach Randy Wittman has received a contract extension after leading the team this season to its first playoff berth since 2008.
PARIS (AP) β Seventh seed Maria Sharapova and No. 18 Eugenie Bouchard (yoo-JEE’-nee boo-SHAHRD’) have advanced to the French Open semifinals. Sharapova dropped the opening set 6-1 and trailed 4-3 in the second before winning 7-5, 6-1 against Garbine Muguruza (gar-BEEN’ moh-guh-ROO’-zuh). Bouchard defeated No. 14 Carla Suarez Navarro 7-6, 2-6, 7-5 to earn a meeting with Sharapova.
PARIS (AP) β Men’s second seed Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) is two match victories away from becoming the eighth man to complete a career Grand Slam. Djokovic has moved into the French Open semifinals with a 7-5. 7-6, 6-4 win over No. 8 Milos Raonic (MEE’-lohs RAH’-nich). Next up for the former No. 1 player is Ernests Gulbis, who followed his fourth-round win over Roger Federer by downing sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych (TOH’-mahs bur-DEEK’) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
MIAMI (AP) β Dan Marino says he inadvertently became a plaintiff in a concussion lawsuit against the NFL and is withdrawing immediately. The Hall of Fame quarterback said he doesn’t suffer any effects from head injuries.
