NBA-HORNETS
Report: Stephenson likes Charlotte
UNDATED (AP) β It never hurts to have a breakout season during the final year of a contract.
Lance Stephenson has parlayed his finest NBA season into a new contract with the Charlotte Hornets after four years with Indiana. A person familiar with the contract says Stephenson has agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal with the Michael Jordon-led team, a package that includes a team option for the third season.
The Pacers had offered Stephenson a five-year, $44 million contract but he chose to sign for fewer years.
Stephenson averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game for the Pacers last season.
Also in the NBA:
β The Oklahoma City Thunder say they have signed free-agent guard Anthony Morrow, who averaged career-highs of 10.4 points and 2 1/2 rebounds for New Orleans last season. His agent said Morrow accepted a three-year, $10 million package.
β Brandon Rush is back with the Golden State Warriors after accepting a two-year contract. Rush was Golden State’s top reserve during the 2011-12 season before tearing the ACL in his left knee in the team’s 2012-13 home opener. He was traded to Utah last summer and played just 38 games for the Jazz after returning from the knee injury.
β A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Heat free agent James Jones will be joining LeBron James with the Cavaliers. Jones and the Cavaliers agreed to terms on a veteran minimum deal for $1.4 million. The 11-year veteran spent the past six years in Miami and shot a career-high 46 percent on 3-pointers in 20 games last season.
NFL-COWBOYS
Orton released by Dallas
IRVING, Texas (AP) β Quarterback Kyle Orton has been released by the Dallas Cowboys. He had skipped all of the offseason workouts amid reports he might retire. The move saves Dallas about $3.25 million this season, but will cost the team about that amount on the salary cap over the next two seasons.
Former Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden takes over as Tony Romo’s backup. Weeden, Cleveland’s first-round draft pick in 2012, signed with the Cowboys in March and worked with the first team during the offseason while Romo continued his recovery from back surgery.
BRITISH OPEN
Get some sleep
HOYLAKE, England (AP) β If you want to catch the beginning of the British Open tomorrow you better get to bed early tonight. The first tee time tomorrow morning is around 1:30 a.m. New York time. That’s when American David Duval tees off with two other players.
The big names tee off later in the day. Tiger Woods starts play at 3:26 eastern time with Phil Mickelson around 9 a.m.
This is the third major of the year. Bubba Watson won the Masters back in April while Martin Kaymer (KY’-mur) won the U.S. Open last month.
This is the 143rd running of the British Open and it is being contested at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England.
TOUR DE FRANCE
Back at it
OYONNAX, France (AP) β French rider Tony Gallopin won his second race of the Tour de France as he won the 11th stage. Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali remains the overall leader and holder of the yellow jersey. The 11th stage covered 116.3-miles and took place not far from the Swiss border. The stage featured four small- to medium-sized hills near the end.
MLB-ALL-STAR GAME/RATINGS
More viewers for midsummer classic
NEW YORK (AP) β Derek Jeter’s final All-Star appearance has helped boost television ratings for the game. The American League’s 5-3 win Tuesday night in Minneapolis averaged more than 11.3 million viewers on Fox, up from 11 million for last year’s game at the Mets’ Citi Field in New York. The rating was up 9 percent for the first full half-hour, when the retiring Yankees shortstop first stepped to the plate.
MLB-SCHEDULE
The break continues
UNDATED (AP) β Baseball’s All-Star game is over but the break continues. Play doesn’t resume until Friday.
In case you missed it last night, the American League won the Mid-Summer Classic, 5-3, and Mike Trout of the Angels was named the MVP.
Derek Jeter went out with a bang, two hits and a run scored. He leaves the game with a lifetime .481 batting average in the All-Star game going 13-27 in 14 games. He is retiring at the end of the season.
MLB-TRADE
Royals deal with Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) β The Kansas City Royals have gotten some relief help, acquiring veteran reliever Jason Frasor from the Texas Rangers for Triple-A right-hander Spencer Patton. Frasor was 1-1 with a 3.34 earned run appearance in 38 games with Texas.
The deal took place just hours before Patton was scheduled to participate in the Triple-A All-Star game.
NHL-SABRES
Buffalo inks defenseman
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) β The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel (roo-WEE’-dehl) to a two-year contract. He was a restricted free agent after the Sabres retained his rights by making him a qualifying offer last month. Ruhwedel split last season playing for the Sabres and their American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester. Overall, he has one assist in 28 NHL games, and four goals and 24 assists in 47 AHL games.
BOXING-PACQUIAO
Pacquiao announces next fight
UNDATED (AP) β Welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao (PAK’-ee-ow) will return to China for his next fight, taking on Chris Algieri Nov. 22 in the gambling enclave of Macau.
The scheduled bout comes a year after the Filipino headlined the first big fight card there with a win over Brandon Rios. Pacquiao returns to Macau on a two-fight winning streak that began last September with his win over Rios. Before that, he had lost a disputed decision to Timothy Bradley and was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez.
