CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The Charlotte Hornets acquired small forward Nicolas Batum from the Portland Trail Blazers yesterday in exchange for guard Gerald Henderson and power forward Noah Vonleh. The 6-foot-8, 200-pound Batum spent the last seven seasons with Portland. He started 71 games in 2014-15, averaging 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists while battling a wrist injury.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) β The United States Basketball Writers Association has created an annual award in honor of late North Carolina Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith. The Dean Smith Award will go to anyone associated with college basketball who embodies “the spirit and values represented by Smith.”
WASHINGTON (AP) β Ian Desmond hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift Washington to a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves last night for the Nationals’ fifth straight victory. The Braves now have dropped two in a row.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) β Pavin Smith homered and drove in three runs and Brandon Waddell turned in another strong College World Series pitching performance, leading Virginia over Vanderbilt 4-2 last night for the school’s first baseball national championship. The Cavaliers prevailed in the CWS finals rematch against the defending champion Commodores.
