HORNETS-MOVES
Hornets sign free agent point guard Jeremy Lin
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The Charlotte Hornets have signed free agent Jeremy Lin, giving them depth and another scoring option at point guard.
Terms of the deal were not released Thursday.
Hornets general manager Rich Cho is hoping Lin bolsters Charlotte’s second-team offense, saying “we have made a concerted effort to upgrade the offense” this offseason.
Cho says there may be some trade off when it comes to the team’s overall defense, but is confident coach Steve Clifford will get the Hornets to play at a high level.
The 6-foot-33 Lin has played in 291 NBA games for the Warriors, Knicks, Rockets and Lakers in five seasons, averaging 11.7 points, 4.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 26.9 minutes.
He’s a career 43.7 percent shooter, including 34.9 percent from 3-point range.
NASCAR-TRUCKS
Matt Crafton earns 9th career NASCAR Truck Series win
SPARTA, Ky. (AP) β Matt Crafton earned his ninth career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory Thursday at Kentucky Speedway in a race stopped early because of a wreck that damaged the catch fence.
NASCAR called the race with five laps to go after Ben Kennedy’s truck clipped and bent portions of the catch fence in Turn 1. Kennedy’s truck lifted off the ground and slid on top of the SAFER barrier after making contact with the trucks of David Gilliland and John Wes Townley.
Kennedy was not injured in the crash.
Crafton, the two-time defending series champion, had passed Erik Jones for the lead on a restart with six laps to go. Jones finished second, followed by Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suarez and Timothy Peters.
Intermittent rain showers earlier in the day canceled practice and qualifying, and the starting lineup was set according to owner points entering the race. That handed the pole position to Crafton.
NASCAR-KENTUCKY TEST CANCELED
Rain forces NASCAR to cancel test of new rules for Kentucky
SPARTA, Ky. (AP) β NASCAR has canceled a Sprint Cup Series test of a new rules package for Kentucky Speedway after continued rain and will proceed with its normal weekend practice schedule for Saturday night’s 400-mile race.
Teams had hoped to practice Wednesday with new specifications intended to reduce downforce and create more passing before showers postponed the session to Thursday. Intermittent rain throughout the morning eventually wiped out that session also and has delayed practice for Thursday night’s scheduled 225-mile Camping World Truck Series race.
Weather permitting, Sprint Cup teams will begin practice Friday on the 1.5-mile track. Cars will race with the rear spoiler reduced from 6 to 3.5 inches and the front splitter expanded by 25 inches. An overhang has been reduced by 1.75 inches.
RAMS-BATTLE
Rams take former Clemson OL Battle in supplemental draft
ST. LOUIS (AP) β The St. Louis Rams selected offensive lineman Isaiah Battle in the fifth round of the NFL supplemental draft.
The Rams announced Thursday that they’ve selected the former Clemson player. Battle played in 27 games and started 15 during three seasons with the Tigers.
The 6-foot-6, 312-pounder emerged from spring as the starter at left tackle, but cited having a child due this summer in deciding to leave the school.
Rams general manager Les Snead says the team “felt it was an opportunity to get an earlier round value for a later round price.” Snead says Battle will practice during what would have been his senior season and go through the offseason program before starting out as a rookie.
The Rams will lose a fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft.
BRAVES-ROCKIES
Gonzalez hits 3 doubles, Rockies top Braves 5-3
DENVER (AP) β Carlos Gonzalez hit three doubles, Nolan Arenado had three hits for the second consecutive night and the Colorado Rockies beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on a rain-soaked Thursday at Coors Field.
Troy Tulowitzki singled to extend his hitting streak to 21 games β longest in the majors this season β for the Rockies, who dealt with another weather delay at home.
Jace Peterson had two hits and two RBIs, and Chris Johnson had three hits for the Braves.
A rainstorm came through two pitches into the bottom of the first inning and sent the players and fans scurrying for shelter. The delay lasted 2 hours, 6 minutes, and ended the night early for both starters.
David Hale, the scheduled starter Friday for Colorado, took over for Kyle Kendrick in the second but left with one out in the third with a mild left groin strain. Hale (3-4) went 1 2-3 innings to get the win.
