NBA-THUNDER
League MVP Durant injured
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) β NBA MVP Kevin Durant of the Thunder has a fractured foot and the team says it’s not sure how long he’ll be sidelined. General Manager Sam Presti said in a statement that Durant informed the team of “discomfort” in his right foot after practice a day earlier.
He underwent tests and the team says he was diagnosed with a fracture. The team says traditional treatment requires surgery, and recent NBA cases have resulted in a return to play in six to eight weeks.
Durant won the scoring title last season, collecting his first MVP award and leading the Thunder to the Western Conference finals. He skipped playing for the U.S. national team in this summer’s Basketball World Cup so he could get additional rest. He played in two preseason games before complaining of pain.
NFL-SCHEDULE
Ready for more football
UNDATED (AP) β Two of the early games in the NFL stand out. Those games feature the Bills at home to the Patriots and the Panthers in Cincinnati. Starting play the Bills and Patriots are tied for the lead in the AFC East with records of 3-2 while the Panthers top the NFC South at 3-2 and the Bengals are 3-1, in first place in the AFC North.
Perhaps the marquee matchup has NFL champion Seattle playing host to Dallas in a later start. The Seahawks have started the season with wins in three of their four games while the Cowboys have surprised a few folks with a 4-1 start. They start the day tied for first in the NFC East with Philadelphia, which is home this evening to fellow NFC East club New York. The Giants are 3-2.
The rest of the early starts feature Jacksonville at Tennessee, Minnesota at home to Detroit, Baltimore at Tampa Bay, the Jets at home to Denver, the Steelers in Cleveland and Miami at home to the Packers.
In the second tier of games today the Raiders are entertaining the Chargers in a game featuring the top teams in the AFC West, Washington is at Arizona and the Falcons are at home to the Bears.
NLCS
Giants look to for another win
ST. LOUIS (AP) β The second game of the St. Louis-San Francisco National League Championship Series is being played this evening in St. Louis. That’s where the Giants won the opener last night 3-0. In that game Madison Bumgarner struck out seven while allowing four hits over 7 2/3 innings of work. Bumgarner also set a major league postseason record with 26 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings on the road.
Travis Ishikawa (ihsh-ih-KAH’-wah) put the Giants ahead with an RBI single in the second before Hunter Pence scored on Matt Carpenter’s error at third base later in the inning. Brandon Belt added a sacrifice fly one inning later. The Giants have won 12 of their last 13 playoff games.
Loser Adam Wainwright allowed two earned runs and six hits in just 4 2/3 innings.
This evening’s pitching matchup has Lance Lynn getting the starting nod for the Cards against Jake Peavy (PEE’-vee).
NHL-SCHEDULE
Light schedule on-ice tonight
UNDATED (AP) β There are just two games on the NHL schedule this evening. In the first contest the Rangers are playing host to the Maple Leafs while in the second contest the league champion Kings are home to Winnipeg.
The visit by the Leafs to Madison Square Garden is their lone trip to the Big Apple for a game with the Rangers. They played three times last season with New York winning twice.
The Stanley Cup champs are looking for their first win of the season. The Kings and Jets met three times last season with L.A. coming out on top twice.
F1-RUSSIAN GP
Hamilton wins inaugural Russian GP
SOCHI, Russia (AP) β Mercedes has clinched the constructors’ title in Formula One racing with another 1-2 finish for the team. Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory in the inaugural Russian Grand Prix with Nico (NEE’-koh) Rosberg second. In the driver standings Rosberg trails his teammate by 17 points with three races remaining. Hamilton has won the last four races and nine on the season.
GOLF-FRYS.COM
Bae leads opening PGA event of new season
NAPA, Calif. (AP) β Sang-Moon Bae is the leader through three rounds of the PGA’s Frys.com Open in Napa, Calif. Bae fired a 7-under 65 for a 16-under total yesterday. He starts the final round four strokes ahead of Zachary Blair. Matt Kuchar (KOO’-chur), Brooks Koepka, Scott Langley and Martin Laird share third at minus-11.
CHAMPIONS TOUR-SAS CHAMPIONSHIP
Triplett starts final round in front
CARY, N.C. (AP) β Kirk Triplett capped a 9-under 63 by holing out from 143 yards for an eagle on the par-5 final hole yesterday to grab the lead after the second round of the Champions Tour SAS Championship. His 11-under total gives him a two-shot lead over Paul Goydos and Tom Lehman (LAY’-man).
LPGA-MALAYSIA
Feng finishes first
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) β China’s Shanshan Feng rallied to win the LPGA tournament in Malaysia. She played a six-hole stretch on the back nine in 6 under to secure her fourth LPGA Tout title. The 25-year-old entered the round four strokes off the lead. She closed with a bogey-free 8-under 63 for a three-stroke victory.
