Ibaka’s new deal reportedly for $48M
Ibaka’s new deal reportedly for $48M
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder took a big step toward sticking around as an NBA championship contender.
The Thunder and general manager Sam Presti still face difficult decisions in the team’s quest to remain a title threat for the long haul after reaching the NBA Finals last season, but reaching a contract extension with blocks leader Serge Ibaka is certainly a good start.
Ibaka came to terms on the deal on Saturday as the Thunder locked up another key member of their nucleus while also putting into question whether the small-market team can afford to keep Sixth Man of the Year James Harden beyond next season.
Ibaka posted on Twitter that he was happy for the chance to play for the Thunder for five more years. Presti didn’t provide details of the contract, citing team policy, but Yahoo! Sports first reported that the deal is for four additional years and $48 million.
Presti dismissed the notion that Ibaka’s signing means that Harden’s departure is inevitable. But with more than $50 million committed per season to All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and starting center Kendrick Perkins, there is not much room left in the budget for Harden, who earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in London.
Allgaier nips Villeneuve to win at Montreal
MONTREAL — Jacques Villeneuve was in the driver’s seat heading to the white flag, more than 20 car lengths ahead and his first victory in NASCAR just a lap away on the track named for his dad.
Then, in the blink of an eye, Justin Allgaier bumped past him for the victory Saturday in a Nationwide race as a stunned crowd at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve recoiled in disbelief.
“It’s tough when you have a driver who has his last name on the race track,” Allgaier said after his second victory of the season and third of his career. “Obviously, this is a big race for him and a big venue.”
Having maintained the top spot through restart after restart in the final laps of a race that went six extra circuits around the 14-turn, 2.7-mile layout, Villeneuve was running low on fuel and kept turning off the engine of his No. 22 Dodge to conserve.
What seemed like an insurmountable lead vanished on the last lap. Allgaier closed in a hurry as Villeneuve suddenly slowed and was hit from behind.
“I don’t know if he went into protect mode,” Allgaier said. “We knew he was going to be close on gas. My first thought was he was out. I had too much steam running my normal pace, and we got together. I’m sure he’s not happy about that, but I know that the 30 (polesitter Alex Tagliani) got taken out by that car. I guess at the end of the day what goes around comes around.”
Dodgers’ Mattingly suspended two games
ATLANTA — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has been suspended for two games, beginning with Saturday night’s game against the Braves.
Mattingly was also given an undisclosed fine “for excessive arguing” with home plate umpire Angel Campos in Thursday’s 10-6 loss in Pittsburgh. Mattingly and outfielder Matt Kemp were ejected in the game.
The suspension was announced Saturday by Joe Garagiola Jr., senior vice president of standards and on-field operations for MLB.
Mattingly said he was confused when he first received word of the suspension. He said he now understands he was suspended because he did not attempt to restrain Kemp before joining the argument.
Kemp received no suspension or fine.
“I’m happy about that,” Mattingly said.
Cardinals tackle out with injury
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals starting left tackle Levi Brown has a torn right triceps and probably will not play this season.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt revealed the extent of the injury at his Saturday news conference, saying the five-year starter will require surgery, with an anticipated recovery time that would approach the end of the season.
The 6-foot-6, 324-pound Brown was injured in the first half of Arizona’s 31-27 preseason victory over the Oakland Raiders on Friday night.
Whisenhunt said D’Anthony Batiste and D.J. Young were candidates to take Brown’s spot, and that the team would keep an eye out for players who could become available as other teams make roster moves.
Djokovic, Federer reach Cincinnati final
MASON, Ohio — No medal involved this time. Little drama, either. Novak Djokovic simply ground his way to another title shot.
And Roger Federer will be waiting for him.
Djokovic reached the finals of the Western & Southern Open for the second straight year Saturday, beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-2 in a reprise of their meeting in the Olympics. Del Potro defeated Djokovic for the bronze medal on Wimbledon’s lush grass two weeks ago.
The sequel on a hard court? Not even close.
The final will match the world’s top two players, the first time that’s happened in Cincinnati. If Federer wins, it’ll give him a record five titles in the tournament.
Top-ranked Federer beat Swiss countryman Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Rockies place Gonzalez on bereavement list
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies have placed outfielder Carlos Gonzalez on the bereavement list after the death of his grandfather in Venezuela.
The Rockies recalled outfielder Charlie Blackmon from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Saturday to take Gonzalez’s spot on the active roster.
Gonzalez was told after Friday’s game of his grandfather’s death. He will be eligible to rejoin the team in New York on Tuesday. The maximum time allowed on the bereavement list is seven days.
Gonzalez, picked for his first NL All-Star team this year, is hitting .320 with 20 home runs and 79 RBIS in 108 games.
Saints’ Chamberlain out for season
METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints reserve linebacker Chris Chamberlain says he is out for the season after injuring his left knee Friday night in an exhibition game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Chamberlain confirms in postings on his Twitter page that MRI results from Saturday show he has torn his anterior cruciate ligament.
The linebacker says his knee buckled as he pursued running back Montell Owens during the second quarter.
New Orleans brought in Chamberlain this season as a free agent from St. Louis, where he played under new Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who was the Rams’ head coach the past three seasons.
Chamberlain was a starter last season in St. Louis, but in New Orleans was expected to rotate in at weak-side linebacker and play on special teams.
Chura, Duffy win USA Triathlon titles
BURLINGTON, Vt. — Haley Chura and Brian Duffy won at the USA Triathlon Olympic-Distance National Championship on Saturday at Waterfront Park.
Chura, a former University of Georgia swimmer from Atlanta, won the women’s title, completing the
1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 40 seconds.
Duffy, from West Chester, Pa., finished in 1:53:33.
From wire sources