AP Sports

Ex-NBA player Jontay Porter pleads guilty in case tied to gambling scandal that tanked his career

NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA player Jontay Porter has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a federal criminal case tied to the betting scandal that got him banned from the league. The former Toronto Raptors center entered the plea Wednesday at his arraignment in a New York federal court. His lawyer had previously said that Porter was cooperating with authorities while being treated for a gambling addiction. An NBA probe found earlier this year that Porter wagered on games and gave bettors confidential information about his health. The former center is set to be sentenced Dec. 18. He is set to be released on $250,000 bond.

England and the Netherlands tied at 1-1 in Euro 2024 semifinals after Kane cancels out Simons strike

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — The Netherlands and England are tied at 1-1 at halftime in the European Championship semifinals after Harry Kane’s penalty canceled out a brilliant opener by Xavi Simons for the Dutch. Simons dispossessed England midfielder Declan Rice, drove forward and unleashed a shot into the far corner from outside the area in the seventh minute. Kane equalized in the 18th minute. He slotted his spot kick into the bottom left corner after the England captain was adjudged to have been fouled by Denzel Dumfries while attempting a shot. The winner plays Lamine Yamal and Spain in the final on Sunday.

England and Netherlands fans clash in Dortmund ahead of Euro 2024 semifinal game

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Police say five people have been injured in clashes between fans of England and the Netherlands ahead of the Euro 2024 semifinal game between the two teams. More than 100,000 Dutch soccer fans were in Dortmund ahead of the game for a march to the stadium, as well as large numbers of England fans. The U.K. Football Policing Unit deals with soccer violence involving British fans and has officers in Germany for the tournament. It says it believes five people received minor injuries in relation to apparent cases of Dutch fans attacking English supporters in bars.

Derrick White replaces Kawhi Leonard on US Olympic men’s basketball team

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Derrick White has been named to the U.S. men’s basketball team for the Paris Olympics as a replacement for Kawhi Leonard. The announcement Wednesday from USA Basketball marked the first shakeup to a roster that was announced in the spring. Leonard missed 12 of the Los Angeles Clippers’ final 14 games this past season with right knee inflammation, though he said in recent days that he felt fine and the knee was doing well. USA Basketball said it, along with the Clippers, made the decision on Leonard’s status for Paris. He was replaced by White, who averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists for the NBA champion Boston Celtics this past season.

Lionel Messi says he will keep on playing for Argentina beyond Copa America final

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Lionel Messi plans to keep playing for Argentina beyond Sunday’s Copa America final. Speaking after Canada’s 2-0 win over Canada, Messi says: “I intend to continue” and adds ”I intend to keep living day by day without thinking about what will come in the future or whether I’ll continue or not. It’s something I just live each day. I’m 37 years and only God knows when the end will be.” Messi scored his 109th international goal, his first in this year’s tournament. It was his 14th in Copa America play, three shy of the record.

Lorenzo Musetti reaches his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon and will face Novak Djokovic

LONDON (AP) — Lorenzo Musetti has reached his first Grand Slam semifinal by eliminating Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon and will face Novak Djokovic next. The 25th-seeded Musetti beat the 13th-seeded Fritz 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. It was the 37th five-setter at the All England Club this year, the most at any Grand Slam tournament. Djokovic’s trip through the bracket was made even easier when he moved into a record-tying 13th semifinal at the tournament via a walkover. Alex de Minaur withdrew before the match with a hip injury. Elena Rybakina and Barbora Krejcikova earned spots in the women’s semifinals. Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022. Krejcikova won the 2021 French Open.

Injuries are adding up at Wimbledon and determining the outcomes of matches

LONDON (AP) — There’s no single explanation for all of the injuries to players in the latter stages at Wimbledon this year. This much is certain: The timing could hardly be worse. The man Novak Djokovic was supposed to face on Wednesday, Alex de Minaur, withdrew hours before their scheduled quarterfinal because he jarred his hip at the end of his victory two days earlier. Taylor Fritz’s fourth-round opponent, Alexander Zverev, slipped on an unworn patch of green grass in his previous match and said it left him one “one leg.” Danielle Collins’ last Wimbledon appearance before retirement ended with tape wrapped around her hamstring. The list goes on and on.

Simone Biles and LeBron James are among athletes expected to bid ‘adieu’ to the Olympics in Paris

Simone Biles and LeBron James lead the list of athletes likely competing at their final Olympics. Add in that Andy Murray will be retiring after the Paris Games and that Rafael Nadal may bid goodbye to tennis too and the stage is set for some high-profile goodbyes. Other top competitors expected to say “adieu” to the Olympics in the French capital include Shelly-Anne Fraser Pryce, Gianmarco Tamberi, Sarah Sjöström, Tom Daley, Mikkel Hansen and Teddy Riner.

McIlroy trying to move on from devastating US Open loss

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Rory McIlroy’s recovery from a devastating U.S. Open loss was to walk the High Line in Manhattan. He says it allowed him to be alone in his thoughts. That follows a final hour in the U.S. Open where he says he got out of his own world and started thinking too much about Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy is at the Scottish Open this week. It’s his first time speaking about the two short putts he missed at Pinehurst No. 2. He doesn’t see the British Open next week at Royal Troon as a chance for redemption. It’s just another chance to end a decade without a major.

Bubba Wallace fined $50,000 by NASCAR for retaliatory contact against Alex Bowman

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR has fined Bubba Wallace $50,000 for retaliatory contact against race winner Alex Bowman on the cooldown lap of the Chicago Street Race. Wallace door-slammed Bowman’s car and sent it into the wall. Bowman said after the race he had spun Wallace during Sunday’s event and the retaliation was warranted. Bowman also advocated for Wallace not to be punished. Bowman said Wallace “has every right be mad.” NASCAR also plans to speak to Chase Elliott for his contact with Daniel Suarez after Sunday’s race.