NBA:
Kentucky's 6-foot-11 center Karl-Anthony Towns has been selected No. 1 in the NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who posted a 16-66 record last season. It's the third straight time in the last six years that a Kentucky player has been selected No. 1 in the NBA draft.
The New York Knicks have selected Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth pick of the NBA draft. Porzingis averaged 10.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and one block in 33 games for Cajasol Seville in the Spanish League during the 2014-15 season.
The New York Knicks have traded Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Atlanta Hawks for the rights to Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant. Grant was selected with the 19th pick in the NBA draft last night, in a spot the Washington Wizards traded to the Hawks along with two future second-round picks to move up four slots for rights to Kansas guard Kelly Oubre.
The Brooklyn Nets have selected Chris McCullough with the 29th pick of the first round of the NBA draft. McCullough's freshman season at Syracuse was cut short by a knee injury. The draft was held last night at Barclays Center, the Nets' home court.
The Boston Celtics have taken guard Terry Rozier from Louisville with the 16th pick of the NBA draft. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Rozier lacks bulk. He averaged 17.1 points per game as a sophomore last season but hit only 41 percent of his shots.
The Boston Celtics have drafted shooting guard R.J. Hunter of Georgia State with their second pick in the first round of the NBA draft. The C's then drafted shot-blocking forward Jordan Mickey of Louisiana State in the second round last night and guard Marcus Thornton of William & Mary with their fourth and final pick.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, Houston blanked the Yankees 4-0,Baltimore beat Boston 8-6, Oakland doubled up Texas 6-3, and it was the White Sox over Detroit 8-7 in 10 innings.
In the National League, the Mets shut out Milwaukee 2-0, the Dodgers blanked the Cubs 4-0, Colorado bested Arizona 6-4, San Francisco topped San Diego 13-8, Washington shut out Atlanta 7-0, Cincinnati won against Pittsburgh 5-4 in 13 innings, and it was St. Louis beat Miami 5-1.
The Red Sox have placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Pedroia was hurt rounding first base after his go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth inning of Wednesday night's 5-1 victory over Baltimore and limped off the field.
Opponents of a new stadium for the Pawtucket Red Sox want lawmakers to know where they stand as the legislative session ends. Stadium naysayers rallied last night at the Rhode Island State House. They want lawmakers to reject a stadium deal with the team's new owners.
Golf:
Bubba Watson hit to inches on the final hole for the last his nine birdies in an 8-under 62 yesterday in the first round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut. Watson had a two-stroke lead in the event he won in 2010 for his first PGA Tour title. He has finished in the top 20 five times in eight previous starts at TPC River Highlands.
NFL:
The NFL Players Association has complained to the league about whether the Patriots improperly disciplined cornerback Malcolm Butler during voluntary workouts. The Patriots are accused of holding Butler out of voluntary workouts because he was late for the first of the team activities. The Patriots and Butler have not publicly acknowledged the discipline.
Authorities in Las Vegas have charged NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp with biting his girlfriend, throwing her to the ground and stepping on her head in an April incident that began at the M Resort in Henderson, Nevada. The criminal complaint filed Thursday charges Sapp with three domestic battery misdemeanors that carry up to 18 months in jail if he's convicted.
NHL:
The NHL Draft starts tonight at 7 p.m.
There's no mystery, no drama, no guessing about what will happen when the Edmonton Oilers make the first pick in tonight's NHL draft. It's going to be Connor McDavid's moment. The 6-foot-1 center is expected to go Number 1 to Edmonton. Hobey Baker winner Jack Eichel from Boston University is expected to be the Number 2 pick, going to the Buffalo Sabres.
Meanwhile the Colorado Avalanche have acquired Swedish forward Carl Soderberg from the Boston Bruins for a sixth-round pick in 2016. The 29-year-old Soderberg had 13 goals and 31 assists last season. He adds depth to a Colorado front line that already includes Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog, Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla.
The Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks will host the New York Rangers on Oct. 7 in the NHL season opener. The Blackhawks will be raising their third championship banner in six seasons.
NCAA:
Syracuse men's basketball assistant Mike Hopkins has been formally given the title of head coach designate to succeed Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim after the 2017-18 season. A former Orange captain, Hopkins has served on Boeheim's staff for 19 seasons. Syracuse won the NCAA title in 2003.
Hopkins said in a statement Thursday that "I'm honored, humbled and grateful for this special opportunity. Very few people are afforded the privilege to coach at their alma mater."
In March, Boeheim announced that he will retire in three years and said he wanted Hopkins to take over for him. Boeheim says Hopkins "has truly earned this honor through his hard work, dedication and commitment to our program for more than 20 years" and that "there is no one more ready or prepared to carry on the success of Syracuse basketball."
WNBA:
In the WNBA, San Antonio beat Phoenix 76-71 and it was Minnesota over Seattle 76-73.
Snowboarding:
Modern snowboard inventor Jake Burton is back home in Vermont after spending nearly two months on life support with a rare autoimmune disease. The 61-year-old Burton was diagnosed with Miller Fisher Syndrome and was completely paralyzed for a short time. In late April, Burton moved from intensive care to a rehabilitation facility.
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