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Sports Report: 76ers Land Ben Simmons In First Overall Pick In NBA Draft

Philadelphia 76ers
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NBA:

The Philadelphia 76ers used the first pick in Thursday's NBA draft to select LSU freshman forward Ben Simmons, who averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Tigers as a freshman last season. Duke freshman forward Brandon Ingram was the second player selected, grabbed by the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston chose third and took California freshman forward Jaylen Brown.

The agent for LeBron James tells The Associated Press that the Cleveland Cavaliers forward will not play in the Rio Olympics. The 31-year-old James was named MVP of the Finals after leading the Cavs past Golden State, ending Cleveland's 52-year championship drought. James has played in three Olympics and ranks as the team's career leader in points and assists, while ranking second in rebounds.

The Boston Celtics had 4,000 fans at their draft party on Thursday night, and their first reaction wasn't exactly positive. Some of them actually booed the team's co-owner. When Wyc Grousbeck walked out to speak to the crowd shortly Boston's selection of Jaylen Brown with the 3rd overall pick was announced, he was greeted with less than unanimous approval.

A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the Indiana Pacers have acquired veteran forward Thaddeus Young from the Brooklyn Nets for the 20th overall pick. The Pacers took Michigan forward Caris LeVert with the No. 20 pick and will send him to Brooklyn once the new salary cap takes effect.

MLB:

In baseball, in the American League, Boston topped the White Sox 8-7 in 10 innings, Oakland beat the Angels 5-4, and it was Detroit over Seattle 5-4 in 10 innings.

In the National League, Atlanta edged the Mets 4-3, Arizona beat Colorado 7-6, San Diego beat Cincinnati 7-4, Miami doubled up the Cubs 4-2, and it was San Francisco over Pittsburgh 5-3.

In interleague play, Philadelphia won against Minnesota 7-3.

The New York Mets say slugger Yoenis Cespedes should be back in the starting lineup this weekend, and that pitcher Noah Syndergaard is expected to make his next start. Cespedes was not in the lineup Thursday at Atlanta after receiving a cortisone shot in his left wrist. Syndergaard was prescribed anti-inflammatory medication for his right elbow after working six innings against Kansas City on Wednesday.

WNBA:

In the WNBA, Dallas beat San Antonio 97-90 in overtime.

PGA:

Jon Rahm owns a one-stroke lead over Jhonattan Vegas after one round of the PGA's Quicken Loans Invitational near Washington, D.C. Rahm had a bogey-free round in firing a 7-under 64 at Congressional Country Club. Ernie Els is among eight players at minus-5.

Graeme McDowell has ruled himself out as a replacement for Rory McIlroy at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August, saying he decided months ago that he would not play or travel outside of the United States while his wife was expecting their second child. The former U.S. Open champ announced on Twitter that he is not available to the Ireland team. McIlroy opted out of the Olympics because of concerns about the Zika virus.

IOC:

A Kuwaiti government official says the Arab nation will sue the International Olympic Committee for $1 billion. The dispute comes over the IOC suspending Kuwait in October on grounds of government interference in sports. The suspension could keep Kuwaiti athletes from representing their country at this year's Olympics. The IOC's executive board authorized Kuwaiti sportsmen to compete as individual athletes under the Olympic flag if they qualify.

Tennis:

Jay Berger will coach the U.S. men's tennis team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in place of Davis Cup captain Jim Courier, while Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez will coach the country's women at the Summer Games. U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier says that Courier "elected not to accept" the position as Olympic coach. Berger is the head of men's tennis for USTA Player Development who also coached the American men at the 2012 London Olympics. Fernandez has been the coach of the U.S. Fed Cup team since 2009, and she coached the women's Olympic tennis team four years ago.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from Wimbledon because of a right knee injury. It was the same knee she hurt at the French Open, forcing her to retire during her first-round match. She hasn't played since. Azarenka was seeded sixth for the grass-court Grand Slam that starts Monday.

Seven-time winner Roger Federer has been placed in defending champion Novak Djokovic's top half of the Wimbledon draw. That means Djokovic could face the third-seeded Federer in the semifinals as he bids for a fifth consecutive Grand Slam title. The second-seeded Andy Murray could face No. 4 Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals. The draw was on Friday for the grass-court Grand Slam, which starts on Monday at the All England Club. Possible men's quarterfinal matchups: Djokovic vs. Milos Raonic, Federer vs. Kei Nishikori, Wawrinka vs. Dominic Thiem, and Murray vs. Richard Gasquet. Djokovic, a three-time Wimbledon champion, will play Britain's James Ward in the first round.

©2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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