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Sunday's Tip Sheet

June 27, 2015

Mariners at Angels – 3:35 PM EST

Seattle’s offense continues to struggle, scoring three runs or less for the eighth time in the past 11 games after falling to Los Angeles on Saturday, 4-2. The Mariners have dropped five of eight meetings this season with the Angels, while splitting its last 18 games overall. The Angels are riding a 9-2 stretch to the ‘under’ in the past 11 contests, including a 4-1 ‘under’ mark on their current homestand.

Robinson Cano left Saturday’s loss after getting drilled in the head by an errant throw while sitting in the dugout, as the Mariners’ second baseman is listed as day-to-day. Out of Seattle’s three wins against Los Angeles this season, two of those victories have come from ace Felix Hernandez (10-4, 3.24 ERA), who takes the mound in the series finale.

Hernandez has failed to lose consecutive starts this season, coming off a 4-1 home defeat as a -150 favorite to the Royals in his past outing. The former Cy Young award winner allowed at least four earned runs for the fourth time in his last eight starts, but the Mariners own a solid 5-1 record when King Felix starts away from Safeco Field. In two victories over the Angels, Hernandez has given up one earned run in each win, while the M’s are 7-0 in his past seven outings against Los Angeles since the start of 2014.

Hector Santiago (4-4, 2.68 ERA) seeks his first victory since May 29, as the Angels’ southpaw picked up a no-decision in a 4-3 home win over the Astros in his past outing. Santiago allowed less than one earned run for the eighth time this season, as the Angels have won four of the southpaw’s last five home outings. In two starts last season against the Mariners, Santiago struggled by giving up four earned runs in each outing, as the Angels posted an 0-2 mark in those games.

Royals at Athletics – 4:05 PM EST

Kansas City goes for the three-game sweep of Oakland, while looking to improve to 5-1 in the season series against the A’s. The Royals limited the A’s to four hits in Saturday’s 3-2 victory as +135 underdogs, the fourth win in the last five road games. Oakland entered the weekend on a five-game winning streak, but are in danger of suffering its first home sweep since losing all three games to the White Sox at the Coliseum last month.

Jesse Chavez (4-6. 2.90 ERA) finally received decent run support in his last two starts, as Oakland scored 24 runs in wins over San Diego and Texas. Chavez shut down the Padres in his previous home outing on June 17, tossing seven scoreless of three-hit ball in a 16-2 blowout. The right-hander has given up just two runs (one earned) in his previous three starts at the Coliseum, while the A’s are 4-8 in Chavez’s 12 starts this season.

The Royals counter with Jeremy Guthrie (5-5, 5.90 ERA), who allowed at least six earned runs for the third time this season in a 7-0 loss at Seattle. Guthrie has lost his last three road outings, as he yielded six earned runs and nine hits in five innings in the setback to the Mariners, while Kansas City has scored a total of three runs in those three defeats. Since last July, Kansas City owns a solid 7-1 record when Guthrie starts following a loss in his last start, which includes a 2-0 mark on the road in this situation this season.

Rockies at Giants – 4:05 PM EST

Colorado and San Francisco have played a pair of exciting games so far at AT&T Park, as each of the first two contests finished ‘over’ the total. Following an 8-6 victory by the Rockies in the series opener, the Giants bounced back on Saturday in spite of losing Tim Lincecum to a liner to the elbow, as San Francisco rallied for a 7-5 triumph. The Giants improved to 4-7 this season against the Rockies, while beating Colorado at AT&T Park for the first time in five tries.

Madison Bumgarner (7-4, 3.04 ERA) faces the Rockies for the first time this season, while attempting to snap a three-start winless streak. The Giants’ ace has turned in three quality outings during this stretch, but San Francisco’s offense hasn’t helped out Bumgarner by scoring a measly two runs in the three losses. San Francisco owns a 3-5 record in Bumgarner’s eight home starts, including four straight losses in the home favorite role.

The Rockies send out Kyle Kendrick (3-9, 5.96 ERA), who is coming off only his second victory since an opening day win at Milwaukee, as Colorado outlasted Arizona, 10-5 last Tuesday. Kendrick has given up at least four earned runs in five of the past seven trips to the mound, but four of those starts took place at Coors Field. The right-hander is seeing the Giants for the second time this season, allowing four earned runs in 6.1 innings of an 11-8 home loss on May 22.

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Preview: Sparks (0-6) at Liberty (4-4)

Date: June 28, 2015 3:00 PM EDT

With Tina Charles in a funk, the New York Liberty are struggling to generate points at the same level as their promising start to this season.

Charles and the Liberty would appear to have a chance to get back on track Sunday when they face the WNBA's lone winless team, the depleted Los Angeles Sparks.

New York started 3-1 for the first time since 2007 and earned all of those wins on its own floor. The Liberty have since lost three of four, including back-to-back home defeats, and fell 71-62 at Tulsa on Friday.

The Liberty have averaged 64.3 points in the last four games, 10.2 fewer than in their first four, and Sugar Rogers was the only player in double figures against the Shock with 12 points.

Charles was held to nine points on 4-of-14 shooting and is averaging 8.5 on 23.4 percent shooting (15 of 64) in the last four games. She averaged 18.8 points while connecting at 49.2 percent in the first four.

In her first season with the Liberty, Charles scored a combined 51 points as New York (4-4) split its two 2014 games with the Sparks (0-6). She had 31 points - one shy of tying a career high - and 15 rebounds in a 66-64 win in Los Angeles on July 23.

New York has dropped the past two home games against the Sparks but will face a much different team in this matchup. Los Angeles is without two-time MVP Candace Parker (rest), Alana Beard (foot) and Erin Phillips (knee).

Kristi Toliver has yet to play this season because she was with the Slovakian women's team at the European championships but is expected to return soon.

Enduring their worst start in franchise history, the short-handed Sparks fell 80-76 in overtime at Connecticut on Friday. Jantel Lavender attempted to lift her team with 22 points, three shy of matching a career high.

Lavender, the Sparks leading scorer (15.2 ppg) and one of the league's top rebounders (10.8 per game), also pulled down 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double. Andrea Hoover had 17 points in 40 minutes in her first WNBA start after totaling 18 in her first five games.

Nneka Ogwumike had 14 points in her second game back from an ankle injury. She totaled 38 points in the two games against the Liberty last season.

WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Jul 23, 2014 Score ATS Results
NEW « 66 Cover: 9.5
LOS 64 Under: 130
Tools: Recaps

Jul 11, 2014 Score ATS Results
LOS « 68 Cover: 10
NEW 54 Under: 122
Tools: Recaps

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Preview: Sky (5-3) at Mystics (5-3)

Date: June 28, 2015 4:00 PM EDT

The Chicago Sky didn't need to rely on a high-scoring effort from Elena Delle Donne to keep their win streak going because Cappie Pondexter has started to contribute a little more.

Pondexter and Delle Donne will try to lead the Sky to a fourth consecutive victory when they visit the Washington Mystics on Sunday.

Delle Donne was held to a season-low 14 points but had a career-high 14 rebounds in an 83-77 win at Indiana on Friday. The WNBA's leading scorer at 29.4 points per game was coming off a 45-point performance in a 100-96 overtime victory over Atlanta on Wednesday.

The Sky (5-3) got 23 points from Pondexter against the Fever and the veteran guard has averaged 22.0 points in her last three games. She put up 15.2 in her first five with her hometown team, which is averaging a league-best 87.8 points.

The Sky will look for their fourth win in five road games when they face the Mystics (5-3). Washington, which has split its four home contests, fell 72-69 at Atlanta on Friday.

The Mystics couldn't recover after getting outscored 30-9 in the first 12:46 of the second half. Ivory Latta scored 18 points and is averaging 18.3 while shooting 50.0 percent in her last three games after averaging 10.8 and 27.1 in her first five.

Latta shot 23.4 percent while averaging 10.0 points in the four games against Chicago last year. The Mystics won the first two with Delle Donne out due to a recurrence of Lyme disease, which limited her to 16 games.

She had 39 points in 39 minutes as a reserve in Chicago's two wins in the season series and has averaged 21.3 in her last four matchups.

"I think we'll have to have some rules about how we play against (Delle Donne)," Washington coach Mike Thibault told the team's official website. "Sometimes people say, 'Oh we'll let her get hers and we'll shut everybody else down,' but it's not that easy because she could get a whole bunch by herself ... We're going to have our hands full on Sunday."

The Sky have won in each of their last three visits to Washington in which Delle Donne has played.


WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Aug 13, 2014 Score ATS Results
CHI « 72 Under: 141
WAS 69 Cover: 0
Tools: Recaps

Aug 3, 2014 Score ATS Results
WAS 65 Under: 141
CHI « 76 Cover: 6.5
Tools: Recaps

Jul 9, 2014 Score ATS Results
WAS « 72 Cover: 10.5
CHI 65 Under: 137
Tools: Recaps

Jun 13, 2014 Score ATS Results
CHI 68 Under: 147
WAS « 79 Cover: 4
Tools: Recaps

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Preview: Storm (2-5) at Shock (7-1)

Date: June 28, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The Tulsa Shock and the Seattle Storm missed the playoffs last year, but one of them seems on their way to avoiding such a fate again.

The Shock go for their longest winning streak in a dozen years Sunday night when they try to extend the Storm's slide in the opener of this home-and home set.

After failing to reach the playoffs for five straight years following its relocation from Detroit, Tulsa (7-1) is unexpectedly atop the Western Conference and tied with Connecticut for the league's best record.

The Shock started 2015 with an 83-75 loss at Minnesota before reeling off seven straight wins for the first time since doing it twice in 2007.

They haven't won eight in a row since June 5-27, 2003, when they last opened a season 8-1.

Tulsa's current run already includes a win over the Storm (2-6), beating them 68-45 at home on June 9. The Shock held Seattle to 23.8 percent from the field, and its starters to 16 points on 6-of-33 shooting.

A potent offense has been the biggest key to the Shock's success. They rank second in the league with 81.0 points per game while sinking a league-leading 39.6 percent from 3-point range.

Tulsa won for the fourth time in as many home games with Friday's 71-62 victory over New York, hitting 10 of 24 from long range and forcing 26 turnovers.

Skylar Diggins was held to a season-low nine points on 2-of-9 shooting after she had a season-high 36 on 9 of 15 from the floor in an 86-78 win at Minnesota five days earlier.

With the Shock showing postseason potential, the Storm are in need of a turnaround if they're going to avoid missing the playoffs for a second straight year after qualifying for 11 straight.

Their last two losses during a four-game skid have been especially disheartening. Seattle blew an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter Saturday in a 73-71 defeat at San Antonio, two days after squandering an 18-point advantage in a 76-73 loss to Minnesota.

At least the offense has been improved, with the Storm averaging 72.0 points over the last three games after scoring 58.3 over the previous four.

Crystal Langhorne matched season highs with 18 points and nine rebounds against the Stars. The forward, though, had a tough time dealing with Tulsa's Courtney Paris on June 9, getting outrebounded 11-5 while going 2 for 7 from the floor and scoring five points.

Sue Bird only managed six points in that meeting, but she's totaled 30 with 12 assists and nine rebounds in the past two games.

These teams will meet in Seattle on Tuesday.


WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Jun 9, 2015 Score ATS Results
SEA 45 Under: 116
TUL « 71 Cover: 20
Tools: Recaps

Aug 10, 2014 Score ATS Results
TUL 68 Under: 142
SEA « 74 Cover: 2.5
Tools: Recaps

Jul 29, 2014 Score ATS Results
SEA 74 Over: 154
TUL « 80 Cover: 1.5
Tools: Recaps

Jun 15, 2014 Score ATS Results
SEA 79 Cover: 0.5
TUL « 85 Over: 164
Tools: Recaps

Jun 1, 2014 Score ATS Results
TUL 60 Cover: 1.5
SEA « 62 Under: 122
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Diamondbacks (35-38) at Padres (36-40)
Game: 3
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: June 28, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

The San Diego Padres haven't come close to fulfilling expectations with a sub-.500 record, but completing their first sweep in nearly two months would certainly be a step in the right direction.

They'll go for just that Sunday afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who continue to be hampered by poor pitching.

San Diego (37-40) has taken the first two of this series with Arizona (35-39), stifling the Diamondbacks in a 4-2 win on Friday before riding an impressive offensive showing to a 7-2 victory Saturday.

Justin Upton hit a two-run homer in the most recent win, Matt Kemp drove in his 40th run and Derek Norris knocked in his 42nd. Those three, who were all acquired in the offseason, have combined for four runs and six RBIs this series for an offense previously ranked 15th in the majors with 4.16 runs per game.

'The two-run homer by Justin really hurt us,' Arizona manager Chip Hale said. 'You have certain guys on teams you try to make sure don't beat you, and he's the guy on this club.'

Will Venable had his 10th multi-hit effort this month and is batting .423 against Arizona this season.

The opening two victories mark the Padres' first consecutive wins since a season-best four-game run June 2-6, and they'll seek their first sweep since opening May with three straight wins against Colorado.

The Diamondbacks have posted a 5.80 ERA during a 2-5 stretch after compiling a 2.32 mark while winning five of the previous seven.

Chase Anderson (3-2, 3.54 ERA) will look to be the stopper for Arizona, although he is coming off the worst outing of his career. The right-hander allowed eight runs and three homers in 4 2-3 innings of a 10-5 loss at Colorado on Tuesday, failing to carry the momentum from a three-start stretch in which he owned a 1.45 ERA.

"I've just go to keep the ball down," Anderson told MLB's official website. "That's the only thing I can really take from this. Baseball you have those days, and you learn from them."

He's 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA in his past three starts versus the Padres. Kemp is 4 for 11 with a homer and double against him.

The Diamondbacks have lost three straight and would match a season worst with a defeat Sunday, though they had plenty of success against San Diego's Odrisamer Despaigne in their last meeting with the Padres right-hander.

Despaigne (3-5, 4.83) allowed eight runs and 10 hits over five innings in an 11-0 loss at Chase Field on May 7. Paul Goldschmidt homered off Despaigne in that game for his only hit in seven career at_bats.

Despaigne has been up and down in recent showings, allowing two runs in five innings of a 3-2 win in San Francisco on Tuesday, but preceded that outing with six runs allowed in a 16-2 loss in Oakland.

He's found most of his success at Petco Park, where he has a 2.21 ERA in his last three starts, compared to a 6.35 mark in his past three on the road.

Goldschmidt had one hit Saturday for the eighth straight game, but was held without an RBI for only the second time in six contests. He's reached base in 68 of 74 games this season and 26 of his last 27 against San Diego.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Padres
Fri, Jun 26 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Padres
Sat, Jun 27 Final 2 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Padres
Sun, Jun 28 - 4:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Blue Jays hot in Drew Hutchison's starts

The Toronto Blue Jays have won the last four ball games in which righty Drew Hutchison has started. Hutchison is slated to get the ball in Sunday's meeting with the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Hutchison has a personal record of 3-0 in those starts with the Jays cashing as -154 (Houston Astros) and -193 (New York Mets) faves and +113 (Tampa Bay Rays) and -101 (Boston Red Sox) underdogs.

As of Saturday evening, the Jays were pegged at -181. Chi Chi Gonzalez is probable to start for the Rangers.

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Under bets hot as Dodgers' Greinke sparkles

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke has been on fire in four-straight starts, but his teammates are giving him little run support and Under bettors are capitalizing.

Greinke has allowed just three earned runs over the course of his past four outings, good for an ERA of 0.98. Trouble is, the Dodgers have won exactly one of those four games thanks to just five runners crossing the plate.

The righty will be eager for some run support when he takes the bump against the Giancarlo Stanton-less Miami Marlins in Florida Sunday afternoon.

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Archer has been reliable when pitching as a fave

The Tampa Bay Rays have won Chris Archer's last eight starts when tabbed as faves this season.

Overall, the Rays have won five-straight games which the 26-year-old has started. The righty has an ERA of just 1.80 in those starts with the Rays defeating the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals and Toronto Blue Jays over that stretch.

Archer and the Rays host the Boston Red Sox Sunday afternoon. As of Saturday afternoon, the Rays were -180 faves.

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Sam confirms return to Alouettes

Jun 27, 2015

Michael Sam confirmed he is ready to resume his pro football career after rejoining the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League

Sam, a defensive lineman, wrote on Twitter that he is back after a two-week absence for unexplained personal reasons.

"Thank you all so much for your support. Great to be back in Montreal with the club. Let's go #Als!" Sam tweeted Saturday.

The Alouettes said Friday that Sam had returned to Montreal and was expected to attend team meetings Sunday before resuming practice Monday.

There has been no explanation for why Sam abruptly left the CFL team on June 12. The Alouettes placed Sam on their suspended list after he left.

Sam, who signed in May with the Alouettes, was the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team when he was selected in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams last year. He was released by the Rams during the preseason and later picked up and let go by the Dallas Cowboys.

The 25-year-old Sam encountered difficulty in the NFL because at 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, he did not exactly fit the prototype of a defensive end or an outside linebacker.

Sam was co-defensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference while at Missouri.

The Alouettes are 0-1, losing their season opener to the Ottawa Redblacks 20-16 on Thursday night.

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NFL notebook: Bryant's agents meet with Cowboys

Jun 27, 2015

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, who has a July 15 deadline approaching to translate his one-year franchise tender into a long-term contract, may be making some progress with the team.

Tom Condon, the agent for Bryant, and the Cowboys had their first face-to-face meeting in nearly four months on Friday at the team's facility, according to ESPN.com sources. Bryant's other agent, Kim Miale of Roc Nation, was also in the meetings.

Bryant boycotted most of the team's offseason program during the contract dispute and has yet to sign his franchise tender of $12.823 million, making threats about sitting out games.

After July 15, Bryant has to play the season on the tender and then the two sides couldn't begin negotiations again until after the season.

Bryant showed up for a handful of workouts and an organized team activity. He attended the final day of the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp June 18 but did not practice.

Last season, Bryant had 88 receptions for 1,320 yards and a career-best 16 touchdowns. In five years with the Cowboys, he has 381 catches for 5,424 yards and 56 touchdowns.

---Minnesota Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson issued an apology for his comments that were critical of the Supreme Court's decision legalizing same-sex marriage.

After Friday's court ruling, Robinson compared gay marriage to pedophilia and incest in a series of Twitter posts that have since been deleted.

"Love is love? So what will we say when the 30yr old loves YOUR 10 year old. When the dad loves HIS 6 year old? It's different?? Yea okay!" Robinson tweeted.

Robinson issued an apology Friday night for his comments earlier in the day.

"I apologize for any offense my tweets may have caused," Robison wrote in a text message to the Minneapolis Star Tribune?. "In an attempt to express my beliefs, I created some confusion with my choice of words, and for that I apologize. I do not equate the Supreme Court's decision on marriage equality with other social issues. There are obvious differences. However, I do believe that God's laws will always supersede man's laws. This belief is not from hate for anyone but from a love for my God and all those he created. Again, I'm sorry!"

In three seasons with the Vikings, Robinson has 154 tackles and five interceptions in 42 games.

---Michael Sam confirmed he is ready to resume his pro football career after rejoining the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League

Sam, a defensive lineman, wrote on Twitter that he is back after a two-week absence for unexplained personal reasons.

"Thank you all so much for your support. Great to be back in Montreal with the club. Let's go #Als!" Sam tweeted Saturday.

The Alouettes said Friday that Sam had returned to Montreal and was expected to attend team meetings Sunday before resuming practice Monday.

---Damion Cook, an offensive lineman who played in parts of seven NFL seasons, died after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 36.

The athletic department at his alma mater, Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla., confirmed Cook's death on Friday.

Cook, a Nashville, Tenn., native, appeared in 26 NFL games at guard and made 10 starts from 2001-09.

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Spurs expect Duncan back for 19th season

Jun 26, 2015

The San Antonio Spurs are expecting power forward Tim Duncan to return in 2015-16 for his 19th NBA season.

Sources told ESPN.com that although Duncan and guard Manu Ginobili have yet to make a formal announcement about their plans for next season, the Spurs are optimistic about re-signing both.

Duncan, 39, and Ginobili, 37, are among 10 players on last season's 15-man roster who become free agents Wednesday. Ginobili would be entering his 14th NBA season.

Spurs guard Tony Parker recently told the San Antonio Express-News that he won't pressure either Duncan or Ginobili into continuing their careers.

Parker said he does "think they're both going to play one more year. I've talked to them and told them what I think. Now it's their decision. It's a very personal decision."

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Anthony not happy with Knicks' pick

Jun 26, 2015

New York Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony reportedly expressed his displeasure Thursday night with team president Phil Jackson's decision to draft 7-foot-1 big man Kristaps Porzingis.

Anthony, in a phone conversation with former teammate Tim Hardaway Jr., who was traded to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, questioned Jackson's decision to select the 19-year-old Porzingis because he may not be ready to contribute immediately, according to New York Daily News and ESPN sources.

"I (was) talking to my sources last night. All they said was, he's furious, he's livid. He feels completely hoodwinked and betrayed by Phil Jackson," ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said Friday on SiriusXM Radio. "He feels like he was lied to, like he was sold a bill of goods. And he's willing to concede that he wanted his money. But he didn't know it was going to be like this. He didn't know it was going to be this bad. And he can't believe that his second season under the Phil Jackson regime, he has to look forward to it being worse than even last year was."

Jackson told ESPN that he texted with Anthony on Thursday night about the pick.

"Carmelo is always on my mind," Jackson said Friday. "He's our favorite son. At this point in his life, that's the way it should be. But the second-most important thing is what we do for this franchise. And that has to be a consideration.

"And I let Melo know that as we made this choice. He actually sat in during KP's workout for a few minutes. ... We anticipate it's going to be (a significant period of development) regardless of whether we have a 19-year-old KP or a 19-year-old whomever. They're still young players."

Anthony, who turned 31 on May 29, had season-ending knee surgery in February and will be ready by the start of training camp. Last year, Anthony signed a five-year, $124 million deal, shunning offers from the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers in the process.

The Knicks are trying to rebuild after winning just 17 games in Jackson's first full season as team president.

Knicks fans at Barclays Center in Brooklyn booed after Porzingis' name was called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

"Lot of fans weren't happy they drafted me," Porzingis said Thursday night. "I have to do everything in my hands to turn those booing fans into clapping fans. I was happy about it. Want to be part of this organization. The fans are harsh sometimes. That's how it is in New York, and I'm ready for it."

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. He also averaged 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for Cajasol Seville in 16 Eurocup games.

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NBA notebook: Anthony unhappy with Knicks' pick

Jun 26, 2015

New York Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony reportedly expressed his displeasure Thursday night with team president Phil Jackson's decision to draft 7-foot-1 big man Kristaps Porzingis.

Anthony, in a phone conversation with former teammate Tim Hardaway Jr., who was traded to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, questioned Jackson's decision to select the 19-year-old Porzingis because he may not be ready to contribute immediately, according to New York Daily News and ESPN sources.

"I (was) talking to my sources last night. All they said was, he's furious, he's livid. He feels completely hoodwinked and betrayed by Phil Jackson," ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said Friday on SiriusXM Radio. "He feels like he was lied to, like he was sold a bill of goods. And he's willing to concede that he wanted his money. But he didn't know it was going to be like this. He didn't know it was going to be this bad. And he can't believe that his second season under the Phil Jackson regime, he has to look forward to it being worse than even last year was."

Jackson told ESPN that he texted with Anthony on Thursday night about the pick.

"Carmelo is always on my mind," Jackson said Friday. "He's our favorite son. At this point in his life, that's the way it should be. But the second-most important thing is what we do for this franchise. And that has to be a consideration.

"And I let Melo know that as we made this choice. He actually sat in during KP's workout for a few minutes. ... We anticipate it's going to be (a significant period of development) regardless of whether we have a 19-year-old KP or a 19-year-old whomever. They're still young players."

Anthony, who turned 31 on May 29, had season-ending knee surgery in February and will be ready by the start of training camp. Last year, Anthony signed a five-year, $124 million deal, shunning offers from the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers in the process.

The Knicks are trying to rebuild after winning just 17 games in Jackson's first full season as team president.

---The San Antonio Spurs are expecting power forward Tim Duncan to return in 2015-16 for his 19th NBA season.

Sources told ESPN.com that although Duncan and guard Manu Ginobili have yet to make a formal announcement about their plans for next season, the Spurs are optimistic about re-signing both.

Duncan, 39, and Ginobili, 37, are among 10 players on last season's 15-man roster who become free agents Wednesday. Ginobili would be entering his 14th NBA season.

---The 2015 NBA Draft set a viewing record on Thursday night, according to Nielsen ratings.

The telecast averaged 3,738,000 viewers on ESPN, an increase of eight percent from 2014 that made it the most-watched NBA Draft in history. The peak audience was 5,131,000 viewers from 8 to 8:15 p.m. ET.

The draft's 2.4 U.S. household rating was a four percent increase from last year and peaked at 3.3 from 8 to 8:15 p.m.

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Pierce opts out of Wizards contract

Jun 28, 2015

Forward Paul Pierce will not exercise the final year of his contract with the Washington Wizards and will become a free agent.

Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld confirmed to The Washington Post on Saturday night that Pierce opted out of his contract.

Pierce was due to make 5.5 million next season. By opting out, Pierce can either sign a new deal with the Wizards or explore opportunities with other teams.

Reportedly, Pierce is interested in the Los Angeles Clippers because he grew up nearby in Inglewood, Calif., and would be reunited with coach Doc Rivers, who he played for with the Boston Celtics.

The Wizards, who expected the move from Pierce, can offer him a 20 percent raise and pay him $6.6 million next season.

The Boston Celtics, Pierce's former team, also would like to bring him back. Reports indicate the Celtics plan to pursue free agent forward Kevin Love and would like to pair him with Pierce, a 17-year NBA veteran.

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'Fight of the Century', baseball boom sets betting records for Nevada books in May

Jun 26, 2015

Depending on which sports cliché you prefer, May 2015 was either a “knockout” or “home run” for Nevada sportsbooks. According to the latest numbers from the Nevada State Gaming Control Board, it just may have been both.

Silver State sportsbooks celebrated a record-breaking win of more than $19.8 million in May on a handle of $315.9 million, another state all-time high for the month. And a good chunk of that money came from baseball betting and the “Fight of the Century” between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on May 2.

Baseball betting broke all-time monthly records with a win of over $10.7 million on a handle of $146.1 million in May, blowing away May 2014’s earnings of almost $8.3 million. Baseball betting earned $6.7 million on a $93.8 million handle for Nevada books in April 2015.

The category of “other sports” which includes boxing, along with NHL, soccer, golf, tennis, auto racing and MMA, trumped its all-time mark, winning $8.19 million for Nevada books with $81.17 million bet on “other sports” in May.

The Gaming Control Board does not differentiate those individual sports from the category and could not provide totals or percentages for Mayweather-Pacquiao, but Las Vegas bookmakers estimated the handle to rival the Super Bowl spread with fight night predictions around $50 million in statewide handle.

“Other sports” won $1.8 million for books in May 2014 (when Mayweather fought Marcos Maidana) with a handle of just over $27 million wagered on the category, so those loose estimates for Mayweather-Pacquiao seem to be in the right ballpark.

Basketball betting finished with a win of $2.77 million for Nevada books, tempered a bit by outstanding tickets from the NCAA basketball season being cashed. Sportsbooks paid out just over $2 million in football tickets outstanding from college and NFL in May. Books took in $219,000 from parlay cards for the month.

The Gaming Control Board reports that Nevada casinos took in an overall gaming win of $1,003,548,230 in May 2015, a 3.33 percent increase from the $971,220,551 won in May 2014.