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Warriors lose Durant with apparent reinjured calf
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Monday, 10 June 2019 22:12

TORONTO -- Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant appeared to reinjure the right calf that had kept him out for a month during the second quarter of a 106-105 win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.
The Warriors said Durant would have an MRI on Tuesday to further evaluate the injury, which they announced as a right lower-leg injury.
"I'm hurting deep in the soul right now I can't lie," Durant wrote as a part of an Instagram Story post. "But seeing my brothers get this win was like taking a shot of tequilla, I got new life lol."
The play in which Durant was hurt happened with 9 minutes, 51 seconds left in the second quarter as he tried to drive by Raptors big man Serge Ibaka. Durant was just above the 3-point line on the right side, dribbled between his legs and went to drive with his left hand when his leg appeared to give, causing him to lose the ball.
Durant went down in pain after taking a couple of steps, grabbing the lower part of his calf on the sideline. Durant remained on the floor for a few moments as the Raptors came down the floor and made a basket. The Warriors called timeout as Rick Celebrini, the Warriors' director of sports medicine and performance, raced to the floor to check on Durant.
Durant was then escorted straight to the locker room for further evaluation. As he made his way off the floor, both Warriors and Raptors players offered him some well wishes as the crowd inside soldout Scotiabank Arena chanted, "KD! KD!" Warriors teammate Andre Iguodala was by Durant's side with Celebrini as Durant was helped off the floor. Warriors guard Stephen Curry followed Durant into the locker room as well.
Durant walked by the media workroom inside Scotiabank Arena on crutches wearing a walking boot on his right leg on his way to exit the arena. He was accompanied by Celebrini and Warriors general manager Bob Myers.
Meanwhile, the Warriors also lost Kevon Looney, who aggravated his shoulder injury and was also ruled out to return.
Durant had not played since injuring his right calf on May 8 against the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals. He went through Sunday's light practice and Monday's shootaround and was initially listed as a game-time decision before Steve Kerr confirmed before the game that Durant would start.
Kerr said Durant would play in "short bursts," but Durant left the game after playing 12 of the first 14 minutes of the game and scoring 11 points.
Kerr acknowledged after Monday's shootaround that the uncertainty surrounding Durant's status has been a tedious process for all involved.
"It's been frustrating," Kerr said. "We talked about it when the injury occurred. Pretty vague. A lot of gray area. One of the first things Rick [Celebrini] told me was, with calves, it could be a couple weeks, it could be a couple months. It's not often you have injuries like that. Usually you kind of get that four-to-six week thing or two-to-three weeks. So, calves, Achilles, muscular stuff is a little tougher to gauge than a joint. When you combine that with the scrutiny and the media coverage of the Finals, you've just been in the spotlight -- he's been in the spotlight -- and it's been tough."
Kerr was asked if he had been told that Durant was also dealing with an Achilles injury. Kerr previously stated initially after Durant's injury in May that he was assured it was not an Achilles injury that Durant was dealing with.
"No," Kerr said. "I just threw out 'Achilles.' I didn't mean Kevin's Achilles. I mean when you get non-joint issues, muscular issues are tougher to input in terms of how long a recovery will be. That's my understanding."
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With Kevin Durant reportedly planning to play, the Golden State Warriors have gone from underdogs to favorites at some sportsbooks in the hours leading up to tipoff of Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
The Toronto Raptors, who hold a 3-1 lead in the series, opened as high as 3.5-point favorites in what could be a clinching Game 5. The line started shrinking Sunday, when it was announced Durant would practice with the Warriors. On Monday afternoon, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Durant plans to play, and the point spread continued to drop.
Caesars Sportsbook, as well as other sportsbooks in Las Vegas and New Jersey, have made the Warriors 1-point favorites.
"The money on the Warriors started coming in on Sunday morning," Jeff Stoneback, director of risk for MGM race and sports, told ESPN. "It really hasn't stopped. It's one of those times when the public and the sharp guys are on the same side."
Durant injured his calf on May 9 in Game 5 of the Warriors' playoff series against the Houston Rockets. He has not played in a game since. Without him, Golden State has dropped three of four to the Raptors and is now facing elimination.
As of Monday afternoon, twice as much money had been bet on the Warriors as had been bet on the Raptors at MGM books, Stoneback said. The SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas reported taking a $50,000 bet on the Warriors at Pick 'em and promptly made Golden State the favorite Monday afternoon.
The action was more evenly distributed at other sportsbooks. At Caesars Sportsbook, for example, 51.1 percent of the point-spread bets were on Toronto.
Durant is 25-1 to win Finals MVP at DraftKings sportsbook in New Jersey. The Raptors' Kawhi Leonard, at -500, is the favorite to win MVP.
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Former Duke star and top NBA draft prospect RJ Barrett has made it clear he wants to play for the New York Knicks.
"I won't be meeting with any other teams," Barrett told reporters after working out with the Knicks on Monday. "This is the place I want to be, so I hope they draft me."
Barrett is the No. 3 prospect in the ESPN 100 and projected in ESPN's Jonathan Givony's latest mock draft to be drafted by the Knicks, who have the No. 3 pick.
However, it's still uncertain if the Knicks will end up keeping the pick, as they are among the teams inquiring with the New Orleans Pelicans about a trade for Anthony Davis, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Barrett, who turns 19 on Friday, broke Duke and ACC freshman scoring records while in college, averaging 22.6 points per game to go along with 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
The 6-foot-7 forward was the presumptive No. 1 pick going into his freshman season at Duke but was quickly overshadowed by the rise of teammate and fellow freshman Zion Williamson.
Williamson is projected to go first in the draft to the Pelicans, followed by Ja Morant, who's projected to go No. 2 to the Memphis Grizzlies.
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After missing the past nine games with a strained right calf, Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant returned to action, starting Game 5 of the NBA Finals. However, Durant's return was cut short when he reinjured his calf early in the second quarter.
The Warriors led Toronto 39-34 with 9 minutes, 46 seconds left in the first half at the time of the injury. Durant scored 11 points in the first quarter and made all three of his 3-pointer attempts.
The Toronto Raptors crowd chanted "KD, KD" as Durant was helped back to the locker room, and Durant's fellow pro players sent their well-wishes to the Warriors star on Twitter.
Even with all the things @KDTrey5 has done. This is the most fan(ed) out I've been. He knew he wasn't right but he wanted to be there for his brothers. That's sports! That's love!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 11, 2019
Nooooo...HATE TO SEE THAT SH*T!!!
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) June 11, 2019
MAJOR RESPECT for KD wanting to rush back and try to help his team win a Championship... Get Back Healthy Bro??
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) June 11, 2019
Payers up for the big bro KD. God got you!
— Victor Oladipo (@VicOladipo) June 11, 2019
????
Praying for you bro ??? @KDTrey5
— Marvin Bagley III (@MB3FIVE) June 11, 2019
Respect @KDTrey5
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) June 11, 2019
Get well brother ?
??
— Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) June 11, 2019
Why are they cheering for his injury? Come on man #Disguting
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 11, 2019
No matter what team or players you support... l hope everyone recognizes that what KD tried to do today for the Warriors was more than courageous. ?
— Chiney Ogwumike (@Chiney321) June 11, 2019
Prayers up for @KDTrey5 HATE to see that. Respect him for putting it all on the line and going for it. REAL
— Tyus Jones (@1Tyus) June 11, 2019
Praying for you brother! @KDTrey5
— Allonzo Trier (@ISO_ZO) June 11, 2019
S/O to KD for giving it all. Champ mentality
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) June 11, 2019
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ATLANTA -- Pittsburgh right-hander Joe Musgrove and Atlanta third baseman Josh Donaldson have been ejected from Monday night's game between the Pirates and Braves for triggering a benches-clearing confrontation.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle also was ejected by plate umpire Brian Gorman for arguing the decision to toss Musgrove in the Braves' 13-7 win.
With two outs in the first inning, Musgrove's pitch grazed Donaldson's jersey. As Donaldson headed to first base, he exchanged words with Musgrove and took a few steps toward the mound before Pirates catcher Elias Diaz intervened.
Donaldson shoved Diaz. That prompted players from both dugouts and bullpens to spill onto the field. No punches were thrown, and the field was quickly cleared.
The ejections followed a brief huddle by the umpires.
Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillon, who is on the 60-day injured list with a flexor tendon strain, tweeted his displeasure of the decision to toss Musgrove.
Ump Show. @MLB, Clean it up. Joe prepares harder than anyone, and you just took away his start day. No accountability. The pen is messed up for the series now. Guys will get sent down because they will have to eat these innings. Unbelievable.
— Jameson Taillon (@JTaillon19) June 10, 2019
Right-hander Alex McRae replaced Musgrove. Johan Camargo replaced Donaldson.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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PHILADELPHIA -- The Arizona Diamondbacks got to play Home Run Derby in Philly.
The Diamondbacks hit three straight home runs to open the game and finished with a team-record eight in a 13-8 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in a homer-happy game on Monday night.
Scott Kingery hit two of Philadelphia's five home runs for the combined MLB record of 13 homers in one game.
On most nights, five would be enough to win a game. But not this one in steamy Philly, where the Diamondbacks turned it into extended batting practice.
Jarrod Dyson, Ketel Marte and David Peralta hit the dinger, tater and long ball all in a row off Jerad Eickhoff in the first inning to get the record romp rolling . Eduardo Escobar became the first Diamondback to homer from different sides of the plate in consecutive innings. Ildemaro Vargas also homered twice, Alex Avila went deep and the Diamondbacks made the Citizens Bank Park outfield seats the place to be for a souvenir.
Well, at least for the fans who wanted one -- an angry Phillie fanatic hurled one homer back on the field.
Eickhoff (3-4) allowed two more two-run homers before he was chased in the fourth inning and the Diamondbacks up 7-3. The Diamondbacks hit two more homers in the fifth to set a club record with seven in one game.
Eickhoff allowed five hits in three-plus inning -- all the hits homers, and Arizona won its fifth straight game.
Dyson hit the first pitch of the game to right field for his fourth homer of the season. Marte followed with his 16th home run on a drive to right. Peralta finished the long-ball barrage when he went deep to center for his ninth homer before most fans had settled into their soggy seats following a 30-minute rain delay.
It was the first time a team had hit three straight home runs to begin the first inning since the Diamondbacks did it on July 21, 2017, at home against Washington ace Max Scherzer.
Eickhoff gave up two-run shots in the fourth to Eduardo Escobar and Alex Avila. Eickhoff failed to retire a batter in the fourth when he was yanked by manager Gabe Kapler. Eickhoff has allowed 16 home runs this season in 57 1/3 innings and he became the first pitcher in franchise history to surrender three straight homers to start the game.
Escobar hit his second of the game , a solo shot to left, in the fifth off reliever Ranger Suarez. Vargas also added a solo shot in the inning off Suarez for the record seventh home run of the game. Vargas put the exclamation point on the extended batting practice with a two-run homer in the ninth off Austin Davis.
The Diamondbacks had hit six homers in a game six times in franchise history, the last coming June 1, 2018, against the Marlins.
Jean Segura homered in the second inning off Diamondbacks starter Taylor Clarke (3 1/3 innings) and the Phillies tied It 3-all until the Diamondbacks blew the game open with a four-run fourth. Kingery had his first career multi-homer game. Rhys Hoskins and Jay Bruce each hit solo shots in the ninth. Four other NL games had a combined 11 homers for the previous record.
Arizona could do more than go deep. Escobar added an RBI double in the sixth to make it 11-4 and give him five RBI and give the win to reliever Zack Godley (3-4) after 3 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.
Arizona connected a day after the Nationals hit four home runs in a row in the eighth inning at San Diego. The D-backs are the first team in baseball history to hit eight home runs in a game and surrender eight (March 28 vs. the Dodgers) in the same season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: RF Adam Jones returned to the lineup after he missed the last four games with a right hamstring injury.
Phillies: OF Roman Quinn and RHP Edubray Ramos will started rehab assignments with Class A Clearwater. Quinn has been on the injured list since April 25 with a right groin strain. ... RHP Seranthony Dominguez will visit Dr. James Andrews this week for a second opinion on his injured right elbow. He could need Tommy John surgery. "Honestly, I'm hoping for a miracle," he said.
MINOR DEAL
The Phillies acquired international signing bonus slots from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for RHP Tom Eshelman. Eshelman was the 2017 Paul Owens Award winner, given annually to the best pitcher in the Phillies minor league system.
RECORD DEAL
The Reds hold the NL record for homers in a game with nine in 1999 and Toronto hit 10 in a game in 1987 for the MLB mark.
UP NEXT
The Phillies send RHP Jake Arrieta (5-5, 4.29 ERA) to the mound against RHP Jon Duplantier (1-0, 3.27) on Tuesday in the second game of the three-game set.
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David Ortiz helped his adopted city recover from the Boston Marathon bombings. Now the Boston Red Sox are calling on their fans to reciprocate for their beloved Big Papi.
"We all remember in 2013 when we needed David Ortiz the most, he was there for us,'' team president Sam Kennedy said Monday, a day after the longtime slugger was wounded in a nightclub shooting in his native Dominican Republic. "So it's appropriate and expected that his community would rally behind David when he needs us most.''
Ortiz, 43, was shot at a club in Santo Domingo. A team of surgeons operated on Ortiz for six hours and repaired damage done by the bullet to both intestines and his liver. They also had to remove Ortiz's gallbladder to work on the liver, though the gallbladder itself was not damaged.
"I didn't sleep very well last night,'' said Red Sox special assistant Jason Varitek, who was Ortiz's teammate for nearly a decade. "I don't think anybody did.''
The shooting occurred during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final and stole the city's attention from the Bruins' victory, as fans and former teammates stayed up into the morning hoping for information on Ortiz's condition. Longtime rivals turned to social media to offer their best wishes, and former Dominican president Leonel Fernandez visited Ortiz in the hospital.
"It shocked us to the core,'' Kennedy said. "It was jarring, stunning and, frankly, terrifying. It was a horrific incident. Our focus right now is exclusively to focus on his health and well-being [and] to get David back here in Boston.''
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Cora can't wait to have Ortiz back
Red Sox manager Alex Cora says, "There's life. There's more important things than the Red Sox," when considering the shooting of David Ortiz.
The Red Sox sent an air ambulance to the Dominican Republic to transport Ortiz to Boston, where he will continue his treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital. The plane landed Monday night while the Red Sox were playing the Texas Rangers.
The team asked fans to observe a moment of reflection shortly before Monday night's 4-3 loss to the Rangers at Fenway Park and posted a message on the videoboard: "We send our love to David Ortiz.'' In the sixth inning, fans broke out into cheers of "Papi!'' and cheered when pictures of fans in his No. 34 jersey were shown on the scoreboard.
Chris Sale, who started Monday's game for the Red Sox, said afterward that things felt a little different given the situation with Ortiz.
"Obviously, we're thinking about him," Price said. "We had a meeting before the game about it. He's as much a part of this team as anybody's ever been. Yesterday was a tough day and today too. I'm glad he's doing well and in good hands. Just hoping for the best and trying to get some wins for him. I know that'll make him happy, that's for sure."
"I just hope when he gets here that everything is fine, and we can see the big man here again with us and filling our room with joy,'' manager Alex Cora said. "He's bigger than life.''
A 10-time All-Star and the MVP of the 2013 World Series, Ortiz is one of the most productive -- and popular -- players in Red Sox history. He led the once-cursed franchise to three championships and retired in 2016 with a total of 541 home runs, 17th-most in baseball history.
"Somebody just asked me what my favorite memory was. And it's not all the home runs and game-winning hits that he's had and the World Series,'' Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello said. "It's how he embraces everyone in a room. Just that imposing, loving figure that makes everyone feel special. That's something that you don't see a lot. That's what separates him, for me.''
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Varitek on Ortiz: He's 'a great human being'
Former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek becomes emotional talking about David Ortiz and is very complimentary of his former teammate.
Ortiz further endeared himself to local fans when he went to the Fenway Park mound after the attacks at the marathon finish line and proclaimed, "This is our f---ing city!"
"Everyone knows what he was able to do on the field,'' said longtime New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who is now a Miami Marlins owner. "What he has meant to the community -- not only in Boston but in the Dominican -- this is a guy who is beloved throughout the sport and throughout sports in general.''
"He's obviously an icon on the Mount Rushmore in the city of Boston athletes, but he is 'the guy' in the Dominican Republic,'' Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero said. "He's more famous than any president. When people think of the Dominican Republic, they think David Ortiz, they think of Pedro Martinez.''
Albert Pujols, who has been close with Ortiz for years and also hails from the Dominican Republic, said the legendary slugger means "everything" in their native country.
"As a player, as a fellow Dominican, you don't see that. People really respect players over there, down in the DR," Pujols said. "It's just unfortunate. He was, I guess, in the wrong spot at the wrong time."
Said Mets second baseman Robinson Cano, another fellow Dominican: "[Ortiz is] an idol for all of us.''
Martinez joined his countrymen in offering prayers for Ortiz on social media Sunday night.
I'm at peace knowing you out of danger; you a strong man Compai, can't wait to hear your voice. My thoughts and prayers are with you, see you soon.
— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) June 10, 2019
Me siento tranquilo de saber que estás fuera de peligro, usted es fuerte Compai, ya quiero oírle la voz. Orando, nos vemos pronto pic.twitter.com/jdSnNsM7eI
Red Sox starter David Price played with Ortiz in his last season and said the Boston icon embraced him with open arms.
"I didn't want it to be anything about me and him. I wanted it to be all about him. And he didn't want it to be all about him. He wanted it to be about us as a team. So I've got nothing but love and respect for Big Papi, and he's well aware of that," Price said.
Mookie Betts echoed that sentiment Monday, saying that Ortiz made him feel welcome and at home in his rookie year.
"I can't speak for other people, but for me, he's like a big brother and a dad at the same time," Betts said.
The outpouring of support for Ortiz extended beyond his former teammates on Monday. President Barack Obama and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady were among those who sent well wishes.
Six years ago, David Ortiz's spirit and resolve helped us all begin to heal from the Boston Marathon bombing. Today, I want to join many others in wishing him a speedy recovery of his own. Get well soon, Papi. pic.twitter.com/9orpBgnVI5
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 10, 2019
Papi defines Boston Strong... get well soon my friend!!! pic.twitter.com/QFFJ4nvQnU
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) June 10, 2019
The Red Sox retired Ortiz's No. 34 in 2017, less than a year after he retired, and a street outside the ballpark was renamed in his honor. He remains connected with the ballclub in a role that includes mentoring players, recruiting free agents and making special appearances.
ESPN's Alden Gonzalez and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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LEXINGTON, N.C. – Kaulig Racing has unveiled its throwback scheme for the Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on Aug. 31.
Raybestos, a world-renowned brake parts producer, will sponsor No. 11 Chevy, piloted by Justin Haley. Kaulig Racing’s inspiration for the scheme came from Jeff Burton’s No. 8 car from his rookie Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Seriesseason in 1994, as well as 1995, where he earned three top-five and five top-10 finishes.
Kaulig Racing will also be paying tribute to Chief Financial Officer of Kaulig Racing, Bob Kaulig, who previously worked as the Vice President of Sales for Raybestos from 1985-2008.
“Using the Raybestos paint scheme from Jeff’s (Burton) rookie year was a no-brainer for us,” said Kaulig Racing President Chris Rice. “Our CFO, Bob, who happens to be Matt Kaulig’s father, worked for Raybestos for 23 years, so we thought this was the perfect way to pay homage to him. We really appreciate both Jeff and Raybestos® for giving us the opportunity to use this special paint scheme and give a special surprise to Bob.”
From 1998 to 2010, the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award was one of the well-respected and highly sought-after end-of-season NASCAR awards. The award celebrated young drivers and their teams by recognizing their phenomenal efforts during the formative early phase of their careers.
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BATAVIA, Ohio – The stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will return to action June 13-15 for three events at three different venues, across three states.
The weekend will ignite on Thursday, June 13, with a visit to Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Thursday’s Dunn-Benson Ford Wayne Gray Sr. Memorial – Presented by GETSCO will be a complete program of: Miller Welders Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
The festivities at Fayetteville Motor Speedway will begin with pit gates opening at 3 p.m., followed by general admission gates at 4 p.m. A drivers meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. with hot laps slated for 7:30 p.m. The Renegades, Modifieds, FMS Late Models, and Legends will also be in competition on Thursday, June 13.
The weekend will continue in Gaffney, S.C., where the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will visit Cherokee Speedway on Friday, June 14. A full program is on tap for the 21st Annual Grassy Smith Memorial – highlighted by a 50-lap, $12,000-to-win main event.
At Cherokee Speedway, the pit gates will open at 2 p.m. and general admission gates will open 3 p.m. The drivers meeting is set for 7 p.m., followed by hot laps at 7:30 p.m. In addition to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, the 602 Late Models, 604 Late Models, Modifieds, and Thunder Bomber divisions will also be in action.
Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. will host the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on Saturday, June 15, to cap off the three-race escapade. The annual event, a Father’s Day weekend special, now dubbed the Big Daddy 60, will have the 60-lap main event paying a record $15,000-to-win.
On Saturday, the pit and general admission gates will open at Noon. A driver’s meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. with hot laps to follow at 7:30 p.m. The Limited Late Models and Sportsman will serve as support divisions at Smoky Mountain Speedway.
Jonathan Davenport continues to lead the Lucas Oil championship standings heading into the weekend. Earl Pearson Jr. currently trails Davenport by 345 points. Tyler Erb is third. Devin Moran and Josh Richards round out the top five in championship standings.
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