Pistons, Nuggets put together blockbuster trade
The Detroit Pistons shook the NBA in a big way Monday – landing former MVP Allen Iverson from the Denver Nuggets.
The Pistons gave up All-Star point guard and former NBA finals MVP Chauncey Billups, top reserve Antonio McDyess and project Cheikh Samb.
“Two teams had one common problem, or challenge,” Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien said. “I think the Pistons looked at (former Eastern Washington star Rodney) Stuckey and saw him as the point guard of tomorrow, and you have an All-Star in Chauncey who was in his way.”
Iverson is in the final year of his contract, making $20.8 million this season.
Detroit also agreed to a three-year contract extension with guard Richard Hamilton worth about $34 million, a basketball official told the Associated Press.
Stuckey wouldn’t say whether he’ll give up his No. 3 jersey to Iverson.
“We’re going to have to talk about that, I guess,” Stuckey said.
•Pistons beat Bobcats: Hamilton scored 19 points and the Detroit Pistons concluded a wild day by beating the Charlotte Bobcats 101-83.Rasheed Wallace added 15 points and four other players scored in double figures. Stuckey replaced the departed Billups and had nine points and three assists filling in at the point for Detroit, which shot 50 percent.
•Thunder waive Lucas: Guard John Lucas III was waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder after being inactive for the team’s first three games.
Lucas was caught in a logjam at point guard behind starter Earl Watson, first-round pick Russell Westbrook and third-stringer Kyle Weaver, the former Washington State standout who was acquired in an offseason trade.
Football
Bears’ Orton questionable
One day after leaving the field on a cart, Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton was undergoing more tests on his right ankle to determine the extent of his injury.
Orton was injured in the final minute of the first half in Sunday’s 27-23 victory over the Detroit Lions.
Asked if the injury was more than just a sprain, Bears coach Lovie Smith said: “It’s an ankle injury. That’s about all I’m going to tell you right now.”
•Broncos take backfield hits: The Denver Broncos’ dinged-up backfield took two more big hits when Michael Pittman (neck) and Andre Hall (left hand) were placed on injured reserve after injuries suffered in the team’s 27-17 loss to Miami on Sunday.
•Jurevicius planning comeback: Cleveland wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, forced to sit out the 2008 season because of a serious staph infection in his surgically repaired right knee, plans to come back next season with the Browns.
•Injured Houston quarterback Matt Schaub has an injured medial collateral ligament and will be out at least two weeks and possibly up to a month.
Hockey
Islanders snap skid in OT
Chris Campoli had his first two goals in nearly a year, the second coming 3:13 into overtime, and the New York Islanders overcame another blown three-goal lead in the third period to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in Uniondale, N.Y., and snap a 0-5-1 skid.
•Sharp, Ladd lead Blackhawks: Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd each had two goals and an assist, leading the Chicago Blackhawks over the visiting Colorado Avalanche 6-2 for their third victory in as many games.
Miscellany
Two runners dead
Two runners died after completing the New York City Marathon, one shortly after crossing the finish line and the other several hours later.
Carlos Jose Gomes, a 58-year-old Brazilian, had just completed the race Sunday when he complained about feeling ill, police said.
He was taken by ambulance to a Manhattan hospital, where he died. The cause was a heart attack, the medical examiner’s office said.
The other runner who died was a man whose identity and cause of death weren’t immediately disclosed, said Richard Finn, a spokesman for the New York Road Runners Club, the race organizer. The medical examiner’s office said it hadn’t received a report of the second death.
•Padres add to coaching staff: Former Seattle Mariners manager Jim Lefebvre was promoted to hitting coach from minor league hitting consultant by San Diego.