Clippers’ Griffin will miss Olympics with torn cartilage
OLYMPICS: The Los Angeles Clippers say Blake Griffin has torn cartilage in his left knee and will miss the Olympics.
Griffin returned to Los Angeles on Thursday for further evaluation after reporting discomfort in the same knee that bothered him in the playoffs following Wednesday’s practice. The Clippers said he will require arthroscopic surgery and should be ready for training camp.
The Clippers just signed Griffin to a five-year, $95 million extension.
USA Basketball officials said they hadn’t been told Griffin would be forced to pull out. Once he does, the Americans will be able to replace him on their 12-man roster, likely with Anthony Davis.
Davis, the national college player of the year, was added to the roster for the exhibition game against the Dominican Republic on Thursday and scored nine points in 10 minutes.
The U.S., behind Kevin Durant’s 24 points and 10 rebounds, cruised to a 113-59 win over the Dominican Republic.The MVP of the world basketball championship two years ago, Durant came off the bench to shoot 9 of 11 from the field, making 5 of 6 3-pointers in 22 minutes.Andre Iguodala added 18 points and Carmelo Anthony had 13 for the Americans.
Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks shot 1 of 12 and the Dominicans’ other NBA player, Francisco Garcia, missed all three attempts.
Timberwolves upgrade roster
NBA: The Minnesota Timberwolves kept up their aggressive push to upgrade their promising young roster, waiving center Darko Milicic and formally submitting their offer sheet for restricted free-agent forward Nicolas Batum.
Owner Glen Taylor said the Wolves were continuing to talk with Batum’s current team, the Portland Trail Blazers, about a sign-and-trade option for acquiring the 6-foot-8 native of France.
In other NBA news:
• The Indiana Pacers are sending point guard Darren Collison and wing player Dahntay Jones to the Dallas Mavericks for center Ian Mahinmi, according to the agent for one of the players.
Mark Bartelstein, who represents Jones, confirmed Thursday that the deal is in place. The Mavericks are adding 7-foot center Chris Kaman, a step forward for a team that failed to persuade guard Deron Williams to leave the Brooklyn Nets and play in his home town.
• The Charlotte Bobcats agreed to a two-year contract with former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Ramon Sessions, said a person familiar with the situation.
The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move has not been publically announced.
• The San Antonio Spurs say they have re-signed forward Boris Diaw for the coming season. The Spurs announced the move without disclosing terms.
Diaw played in 20 games, seven of them starts, after signing with the Spurs on March 23.
Record nine gives Kite lead at Open
GOLF: Tom Kite set a U.S. Senior Open record with a 28 on the front nine at Indianwood in Lake Heron, Mich., and finished at 5-under-par 65.
Corey Pavin’s sixth birdie on his 17th hole pulled him into a tie atop the leaderboard, but a penalty pushed him back to the pack after completing his first round.
Pavin hit a chip after his ball moved back a fraction of an inch when he grounded his club on his 14th hole and that later cost him two strokes.Kirk Triplett, formerly of Pullman High, shot 69.
NFL files grievance with players union
NFL: The NFL filed a grievance with the players’ union asking New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma to drop his defamation lawsuit against Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The league claims Vilma’s suit violates the collective bargaining agreement reached last August to end the lockout. A clause in the CBA, which the NFL says the union agreed to, bars NFL Players Association members from suing the league or any clubs.
• Judge will listen to arguments: U.S. District Judge David Doty agreed to listen to arguments in the NFL Players Association’s collusion lawsuit against the league.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed that the hearing in Doty’s federal courtroom in Minneapolis is scheduled for Sept. 6.
The NFLPA filed a petition May 23 to reopen the Reggie White settlement, overseen by Doty since 1993 until last year’s lockout. The union claimed the owners imposed a secret $123 million salary cap during the uncapped 2010 season that cost the players at least $1 billion in lost wages.
Phelps downplays Clary’s comments
SWIMMING: Michael Phelps has talked with Tyler Clary after his Olympic teammate questioned his work ethic and isn’t worried about what anyone says.
“For me right now the only thing I’m worried about is myself and preparing myself to go out and represent my country and step up and wear the stars and stripes and try to swim as fast as I can,” Phelps said at media day for the U.S. Olympic swimming team.
Phelps will compete in seven events at the London Games.
Allmendinger will use his own experts
MISCELLANY: Suspended NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger has elected to bring his own experts to the testing of his “B” urine sample, the Associated Press has learned.
Under NASCAR’s drug testing policy, an individual can bring in experts for the second test.
• Drug ring allegedly supplied Kansas players: A large-scale drug ring that allegedly supplied drugs to members of the 2010-11 Kansas men’s basketball team involved about $17 million worth of marijuana and cocaine.
The U.S. District Attorney’s office for Kansas in Wichita said that 35 defendants have been named in a 101-count indictment alleging that dealers supplied “high-grade” marijuana and cocaine in Johnson and Douglas counties.