Newsmakers

Practiced Cavaliers All-Star guard Kyrie Irving had a “light, but good” practice a day before Cleveland opens the Eastern Conference finals in Atlanta. Irving aggravated tendinitis in his left knee during Cleveland’s Game 6 win over Chicago.

Awarded Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook was named winner of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award. During the 2014-15 season, Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation opened new reading centers in three Oklahoma City public schools. “Russell’s Reading Rooms” provide underserved children with 1,200 books.

Noted Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari says he’s not interested in the New Orleans Pelicans’ job and is happy at Kentucky. The Pelicans fired Monty Williams a week ago and the team’s NBA roster features former Kentucky star Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans, who played for Calipari at Memphis.

Announced MLS commissioner Don Garber says St. Louis will be a top contender for the next round of expansion, probably in 2020, if the city’s stadium plans are fulfilled. MLS is set to add Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Miami as it expands to 24 teams by the end of the decade.

Sidelined Toronto says Jozy Altidore will be sidelined for four-to-five weeks because of a strained right hamstring, an injury that will cause him to miss the U.S. national team’s exhibition games at the Netherlands and Germany next month. Altidore, 25, left Saturday’s tie at New England in the 21st minute.

Negotiated FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants a “peace match” between Israel and the Palestinians as part of his “mission of peace” to calm tensions between the two soccer federations. Blatter met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem following a Palestinian bid to suspend Israel from FIFA.

Debuted Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem made his debut for the U.S. national team program, entering in the 59th minute of the Under-20 team’s 2-1 exhibition win at Australia. The 18-year-old was born in Germany to Ethiopian parents and lived in Maryland for six years. Zelalem was cleared by FIFA last week to play for the U.S.

Withdrew Golfer Patrick Reed says he has withdrawn from the PGA Championship at Wentworth and the Irish Open. The 25-year-old American was due to compete in the European Tour’s flagship event – played outside London – for the first time on Thursday.