Lakers’ Bryant tears rotator cuff
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant sustained a torn rotator cuff during the second half of a 96-80 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night in New Orleans.
The Lakers announced Thursday that the findings were the result of a preliminary MRI taken in San Antonio. Bryant was return to Los Angeles on Thursday to undergo further examination by team doctors on Friday. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the injury would likely require surgery and his season would be over.
The 36-year-old Bryant has played in 35 games this season after returning from an Achilles injury that sidelined him last year. He is averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the struggling Lakers, who are in last place in the Pacific Division with a 12-31 record after losing six straight games.
Hall inductees to represent Astros, Red Sox, Braves
The cap choices are all in for the 2015 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced Thursday that Craig Biggio’s plaque will show him wearing a Houston Astros hat, Pedro Martinez has chosen the Boston Red Sox and John Smoltz will go with the Atlanta Braves.
Last week, Randy Johnson announced that he chose to represent the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The induction ceremony is set for July 26 in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Packers’ Matthews pays for hit on Wilson
Despite Clay Matthews’ insistence that he wasn’t targeting Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson with a blind-side block during Sunday’s game, the NFL fined the Green Bay Packers linebacker $22,050 on Thursday for an illegal hit.
Matthews delivered the blow during a second-quarter interception by Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. It was one of four picks thrown by Wilson during the NFC Championship Game in CenturyLink Field.
“I was just blocking whoever and it turned out to be the quarterback and obviously calls are going to go in their direction whether it was a blind-side hit or whatever,” Matthews said afterward. “I’m just looking to pick up a block and, unfortunately, that’s just how the game played out.”
Wilson rallied the Seahawks in the fourth quarter and overtime to a 28-22 victory that sent Seattle to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year.
Blues G Elliott named All-Star sub
St. Louis Blues goaltender Brian Elliott will replace injured Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on the roster for Sunday’s NHL All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio.
Bobrovsky sustained a lower-body injury during the second period of the Blue Jackets’ 4-0 loss at Winnipeg on Wednesday night. It’s not known how long Bobrovsky might be sidelined. The 2013 Vezina Trophy winner was elected to the All-Star team for the first time in his career but will miss the opportunity to play before a home crowd.
Elliott becomes the third Blues goal in history to make at least two All-Star appearances. He also was on the team on 2012. Elliott joins Blues teammates Kevin Shattenkirk and Vladimir Tarasenko on this year’s roster. The 29-year-old Elliott has a 13-5-2 record this season and leads the NHL with a 1.86 goals-against average and ranks fourth with a .930 save percentage. He has three shutouts.
Heat’s Wade fined $15,000
Miami guard Dwyane Wade was fined $15,000 after he made an obscene gesture at the end of the third quarter during the Heat’s 78-76 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night in Charlotte, N.C.
Television cameras captured Wade extending his middle finger, but it was not shown on the air. An NBA security official reported seeing Wade make the gesture.
A fan near the Heat bench had heckled Wade about his age during the game.