This Day In Sports 1973 — Julius Erving, the American Basketball Association’s Numbers Game leading scorer, is traded to the New York Nets. C4 Antelope Valley Press, Wednesday, July 31, 2019 Morning rush WNBA teams prepare for sprint to playoffs Valley Press news services By DOUG FEINBERG 5. Chicago (11-8): The Sky Associated Press were well represented at All- Cook, Pardon of U.S. win beach Star weekend with Diamond LAS VEGAS — The sprint volleyball gold at Pan Am Games DeShields winning the skills LIMA, Peru — The gray skies of the Peruvian to the finish of the WNBA sea- competition. Chicago will play capital served as a dramatic but familiar backdrop son gets underway Tuesday as four of its next five games on the for Americans Karissa Cook and Jace Pardon, teams return to action after the PLAYOFF who won the women’s beach volleyball final on All-Star break. POSITION road. Tuesday at the Pan American Games. 6. Los Angeles (11-8): The Las Vegas, Washington and In this July The U.S. beat Argentina 14-21, 22-20, 15-10. Connecticut sit atop the stand- Sparks have played the least Cook and Pardon hugged and waved a U.S. flag 26 photo, amount of home games (seven) ings, in part because they’ve Connecticut when the match ended. Thick fog from the nearby been relatively healthy for most so far this season which should Pacific Ocean blanketed the hills surrounding the Sun’s Shekinna help them in the stretch run. sandy venue in Lima, but Cook said it was ideal. of the season. But A’ja Wilson Stricklen shoots has been sidelined with an 7. Phoenix (10-8): A healthy “My hometown is just like this. I love this during the WNBA ankle injury the last couple of Taurasi would make all the weather,” said Cook, who’s from Santa Cruz, Cal- All-Star 3-point games and is still probably at difference in the world for the ifornia. “It was wonderful.” contest in Las Mercury. A capacity crowd also braved the chilly breeze to least a week away from return- ing for the Aces. Only 8½ games Vegas. 8. Minnesota (10-10): The cheer on their teams, with Argentines waving their Associated Press sky-blue and white flag. Others joined the U.S. and separate the first and last place Lynx have lost three straight Argentine party in the stands. Mexicans donned teams right now with just a 3½ Star, I think this is when teams before a four-game road trip. games and four out of five over- sombreros, Brazilians wore the yellow shirt of their -game difference between first start to break away or fall back. Shekinna Stricklen had an All- all. Coach Cheryl Reeve will try famed soccer team and Peruvians danced to cum- and eighth in the battle for play- We definitely want to be one of Star weekend to remember, and right the ship, bia music. off position. the ones who breaks free.” winning the 3-point contest. 9. New York (8-11): The Lib- Cook and Pardon were unstoppable throughout Phoenix and Los Angeles Taurasi said she’s trying to 2. Las Vegas (13-6): The Aces erty are on the outside of the the Pan Am Games with a split blocking system in have both won seven of their get her conditioning and timing put on a show hosting All-Star playoffs right now, but should which they both spent time defending at the net last 10 games and each should back after her back injury. weekend. Dearica Hamby has have a healthy roster for the and in the backcourt. That allowed them to attack be getting key players back on “My back feels great,” she helped fill the void of Wilson. first time this season for the from behind the baseline. the court after the break. Di- said. “I’m pretty much 100 per- 3. Washington (12-6): The stretch run. ana Taurasi has missed all but cent recovered. Now I’m just Mystics are play well on both 10. Indiana (6-15): Erica Green has ankle surgery, expected to one game this season and the going through my own train- ends of the court and Elena Del- Wheeler stole the show at the miss Bengals’ opener All-Star Game earning MVP CINCINNATI — A.J. Green had ankle surgery Sparks expect Candace Park- ing camp two months after the le Donne is putting up MVP-cal- Tuesday and is expected to miss the start of the sea- er and Alana Beard back soon team. I gave it a go in Connecti- iber numbers. honors. The Fever hope that son, another significant setback for the Cincinnati from injuries. cut two weeks ago, and I was 4. Seattle (12-9): The Storm they can ride that momentum Bengals’ offense. “It’s been kind of weird,” just not ready. I’m really close.” got Jewell Loyd back after her into the final 11 games of the Green hurt his left ankle during the opening Phoenix center Brittney Gri- POWER POLL ankle injury and will try to keep season. practice of camp Saturday in Dayton, landing awk- ner said. “There has been a lot A look at this week’s WNBA pace with the top teams in the 12. Dallas (5-14): By the time wardly after cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick bumped of injuries. And it’s been hard poll: standings. The have a pivotal the Wings play Las Vegas on into the star receiver while breaking up a pass. for teams to break out of that 1. Connecticut (13-6): The game against Washington on Tuesday night it will have been Coach Zac Taylor said Green had surgery bunched-up mosh pit. After All- Sun play two games at home Friday night. 10 days since their last game. Tuesday morning and likely won’t be ready for the start of the season. Cincinnati opens at Seattle on Sept. 8 and then hosts San Francisco. The Bengals visit Buffalo the third week followed by a Monday NFL MLB SPORTS ODDS AUTO RACING GOLF Major League Baseball night game at Pittsburgh on Sept. 30. NFL Preseason Glance American League Glance NASCAR Monster Energy PGA Tour schedule AMERICAN CONFERENCE West Division National League Feb. 7-10 — AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am “He’s going to miss some regular-season games,” W L Pct GB Today Cup Schedule West Sunday, March 3 — Pennzoil 400 (Joey (Phil Mickelson) Houston 69 39 .639 — FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG LINE Taylor said. “How many, I don’t know. Very hopeful- W L T Pct PF PA Atlanta -124 at WASHING. +114 Logano) Feb. 14-17 — Genesis Open (J.B. Oakland 61 47 .565 8 ly he’s back at the beginning of the regular season Denver 0 0 0 .000 0 0 at CINCINNATI -210 Pittsburgh +190 Sunday, March 10 — TicketGuardian 500 Holmes) Angels 56 53 .514 13½ Kansas City 0 0 0 .000 0 0 LA Dodgers -130 at COLORADO +120 (Kyle Busch) Feb. 21-24 — WGC-Mexico and it’s not more than a couple of games.” Texas 53 54 .495 15½ L.A. Chargers 0 0 0 .000 0 0 at PHILADELPHIA -122 San Francisco +112 Sunday, March 17 — Auto Club 400 (Kyle Championship (Dustin Johnson) Seattle 47 63 .427 23 Oakland 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Chicago -113 at ST. LOUIS +103 Busch) Feb. 21-24 — Puerto Rico Open (Martin East Division Bauer fined by MLB for ball heave East American League Sunday, March 24 — STP 500 (Brad Trainer) W L Pct GB CLEVELAND — Cleveland pitcher Trevor W L T Pct PF PA at KANSAS CITY -118 Toronto +108 Keselowski) Feb. 28-March 3 — Honda Classic, PGA New York 67 39 .632 — at LA ANGELS -178 Detroit +166 Bauer has been fined by Major League Baseball Buffalo 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Sunday, March 31 — O’Reilly Auto Parts National (Champions) (Kevin Mitchell) Miami 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Tampa Bay 61 48 .560 7½ at BOSTON OFF Tampa Bay OFF March 7-10 — Arnold Palmer Invitational for heaving a ball from the pitcher’s mound over Boston 59 49 .546 9 Houston -130 at CLEVELAND +120 500 (Denny Hamlin) New England 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Sunday, April 7 — Food City 500 (Kyle (Francesco Molinari) the center-field wall at Kansas City last weekend, N.Y. Jets 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Toronto 42 67 .385 26½ at TEXAS OFF Seattle OFF Interleague Busch) March 14-17 — The Players a person familiar with the discipline told The Asso- South Baltimore 36 71 .336 31½ Championship (Rory McIlroy) Central Division at NY YANKEES -135 Arizona +125 Saturday, April 13 — Toyota Owners 400 W L T Pct PF PA Minnesota -174 at MIAMI +162 (Martin Truex Jr.) March 21-24 — Valspar Championship ciated Press. W L Pct GB Houston 0 0 0 .000 0 0 NY Mets -158 at CHICAG. WS +148 (Paul Casey) Minnesota 65 41 .613 — Sunday, April 28 — Geico 500 (Chase The person spoke Tuesday on condition of ano- Indianapolis 0 0 0 .000 0 0 at OAKLAND -143 Milwaukee +133 March 27-31 — WGC-Dell Match Play Cleveland 62 44 .585 3 Elliott) nymity because the discipline was not announced. Jacksonville 0 0 0 .000 0 0 NFL (Kevin Kisner) Chicago 46 58 .442 18 Sunday, May 5 — MENCS race (Martin Tennessee 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Thursday March 28-31 — Corales Puntacana An All-Star last year, Bauer made the toss just Kansas City 40 69 .367 26½ Truex Jr.) North Hall of Fame Game Saturday, May 11 — MENCS race (Brad Resort & Club Championship (Kevin after allowing a two-run single to Nicky Lopez Detroit 31 72 .301 32½ FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG W L T Pct PF PA Keselowski) Sutherland) that gave the Royals a 7-5 lead with one out in the Baltimore 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Tuesday’s Games Denver PK -3 34 Atlanta Baltimore 8, San Diego 5 Updated odds available at Pregame.com Saturday, May 18 — x-Monster Energy April 4-7 — Valero Texas Open (Corey fifth inning of Cleveland’s 9-6 loss Sunday.