BASKETBALL
Luka Samanic recorded another double-double with 24 points and 16 rebounds, and the Maine Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak with a 106-100 win Friday night against Raptors 905 at the Portland Expo.
Mfiondu Kabengele added 18 points and nine rebounds. Kamar Baldwin (16 points), Denzel Valentine (14) and Marvin Smith (11) also scored in double figures for the Celtics.
NBA: The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are giving each other more time to decide if they want to opt out of the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement, a person with knowledge of the talks said Friday.
The new opt-out date – which was going to be Dec. 15 – will be set for early 2023 and could be moved yet again depending on the progress of talks, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because nothing was revealed by either the NBA or NBPA.
• Kevin Durant scored 34 points, Kyrie Irving had 33 points and 11 rebounds and the Brooklyn Nets finished a seven-game homestand at 6-1 by beating the Atlanta Hawks, 120-116.
HOCKEY
ECHL: Pierrick Dube’s power-play goal broke a 1-1 tie in the second period, and the Trois-Rivières Lions went on to a 3-2 win over Maine Mariners at Cross Insurance Arena.
Maine got goals from Patrick Shea in the second period and Fedor Gordeev in the third.
NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Pierre Engvall was suspended for a game without pay For high-sticking Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean Durzi.
The incident took place Thursday night in Toronto’s 5-0 home victory. Engvall was given a game misconduct after striking Durzi in the back of the head as the two players got tangled up near center ice.
BASEBALL
MAJOR LEAGUES: Left-handed pitcher Matt Strahm has joined the Philadelphia Phillies on a two-year deal, the team announced.
The 31-year-old free agent was a reliever for the Boston Red Sox in the 2022 season, with a 3.83 ERA in 50 appearances.
• Trevor Williams and the Washington Nationals agreed to a two-year contract, giving the rebuilding club a right-handed pitcher with experience as a starter and reliever.
Williams, who turns 31 in April, was a free agent after playing for the New York Mets last season, going 3-5 with a 3.21 ERA and one save in 30 appearances – nine as a starting pitcher and 21 out of the bullpen.
OLYMPICS
RUSSIAN BAN: Russia could return to some international sports events and Olympic qualifiers by competing as part of Asia, rather than Europe.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach welcomed a “creative” plan to allow athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus to join competitions in Asia after more than nine months of isolation from most Olympic sports following the invasion of Ukraine.
The statement did not directly address whether Russia and Belarus can send teams to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but a move from Europe to Asia offers a potential way for Russian athletes to compete in continental events which serve as qualifiers for the Games. Qualifying in some sports is already underway.
GOLF
QBE SHOOTOUT: Charley Hoffman and Ryan Palmer posted a 16-under 56 in a scramble format for a two-shot lead in Tiburon, Florida.
Two pairs of Presidents Cup teammates – Max Homa and Kevin Kisner for the U.S., Corey Conners and K.H. Lee for the Internationals – were at 58.
DP WORLD TOUR: Scott Jamieson of Scotland carded a course-record 63 and took a three-shot lead midway through the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane, South Africa.
Jamieson made nine birdies in a bogey-free second round at Leopard Creek Country Club.
Nathan Kimsey (64) and Eddie Pepperell (65) of England and David Ravetto (67) of France were tied for second.
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