Auto Racing
Hamlin remains undefeated; Kenseth wins the first duel
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Denny Hamlin is undefeated on the season after winning the second Daytona 500 qualifying race that ended with a violent last-lap crash in which Clint Bowyer’s car flipped upside down.
Hamlin, who also won Saturday night’s exhibition race to open Speedweeks, cruised unscathed to the victory.
Matt Kenseth won the first Budweiser Duel 150.
NBA
Nuggets pull a 3-team deal with 76ers and Wizards
The Washington Wizards, pushing for their first playoff berth since 2008, acquired disgruntled point guard Andre Miller from the Denver Nuggets on Thursday in a three-way trade that also involves the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Wizards gave up two seldom-used players – forward Jan Vesely and point guard Eric Maynor. Vesely goes to the Nuggets, while Maynor gets shipped to the 76ers.
Philadelphia receives two second-round draft picks, one from the Wizards in 2015 and one from the Nuggets in 2016. Washington receives a protected 2014 second-round pick from the 76ers.
Vesely has been a major disappointment since being selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2011 draft. He has played in 33 games this season and only five of the last 14, averaging 3.2 points.
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks acquired 37-year-old forward Antawn Jamison from the Los Angeles Clippers for the rights to shooting guard Cenk Akyol, a 2005 second-round pick now playing in Turkey.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Bobcats acquired guards Luke Ridnour and Gary Neal from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard Ramon Sessions and forward Jeff Adrien.
CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired center Spencer Hawes from the Philadelphia 76ers for forward Earl Clark, center Henry Sims and two second-round draft picks.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Miami Heat traded Roger Mason Jr. to the Sacramento Kings for a protected 2015 second-round draft pick and cash.
Soccer
USA women’s soccer will host China in Commerce City
CHICAGO – The United States’ women’s soccer team will host China in an exhibition game April 6 at Commerce City.
The game, announced Thursday, follows the Algarve Cup in Portugal, where the Americans will play Japan on March 5, Sweden two days later, and Denmark on March 10.
MLS buys Chivas USA from maligned co-owners
NEW YORK – The troubled tenure of Angelica Fuentes and Jorge Vergara as owners of Chivas USA ended with Major League Soccer purchasing the team.
MLS said Thursday it assumed operation of the team, which had the second-worst record in the league last year at 6-20-8 and averaged a league-low 8,366 at home.
Liverpool and Man United announces its U.S. schedule
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Liverpool will play Manchester City, AC Milan and Olimpiakos during a preseason United States exhibition tour, and Manchester United will face Inter Milan and Roma.
Liverpool will open against Olimpiakos on July 27 at Chicago’s Soldier Field as part of Group B in the eight-club Guinness International Champions Cup, organizers said Thursday. The Reds face Manchester City at New York’s Yankee Stadium on July 30 and AC Milan on Aug. 2 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
Manchester United will play Roma at Denver’s Sports Authority Field on July 26, then will play Inter Milan on July 29 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Group A also includes Real Madrid.
Games also will be played in Arlington, Texas; Glendale, Ariz.; Minneapolis; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; and one additional city from July 24 to Aug. 2. The final will be Aug. 4 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Associated Press
