Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was found guilty of obstruction of justice and lying to federal investigators looking into an illegal bookmaking operation on Friday in a verdict delivered in Los Angeles.

Puig, 35, faces up to 15 years in federal prison after the completion of the 12-day trial. Sentencing is slated for May 26. Puig was released on bond Friday.

According to prosecutors, Puig accumulated $282,900 in gambling losses between May and June 2019 through an associate in a business run by former minor league pitcher Wayne Nix. The prosecutors allege that Puig sent Nix $200,000 to offset a portion of the losses the ballplayer accumulated in just a few weeks.

Puig then placed an additional 899 wagers on sporting events — excluding baseball — between July and September 2019. Puig made many of his bets at major league ballparks before or after games. His gambling debt eventually reached nearly $1 million, which he was unable to pay.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, investigators questioned Puig about his involvement in the gambling operation in January 2022. They allege Puig provided false statements to them on multiple occasions.

Puig initially reached a deal with prosecutors in August 2022 to close the case, agreeing to plead guilty to one count of lying to federal investigators. It likely would have meant probation and a fine. Instead, he chose to withdraw from the agreement in November.

During the trial, Puig’s defense stated he tried to cooperate fully, but the government refused to listen to his answers. Defense lawyers also said interpreters struggled to understand Puig’s Spanish dialect.

Puig’s defense said he is dealing with cognitive issues — including post-traumatic stress disorder — which impacted his ability to understand the line of questioning.

Puig’s bets were placed on tennis, football and basketball.

Nix pleaded guilty in April 2022 to one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal sports gambling business and one count of filing a false tax return. Nix is expected to be sentenced later this year.

Puig batted .277 with 132 homers and 415 RBIs in 861 games over seven seasons with the Dodgers (2013-18), Cincinnati Reds (2019) and Cleveland (2019). He was runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2013 and was an NL All-Star in 2014.

–Field Level Media

Providence coach Kim English hopes that, finally, his team has another win it can build off in Big East play.

After making an improbable comeback to beat Butler 97-87 in double overtime on Wednesday, the Friars (10-13, 3-9 Big East) go for back-to-back home wins on Saturday against DePaul.

It was a win that Providence surely needed. A career-high 36-point, six-rebound performance from Jaylin Sellers led the way as the Friars came back from a seven-point deficit in the second half and ultimately snapped a four-game losing skid.

“We’ve had some very, very tough locker rooms after games this season. I’m not sure I’ve had the words to say to the guys a lot of the time with the ways we’ve lost,” English said after Wednesday’s game. “It feels good to be on the other side of it for them, a lot more than me.”

Providence was 0-4 in overtime games before Wednesday. Incredibly, both of the Friars’ meetings with Butler needed two extra periods.

DePaul (12-11, 4-8) has dropped three in a row, but a solid defensive effort Tuesday in a 68-56 loss to No. 22 St. John’s was admirable.

DePaul’s opponents have scored less than 70 points per game four times in Big East play, with the Johnnies netting a season-low 29 in the first half earlier this week.

“This is a tough, tough business for all of us,” DePaul coach Chris Holtmann said. “So, if you’re not tough and tough-minded, you’re going to struggle. I think we got a group that (is) going to respond well.”

The Friars, who have averaged a conference-best 87 per game, will play DePaul in two of their next four games.

DePaul has gotten strong play out of Layden Blocker recently, as he has scored in double figures in each of the last seven games. Providence freshman Stefan Vaaks has done the same in every game this season.

Blocker scored 13 points with five rebounds, two assists and two blocks against St. John’s.

–Field Level Media

Wednesday was not a good night for Seton Hall’s NCAA Tournament hopes.

Not only did the Pirates (16-7, 6-6 Big East) lose 72-60 at Villanova, but a game halfway across the country made their Big Dance dreams even slimmer.

When Oklahoma State upset No. 16 BYU 99-92 on Wednesday, it put the Cowboys in the driver’s seat for an at-large berth instead of the Pirates, according to CBS Sports Bracketology.

Seton Hall needs to get back on track starting Saturday when it travels to Omaha, Neb. to take on Creighton (12-11, 6-6) in a Big East matchup.

Villanova led 40-25 at halftime and never looked back. The Wildcats made 9 of 29 3-pointers while the Pirates only hit 2 of 17, including 0 for 8 in the first half.

“They make their threes, we don’t,” Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway said. “And that’s what happened tonight.”

What also happened was the Pirates dropping out of the NCAA Tournament picture, at least for now. No. 3 UConn, No. 22 St. John’s and Villanova are the only Big East teams most experts project to make the bracket.

The Pirates don’t have a dominant scorer as their three top threats, Adam “Budd” Clark (11.6), A.J. Staton-McCray (11.5) and Tajuan Simpkins (11.0) lead the way.

The Bluejays have also seen their NCAA Tournament hopes take a hit recently. After starting the Big East schedule 6-3, they have lost three straight. Wednesday was the latest setback in a 76-68 loss to Georgetown.

Coach Greg McDermott was frustrated that the Bluejays did not play like themselves.

“I told them at halftime they had nine (offensive) rebounds and no second-chance points … that’s fool’s gold,” McDermott said. “The 16 turnovers for us is just out of character. A lot of them were just foolish turnovers.”

The Bluejays also do not have a dominant scorer, but a collection of cogs. Josh Dix (11.7), Austin Swartz (11.3), Jasen Green (10.7) and Nik Graves (10.0) top the list.

Swartz is scoring 15.3 points per game in Big East play. Green, at just 6-foot-8, leads the team with 5.1 rebounds per game.

“We are playing small,” McDermott said. “Jasen Green started at small forward last year and at center this year. It is kind of the hand we have been dealt. We are asking him to do a lot.”

–Field Level Media