Sports
Julius Randle feels fortunate to be 'wanted' by Wolves
Jan 1, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) is defended by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) while calling for the ball in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Once he got over the initial shock of being traded from the New York Knicks to the Minnesota Timberwolves last weekend, Julius Randle was excited to join another NBA title contender.
“You want to be somewhere where you feel wanted. I feel wanted here,” Randle said Thursday. “At this point in my career, I’ve accomplished a lot of great things on an individual level, but I want to win a championship. This is a perfect opportunity to do that.”
At a Thursday news conference, Randle was introduced along with Donte DiVincenzo and Keita Bates-Diop, who were acquired in the deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Big Apple. The Wolves also landed a future first-round pick in the blockbuster deal.
Randle, 29, was a three-time All-Star in his five seasons with the Knicks, but a shoulder injury kept him out of their playoff run this spring.
Randle put up 24 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 2023-24. He is due to make $28.9 million in the 2024-25 season, and he has a $30.9 million player option for the following season.
“It was a breath of fresh air,” Randle said about the trade. “I’m excited to bring everything I’ve learned here over the past five years and help these guys out. My only thing here is I just want to help.
“I want to help (Anthony Edwards). I want to help Rudy (Gobert), Naz (Reid) — all those guys. I want to help win a championship, and that’s the only thing that matters.”
Per Wolves coach Chris Finch, who coached Randle in 2018-19 with the New Orleans Pelicans, the veteran is expected to be among the starting five.
“We feel we could end up one of the deeper teams in the league,” Finch said.
DiVincenzo improves that depth, joining a reserve corps highlighted by Reid, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year last season. DiVincenzo, who shot 40 percent from 3-point range, gives the Wolves a boost in that department as well after they finished 15th last season in made 3-pointers. The Villanova product is also looking forward to the various lineups the Wolves employ.
“That was a big part of why I’m so excited,” said the 27-year-old DiVincenzo, who has three years remaining on his contract for a total of almost $36 million. “You can play so many different lineups. Small, big, it doesn’t matter.”
DiVincenzo produced a career-high 15.5 points per game last season while adding 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
Jerry Kelly drives on hole No. 4 during the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. With a 2-under par third round, Jerry Kelly tied Cameron Percy atop the leaderboard of the ISPS Handa Senior Open in Perth, Scotland on Saturday.
For Kelly, it was his second straight round of 2-under par 68 en route to being at 8-under 202 through three rounds. Meanwhile, Percy had his roughest afternoon of the week with a 1-over 71. The Australian started the event red hot with a 7-under 63.
Peter Baker (67, 5-under 205) and South Africa’s Darren Fichardt (68, 4-under) resided in third and fourth place, respectively. Pat Perez (67), South African Ernie Els (71) and Austria’s Markus Brier are all tied for fifth at three-under par.
Despite his position, Kelly, 59, remains focused on the round ahead of him.
“Yeah, we scoreboard watch, but it’s still Saturday,” he said. “So, there’s no real emotions going on for that scoreboard. Just want to position yourself for tomorrow and you want to get the job done tomorrow and that’s the key.”
Nevertheless, he recognized how meaningful it would be to win a Senior Open Championship.
“Yeah, that would be one of the most special things at this stage of my career. Like any player, I might treasure that above all else.”
Tim Petrovic was the round leader, shooting a 4-under that vaulted him 46 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 16th place.
Clark Dennis had a strong showing, as well. His 67 shot him up 21 spots to a tie for eighth place.
Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (70) is tied for 31st at 3-over 213.
–Field Level Media
Sports
With 318th homer, Royals' Salvador Perez sets club mark
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Salvador Perez, who hit the first home run of his career at Comerica Park in Detroit in 2011, set the Kansas City Royals’ all-time record with No. 318 on Saturday at the same venue.
In the Royals’ 3-2 win over the Tigers, Perez tied the game at 2 in the seventh inning with a 401-foot solo shot to left off right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan.
Perez’s blast broke a tie with Hall of Famer George Brett, who hit 317 homers for Kansas City from 1973-93. Like Brett, Perez has played his entire career with the Royals since debuting in 2011.
The 36-year-old is batting .210 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 98 games this season. He is a nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove catcher.
In 1,805 games with Kansas City, Perez has hit .261 with 748 runs and 1,060 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rangers place 3B Josh Jung (calf) on 10-day IL
Jul 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) follows through on his single against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images The American League West-leading Texas Rangers placed starting third baseman Josh Jung on the 10-day injured list on Saturday — retroactive to Wednesday — with a left calf strain.
In a corresponding move, the Rangers recalled infielder Josh Smith from Triple-A Round Rock before Saturday’s home game against the second-place Seattle Mariners.
Jung, 28, exited Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox after three innings with a left calf issue and has not played since. In 92 games this season, the 2023 All-Star is hitting .294 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs. He is eligible to return to the active roster on Aug. 1.
Texas’ first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft, Jung has hit .264 with 58 home runs and 196 RBIs in 417 games with the Rangers.
Smith, 28, is in his third stint with the Rangers this season, batting .230 with one run and eight RBIs in 40 games. The versatile five-year veteran has played five positions in 2026, mainly seeing time at second base (34 games/30 starts).
In 496 games with Texas since being acquired from the New York Yankees in 2021, Smith has hit .236 with 32 homers and 136 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
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