Conor McGregor is in fine shape and "looking great" ahead of his return to the octagon, according to the Irish fighter's coach John Kavanagh.
The 34-year-old was last in action at UFC 264 in July 2021, when a trilogy fight with bitter rival Dustin Poirier ended in defeat after McGregor suffered a nasty leg injury.
McGregor is back in training now, though, with Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler among the names linked for his comeback fight.
While the identity of his next opponent remains unclear, Kavanagh was quick to hail the impressive physical condition that McGregor has already achieved in the gym.
"He's healthy, happy and it's great to have him back," Kavanagh said. "He did a great session last night, we got some great rounds in. He hasn't lost a beat and was looking great."
McGregor's last fight with Poirier was at lightweight, but he has also competed at both featherweight and welterweight.
Kavanagh remains confident that his charge will be able to make whatever weight he chooses.
"Look, when we get to the stage of looking at weight classes and opponents there's nobody more professional than Conor at making weight and it will all be done properly," he added.
"When that silverback arm goes around your neck there's a bit of an extra squeeze there, so, he's very, very strong at the moment."
McGregor has previously come under scrutiny for his past actions and controversial comments at news conferences, but Kavanagh insists that his fighter does not always act like that.
"I always tell people, they see this kind of performance part of his persona," he continued.
"It's two or three times a year, at the press conferences and it's all very loud and glitzy and glamour and entertainment.
"It's the 52-weeks-of-the-year guy that part of me wishes some people would be more aware of. He's a very, very special part of the gym, as a whole, and I'll say my life."
Novak Djokovic intends to compete at the US Open at the end of August, but will not risk a reoccurrence of the vaccination-related furore that saw him deported from Australia.
The Serbian lifted his seventh Wimbledon title earlier this month, moving level with Pete Sampras for the second-most wins at the All England Club, only behind Roger Federer (eight).
Djokovic also returned to just one grand slam title behind Rafael Nadal's record of 22, with the US Open that starts on August 29 the final headline act of the 2022 season.
While Djokovic enjoyed more Wimbledon success, it was only his second major of the year after the world number seven missed the Australian Open in January due to his refusal to be vaccinated.
His insistence to not take the vaccination against COVID-19 also saw him miss the Indian Wells Masters in March, owing to the United States' coronavirus rulings.
The United States still does not allow unvaccinated foreigners to enter the country without an exemption – meaning Djokovic's ability to appear in New York is in doubt.
Despite expressing his hopes to feature at the hard-court major, Djokovic insisted he will not be willing to face a repeat of the ongoings in Australia in order to compete.
"I'm not going to go to America if I don't have permission, so the Australian saga for me was not pleasant at all," he said after opening a tennis complex in the Bosnian town of Visoko.
"People still think I forced my way to Australia and tried to come in with no papers, permission or exemption – it is not true.
"That was proven in the court cases, so I would never go into a country where I didn't have permission to travel. I would love to come back to Australia. I love Australia, I had my best Grand Slam results in that country.
"Hopefully I can be there in January because I want to be there, and I also want to be in New York. I want to be in America and everywhere I can possibly play."
Djokovic remains hopeful for a change in policy in America given he has no intentions to take the vaccination, nor does he envisage an exemption coming.
"I am a professional tennis player, I don't go into politics or anything else because that doesn't interest me," he added.
"I have my stance and I am a proponent for freedom to choose what is best for you. I respect everything and everybody, and I expect people to at least respect my decision.
"If I have permission, I'll be there. If I don't, I won't be there – it's not the end of the world."
Mehar Trehan and Katherine Risden both secured individual gold medals for Jamaica at the ongoing CASA Caribbean Junior Squash Championships in Guyana.
Trehan won gold in the Girls Under-15 category by beating Bermuda’s Sommers Stevenson 11-4, 11-2, 11-1.
Risden won the U-17 title by beating Barbados’ Eboni Atherley 8-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7.
The Girls U-19 title was won by Barbados’ Sumairaa Suleman who came from two sets down to defeat Guyana’s Kirsten Gomes 7-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9).
On the Boys side, Guyana’s Shomari Wiltshire won the U-19 title in straight sets over Barbados’ Darien Benn (11-6, 11-5, 11-5).
In the U-17 section, Guyana’s Nicholas Verwey needed four sets to beat his teammate Alphonso Michael (10-12, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6).
Jaydon Williams of St Vincent & the Grenadines won the U-15 title with a four-set win over Nicholas Lequay of Trinidad & Tobago (11-5, 11-2, 7-11, 11-8).
Tom Brady will not commit to playing beyond 2022, though said it is not a certainty that the upcoming NFL season will be his last.
Brady, who retired after last season but swiftly changed his mind, will turn 45 in August, and in May he acknowledged he is near the end of one of the most accomplished careers of any athlete.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback also said he believes he's still got something left, however, as he approaches his 23rd training camp and third with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"My body feels really good," Brady told Variety. "I've had a lot of traumatic injuries over the years, but if things go really smoothly and we win, that'd be great."
Brady also touched on his decision to temporarily announce his retirement in February, as well as his rationale for reversing course and returning to the Buccaneers.
"I made the decision in the moment, and I felt it was the right thing for the team to let the Bucs know," he said.
"You need time to plan. And then through conversations with Bruce [Arians], [general manager] Jason [Licht] and my wife, I felt like I could still play and compete.
"I would have preferred to un-retire in July if I wanted to play, but I couldn't. If I said I'm not playing, they'd make plans. So, I felt there was a lot of pressure to make a decision quickly. And then ultimately, I just decided, 'yes, let's do it.' Once I said that, it was like – 'OK, here we go'."
Shortly after Brady declared his intention to come back for another season, Fox Sports announced it had signed the future Hall of Famer to a 10-year, $375million contract to serve as the network's lead analyst for its NFL Game of the Week broadcasts once he does retire for good,
Whether that will be after the 2022 season, Brady said nothing is yet set in stone.
"Could this be my last year? Absolutely," he said. "Could I change my mind? Absolutely. I've realised I don't have five years left.
"I want to do it my way. I want to give it everything I got and see where I'm at."
Brady did acknowledge that winning another Super Bowl would make it easier to call it quits after this season, while also admitting that the Buccaneers' playoff loss to the eventual 2021 champion Los Angeles Rams influenced his choice to come back.
"I think that would obviously be the greatest way to end," he said. "I just have a competitive fire that got the best of me."
Yulia Putintseva recovered from a set behind to overcome Laura Pigossi and keep her Budapest Grand Prix title defence alive.
The Kazakh player took time to get going but eventually prevailed 4-6 6-1 6-2 against her Brazilian opponent in the last-16 clash to make it seven wins in a row in the competition.
While the third seed was able to bounce back, there was no such luck for Chinese sixth seed Zhang Shuai as she was soundly beaten 6-1 6-0 by Serbian Aleksandra Krunic.
China's Wang Xiyu awaits Krunic in the quarter-finals after beating Romanian Ana Bogdan 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (12-10) in a match lasting two hours and 43 minutes.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto was also victorious on Thursday, the Italian seeing off Wimbledon doubles champion Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 7-5 in the final match of the day.
At the Ladies Open Lausanne, surprise Wimbledon singles quarter-finalist Jule Niemeier made it through to the last eight of another tournament, enjoying a 6-4 6-2 triumph against fellow German Eva Lys.
Caroline Garcia made it through to her fourth quarter-final of the year with a 6-1 6-4 win over French compatriot Leolia Jeanjean.
Qualifier Olga Danilovic saved a match point before going on to beat Anna Kalinskaya 6-3 3-6 7-5, while Belinda Bencic advanced from an all-Swiss battle with a 6-3 6-4 win over Susan Bandecchi.
Four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome has "no regrets" after he fought to finish third on stage 12 up the Alpe d'Huez.
The stage was won by fellow Brit Tom Pidcock on his Tour de France debut, but Froome's third-place finish was a brilliant side story in another engaging day.
After a huge crash at the 2019 Criterium du Dauphine, Froome was left in intensive care with multiple serious injuries.
The incident threatened to end his career, but after a long recovery Froome has now achieved his best Tour de France stage finish since 2018.
Having been part of a five-man breakaway over the penultimate ascent, Froome managed to stick with the lead group right the way up the famous final climb of Thursday's stage.
Despite finishing over two minutes behind Pidcock, the Israel-Premier Tech rider was understandably proud of his performance, and told reporters: "No regrets today.
"Naturally, I would have loved to have put my hands up and tried to win the stage.
"But I gave it absolutely everything I had today and I don't have any regrets.
"I think where I've come from the last three years, battling back after my accident, to finish third on one of the hardest stages on the tour, I can be really happy with that.
"I'm going to keep pushing, I don't know where my limits are. I'm going to keep trying to improve and hopefully get back to winning ways again."
Tom Pidcock marked his Tour de France debut with a stunning ride on stage 12, while race leader Jonas Vingegaard held off Tadej Pogacar.
Up the famous Alpe d'Huez, on Bastille Day, Olympic gold medallist Pidcock stormed to a remarkable, record-setting triumph – his first Grand Tour stage win.
Having attacked with 10 kilometres of the climb remaining, approaching the culmination of a 165.5km ride on Thursday, the 22-year-old Yorkshireman saw off Louis Meintjes to claim a remarkable triumph.
In the process, Pidcock – who was part of a five-man breakaway that took a six-minute time gap to the foot of the final ascent – became the youngest stage winner up the Alpe d'Huez in Le Tour history, breaking the record held by Lucho Herrera since 1984.
Yet Pidcock's tale was not the only incredible story of a quite sensational stage, with four-time champion Chris Froome claiming third, having planted himself in the breakaway group. While the yellow jersey is far out of the 37-year-old's reach, his performance echoed the form he was able to show in the years prior to his serious crash in 2019.
Behind the lead group, the fascinating general classification tussle between new leader Vingegaard and two-time defending champion Pogacar unfolded, hinting at the drama that is sure to come over the coming stages.
Pogacar twice attacked late on, yet Jumbo-Visma's Vingegaard kept pace.
The GC rivals pushed on for a sprint finish, with Pogacar nosing ahead to claim fifth place, though he was unable to damage Vingegaard, while Pidcock's INEOS Grenadier's team-mate Geraint Thomas, who conquered the mountain while wearing yellow in 2018, put himself into the top three in the overall standings.
But the day belonged to Pidcock, who after ploughing on to victory through thousands of vociferous spectators, said: "That was unbelievable, one of the craziest experiences ever. I can hardly hear anything, I've probably got hearing damage!
"That was ridiculous, at many points I thought I was going to get taken out."
Team GB's golden boy a speed demon
Pidcock is a star on the mountain bike, and those technical skills came in handy on the descent of the Col du Galibie, which preceded the climb up Alpe d'Huez. He clocked a top speed of 100km/h on the way down, while he averaged 19.7km/h on his way up to the summit finish.
"That is a record, I've never been over 100k before. It helps when there's a race to go for, doesn't it?" he said.
"I'm lucky that I can descend or I wouldn't have won today. I don't think there was any way of me getting away at the start of the stage but I knew if the break was close enough at the top, I could go across on the descent because it was pretty twisty. I'm lucky Froomey was in front, we worked well together."
Froome, who won his first Tour de France when Pidcock was just 13, said: "He was flying down the descents today. His bike handling probably came in handy, there were a few times where I held back a bit because I was definitely at the limit."
STAGE RESULTS
1. Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) 4:55:24
2. Louis Meintjes (Intermarche–Wanty–Gobert Materiaux) +0:48
3. Chris Froome (Israel–Premier Tech) +2:06
4. Neilson Powless (EF Education–EasyPost) +2:29
5. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) +3:23
CLASSIFICATION STANDINGS
General Classification
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 46:28:46
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) +2:22
3. Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) +2:26
Points Classification
1. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) 313
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) 159
3. Fabio Jakobsen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) 155
King of the Mountains
1. Simon Geschke (Cofidis) 43
2. Louis Meintjes (Intermarche–Wanty–Gobert Materiaux) 39
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 36
Eddie Jones implored his England side to be "even better" in the Test series decider against Australia, where he insisted the mindsets of his players will be vital.
England ended a four-match losing streak by defeating Australia 25-17 in Brisbane to level the three-Test series, teeing up a winner-takes-all decider in Sydney on Saturday.
The tourists have won four of their past five games in Oceania, having done so just once in their previous 12 away matches against teams from that continent.
Jack van Poortvliet impressed in the second Test but has been replaced by Danny Care, though coach Jones suggested the decision is tactical.
"We've got to be even better. And it's all about the mindset of the players," Jones told Sky Sports.
"Physically we're really good, but the players have got to attune themselves to how important the start is. We're aiming to get that right with our boys.
"We've had a really good week. We were pretty battered after the Brisbane Test, so we didn't train until Tuesday but we had a good session and an even better session on Wednesday.
"We've got a younger team again, but they're all up for the challenge, and some of our old players have come back, like the Vunipolas, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jonny Hill are coming back to their best, so it's a good team we've got in place and we're looking forward to the challenge of winning the series.
"It's a tactical decision [Care for Van Poortvliet]. We feel that JVP will handle the latter part of the game really well, and that's where the game's going to be won and lost.
"And the first part of the game with the New Zealand referee Paul Williams is probably going to be a lot of quick ruck ball, and that's where Danny is at his absolute best.
"So we're just trying to maximise the strengths of each of those two players – JVP was magnificent last week."
England will be without Sam Underhill and Maro Itoje after the pair suffered concussions in the second Test, while Tom Curry has returned home after sustaining the same injury.
Ollie Chessum and Lewis Ludlam have been introduced to replace Underhill and Itoje, and Jones has little concern the pair will slot straight into the team.
"[Ludlam] has energy. He works really hard on and off the ball, and he's also a very good communicator on the field, so whilst we'll miss Sam and Tom Curry, we won't lose anything with Lewis," Jones added.
"Maro's been one of those guys that has been in nearly every Test team I've picked in the time I've been here.
"So we'll miss him but Chessum's a good young player, he's been training really well, he was part of the very successful Leicester Tigers team and he'll enjoy the opportunity."
Serena Williams will compete at the Canadian Open among a host of star-studded names as she ramps up her preparations for the US Open.
Williams returned to Wimbledon in June in what was her first singles match since suffering injury in last year's competition at the All England Club.
The 23-time grand slam champion succumbed to a first-round elimination at SW19, though, falling to Harmony Tan on Centre Court.
While Williams, 40, could offer little assurances she would return to the British major, she suggested she would play at the US Open, stating "there's always motivation to get better and play at home".
Williams will be joined in Canada by world number one Iga Swiatek, four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka, French Open finalist Coco Gauff and reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu as 41 of the top 43-ranked players descend on Toronto, with the tournament starting on August 6.
It will also mark Williams' first appearance at the event since she finished runner-up to Bianca Andreescu in 2019.
"When you read over that star-studded list, it's hard not to get excited about the WTA Tour making its return to Sobeys Stadium," said tournament director Karl Hale.
"Not only is this one of the strongest, if not the strongest, player list we've ever submitted, but it's also the first time in three years that the [Canadian] Open returns to a full capacity.
"We're thrilled that these players will have a chance to play in front of a packed house, and we're even happier for our fans who will get to watch tennis' very best at the 2022 edition."
Rory McIlroy was thrilled with his first-round 66 at the 150th Open Championship and is determined to back it up with another strong showing on Friday.
The four-time major winner sat two shots behind clubhouse leader Cameron Young after a superb opening round at St Andrews, with only one blemish on his scorecard.
McIlroy came close to an eagle on the last but settled for a birdie that left him six under and firmly in the mix.
"That was just sort of what you hope will happen when you're starting off your week," he said.
"I did everything that you're supposed to do around St Andrews. I birdied the holes that are birdieable and I made pars at the holes where you're sort of looking to make a par and move to the next tee. I didn't really put myself out of position too much.
"So, overall, really pleased. It's another good start at a major. Three in a row for me now. And looking forward to the next few days.
"Everything feels very settled. No real issues with my game. Everything feels like it's in good shape. Everything feels just sort of nice and quiet, which is a nice way to be."
Despite his evident satisfaction, the 2014 Champion Golfer of the Year, who was injured and unable to defend that title at St Andrews in 2015, knows he cannot rest on his laurels.
"I need to go out and back up what I just did," he said. "I think that's important to do.
"But again, this golf course isn't going to change that much, I don't think, in terms of conditions.
"I've seen the golf course now in tournament play and tournament conditions and know what to expect. I've just got to go out and back up what I've done."
While McIlroy enjoyed a fine start, the same could not be said for 15-time major winner Tiger Woods, who was four over through six holes and facing an uphill struggle to make the weekend.
Reigning champion Collin Morikawa signed for an even-par 72, while English amateur Barclay Brown made a name for himself with a 68.
World number one Scottie Scheffler looms large on four under after 11 holes.
Dan Biggar and Dillon Lewis have been passed fit to start Wales' series decider with South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.
Wales skipper Biggar and tight-head prop Lewis left the field in last weekend's 13-12 victory in Bloemfontein with shoulder and arm injuries respectively.
However, both players were named in Wales' starting XV on Thursday, with head coach Wayne Pivac making just one enforced change.
With wing Alex Cuthbert having already been ruled out, Josh Adams – who scored Wales' late try last time out – comes into the side for the crunch clash.
It means the tourists will go with the same side that started the series opener two weeks ago, which ended in a dramatic 32-29 defeat in Pretoria.
George North will also start, seeing him overtake Stephen Jones as Wales' most-capped men's international back of all time with 105 appearances.
South Africa named their squad on Tuesday, with Jacques Nienaber making 11 changes to the hosts' line-up.
Eben Etzebeth will become the seventh Springboks player to win 100 Test caps, while Bongi Mbonambi reaches the half-century mark.
The Boks, gearing up for next month's Rugby Championship, are out to avoid successive home defeats for the first time since losing three in a row between July 2015 and June 2016.
South Africa: Willemse, Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, De Allende, Mapimpi, Pollard, Hendrikse; Nyakane, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi, Du Toit, Wiese.
Replacements: Marx, Kitshoff, Koch, Mostert, Smith, Louw, De Klerk, Le Roux.
Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Adams; Biggar (c), Hardy; G Thomas, Elias, D Lewis, Rowlands, Beard, Lydiate, Reffell, Faletau.
Replacements: Lake, W Jones, S Wainwright, Alun Wyn Jones, Navidi, T Williams, Anscombe, Watkin.
Australia must prove their intensity against England in order to "shut the Pommies up" in the third and final Test this weekend, says winger Suliasi Vunivalu.
The Wallabies head to Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday for the final game of their three-match series with Eddie Jones' side.
Having overcome a tough start to win in Perth, the hosts were then outclassed in Brisbane, leaving the last match in New South Wales as a winner-takes-all decider.
Former NRL winger-turned-cross-code convert Vunivalu will make his debut in the green and gold, having previously represented Fiji - the country of his birth - at international level in rugby league.
The ex-Melbourne Storm man has been named on the bench for the match and says if Australia can find the intensity straight out of the gate they have missed, they will only improve their prospects against the tourists.
"We have been lacking that with the Wallabies for our first 20 minutes," he stated. "If we can bring that up and shut the Pommies up, we'll do a good job."
Having crossed codes to join the Queensland Reds last year, injury has kept Vunivalu away from a maiden bow for his adopted country, but the winger is delighted that he will finally get his chance.
"It’s been a long time coming with a couple of setbacks last year," he added.
"The main goal last year coming over to rugby was to play for Reds and don the gold jersey. I feel grateful to be able to play in this third game and decider in Sydney."
"I’m fully excited and can’t wait. Just to look back with all the setbacks, watching the boys last year and the spring tour. I was doing my rehab in Melbourne, itching to get back and now the day has come."
The National Football League (NFL) has given its backing to a bid to introduce flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
American football has not been seen at the quadrennial sporting event since a demonstration event at Los Angeles 1932.
But with the event returning to California following Paris 2024, the sport's leading governing body is now looking to secure a spot for flag football - a non-contract variation - at the subsequent Olympiad.
Executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent will co-chair the "Vision28" group alongside International Federation of American Football president Pierre Trochet, the NFL announced on Wednesday.
"We see flag football as an all-inclusive sport, which makes it a great vehicle to spread the values of American football around the world," Vincent issued in a statement.
"As co-chair of the Vision28 mission, the NFL is committed to place critical assets such as technological, broadcast, commercial, sports science, youth engagement, fan engagement at the service of the Olympic movement and our shared global goal of football for all."
Flag football - in which a pair of five-on-five sides play over a 50-yard by 25-yard field, with 10-yard end zones, and are tackled through the removal of a flag on their belt - is not the only new sport in the conversation for 2028.
Baseball and softball will likely be pursuing inclusion after a return at Tokyo 2020, while cricket will also push for some form of representation.
Elsewhere, the new NFL campaign is less than two months away, with defending Super Bowl champions the Los Angeles Rams to host the Buffalo Bills in the Kickoff Game on September 8.
Justin Rose has pulled out of The Open at St Andrews after suffering a back injury, with Rikuya Hoshino taking his place.
The 2013 U.S. Open champion was due to tee off at the 150th Open in a group with fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and 2018 Claret Jug winner Francesco Molinari.
However, the former world number one was unable to join his Ryder Cup team-mates as Hoshino instead completed the trio.
Rose's best placing at golf's oldest major came in the year Molinari won at Carnoustie, when he finished in a tie for second.
Paul Lawrie had the honour of getting the action under way at the Fife links on Thursday, with a host of big-name contenders waiting in the wings.
Defending champion Collin Morikawa goes out at 09:58 BST (local time) with four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and the in-form Xander Schauffele for company.
Another trio sure to draw a big following will head out at 14:59, when Tiger Woods and U.S. Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick will be joined by Max Homa.
Woods, who has won two of his three Open titles at St Andrews, said playing this tournament at the home of golf was a major motivating factor for him to return to fitness after his car crash last February.
World number one Scottie Scheffler goes out at 13:26 alongside Joaquin Niemann and Tyrrell Hatton, while Jon Rahm is also an afternoon starter in a group that includes 2017 winner Jordan Spieth.
Conditions appear favourable on Scotland's east coast, with the fairways firm and receptive greens, although wind speeds may cause some problems at various points across the four days of competition.
Leicester second-rower Ollie Chessum will make his first start and Danny Care returns to Eddie Jones' XV for England in the deciding third Test against Australia.
The tourists have made minimal changes to the side that delivered a major victory in Brisbane last Saturday, to force their three-game series to a decider against the Wallabies.
After overcoming the frustrations of an opening loss to their hosts in Perth despite a man advantage for most of the game, coach Jones rung the changes in a bid to stave off a second defeat in as many games.
That delivered a crucial 25-17 victory at Suncorp Stadium to take the series through to its final match, at Sydney Cricket Ground this weekend.
Chessum comes into the side as part of an enforced change, taking the spot of Maro Itoje, while Lewis Ludlum also steps up after Sam Underhill was ruled out with concussion.
Care meanwhile is the lone tactical change made by Jones to his backline, with the Harlequins scrum-half given the nod over Jack van Poortvliet, having been dropped for the latter in Queensland.
Australia meanwhile make four changes to the side that were downed in the Sunshine State, with two-time NRL premier and cross-code recruit Suliasi Vunivalu in line for a debut off the bench.
The ex-Melbourne Storm flyer switched codes to play for the Reds in 2021, and is the unfamiliar face among the newcomers, with Reece Hodge and Harry Wilson in for their first Tests of the year.
Nick Frost meanwhile gets a start in the second row and James Slipper moves back to the traditional spot of loosehead prop.
Australia team: Hodge, Wright, Paisami, Kerevi, Koroibete, Lolesio, White; Slipper, Porecki, Tupou, Frost, Philip, Wilson, Hooper, Valetini.
Replacements: Faingaa, Bell, Alaalatoa, Leota, Samu, McDermott, Ikitau, Vunivalu.
England team: Steward, Nowell, Porter, Farrell, Freeman, Smith, Care; Genge, George, Stuart, Chessum, Hill, Lawes, Ludlam, Vunipola.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Heyes, Isiekwe, Willis, Van Poortvliet, Joseph, Arundell.
One week after acquiring Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Denver Nuggets and the veteran swingman have agreed to a two-year, $30 million contract extension.
The Nuggets sent Will Barton and Monte Morris to the Washington Wizards prior to free agency in July, in exchange for Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith.
Caldwell-Pope is coming off a solid season for the Wizards, averaging 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals over 77 games in his lone season in Washington.
Those numbers represented an improvement over the 9.7 points and 2.7 rebounds he averaged the previous season for the Los Angeles Lakers, while taking 5.3 three-point attempts per game at 39 per cent.
In nine NBA seasons with the Wizards, Lakers and Detroit Pistons, Caldwell-Pope has averaged 11.6 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 39 per cent from three-point range.
Caldwell-Pope makes a suitable perimeter fit in Denver and will complement reigning two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, returning guard Jamal Murray and forward Michael Porter Jr.
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