The Houston Rockets signed guard James Harden to a four-year contract extension for about $160 million on Saturday, giving him a total six-year deal with $228 million guaranteed, the richest contract in NBA history. With Harden under contract on his existing deal for another two seasons, the extension will not affect Houston’s aggressive pursuit of free agents this summer as the Rockets try to make a run at the Golden State Warriors. They have already acquired Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers. Harden’s extension runs through the 2022-23 season but will not kick in until 2019. Harden averaged 29.1 points, an NBA-leading 11.2 assists, and 8.1 rebounds and finished second in the MVP race to former Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook.
Hardaway returns to Knicks
The New York Knicks signed Tim Hardaway Jr. to a four-year, $71 million contract. The 6-foot-5-inch Hardaway returned to the Knicks after two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, who declined to match the Knicks’ offer sheet for the restricted free agent guard . . . Jamal Crawford agreed to a two-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, confirmed a person with knowledge of the situation. Minnesota only had the exception left to use for the deal, worth about $4.2 million for the upcoming season. The second year is a player option. Crawford can’t sign the deal until he clears waivers . . . Timberwolves power forward Taj Gibson was arrested for driving with a suspended license and a moving violation in New York City. Police said a 2016 Mercedes Benz sedan made an illegal U-turn in Queens early Thursday. Police stopped the car and Gibson, who was driving, produced a suspended Illinois driver’s license. He’s due in court on Sept. 1. The Timberwolves said in a statement Saturday they’re aware of the incident. . . . Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was fined $10,000 for using inappropriate language on social media. Embiid used an obscenity in lashing out at LaVar Ball, father of No. 2 overall draft pick, Lonzo. The two have traded insults since the draft, with LaVar Ball criticizing the oft-injured Embiid for his inability to stay healthy.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram will miss the rest of the Las Vegas Summer League after suffering cramping in his right calf.
WNBA
Sun win fourth straight
Jonquel Jones scored 22 points, Alyssa Thomas hit the go-ahead jumper with 36 seconds and the Connecticut Sun overcame a 22-point, second-half deficit to beat the Washington Mystics, 96-92, in Uncasville. Thomas finished with 19 points to help Connecticut win its fourth straight game and move past Washington for the Eastern Conference lead.
Baseball
Francona home from hospital
Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona is resting at home following a procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat. Francona was discharged from the Cleveland Clinic on Saturday. He had the procedure Thursday after experiencing dizziness and an accelerated heart rate the last month. Francona will skip next week's All-Star Game in Miami and will rejoin the Indians on the road following the break . . . The New York Mets placed outfielder Brandon Nimmo on the 10-day disabled list with a partially collapsed lung. Nimmo said he started feeling discomfort after the Mets' game on July 4, but could not recall a particular event that caused the injury. Nimmo is hitting .350 with two RBIs in 15 games . . . Righthander Barlolo Colon spurned a reunion with the Mets by agreeing Friday to a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins, who would be his 10th major league team over a 20-year career.
Miscellany
Goalie gets Breakers a draw
Goalie Sammy Jo Prudhomme made a career-high eight saves Friday night to help send the Boston Breakers to a scoreless tie with the Chicago Red Stars at Harvard’s Jordan Field. Prudhomme has a shutout streak of 316 minutes, the longest in Breakers NWSL history . . . Kyle Busch took the lead during a late caution and held on to win the rain-rescheduled 300-mile NASCAR Xfinity Series at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta . . . Will Power won the pole for Sunday’s IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway in Newton. This is his fourth pole of the season . . . Top-ranked women’s doubles tennis player Bethanie Mattek-Sands will need surgery after dislocating her right kneecap and rupturing her patellar tendon during a singles match Thursday at Wimbledon . . . Bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes was scratched from her title defense against Valentina Shevchenko after being hospitalized just a few hours before UFC 213 in Las Vegas.UFC President Dana White confirmed the pay-per-view show’s main event was canceled.
. . . Striker Romelu Lukaku was arrested for raucous partying in Beverly Hills, Calif. Police say Lukaku was arrested after officers warned him five times to turn down party music at a home in the city last weekend. Romelu plays for Everton in the Premier League, but Manchester United is trying to sign him to a $97 million transfer deal. It’s not clear why Lukaku was in the Los Angeles area.
