Digest

Los Angeles Clippers

Paul undergoes thumb surgery

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, an injury that occurred last month before he played for the US in the London Olympics.

The team said Paul had the surgery on Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks. That means the All-Star guard wouldn't resume basketball activities until mid-October. The Clippers open the season on Oct 31 against Memphis.

The Clippers said Paul got hurt during the US training camp in Las Vegas. Despite the injury, he went on to lead the US men's team to a gold medal in London. Paul started all eight games in the Olympics, averaging 8.3 points, 5.1 assists and a tournament-best 2.5 steals.

Paul is the second Clippers star to have surgery this summer. All-Star forward Blake Griffin had arthroscopic surgery on July 16 to repair the medial meniscus tear of his left knee that he suffered while training with the US team. The injury forced him to miss the Olympics, but he is expected to be ready for the start of the season.

New York

Jordan to join Obama at fundraiser

Barack Obama and legendary NBA star Michael Jordan will team up in New York on Wednesday for a basketball-themed fundraiser expected to raise $2 million for the president's re-election campaign.

Obama campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said the president will attend three events in the Big Apple on that day.

"When we get to New York ... there's a dinner that's $20,000 per person - we've sold about 120 tickets," Psaki told reporters aboard the president's airplane on Tuesday.

"There are two earlier events, including an autograph signing event. Tickets are $250 per person. And a skills camp, a (basketball) shoot-around."

Psaki refused to say if Obama, an avid basketball fan and player who often plays in pickup games with White House staffers, will shoot hoops with Jordan, widely seen as the greatest basketball player of all time. In early August Jordan and other basketball stars signed up for an "Obama Classic" - a draw for the chance to shoot hoops with basketball greats including Carmelo Anthony, Patrick Ewing and Sheryl Swoopes.

For a $3 contribution, one contest winner will also get the chance to join Jordan and Obama for dinner. The president's campaign team has used the raffle technique before, to raise funds for dinners with the president and first lady and for the chance to attend a fundraising event with actor George Clooney.

Golden State

Bogut should be back for opener

Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut fully expects to be in the lineup for the season opener on Oct 31 at Phoenix after undergoing surgery this year on his troublesome ankle.

How much the Australian will play during the exhibition schedule, he's still not sure. Bogut believes he will be nearly full strength by the start of training camp Oct 3, but might still be limited during the preseason as a precaution.

"I definitely want to be ready for training camp. I think it will be close," Bogut said Sunday before heading to a Monday morning workout in Australia.

"The immediate goal with all of this is to make sure I'm ready for the first game. Whether that means playing only half the preseason games, it's just about being smart with my ankle. There's no point in trying to get ready for Oct 1 when an extra week could significantly help. It's just a matter of monitoring it very smartly and not doing anything stupid."

WNBA

Lawson's 3-pointer lifts Sun past Shock

Two days after getting a contract extension, Kara Lawson showed why the Connecticut Sun were eager to keep her for a few more years.

Lawson scored 19 points, including a wide-open 3-pointer from the left corner with 11.8 seconds left in overtime to give Connecticut an 82-80 win over the Tulsa Shock on Tuesday night.

Lawson, who signed a three-year extension on Sunday, also had four rebounds and four assists for the Eastern Conference-leading Sun (17-5).

Renee Montgomery scored 16 points and Tina Charles, battling a sinus infection, had 13 points and eight rebounds for Connecticut. Allison Hightower added 12 points and Mistie Mims had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Temeka Johnson had 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Shock (3-18) and Jennifer Lacy scored 14. Roneeka Hodges and Ivory Latta scored 13 points each and rookie Glory Johnson had a game-high 15 rebounds.

AP-AFP

(China Daily 08/23/2012 page24)