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SPORTS Saturday 1 July 2017
AP Source: PG Ricky Rubio going from Wolves to Jazz

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI a stagnant franchise with
AP Basketball Writer his enthusiasm and no-look
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The passes while also suffering
Minnesota Timberwolves through losing season af-
reached an agreement ter losing season. Teaming
with Utah on Friday to send with Kevin Love, rookie Ru-
point guard Ricky Rubio to bio had the Wolves in po-
the Jazz to clear salary cap sition to make the playoffs
space for a big run in free in the Western Conference
agency, according to two when he tore the ACL in
people with direct knowl- his knee in a game against
edge of the deal. the Lakers in March 2012.
The Jazz sent the Okla- Rubio also missed 60
homa City Thunder’s 2018 games in 2014-15 with a se-
first-round draft pick to the verely sprained ankle that
Timberwolves in exchange required surgery. The two
for Rubio, a talented Span- major injuries affected his
iard who has struggled with ability to work out during
injuries at times over his six the summers, when play-
years in Minnesota. Utah ers often make the biggest
received the pick when it strides in developing their
traded Enes Kanter away games.
as part of a three-team Finally, in year No. 6, Rubio
deal in 2015. started to show signs of his
The two sides agreed to potential. Over the last 2½
the move hours before free months of the season, he
agency opened. They two averaged 15.0 points and
people spoke on condition 10.3 assists per game while
of anonymity because nei- shooting 41.7 percent from
ther team had announced the field and 37 percent
the move. The Jazz need- from 3-point range, helping
ed to make the deal be- to take some of the scor-
fore July 1 or would have ing load after Zach LaVine
lost the salary cap room went down with his own In this March 15, 2017, file photo, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio (9) tries to drive past Bos-
necessary to pull it off. torn ACL. ton Celtics’ Avery Bradley (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Boston.
They Jazz are looking to bol- The performance was vali-
ster the roster with hopes dating for a player who tered on a Rubio-for-Rose his time in Minnesota was Thibodeau ultimately de-
of convincing All-Star free had been criticized dur- swap, the Spaniard thought coming to an end. cided to pass on the deal.q
agent Gordon Hayward ing most of his NBA career
year’s playoff run. Utah for an owner who had WNBA: Jasmine Thomas scores
to return and build off last for his poor shooting, and

hadn’t previously reached backed him through all
the playoffs since 2012. the injuries, all the shooting career-high 29, Sun beat Storm
Rubio’s arrival likely means struggles and through the
the end of George Hill’s heartbreaking death of his
run in Utah, though gen- mother during the 2015-16 UNCASVILLE, Connecticut mine Thomas was 12 of 16 points in the frame. The
eral manager Dennis Lind- season. Glen Taylor and (AP) — Jasmine Thomas from the field and had six Liberty went scoreless for
sey said Wednesday that Rubio had grown close scored a career-high 29 assists. the first two minutes of the
Hill remained a top prior- over the years, and Taylor points, Alyssa Thomas had The Sun led 48-38 at half- fourth and Washington
ity. Hill averaged a career- very much wanted to keep 17 points and nine assists, time behind Jasmine pulled away.
high 16.9 points after being Rubio as the passer with and the Connecticut Sun Thomas’ 15 points and Tianna Hawkins added 13
traded from the Pacers to the new nucleus of Butler, beat the Seattle Storm 96- Alyssa Thomas’ 13. points for Washington (10-
the Jazz last summer. Inju- Towns and Wiggins. 89 in the WNBA on Thurs- Breanna Stewart had 22 5), which has won three
ries, however, limited him Rubio had been the subject day. points and 10 rebounds straight. Her 3-point play
to 49 games and caused of trade rumors for much of Connecticut led by 17 for Seattle (6-8). Jewell early in the fourth extend-
Hill to miss the final three his career, but they started points early in the fourth Loyd added 21 points, ed the Mystics’ lead to 51-
playoff games against the to feel to him like more than quarter but Seattle pulled and Sue Bird moved within 34.
Warriors. just the typical talk once to 90-89 on Crystal Lang- two assists of 2,500 for her Washington made its first
The deal means Minne- Tom Thibodeau took over horne’s two free throws career. Ticha Penicheiro, 19 free throws and fin-
sota can clear as much as as coach and president of with 1:19 left. the only player ahead of ished at 21 of 23.
$32 million in cap space to basketball operations last Shekinna Stricklen an- Bird, holds the WNBA re- Shavonte Zellous had
make a run at several free summer. swered with a baseline cord with 2,599. 17 points and seven re-
agents to pair with Karl- Thibodeau had long been jumper and, after a Se- MYSTICS 67, LIBERTY 54 bounds for New York (7-
Anthony Towns, Andrew known to prefer point attle turnover, Jasmine WASHINGTON (AP) — 6). Tina Charles grabbed
Wiggins and the recently guards with more of a scor- Thomas made a layup for Ivory Latta made four eight rebounds and
acquired Jimmy Butler. Tim- ing mentality and had suc- a five-point lead with 33 3-pointers and matched moved past Lauren Jack-
berwolves targets could in- cess with those types of seconds left. Elena Delle Donne with 15 son for 10th in league his-
clude Jeff Teague and J.J. players — Derrick Rose, D.J. Stricklen and Jasmine points to help Washington tory. Charles was just 3 of
Redick. Augustin, Nate Robinson — Thomas each made four beat the Liberty. 15 from the field for eight
Rubio was drafted in 2009 in Chicago. As the rumors 3-pointers, and Stricklen Washington led 46-34 af- points. Sugar Rodgers did
but did not come over from heated up in February with finished with 14 points for ter three quarters as New not play because of a
Spain until 2011, electrifying talks with the Knicks cen- Connecticut (7-7). Jas- York only scored seven lower back injury.q