But you might have missed the news that NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Self and his AM Racing team enthusiastically endorsed Trump, citing the GOP contender’s “Godly values,” just a day before that story broke. MORE: FS1 picks worst time to run Trump/NRA ads during MLB playoffs “We have to get God back into our lives and rebuild our Country on a foundation of Godly values,” AM Racing team owner Tim Self said in a media release....

So Williams is upset that the Phillies started their home game with the Nationals right on time at 3:05 p.m. ET. Heavy rain forced the game to be stopped in the middle of the second inning. Play never resumed. MORE: Ranking the top 10 unbreakable baseball records Just how frustrated is Williams? “Extremely,” he told reporters after the game. “Burned our pitcher. I’m not very happy about it.” Nats starter Gio Gonzalez, who pitched the first two innings in the washout, is not happy, either, and channeled his anger into some fine sarcasm....

Green flag for the Subway Firecracker 250 was scheduled for 7:50 p.m. ET, but after a lengthy rain shower, it took NASCAR about 100 minutes to dry the track and the green dropped at 9:10 p.m. With the radar fairly clear behind the band of showers that hit the track, it appeared NASCAR should get the race run in full later Friday night. It is NASCAR policy not to start a race that it doesn’t intend to run to the finish....

The statement on Wednesday by the alliance comes after an agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban for a framework for peace talks in Qatar was struck last week. Last month, the Pentagon’s Sigar (Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction) warned of a 50 percent spike in violence from the Taliban violence within three months and accused the group of targeting journalists. Radio Free Europe reported that the Taliban is carrying out targeted killings and assassinations as well as staging mass casualty attacks against Afghan government military targets....

ST. LOUIS, MO. — Alex Hannum is a balding, hardened veteran of professional basketball, now serving as hatchet man with the St. Louis Hawks. He’s seen them all in recent years and he’s not hasty with his praise, but when it comes to handsome, baby-faced Bob Pettit, the six-nine Louisiana State ace of the Mound City cagers, Hannum beams: “He’s the greatest. Yes, I said the greatest. They simply don’t come any better in all-round play and shotmaking....

MORE: Watch the NBA All-Star Game live with Sling TV (3-day free trial) In his second attempt at the competition, Knicks forward Obi Toppin defeated Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson in the final, becoming the third Knick to win a Slam Dunk Contest, joining Nate Robinson and Kenny Walker. The Sporting News has you covered with live updates, highlights and results from the Slam Dunk Contest. NBA LEAGUE PASS: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7-day free trial)...

Suns (20-16 SU, 21-14-1 ATS)at Bucks (18-17 SU, 24-11 ATS) Line: Suns -3.5,Total: 209.5 Phoenix has won eight of their last 10 while covering nine over that span. The OVER is 6-1 over the Suns’ last seven. The Suns have been strong ATS (12-7-1) and to the OVER (13-7) on the road. The Bucks have won and covered three of their last four and have stayed UNDER in their last six....

The rest of the night was just as intriguing; that’s why you need to check out Sporting News’ NBA Draft coverage. MORE: NBA Draft coverage, pick by pick | Draft photos: Crazy outfits and more | Greatest NBA Draft Ever? 1984 vs. 1996 NBA editor Adi Joseph provided instant analysis at our new NBA Draft hub . We also have all the stories and columns you expect from Sporting News’ NBA coverage....

Best player in attendance: Markelle Fultz (No. 1 on Sporting News Big Board) Fultz has decided to attend the combine, but he won’t be asked to play in the five-on-five. That means he’ll be there to measure, possibly conduct athletic and medical testing and interview for teams. He’s not considered a liability to perform poorly in any of those portions of the combine, meaning it’s a no-risk scenario for him....

With the 2022 NBA Draft Combine underway, prospect measurements have hit the league’s official stat page. While these numbers don’t guarantee immediate success at the next level — it helps to, you know, be good at basketball — they can offer a glimpse of a player’s potential. Top prospects like Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. weren’t measured at the combine, but we do know the wingspans of a few potential first-round picks....

The odds say the Warriors have a strong chance to win this year’s NBA championship — not a huge surprise for a team that won 73 regular-season games last season and added former league MVP Kevin Durant to its roster in July. Then again, the defending-champion Cavs still employ that dude named LeBron James. NBA FINALS: Vegas odds for Game 1 On Thursday, hours before Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Pregame....

MORE: Bad blood boils between Cavs and Warriors After contributing little more than his name to the final stat sheet in the first three games of the NBA Finals, the Cavs center turned in the type of gritty performance Friday night that earned him an $82-million contract in 2015. The 6-9, 238-pounder tied a team-high with 10 rebounds and added five points and as many assists to help the Cavs avoid being swept with a 137-116 Game 4 victory against the Warriors....

Even with the return of Klay Thompson from injury, the Warriors fell 105-92 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors, who are now one win from securing their first NBA championship. However, the Warriors know all too well that a 3-1 lead can be overturned, having been on the wrong end of a historic comeback by LeBron James’ Cavaliers in the 2016 Finals. Kerr expects his players to show a reaction following back-to-back defeats at home, with Game 5 set for Monday in Canada....

Michael Jordan started to change that principle. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James continued the trend. Statistical analysis that emphasized the value of the 3-pointer, and Stephen Curry’s mastery of the art, sealed it. The NBA no longer is a center’s league. Some teams barely bother to fill the position. And yet, the crucial matchup of the 2020 NBA Finals is, um, at center. No, seriously. MORE: Predictions, picks, schedule for 2020 NBA Finals...

Odds of -240 imply about a 70 percent chance to win the series. After simulating the series 10,000 times, AccuScore supports a very lopsided NBA Finals and believes the Warriors are undervalued at that price. AccuScore has the Warriors as 81 percent favorites to win the series, putting their odds closer to -425. Comparing AccuScore’s probability to that of Vegas makes the -240 odds very appealing. The most likely outcome, according to AccuScore projections, is Golden State winning the series in five games....

To their credit, the Orlando Magic still have Aaron Gordon, Mario Hezonja, Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier. It’s the rest that has been confusing. MORE: Contract advice for the top 18 free agents First the Magic traded 23-year-old silky scorer Tobias Harris to the Pistons for nothing (well, for half-seasons of Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova) back in February. Then they traded veteran forward Channing Frye for a future second-round NBA Draft pick....

The 37-year-old poured in a season-high 56 points on 19-of-31 from the field, 6-of-11 from 3-point range and 12-of-13 from the free-throw line, adding 10 rebounds and three assists to help the Lakers snap a four-game losing streak. NBA LEAGUE PASS: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7-day free trial) His 56 points are the most he’s scored in a Laker uniform and just five points shy of his career-high 61 which came in 2014 as a member of the Miami Heat....

“Everyone has known for years that there is a ton of money being made that’s not being enjoyed, frankly, by the people who are creating the games, both the owners and the players,” Roberts told ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike Show. MORE: Wiggins says trade from Cavs was for best | Curry pays respects | PHOTOS: All-Star Game gallery To that end, Roberts, the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, said she is talking with NBA players about the possibility of expanding legalized gambling....