The Indiana Pacers were busy in Thursday night’s NBA Draft. The Blue and Gold took Oregon shooting guard Chris Duarte with the 13th overall pick, and added Kentucky center Isaiah Jackson with the 22nd selection after a pair of draft night trades. Duarte was the Pac-12 Player of the Year and the Jerry West Award winner as the nation’s best shooting guard. At 24-years-old, the Canadian-Dominican sharp shooter was the oldest player selected in the draft. Jackson was acquired in a trade with the Wizards in exchange for the 31st overall pick and guard Aaron Holiday. The 19-year-old Jackson left Kentucky after his freshman season and he was honored on the SEC All-Defensive and All-Freshman teams.
A pair of swimmers with Indiana ties captured medals at the Tokyo Olympics Thursday night. Evansville native and IU grad Lilly King and Bloomington resident Annie Lazor won silver and bronze, respectively, in the 200-meter breaststroke. It is King’s fourth Olympic medal and her second of the Tokyo games. Merrillville native and Pike High School grad Lynna Irby is one of many Hoosiers who will compete Friday. Irby will run in the inaugural 4-by-400-meter relay mixed event early Friday morning.
The Chicago Cubs traded All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees in exchange for two minor league prospects. Rizzo spent 10 years in Chicago, and was one of the cornerpieces of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series title team. The three-time All-Star will be a free agent after this season. In return, Chicago acquired pitcher Alexander Vizcaino and outfielder Kevin Alcantara. On the field, Joey Votto homered once again, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Cubs 7-4 at Wrigley Field. Votto has gone deep in a franchise-record six straight games, and the Reds took three out of four from the Cubs.
The Kansas City Royals scored early and went on to beat the Chicago White Sox 5-0 to take three out of four from the AL Central leaders. K.C. scored four runs over the first three innings, including a two-run homer from Salvador Perez in the first inning. The Sox made two trades Thursday to bolster the roster for a playoff run. Chicago acquired second baseman Cesar Hernandez from Cleveland and relief pitcher Ryan Tepera in a crosstown trade with the Cubs. Elsewhere in the division, Miguel Cabrera homered twice, and the Detroit Tigers defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-2.
