LAS VEGAS — This is not how USA Basketball expected to open its Olympic summer.

Nigeria probably didn’t expect it, either.

If there was any expectation of invincibility for the Americans heading into the Tokyo Olympics, it’s already gone — after Nigeria beat the U.S. 90-87 on Saturday night, an international shocker pulled off by a roster primarily filled by little-known NBA players that found a way to beat a group of All-NBA, All-Star and max-contract performers.

“We just wanted to compete,” said Nigeria’s Gabe Nnamdi, who goes by Gabe Vincent when playing for the Miami Heat. “We know what USA Basketball means around the world and what they’ve stood for for so long.”

The U.S. had lost 11 games before Saturday in major international play — Olympics and World Cups, mostly — since NBA players began filling the American rosters with the first Dream Team in 1992. None of those losses came against a team from Africa.

“I thought that the Nigerian team played very physically, did a great job in that regard and knocked down a lot of 3s,” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said. “Give them credit.”

Nnamdi led Nigeria with 21 points. Caleb Agada scored 17 points, Ike Nwamu added 13 and Nigeria outscored the U.S. 60-30 from 3-point range.

Kevin Durant, who had never before played in a loss for USA Basketball in 39 senior international games, had 17 points. Jayson Tatum added 15, Damian Lillard had 14 and Bam Adebayo 11.

“Just goes to show that we have to play better,” Tatum said.

A lot better.

The Americans had gone 39-0 in their last three Olympic seasons — including pre-Olympic exhibitions — on their way to gold medals and had been 54-2 in major exhibitions since NBA players began playing for USA Basketball in 1992. Plus, they’d beaten Nigeria by a combined 127 points in their last two meetings, one at the 2012 London Games, the other a warm-up for the 2016 Rio Games.

Nigeria lost to the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics by 83 points. Lost to the Americans again four years later in an exhibition, that time by 44 points.

Not this time.

“Nigeria’s come a long way with their basketball,” USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said.

Ike Iroegbu — a former Washington State player who some time in the G League — hit a 3-pointer with about 1:15 left to put Nigeria up 88-80. Durant scored the next seven points for the U.S.; a 3-pointer, two free throws following a turnover, then two more from the line with 16.5 seconds remaining.

Nnamdi made two foul shots with 13.2 seconds left to restore Nigeria’s 3-point edge. The Americans ran 9.7 seconds off the clock on the ensuing possession without getting a shot off, and Zach LaVine missed a pair of free throws — the second intentionally — with 3.5 seconds left.

Precious Achiuwa got the rebound for Nigeria, and that was it. It’s only an exhibition — but the upset was still of the massive variety, the 22nd-ranked nation by FIBA beating the No. 1-ranked team and three-time reigning Olympic gold medalists.

Popovich heard the final buzzer and shook hands with Nigeria coach Mike Brown, the Golden State assistant, as the Americans walked off stunned.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t mean much in the standings as far as where we’re trying to get to,” Brown said. “But it’s a good win for us. I don’t think any African team has been able to beat USA Basketball in an exhibition game or a real game. … We’re trying to get a little bit of momentum for Nigeria and for the continent of Africa.”

The U.S. led 43-41 at the half, then pushed the lead out to 52-43 early in the third. But the Nigerians connected on 3s on their next three possessions — Vincent, Achiuwa and Nwamu all connected — and just like that, the game was tied.

Achiuwa took one 3-pointer all season with the Heat. It missed. But he connected in this one, as did Miye Oni — who made two 3s in the fourth quarter, including the one that put Nigeria up for good with 6:08 left. Oni averaged all of 1.9 points per game this season for Utah, and made two enormous shots late Saturday to help seal the U.S. fate.

“We kept the game simple,” Nnamdi said, “and came out on top.”

TIP-INS

Nigeria: Achiuwa had perhaps the night’s top defensive play with 1:23 left in the first half, reaching with his left hand to block a Durant dunk attempt. … Nigeria outrebounded the U.S. 46-34.

USA: Darius Garland and Saddiq Bey were Select Team players who got into the game. The Olympic team needed extra players because Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker are at the NBA Finals. … The U.S. got 32 free-throw attempts to Nigeria’s 10.

FREE THROW DEFENSE

Nigeria’s Chimezie Metu had a brilliant play in the third quarter — committing what would be goaltending in the NBA. Durant was taking a free throw, and as his shot bounced on the rim Metu reached up and knocked the shot away. That’s a legal play under FIBA rules.

INJURY SCARE

LaVine got hurt in the second quarter on a play where he was closing out against Nnamdi. He went airborne after a head fake and came down awkwardly, grabbing at his left ankle before getting up and going directly to the U.S. locker room. LaVine was fine and returned in the third quarter.

UP NEXT

Nigeria: Face Argentina on Monday in Las Vegas.

USA: Face Australia on Monday in Las Vegas.

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Three people were wounded in a shooting Saturday night outside of Cook County Jail in Little Village.

The shooting happened about 8:55 p.m. near 27th Street and California Boulevard, according to preliminary information from Chicago police.

Additional information about the victims hasn’t been released.

Officers combed California Boulevard in a light rain for evidence and placed nearly a dozen markers in the street in front of an area of the jail where visitors can enter.

A woman who had gone to the jail complex to try to see a detainee said she heard what she thought was fireworks going off as she talked with another visitor at the entrance to a parking lot in the 2800 block of West California Boulevard.

“We were talking from car-to-car and I looked at her and said, ‘those sounded really close,” she told the Sun-Times. “Moments later, I heard two pops in front of the visiting area, then more in a cadence that couldn’t be anything but gunshots.”

The woman, who asked her name not be used, said they ducked inside their vehicles and waited for the shots to end.

“When the shooting stopped, a Cook Country [sheriff’s officer] said to me, ‘young lady, I think you better move your car,’ and at first I laughed it off because I didn’t believe him, but he was serious and told me those were gunshots.

“I can’t stop thinking to myself that had I not stopped to talk to my friend, I could have been in that area when they were shooting. I was supposed to be over there,” she said.

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Two hours before the tipoff of the game Saturday between the Sky and the Mystics, the Missouri Phenom 15-and-under girls basketball team streamed into Wintrust Arena. They were the first fans inside and sat courtside to watch both teams go through warmups.

As the time ticked closer to tipoff, the Mystics’ Natasha Cloud walked over to the group of young players and took a photo. Their smiles were beaming.

The AAU team was in town for the Nike Tournament of Champions at McCormick Place. It, along with a number of other teams, stopped by Wintrust for an overtime battle between Eastern Conference foes.

There were 15 lead changes. In the end, the Sky fell to the Mystics 89-85 in their final game before the Olympic break.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, ESPN personality Michael Wilbon and former Simeon star Jabari Parker were just three of the 8,331 fans in attendance.

Five Sky players finished in double figures. Stefanie Dolson led the way with 20 points, and Candace Parker added a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

In the week leading up to the game, Sky coach and general manager James Wade discussed how important it was for the team to get a full week of practice with the entire team intact. Because of early injuries and national-team commitments, this was the first time all season they were able to do so.

In the first few days, Wade said the Sky focused on themselves, re-establishing the defensive intensity they’ve come to be known for. The Sky’s defensive rating (95.5) is second in the league to that of the Aces.

The Sky’s focus shifted to the Mystics later in the week. Entering the game, Wade said a key was taking away Ariel Atkins’ preferred shots, crowding her space and making sure every shot was contested.

Atkins, a member of coach Dawn Staley’s 12-player Olympic roster, is the Mystics’ second-leading scorer (17 points per game) behind Tina Charles (25.8 points), another Olympian.

In the teams’ first game this season, the Sky held Atkins to her lowest scoring output of five points. This time, she finished with 14.

Charles led the way for the Mystics with 34 points and 17 rebounds. Her biggest points of the night came on a putback at the end of regulation that sent the game to overtime.

The entire Sky team is expected to be in Las Vegas this week to support All-Stars Parker, Courtney Vandersloot and Kahleah Copper, as well as Allie Quigley, who will be competing in the three-point contest. After the All-Star Game on Wednesday, the Sky will take a couple of weeks off before returning to practice in preparation for the second half of the season.

The Sky open the second half with three home games, the first against the Storm on Aug. 15.

The Sky reflected last week on the first half, and their recurring thought is they can compete with anyone when they’re healthy.

”This team was built to have everyone healthy,” Quigley said.

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The Cubs might be entering territory they haven’t traversed since 2014. Nationally broadcast games – even ones against the rival Cardinals – wouldn’t have the same juice, with the standings not quite as relevant to their season.

Instead of looking for a piece or two that could put them over the top to win now, the Cubs may be selling before the July 30 trade deadline. Major names with expiring contracts could be dealt for prospects, confirming the Cubs’ change in direction after their 11-game losing streak.

But what exactly would that mean?

“I know maybe the word ‘rebuild’ has been thrown out there,” manager David Ross said before the Cubs’ 6-0 loss to the Cardinals on Saturday at a rainy Wrigley Field, “but that’s not the impression that I think anybody’s under around here.”

Rebuild or not, a sell-off would task Ross with handling an unfamiliar-looking roster.

Whether or not the Cubs attempt to reload quickly, they could look very different very soon. Kris Bryant, Javy Baez and Anthony Rizzo are pending free agents and could be trade bait, and with more team control Willson Contreras could also be attractive to a contender. Zach Davies, Saturday’s starting pitcher, might also garner a look as the Cubs try to build their next championship team.

And then there’s the bullpen, which has been a strength. Closer Craig Kimbrel’s an all-star, Andrew Chafin entered Saturday with a 23-inning scoreless streak and Ryan Tepera has also been valuable, but all three could help a team with designs on October.

If the bullpen is decimated by trades, it’ll be Ross’ job to maneuver with what’s left.

“Every time we’ve had a guy go down down there it’s kind of hit me over the head where how fast your guys can get thin and you put guys in different situations, whether it’s holding a lead or pitching down, and the different adrenaline that may come with that for different guys, sure,” Ross said. “I definitely have felt that over the season already with guys that have gotten injured.”

Possibly one of the most coveted players in baseball, Kimbrel would be especially tough to replace. That’s not something Ross is thinking about yet, and if he has to, there won’t be a clear solution.

“If we trade Craig Kimbrel it’s going to be hard to lock down wins,” Ross said, stating the obvious. “I think everybody can agree with that statement.”

Of course, the Cubs wouldn’t be in this position if they had more wins this year. They didn’t get one Saturday.

After winning Friday’s series opener, the Cubs fell behind 1-0 in the first on a Matt Carpenter RBI single. Perhaps risking his trade value in the third, Rizzo unsuccessfully tried to grab a Nolan Arenado foul pop-up by hopping atop the brick wall and leaping for the ball, falling into the protective netting in the process.

Paul Goldschmidt started the fifth with a solo home run, and Davies was replaced after 4 1/3 innings. He was charged with one of the runs on Tommy Edman’s two-run homer off Adam Morgan that gave St. Louis a 4-0 lead. Paul DeJong added another two-run homer, this one off Dan Winkler, to make it 6-0.

Regardless of Saturday’s result, Ross’ job may end up being very different a month from now. Instead of managing veterans, Ross could be shepherding a developing team through the final months of a non-contending season.

But that wasn’t on Ross’ mind Saturday.

“I’m ready to win a baseball game today,” Ross said. “That’s all I’m focused on.”

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A 26-year-old man was killed and two other people were wounded in a shooting Saturday near an elementary school in Pilsen on the Near West Side.

About 6 p.m., all three were standing on a sidewalk near Peter Cooper Dual Language Academy, 1624 W. 19th St., when someone opened fire at them, Chicago police said.

The man who was killed was shot in the head and neck and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. A 22-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were both struck in their right shoulder and taken to Stroger Hospital, where they were listed in good condition.

Area Three detectives are investigating.

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BALTIMORE — There’s no shame in beating up on the bottom feeders.

That’s what good teams are supposed to do. That’s what the White Sox are doing.

Their 8-3 victory over the Orioles Saturday put the American League Central leaders in position for a weekend sweep of the American League’s worst team. A win Sunday would give the Sox a 6-3 road trip against the Tigers, Twins and Orioles, all losing teams. It would give the Sox a 54-35 record at the All-Star break.

“We play our game no matter who is across the line,” said outfielder Brian Goodwin, who had four hits including his fourth homer. “We don’t play down to our competition. We play up to our competition. Every game, come to play hard.”

The Sox are 6-0 against the Orioles (28-60) and 31-14 against teams under .500. They’re 21-21 against teams at or above .500.

The formula is working. Their biggest leads in franchise history at the All-Star break were 10 ¹/₂ games over the Indians in 2000 with a 55-32 record and nine games over the Twins in 2005 with a 57-29 mark. The Sox entered Saturday with a 7 ¹/₂ game lead over the Indians.

“We have a very nice lead in our division, and we’re playing really, really good, consistent baseball where when one area might falter one day the other parts pick up the slack,” said right-hander Lucas Giolito, who pitched 5 ¹/₃ innings of two-run ball with nine strikeouts.

Goodwin, a minor league free agent picked up off the Pirates reject pile in early May after Luis Robert went down with a serious hip injury, batted cleanup in Tony La Russa’s pieced together lineup. He drove in three runs.

“I still feel like I have a lot to give,” Goodwin, 30, said. “I have a lot to accomplish, too. I have a chip on my shoulder, something to prove every day.”

Tim Anderson, celebrating his All-Star Game selection, doubled in a run, and Yoan Moncada doubled home Anderson and Zack Collins in a three-run third.

Leury Garcia, 7-for-15 in his last three games, doubled twice and notched his 38th RBI. Jake Burger had two hits and was on base three times, raising his average to .381.

Giolito walked two in the sixth to fall short of his eighth quality start in his last 10. In his first five innings, Giolito threw his fastball, changeup and slider for swings and misses did not allow a walk a batter. La Russa called it one of Giolito’s best starts.

“My slider felt really good today,” said Giolito, whose best pitches are usually his four-seam fastball and changeup. “I was executing it well to the glove side.”

The Opening Day starter, Giolito has not pitched to his standards but is inching closer to getting there, he said.

“Just keeping my foot on the gas pedal,” he said. “I came out with a little higher energy today, wanting to work faster and have more rhythm. Now I just have to keep it from pitch 100 to 110.”

All-Star closer Liam Hendriks cleaned up a messy eighth inning for Jose Ruiz, finishing the inning with a strikeout with the bases full and striking out two in a perfect ninth for his 23rd save. Hendriks has struck out 60 batters and walked four.

The Sox have one game to go before the break, with right-hander Dylan Cease pitching Sunday aiming to complete a sweep. After their four-day rest, they will be tested by the AL West leading Astros, who outscored the Sox 27-8 over a four-game sweep in Houston in mid June. The Sox host the Astros for three games next weekend.

“We’re going to have to beat the good teams,” former Astro Dallas Keuchel said after beating the Orioles Friday night. “We’re doing our job beating the teams we should beat. We’re very competitive now. We got our butts whupped in Houston, so I’d like to see what we’re made of to open the second half.”

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Six Brown Chicks Media

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In Loving Memory of Dr. Dawj

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By Six Brown Chicks,
today at 7:08 pm

Editor’s Note: We were saddened to learn of the sudden death of beloved Six Brown Chicks member Dr. Dawgelene Sangster. Here, our Gina B. shares sentiments.

By Gina B.

A decade or so ago, I received a call from Zondra Hughes, asking me to be a part of a group called Six Brown Chicks.  With the addition of Shoya, Kayann, Yanni, and Dr. Dawj, we were a diverse group of writers who sometimes fought fiercely, though eventually bonded over the years as bloggers, web talk show hosts, panel moderators, and reality television subjects.

When I met Dawj, she was an IT consultant and life coach who had a non-profit for homeless women. and victims of domestic violence.  She was working toward earning her Ph.D. Dawj was married to James Sangster, a sweet soul, great photographer, and my partner in Notorious B.I.G. lyrics.  He adored her. 

Dawj was an author, and her blogs and books were centered around creating successful relationships rooted in spirituality, and her strong beliefs about how women should submit to their men – the latter of which was a subject of much debate between her and me, and I have to smile as I think of her patience as she stood her ground against my opinions. 

She was good-natured when I teased her about the dichotomy between her spirituality and her penchant for wild shoes!  She was too blessed to be bothered.

I remember exactly where I was when I received the call from Dawj that James had been in an odd car accident, which led to a lot of testing and revealed the beginning of an illness that would take him away from her FAR too soon. 

As James’s illness progressed, Dawj held it together gracefully, and somehow kept a positive mental attitude and managed to be present in the Six Brown Chicks, which included making an appearance with the rest of us on Iyanla, Fix My Life, which was an ordeal, and taped mere days before James passed away.

[embedded content]

Dawj made a transition from devoted wife to widow, which was difficult for her, and painful to witness, although her progress was inspirational, as she healed, and paid homage to her late husband by becoming an accomplished professional photographer.

Over the years, we didn’t see each other as much, but I loved having our occasional conversations and keeping up with her posts about her kids, grandchildren, and her pack of Pitbulls.

 
Receiving the news of her sudden passing was devastating.  We don’t know the details.  All I know is that I can’t believe that I will never again hear her greet me by screaming “Gina muthaflippin’ B!”   

We’ve lost a good one.  Rest in heaven, Dr. Dawj.  

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Treyshun Green was anxious when he got to the starting line Saturday afternoon for the final race of the Fastest Kids in Chicago competition at Gately Park Indoor Track and Field.

Green said he worried about tripping in front of the crowd of several hundred, which included Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

But all the nerves vanished as soon as he heard the crack of the starting pistol.

Green, 15, made it look easy: He didn’t even break a sweat as he clocked the fastest 60-meter dash of the meet, finishing in a time of 7.84 seconds.

“It feels good,” Green said of being crowned the fastest kid in Chicago at the track meet. “I kind of want to race more people also to see if I’m faster than other people.”

Meanwhile, Symone Frison, 15, was the fastest girl of the day. She won her heat with a time of 8.02 seconds, the third fastest time of the day.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

“I was a little nervous, but I just knew if I ran my best that I could do it,” Frison said.

Isaiah Shannon won the eighth grade boys division finishing in a time of 7.99 seconds for the second quickest dash of the day.

About 265 children and teenagers, ranging from incoming fifth graders to high school seniors, were invited to participate in Saturday’s Fastest Kids competition. They came from a pool of more than 3,000 participants who registered to take part in the summer track-and-field program offered by the Chicago Park District in partnership with the mayor, Chicago Public Schools and Operation Rainbow Push.

Jackson came up with the idea of the event to keep children engaged and preoccupied during the notoriously violent summer months.

“Fastest runner, not the fastest gunner,” Jackson chanted before the races began.

Lightfoot said the organizers plan to make it an annual event.

“When we love and support our young people, they thrive,” she said.

That’s welcoming news for Green’s mother, LaToya Pitner, who thinks more summer programming will help keep children out of trouble.

“Kids love to be in competitive sports, so as long as they’re doing something to keep their mind off of dangerous things, this is where I want my kid to be,” Pitner said.

Pitner proudly cheered on her boy from the stands and shared the moment he won on Facebook Live with her friends and family.

“Fastest kid in Chicago, that’s my baby!” she exclaimed as her son got his medal.

After the race, Pitner gave him a high-five, and said: “I knew you were goin’ to win.”

It was a special moment for Green, an incoming sophomore at Phillips High School. He said he runs for his mother since she had to give up her track and field dreams in high school because her family couldn’t afford it.

“When I was his age, I ran track with the park district and I always [won] gold, I never really lost,” Pitner said. “And with me, not having no money as a high schooler, I had to work so I couldn’t get on the track team.

“So I just knew one of my kids is going to get my skills and it’s him… He’s fulfilling my dream, and I’m happy.”

Frison also celebrated her win with family, including her mother, grandmother, aunt and two little cousins, who cheered for her from the bleachers. She planned to get a bacon burger and chocolate cake shake at Portillo’s with them after the meet.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

An incoming sophomore at Lindblom High School in West Englewood, Frison hopes to earn a scholarship to run in college.

“It makes me happy that I had the opportunity to show my skill, and just be here today,” she said. “But there’s always going to be someone that I have to run against and someone that I have to beat and overcome. But I’m just glad I got the day to just show out a little bit.”

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Two people were shot and killed Saturday afternoon in a drive-by in Englewood on the South Side.

About 3:10 p.m., the men, 20 and 33-years-old, were in the parking lot of a gas station in the 6100 block of South Ashland Avenue, when a dark colored vehicle pulled up to them and someone inside opened fire, Chicago police said.

The 33-year-old was struck in the chest and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said. The younger man was struck throughout the body and pronounced dead at the scene.

They have not yet been identified.

Area One detectives are investigating.

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Chicago police on Saturday announced an arrest in connection with the brazen killing of a young couple last month during the Puerto Rican Day festivities in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

Anthony Lorenzi was arrested Friday in San Diego and is awaiting extradition to Chicago, according to police Supt. David Brown. Investigators said they identified him within hours of the brutal June 19 encounter that ended with the shooting deaths of Yasmin Perez and Gyovanni Arzuaga.

But Lorenzi is only facing one count of first-degree murder. Police say it’s “more than likely” Arzuaga, 24, was the person who accidentally fired the shot that killed his 25-year-old girlfriend during a “frenzy” on Division Street when a group of people ambushed their car.

Chicago police

Police said the couple was driving in the 3200 block of West Division when they were involved in a minor crash and ambushed.

Several people beat Perez, and when Arzuaga came to her aid, he was shot by a second person “almost execution-style,” police said.

Graphic surveillance video of the attack that circulated online afterward showed the couple lying in the street next to their car as the attackers ran off.

Arzuaga died at a hospital that night. His girlfriend died three days later.

Two other people were in the car, but CPD Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said evidence suggests Arzuaga likely accidentally shot his girlfriend from inside the car while trying to fend off their attackers.

“Everything points to, once again, more than likely that he discharged that firearm, accidentally, causing that gunshot wound,” to Perez, Deenihan said.

Lorenzi allegedly then shot Arzuaga multiple times.

“This individual in custody, Lorenzi, he is the one responsible for this death. There is nobody else responsible,” Deenihan said.

Investigators are still looking for an unspecified number of other possible suspects wanted in connection with the case.

The couple leave behind two young children.

“It may look hard for a lot of people, but Yasmin was such a great mom,” her friend Jae Pacheco previously told the Sun-Times. “She loved her kids so much. You could tell they were so loved, and they were so happy.”

Arzuaga “was just about being around good vibes, being around good people,” Pacheco said.

This is a developing story. Check back soon for more.

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