76ers, Lakers, Celtics get top NBA draft spots

76ers, Lakers, Celtics get top NBA draft spots

NEW YORK

The Philadelphia 76ers have won the NBA draft lottery and will have the No. 1 pick in June.

The Los Angeles Lakers finished second Tuesday night but also felt like winners, as they would have dealt their pick to Philadelphia had they fallen out of the top three.

The Boston Celtics, with a pick dealt to them by the Brooklyn Nets, remained in the No. 3 slot.

Nobody moved up in the lottery, which sets the top three picks. The remainder of the 14 teams are slotted in the inverse order of their won-loss record.

The draft is June 23 in New York.

Alabama football players arrested

MONROE, La.

Star Alabama tackle Cam Robinson and reserve defensive back Laurence Jones have been arrested on drug and weapons charges.

Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s records show Robinson and Jones were cited Tuesday for the misdemeanor charge of carrying a weapon in the presence of narcotics. Robinson also faces a charge of felony possession of stolen firearms.

Monroe police detective Chris Bates says the players were arrested early Tuesday morning after an officer smelled marijuana coming from their parked car.

Both players are entering their junior seasons.

Robinson is from West Monroe, Louisiana, and started his freshman and sophomore years. Last season, the left tackle was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference by The Associated Press and has been widely viewed as a top prospect for the 2017 NFL draft.

Gun Runner skips Preakness, leaves field

BALTIMORE

Gun Runner, third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, will skip the Preakness, leaving a likely field of 11 for the middle leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday at Pimlico.

Preakness post positions will be drawn Wednesday evening.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Gun Runner, the Louisiana Derby winner, would remain at Churchill Downs.

“We plan on a serious summer of 3-year-old races with him,” Asmussen said. “He’s been in tremendous physical condition going into the Derby, and coming out of it, and we expect for him to continue to physically develop.”

Gun Runner figured to be the third choice in the Preakness wagering. His absence tightens the focus on Nyquist and Exaggerator, the top two finishers in the Derby who square off again in the Preakness.

Steelers sign blocking TE David Johnson

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Steelers bolstered their tight end depth on Tuesday, signing veteran David Johnson to a one-year deal.

The signing is a homecoming for Johnson, taken by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2009 draft. Johnson spent five years with Pittsburgh before signing with San Diego in 2014. Used primarily as a blocker, Johnson has 24 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown in his career.

The Steelers signed former San Diego tight end Ladarius Green in March and have Jesse James and veteran Matt Spaeth in the fold as well as they move forward without Heath Miller. The two-time Pro Bowler retired in February.

France deploys anti-drone technology

PARIS

The security chief for the European Championship tells The Associated Press that France will deploy anti-drone technology that will interfere with and take control of any flying machines that violate no-fly zones over stadiums.

Ziad Khoury says no-fly zones will be declared over all 10 stadiums as well as training grounds for the 24 teams at next month’s tournament.

He says the technology will be deployed at most of the 51 matches and will “interfere with drones and take control of them if they are spotted.”

Staff/wire report