Sports in brief for November 6

76ers’ Embiid handed three-game suspension for shoving Philadelphia reporter

(Reuters) — Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been suspended for three games without pay for shoving a member of the media, the National Basketball Association said on Tuesday.

The locker room incident occurred after the 76ers’ Nov. 2 game when oft-injured Embiid, who has not played this season due to what the 76ers have called left knee management, confronted and shoved a Philadelphia newspaper columnist.

Embiid took issue with a column the journalist wrote which questioned the seven-time NBA All-Star and former league MVP’s effort to stay in shape and also mentioned the player’s son and late brother.

“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” Joe Dumars, the NBA’s Executive Vice President, said in a news release.

“While we understand Joel was offended by the personal nature of the original version of the reporter’s column, interactions must remain professional on both sides and can never turn physical.”

Embiid’s suspension will commence with the next NBA regular season game for which he is eligible and able to play.

Ohtani undergoes successful shoulder surgery, Dodgers say

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Shohei Ohtani underwent successful surgery on Tuesday on the left shoulder he injured during Game Two of the World Series and will be ready for spring training, the Dodgers said.

The Japanese pitcher-hitter dislocated his shoulder while attempting to steal second base in the seventh inning and needed help leaving the field but returned to play the rest of the series, which the Dodgers won 4-1 over the New York Yankees.

“Shohei Ohtani today underwent successful arthroscopic surgery, performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, to repair a labrum tear that resulted from a left shoulder dislocation Oct. 26,” the team said in a statement.

“He is expected to be ready for Spring Training.”

Ohtani, who bats left but throws right, did not pitch this season as he recovered from right elbow surgery in the previous offseason, which was also performed by Dr. ElAttrache.

The 30-year-old still had a season for the ages at the plate on the basepaths, becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, making him the inaugural member of Major League Baseball’s ‘50/50 club’.

Djokovic withdraws from ATP Finals due to injury

(Reuters) — Defending ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the season-ending event in Turin through injury, the Serbian said on Tuesday.

The record 24-times Grand Slam champion’s absence means that Norway’s Casper Ruud, Australian Alex de Minaur and Russian Andrey Rublev are all guaranteed to qualify for the eight-man event regardless of their results in tournaments this week.

“I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week,” the 37-year-old Djokovic posted on Instagram.

“Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!”

De Minaur, who had been sweating on making the cut after losing to Holger Rune in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters last week, will be making his debut in the prestigious event which is regarded as the jewel in the ATP’s crown.

He will join world number one Jannik Sinner, twice former winner Alexander Zverev, four-times Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz, former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev and American Taylor Fritz.

The ATP Finals are being staged at the Inalpi Arena in Turin and boast a total prize pool of $15.25 million including $4.88 million for an undefeated singles champion.

The eight best doubles pairings of the season will also be battling it out in Turin.

Djokovic, the world number five, won a record seventh title at the season-ending tournament last year, dashing the hopes of home favourite Sinner in the final.

He has not added to his Grand Slam collection this year and failed to win an ATP title, although he did claim his first Olympic gold medal by beating Spain’s Alcaraz in Paris.

Lions add edge rusher Za’Darius Smith in trade with Browns

(Field Level Media) — The Detroit Lions are acquiring three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns prior to the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported.

In addition to Smith, the Lions are receiving a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Browns, in turn, are acquiring a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft and a sixth-round pick in 2026.

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

A winner of six consecutive games, NFC North-leading Detroit (7-1) is looking to bolster its pass rush to make up for losing defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg last month. Hutchinson was leading the NFL with 7.5 sacks at the time of his injury.

Smith, 32, has recorded five sacks to go along with 23 tackles in nine games (all starts) this season.

Bengals acquire RB Khalil Herbert from Bears to address need

(Field Level Media) — The Cincinnati Bengals acquired running back Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears on Tuesday in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Herbert provides depth in the Bengals’ backfield with fellow running back Zack Moss dealing with a neck injury and deemed sidelined indefinitely by head coach Zac Taylor on Monday.

Chase Brown is the leading rusher for the Bengals but came out of a career day against the Raiders last week with bruised ribs. No other running back on the Cincinnati roster has a rushing attempt in 2024.

Raiders hiring Norv Turner as assistant

(Field Level Media) — The Las Vegas Raiders are hiring Norv Turner as an assistant, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

He is joining the Raiders as his son, Scott, reportedly is in the mix to be calling the offensive plays when the team returns from its bye week. Scott Turner serves as the Raiders’ passing-game coordinator under head coach Antonio Pierce.

The report comes on the heels of Las Vegas firing offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, offensive line coach James Cregg and quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello late Sunday night. All three were in their first season with the Raiders.

Norv Turner, 72, is rejoining the franchise after posting a 9-23 record as its head coach in 2004 and 2005 while the team was based in Oakland. He also served as a head coach in Washington (1994-2000) and the then-San Diego Chargers from 2007-12 and has an overall 49-59-1 record.

He last was on an NFL staff in 2019 as a special assistant and offensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers under head coach Ron Rivera.