Sports News Roundup: Nikita Kucherov's 100th assist lifts Lightning; Verlander debuts for ailing Astros in Washington and more

James, who has won two Olympic golds and a bronze but sat out the last two Games, will be joined by Los Angeles Lakers team mate Anthony Davis, Phoenix Suns three-time Olympic champion Kevin Durant and Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry. Olympics-Australia's McKeown breaks Rice's 400 medley record Kaylee McKeown broke Stephanie Rice's long-standing Australian record in the 400 metres individual medley with a scintillating swim on Thursday but confirmed she would not chase a medal in the event at the Paris Olympics.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Just-in Time: Verlander debuts for ailing Astros in Washington

Justin Verlander's season debut comes at a great time for the Houston Astros. The veteran right-hander takes the ball for the first time this season when the Astros visit the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

NHL roundup: Nikita Kucherov's 100th assist lifts Lightning

NHL point leader Nikita Kucherov made history by recording his 100th assist of the season as the Tampa Bay Lightning topped the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 on Wednesday. In the regular-season finale for both teams, Kucherov, who has 144 points (44 goals, 100 assists) also scored. He reached the century mark in helpers when he set up Brayden Point's goal at 17:05 of the second, a marker that lifted Tampa Bay to a 4-1 lead.

Caitlin Clark hailed as savior in hero's welcome to Indianapolis

Caitlin Clark received a hero's welcome to Gainbridge Coliseum on Wednesday morning as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft stepped into her new home arena to flocks of fans and a packed opening press conference. "I'm super happy to be here. Thank you to the Fever, the Pacers. This is a dream come true," said Clark, a two-time National Player of the Year at Iowa and the all-time leading scorer in Division I basketball history.

Olympics-James to headline another US 'Dream Team' in Paris

The NBA's all-time leading scorer LeBron James and reigning most valuable player Joel Embiid headline an all-star lineup named to the United States men's basketball team for the Paris Olympics, USA Basketball announced on Wednesday. James, who has won two Olympic golds and a bronze but sat out the last two Games, will be joined by Los Angeles Lakers team mate Anthony Davis, Phoenix Suns three-time Olympic champion Kevin Durant and Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry.

Olympics-Australia's McKeown breaks Rice's 400 medley record

Kaylee McKeown broke Stephanie Rice's long-standing Australian record in the 400 metres individual medley with a scintillating swim on Thursday but confirmed she would not chase a medal in the event at the Paris Olympics. A day after breaking Rice's 200 IM record at the Australian Open Championships, McKeown took down her 400 mark from the super-suit era with a swim of four minutes 28.22 seconds, the fourth fastest all-time in the gruelling event.

WTA roundup: Coco Gauff downs another American in Stuttgart

No. 3 seed Coco Gauff outlasted Sachia Vickery for a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win on Wednesday in an all-American, second-round match at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany. Gauff overcame a 4-2 deficit in the third set and 15 double faults for the match to continue her dominance against fellow Americans. Jessica Pegula has been the only countrywoman to top Gauff since Sofia Kenin beat her in the first round at Wimbledon in 2023.

NBA-Toronto Raptors' Porter banned for life from NBA for gambling

Toronto Raptors' Jontay Porter was given a lifetime ban from the National Basketball Association on Wednesday for violating the league's gambling policy. An NBA investigation found that Porter, a two-way player recently under contract with the Raptors, limited his own game participation to influence the outcome of one or more bets on his performance in at least one Raptors game.

MLB roundup: Red Sox's Tanner Houck blanks Guardians

Tanner Houck pitched a three-hit shutout to help the Boston Red Sox end a two-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday. Houck (3-1) struck out nine and didn't walk a batter. It was the first complete game of Houck's career and the first shutout by a solo Red Sox pitcher since Michael Wacha blanked the Los Angeles Angels on June 6, 2022.

Olympics-U.S. athletes praise Paris Games prize money plan

World Athletics' (WA) plan to offer prize money to Olympic gold medallists is a much needed step in the right direction, said American track and field athletes, with the high costs of training and competition weighing on competitors. WA President Sebastian Coe bucked 128 years of tradition when he said last week that the athletics governing body would pay gold medal winners in Paris $50,000, a move that athletes were quick to endorse.

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Jeff Carter retires

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Jeff Carter announced his retirement from the NHL after playing his final game for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. Carter, 39, totaled 851 points (442 goals, 409 assists) in 1,321 games across 19 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings and Penguins. Carter won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2012 and 2014 and a gold medal with his native Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

(With inputs from agencies.)