Giannis coy on signing Bucks’ deal

Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo praised the “amazing” moves the Milwaukee Bucks have made to improve the team, but the two-time reigning MVP stopped short Wednesday of saying he would sign a supermax contract extension offer from the team.

“Right now, I’m not focusing on that,” Antetokounmpo said during his first preseason discussion with reporters. “I know my agent, Alex (Saratsis), and (general manager) Jon Horst and the Bucks’ ownership are focusing on those discussions. I’m just trying to focus on myself and how I can get better, how I can help my teammates be better, how I can be ready Saturday to play our first preseason game.”

Antetokounmpo, who turned 26 last week, would be able to receive up to 35% of the salary cap with an 8% escalation each year of the deal under a supermax extension. The Bucks were able to offer a five-year deal worth over $220 million.

He has until Dec. 21 to sign the extension, or else he will be eligible to become a free agent after the 2020-21 season. Antetokounmpo said he is letting his agent handle any contract discussions.

ELSEWHERE

FILE – Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrates after a dunk against Orlando during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in this Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, file photo. Jrue Holiday is eager to contend for a title in Milwaukee alongside two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks acquired Holiday as their major offseason addition as they attempt to entice Antetokounmpo to accept a supermax extension that will keep him in Milwaukee for years to come.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Ashley Landis / Associated Press

Paris St.-Germain

wins in resumption

Neymar scored a hat trick to lead Paris Saint-Germain to a 5-1 win over Istanbul Basaksehir in the resumption of a Champions League match that players from both sides refused to continue Tuesday after an official’s racial remark.

They returned to Parc des Princes to resume the game in the 14th minute with replacement match officials from the Netherlands. The new refereeing crew joined players in observing the competition anthem before kickoff by taking a knee around the center circle.

“Nothing beats actions. We’re tired of this. We never want to experience this again,” PSG striker Kylian Mbappe said.

• In highlights from other matches, Real Madrid kept its record intact of advancing from the group stage with a 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach, which advanced when Inter Milan drew 0-0 with Shakhtar Donetsk; Atletico Madrid advanced with a 2-0 win at Salzburg; Bayern won 2-0 at home over Lokomotiv Moscow to finish on a competition-best 16 points, which Manchester City matched with a 3-0 win over Marseille; and Atalanta beat host Ajax 1-0.

• Chris Mueller scored twice in his international debut, Ayo Akinola got a goal in his first game and the United States overwhelmed El Salvador 6-0 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in its fourth and final exhibition of the pandemic-shortened year.

Golf: Stanford alum Andrea Lee has withdrawn from the U.S. Women’s Open after testing positive for the coronavirus. Lee tested negative in a pre-arrival test by the USGA last week in Dallas while playing an LPGA Tour event. She traveled to Houston and tested positive, with mild symptoms. She was replaced by Ayaka Watanabe of Japan.

WNBA: Vickie Johnson was hired to coach the Dallas Wings, two years after she applied and lost out to Brian Agler.

Obituary: Ray Perkins, the Alabama ex-receiver who replaced Bear Bryant as the Crimson Tide’s head coach and started the transition with the New York Giants that led to two Super Bowl titles, died in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Perkins was 79.