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Sports Digest: Magic sign Franz Wagner to largest extension in franchise history

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Sports Digest: Magic sign Franz Wagner to largest extension in franchise history

BASKETBALL

Franz Wagner has agreed to the largest contract in Orlando Magic history, a five-year extension that will be worth at least $224 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

The contract value could reach $270 million if he becomes supermax eligible, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement cannot yet be announced.

The NBA’s offseason moratorium on such moves gets lifted Saturday.

Wagner has averaged 17.8 points in his three seasons with the Magic. He averaged 15.2 points as a rookie before climbing to 18.6 and 19.7 over the last two seasons, respectively.

HOCKEY

NHL: The Buffalo Sabres acquired forward Ryan McLeod in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers, getting an established NHL player who just experienced a long playoff run in exchange for one of the organization’s top prospects.

Buffalo received McLeod and minor leaguer Tyler Tullio from the Western Conference champions for 20-year-old center Matthew Savoie. McLeod had four goals in 24 playoff games as Edmonton got to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to Florida.

SOCCER

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP: Substitute Mikel Merino headed Spain into the semifinals as it snatched a 2-1 win over Germany in extra time in Stuttgart, Germany.

Florian Wirtz’s equalizer in the last minute of regulation time sent the gripping quarterfinal to extra time after Dani Olmo – who set up Merino’s winner – netted the opener early in the second half.

Spain defender Dani Carvajal was sent off late in extra time for a second yellow card and will be suspended from Tuesday’s semifinal against France. Fellow defender Robin le Normand will also miss that match after picking up another booking.

• France ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid to win the title at his last European Championship by beating Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals in Hamburg, Germany.

After the game finished 0-0 following extra time, Portugal substitute Joao Felix hit a post with the only miss in the shootout and Theo Hernández converted the clinching kick.

It was a record sixth and last European Championship for the 39-year-old Ronaldo, who scored Portugal’s first penalty in the shootout and ended up consoling fellow veteran Pepe afterward as the 41-year-old defender cried on his captain’s shoulder.

• UEFA banned Turkey player Merih Demiral for two games for a controversial hand gesture at the European Championship, an incident that led to a diplomatic row between Turkey and host nation Germany.

The ban rules Demiral out of the quarterfinal against the Netherlands on Saturday, and a semifinal should Turkey progress.

After scoring his second goal in Turkey’s round-of-16 win over Austria on Tuesday, Demiral made a sign with each hand that is used by Turkish nationalists and associated with the Turkish ultra-nationalist organization Ulku Ocaklari, which is more widely known as the Gray Wolves.

CYCLING

TOUR DE FRANCE: Race-against-the-clock specialist Remco Evenepoel displayed impressive power and precision in winning the Tour de France’s first time trial in Gevrey-Chambertin, France.

In his slipstream was every other contender for the yellow jersey, including holder Tadej Pogacar.

Despite a small problem with his bike close to the finish that cost him a few seconds, the Tour debutant mastered the 16-mile stage in the Burgundy Grand Crus wine country to dominate his first win at cycling’s biggest race.

Evenepoel clocked 28 minutes, 52 seconds to beat Pogacar by 12 seconds. Primoz Roglic was third, 34 seconds behind. Evenepoel has now won stages at all three Grands Tours – the Giro d’Italia, Tour and Vuelta.

AUTO RACING

INDY CAR: IndyCar has issued six-position starting grid penalties to drivers Felix Rosenqvist, Marcus Armstrong and Pietro Fittipaldi ahead of Sunday’s Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for their teams’ unapproved engine changes during last month’s test at Iowa Speedway.

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