size="2"> John Wall has missed about one-quarter of the games since he was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. He hasnt been an All-Star. His team hasnt won more than 29 games in a regular season. Yet his game -- and his team -- got considerably better when he returned from an injury last season, and he remains the cornerstone of the Washington Wizards, who took the calculated risk Wednesday of signing the point guard to a contract extension. Two people familiar with the deal say its a max deal, worth about $80 million over five years. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams announcement Wednesday did not reveal financial terms. A news conference will be held Thursday. "He is the cornerstone of our team," Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said in the teams release announcing the extension. "And we have clearly expressed our desire to build around him." Wall was the top overall pick in the 2010 draft after playing one season of college basketball at Kentucky, immediately becoming the prime building block for a Wizards club that now has missed the playoffs each of the past five seasons. He has averaged 16.9 points, eight assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 35.8 minutes during his career, starting 172 of 184 games. Various injuries have caused him to miss an average of 21 games per season, and he appeared in only 42 in 2012-13 because of a stress injury in his left knee cap. When he returned, the 22-year-old Wall averaged a career-high 18.5 points, along with 7.6 assists, four rebounds and 1.3 steals in 32.7 minutes. He really began to hit his stride late in the season, even showing some signs of developing into an outside shooter. The Wizards went 5-28 without him, 24-25 with him. If Wall hadnt been able to reach an agreement with the Wizards this off-season, he would have become an unrestricted free agent in 2014. With Wall and a pair of players chosen with the No. 3 overall picks in the past two drafts -- shooting guard Bradley Beal and small forward Otto Porter -- the Wizards are hoping they will be more competitive. In the Wizards announcement, Wall said he will do "everything I can to get this team back where it belongs." Salomon Shoes Online Australia . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Wholesale Salomon Shoes . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. http://www.wholesalesalomonaustralia.com/ . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. Salomon Shoes Clearance Australia . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. Discount Salomon Shoes . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. So much for any Game No. 162 chaos in baseball: The San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles grabbed the last three playoff spots Sunday, and the October matchups are set.Neat and clean, no need for all sorts of tiebreakers. Too bad -- that kind of final-day scramble mightve been fun for fans.Instead, they could sit back, savor Vin Scullys farewell call and prepare for the postseason. It opens Tuesday night when the Orioles visit Toronto in the AL wild-card game.All we asked for is an opportunity, and right now, we have an opportunity, Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones said after a 5-2 win over the New York Yankees. So, lets celebrate and enjoy this and get back to work.No official word yet on the starting pitchers at Rogers Centre. Figures to be Chris Tillman for the Os against Marcus Stroman.On Wednesday night, aces duel as Madison Bumgarner starts for the Giants vs. Noah Syndergaard and the New York Mets at Citi Field in the NL wild-card game.We found a way to get back to where we need to be, Bumgarner said after his teams 7-1 win finished off a sweep of the Dodgers. If we play like we have been the last three days, well be tough to beat.On Thursday, the best-of-five AL Division Series begins: David Ortiz and Boston at Cleveland, and the wild-card winner at Texas.I guess I wish Ortiz would consider retiring early, said Indians manager Terry Francona, who previously guided Big Papi with the Red Sox, but I dont see that happening.On Friday night, Clayton Kershaw starts Game 1 for the Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington, and the NL wild-card winner plays the best-in-the-majors Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.Going into Game 162, Detroit and St. Louis also had a chance to reach the postseason. That raised thhe possibility of multi-team, multi-city tiebreakers going into early next week.ddddddddddddThe Tigers were in the middle of that mix. They hoped to win at Atlanta and have either the Orioles or Blue Jays lose -- then, they wouldve needed to win a makeup game at home Monday against Detroit to force a tiebreaker for an AL wild-card spot.I would not have enjoyed the travel, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said, but I would have relished traveling.That kind of drama never developed as the teams holding leads took care of business.Manager Buck Showalter and Baltimore sealed their spot, winning at Yankee Stadium. When the Tigers later lost 1-0 at Atlanta in the last game at Turner Field, they were out and Toronto was back in for the second straight year.Later, the Blue Jays 2-1 victory at Fenway Park meant they would host Baltimore.With All-Star catcher Buster Posey getting three hits and driving in three runs, San Francisco beat the Dodgers and eliminated the Cardinals.The Giants have enjoyed a recent run of even-year success, winning the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014.The last time they reached the postseason, Bumgarner pitched a shutout at Pittsburgh in the wild-card game and went on to become the World Series MVP. So another cross-country flight to begin the playoffs was fine by them.I dont think it bothers anybody that we go on the road to win these games. Its actually a lot of fun, first baseman Brandon Belt said. With Bumgarner on the mound, were going to have a good shot.---This story has been corrected to delete a reference to the Giants playing at Dodger Stadium; the game was in San Francisco ' ' '