Kevin Garnett has decided to retire after 21 seasons in the NBA, leaving a legacy as one of the best defensive players in league history and one of the game’s most influential and intense competitors. Garnett posted a video on his Instagram account on Friday, saying ‘‘farewell’’ and ‘‘thank you for the journey.’’ Garnett informed the Timberwolves of his decision to retire on Friday. The team will waive the franchise icon, which will allow him to collect his entire $8 million salary for next season. That is the same approach the San Antonio Spurs took with Tim Duncan. Garnett, 40, departs as one of the league’s elder statesman. He won the MVP in 2004 after leading the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals and later teamed with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to revive the Celtics as an Eastern Conference power, helping them win an NBA title in 2008 and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2010. “Very few players can affect an organization like Kevin did here in Boston, both on and off the court,’’ said Danny Ainge, the Celtics president of basketball operations. “He led our team by example every day with his drive, his passion, and his relentless commitment to winning. While always putting team ahead of individual, Kevin earned his place among the greatest players in Celtic and NBA history.’’

Bosh’s career in jeopardyChris Bosh’s plan to resume playing is now in jeopardy, after medical examinations performed in recent days convinced the Miami Heat that he is not healthy enough to return to the court. The Heat announced that they still cannot clear Bosh for a resumption of basketball activities, based on the result of his preseason physical — a series of tests conducted over the past few days . . . The Lakers re-signed veteran forward Metta World Peace, who will attempt to win a roster spot for his 17th NBA season . . . Blake Griffin apologized to Clippers fans for punching the team’s assistant equipment manager last season, an incident he says was ‘‘100 percent my fault.’’ He was suspended four games and docked nearly $860,000 in pay for the altercation in which Griffin broke his right hand and Matias Testi’s face was severely swollen . . . Sky star Elena Delle Donne will miss Chicago’s second-round playoff series opener Sunday against the Atlanta Dream because of a right thumb injury.

BASEBALL

Mariners suspend Clevenger

Reserve catcher Steve Clevenger was suspended for the rest of the season without pay by the Mariners in the wake of his tweets regarding a recent police shooting in Charlotte, N.C., and the Black Lives Matter movement. Clevenger will lose 10 days’ pay from his $516,500 salary in the major leagues, which comes to $28,224. Screen shots of the tweets showed Clevenger made disparaging comments about protesters and President Barack Obama. Clevenger released a statement to Fox Sports late Thursday night apologizing for ‘‘the distraction my tweets on my personal twitter page caused when they went public.’’ . . . The Mets said pitcher Noah Syndergaard has been scratched from his start Saturday night against Philadelphia because of strep throat. Reliever Sean Gilmartin will make his first start of the season, taking Syndergaard’s place.

MISCELLANY

Wawrinka advances to semis

US Open champion Stan Wawrinka took a step closer to a second straight title as he advanced to the semifinals of the St. Petersburg Open in Russia. The top-seeded Swiss dismissed Viktor Troicki, 7-5, 6-2, and set up a meeting with fourth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut. Third-seeded Tomas Berdych will meet Alexander Zverev in the other semifinal . . . Ed Temple who built a remarkable dynasty in women’s track and field at Tennessee State University, where he molded the careers of Wilma Rudolph, Wyomia Tyus, and other Olympic champions, died Sept. 22 in Nashville. He was 89. Obituary, C11 . . . The rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko for the world heavyweight title was called off for a second time. Fury’s management company said the British boxer has ‘‘been declared medically unfit to fight’’ and the Oct. 29 bout in Manchester ‘‘will not be going ahead.’’ No further details were immediately given . . . Harvard’s men’s basketball schedule is highlighted by a game Nov. 11 against Stanford in Shanghai, China. The Crimson also face UMass (Nov. 26), Northeastern (Dec. 6), and Boston College (Dec. 7). Harvard also announced that 6-foot-8-inch forward Danilo Djuricic of Canada has committed to the Crimson for the 2017-18 season . . . On the Champions Tour, Scott McCarron birdied five of the first six holes and finished with an 8-under 62 to take the first-round lead in the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship in Victoria, British Columbia . . . Alexander Levy set a course record and opened up a six-shot lead before darkness shortened the second round of the European Open in Bad Griesbach, Germany.