Mavericks coach Don Nelson and assistant Donnie Nelson were suspended for the season's first two games by the NBA, which also fined the team $150,000 Friday for contact with players ineligible for the draft.

The Nelsons -- Don is Donnie's father -- went to two private workouts in June in Yugoslavia.

It was the ninth time the Mavericks have been fined -- for a total of $1.155-million -- since January 2000, when Mark Cuban bought the team.

Cuban said by e-mail that the coaches were only observing players and the fine and punishment were "excessive."

Also, Dallas signed free-agent forward/guard Walt Williams.

MORE PRO BASKETBALL: Guard Vince Carter missed the Raptors' 93-77 preseason loss to the visiting Nets because of a stiff back. Lamond Murray, who replaced him, left the game with what the team said was a sprained right foot. Kerry Kittles scored 17 to lead the Nets. ... Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 30 to lead the host Cavaliers past the Jazz 95-91. ... Stromile Swift scored 19 to lead the host Grizzlies past the Magic 108-105. ... Lonny Baxter scored 28 to lead the host Bulls past the Clippers 98-91. ... Ron Mercer and Jermaine O'Neal scored 16 to lead the host Pacers past Minnesota 88-83. ... Zach Randolph scored 14 to lead the Trail Blazers over Houston 87-86 in St. Charles, Mo. ... Shandon Anderson scored 18 to lead the Knicks past host San Antonio 85-82. ... The Kings signed free agent Damon Jones to a one-year contract.

HORSES: Julie Krone, the first woman to be inducted into thoroughbred racing's Hall of Fame, will return as a jockey early next month in Southern California. The 4-foot-11 Krone retired in April 1999 at age 35. ... Red n'Gold won Keeneland's featured $57,000 Knockgriffin Purse. ... The 2005 Breeders' Cup will not be run at Churchill Downs because of a shortage of hotel rooms, and may be moved to Belmont Park. ... Critical Eye won the allowance feature at Belmont Park. ... Bully's Del Mar won the $50,000 feature at Santa Anita.

TENNIS: Martina Hingis will not play in tournaments for the rest of the year while she rehabilitates her ankle. ... Andre Agassi swept past French Open finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-2 to reach the Madrid Masters semifinals in Spain. He faces Sebastien Grosjean, who beat Agustin Calleri 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). Jiri Novak beat Paradorn Srichaphan 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and faces Fabrice Santoro, who got past Roger Federer 7-5, 6-3. ... Lindsay Davenport returned to the Swisscom Challenge semifinals in Zurich by beating Kim Clijsters 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). Conchita Martinez advanced by eliminating Alexandra Stevenson 7-5, 7-5; Patty Schnyder upset Daniela Hantuchova 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5); and Justine Henin beat Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian 7-5, 6-2. ... Rita Grande beat Emilie Loit 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 in the VUB Open quarterfinals in Bratislava, Slovakia. Also, top-seeded Nathalie Dechy ousted Lubomira Kurhajcova 6-3, 7-5; Maja Matevzic beat Rossana Neffa de los Rios 6-1, 7-5, 6-1; and Iveta Benesova topped Eva Fislova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

FIGURE SKATING: Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes will skip next week's Skate America because of a knee injury, and she'll be replaced by Michelle Kwan.

COLLEGES: In women's soccer, host Lynn beat Eckerd 4-0 and host Florida beat Tennessee 2-1 in overtime. ... Host Florida swimming and diving teams beat Indian River, as the women won 167-107 and the men won 170-117. Jessica Ranieri broke UF's 1-meter springboard record, and Sara McLarty swam an NCAA automatic qualifying time in the 400-yard individual medley. Zach Wilcox qualified for the NCAA Diving Zones next spring in the 1 and 3 meters. ... In volleyball, host USF beat Memphis 3-0 and host Florida beat LSU 3-1. ... Tampa fell to Thomas 2-0 in men's soccer.

OBITUARY: Swimmer and diver Aileen Riggin Soule, the nation's oldest female Olympic gold medalist, died at 96 in Honolulu.

MLS: Rookie Carlos Ruiz won the MVP award for leading the league with 24 goals and helping the Los Angeles Galaxy reach Sunday's title game.

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