Sports: In brief

In brief

Compiled from Times wires

Mavericks fined, coaches suspended

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.