One-Game Suspension for Marbury

By HOWARD BECK

Stephon Marbury was suspended one game by the Knicks on Friday, a move that cements his outcast status and could speed the process to separate him from the franchise permanently.

Although the Knicks only suspended Marbury for one game, the punishment is viewed as a first step toward a more definitive solution. Marbury will serve the suspension Saturday night, when the Knicks host the Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden. Marbury, who is being paid $21.9 million this season, will forfeit about $400,000 in salary.

The suspension was handed down two days after Marbury declined Coach Mike D’Antoni’s request to play against the Detroit Pistons. It was the second time in six days that Marbury refused to help the short-handed Knicks. He is being docked the salary equivalent of two games for not playing Wednesday night in Detroit and for the game he is suspended Saturday.

One-Game Suspension for Marbury....

Pistons to fine Iverson after guard misses practice Thursday

ESPN.com news services

Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson missed practice Thursday and will be levied a "hefty" fine, coach Michael Curry said.

"I'm surprised when guys are late; I'm surprised when they don't show," Curry said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "It's a pretty hefty fine to be late, or to miss, and once again, it's accountability for yourself and your teammates."

Rodney Stuckey, who scored 13 points and added a career-high 11 assists for his first career double-double Wednesday in a 110-96 victory over New York, will start in Iverson's place Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Curry said he hadn't decided whether Iverson would play.

Pistons to fine Iverson after guard misses practice Thursday....

Would LeBron James Leave Cleveland?

NBA superstar LeBron James was in New York Tuesday. His Cleveland Cavaliers played the Knicks. James can become a free agent in 2010. Many NBA teams would love to sign James.

Wizards fire Jordan, make Tapscott interim coach

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eddie Jordan was fired as coach of the Washington Wizards on Monday after opening the season 1-10 without injured starters Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood.

Ed Tapscott, the Wizards' director of player development, will replace Jordan on an interim basis, running his first practice as the team's new head coach Monday morning, a team spokesman said.

The firing was first reported by the Washington Post on its Web site.

Jordan was in his sixth season with the Wizards and led the team to the playoffs each of the past four. In September, shortly before the start of training camp, the Wizards picked up a one-year option to keep him under contract through the 2009-10 season.

He leaves as the Eastern Conference's longest-tenured coach and No. 3 in the NBA behind Jerry Sloan of the Utah Jazz and Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.

Wizards fire Jordan, make Tapscott interim coach....

Thunder fire Carlesimo after 1-12 start

By JEFF LATZKE – 1 hour ago

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder fired coach P.J. Carlesimo, with the team off to an NBA-worst 1-12 start in its new city.

Assistant Scott Brooks was appointed interim coach Saturday.

"This was a very difficult decision to make," general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. "It is one that I felt was necessary at this time. I am very appreciative of the hard work and effort that P.J. gave to this team and we wish him the best in his future endeavors."

The firing came after the team's 10th straight loss, a 105-80 defeat Friday night to the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets played for two seasons in Oklahoma City and rebuilt themselves into a playoff contender.

The Thunder relocated from Seattle in the offseason after a franchise-worst 20-win season to start Carlesimo's run. Carlesimo was 21-74 in just more than one season with the franchise.

Oklahoma City faces the Hornets again Saturday night in New Orleans.

Thunder fire Carlesimo after 1-12 start....

Sports Friday: Mussina Retires, Steelers Roll

After 18 major-league seasons, Mike Mussina announced his retirement Thursday. A 270-game winner with the Yankees and Orioles, the 40-year old right hander ranks 32nd on baseball's career win list.

Mark Cuban Charged With Insider Trading

Federal regulators have charged Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with insider trading for allegedly using confidential information on a stock sale to avoid more than $750,000 in losses.

Jazz Break Losing Streak, Beat Suns

The Utah Jazz broke a three-game losing streak Monday night. Utah defeated Phoenix, 109-97. Carlos Boozer had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Jazz.

BREAKING NEWS: SEC charges Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with insider trading related to sales of Mamma.com.

SEC charges Dallas Mavericks owner and Internet entrepreneur Mark Cuban with insider trading related to sales of Mamma.com, now known as Copernic.

LeBron James Leads Cavs Past Jazz

LeBron James scored 21 of his 38 points in the second half as the Cavaliers beat the Jazz, 105-93.

Dwyane Wade on CenterStage

Wade talks to Michael Kay about winning gold in the Olympics and more.

Iverson traded to Pistons

(UPI) -- High-scoring Denver guard Allen Iverson will go to the Detroit Pistons in a trade for three players, the two teams announced Monday.

In exchange for Iverson, Denver gets Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb.

The 33-year-old Iverson is in his 13th season in the NBA. He has averaged 27.7 points and 6.3 assists per game in his career.

Iverson played 10 1/2 years for Philadelphia and has since been with the Nuggets.

"He's a fierce competitor, he's going to bring tremendous energy to our basketball team and he's a proven all-aStar in this league," Pistons Vice President Scott Perry said in a report on the team's Web site. "He'll add excitement not only to our basketball team, but to the community at large."

Iverson traded to Pistons....

Mavs, Cowboys to co-host 2010 NBA All-Star game

By JAIME ARON

DALLAS (AP) — The NBA All-Star game is coming to the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in 2010 and plenty of good seats are available — more than 100,000.

Living up to the old adage about doing things bigger in Texas, the Dallas Mavericks and Cowboys are collaborating on hosting next season's showcase event. It will be among the first major events at the soon-to-be-completed, $1.1 billion facility in nearby Arlington.

And, if all goes according to plan, this event will set the record for the largest crowd ever to watch an NBA game, shattering the mark of 44,735 set at the 1989 All-Star Game, not-so-coincidentally held at another Texas-sized venue, the Houston Astrodome.

"It's totally outrageous," NBA commissioner David Stern said.

Just wait until he hears Mavs owner Mark Cuban's idea about putting the record out of reach.

"If we can get people to sit on each other's laps, it could be 200,000," Cuban said, laughing.

Mavs, Cowboys to co-host 2010 NBA All-Star game....