IN BRIEF

PRO BASKETBALL

Dunleavy abruptly resigns as Clippers coach, keeps GM job

Mike Dunleavy resigned as the Los Angeles Clippers' coach Thursday but retained his job as general manager.

Assistant coach Kim Hughes will be the interim replacement for Dunleavy, who has led the Clippers to just one winning season since taking over in 2003.

The Clippers abruptly announced the moves in a news release, saying the decision was voluntary and mutual. Los Angeles (21-28) has lost five of six and is in 12th place in the NBA's Western Conference.

Also: New Orleans Hornets All-Star point guard Chris Paul will miss four to six weeks after having arthroscopic knee surgery. He will start rehabilitation immediately and be on crutches for at least two weeks.

Boston Celtics star forward Paul Pierce said he hopes to return from a strained left foot Sunday against the Orlando Magic. Pierce, injured in a game Monday, missed Wednesday's game and is expected to miss today's.

PRO FOOTBALL

Lockout appears likely in 2011, NFL union leader Smith says

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said the chance of a lockout after next season is a "14" on a scale of 1-to-10.

With that, Smith painted perhaps the bleakest picture yet regarding prospects of labor strife in the league, which could be looking at a 2010 season with no salary cap and, if the collective bargaining agreement expires as scheduled in March 2011, a lockout that year.

"I keep coming back to an economic model in America that is unparalleled," Smith said. "And that makes it incredibly difficult to then come to players and say, on average, each of you needs to take a $340,000 pay cut to save the National Football League."

Smith said the NFL would receive $5 billion from its network TV deals even if no games are played in 2011. He regarded that as proof owners are preparing for a lockout.

Some of Smith's question-and-answer session was spent reiterating past claims, such as team values increasing "almost 500 percent" in the last 15 years. There was also a call to have all 32 teams open their books to show who was losing money and how much.

Also: Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said he hopes to test his sore right ankle for the first time during today's practice. Freeney, who tore a ligament in the ankle in the AFC Championship Game, is listed as questionable for Sunday's Super Bowl against the New Orleans Saints.

Saints coach Sean Payton shortened practice by about 20 minutes Thursday, trying to ensure his players are fresh for the Super Bowl. Temperatures were close to 80 degrees when New Orleans began practice outdoors on the campus of the University of Miami. Players removed their shoulder pads for the final 40 minutes of the workout.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson said he thinks he has played his last game with the San Diego Chargers. Tomlinson, who has two years left on his contract, is due a $2 million roster bonus March 5 and would be paid $5 million in total salary in 2010.

Bill Dudley, a Hall of Fame player who in 1946 with the Pittsburgh Steelers led the NFL in rushing, punt returns and interceptions, died Saturday at age 88 in Lynchburg, Va. He had a stroke earlier in the day.

MISCELLANEOUS

Unable to reach deal, Thrashers send star Kovalchuk to Devils

The NHL's Atlanta Thrashers traded star left wing and captain Ilya Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils.

Atlanta also sent defenseman Anssi Salmela to New Jersey for right winger Niclas Bergfors, defenseman Johnny Oduya, prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round pick. The teams also swapped second-round picks this year.

The 26-year-old Kovalchuk, set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, rejected the Thrashers' 12-year, $101 million extension offer. The Russian Olympian leads the league in goals with 328 since Atlanta drafted him No. 1 overall in 2001, and he has 31 goals and 27 assists in 49 games this season.

Also: The Minnesota Twins and free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract. He played in the All-Star Game last year as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Relief pitcher Carlos Marmol and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a one-year contract worth $2,125,000, the midpoint between the figures the sides exchanged in arbitration last month.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Parker has been suspended for the first 50 games of the season after a second positive test for a drug of abuse under the minor league drug program.

No. 1-ranked College of Southern Nevada scored five unearned runs in the third inning and defeated No. 11 Yavapai (Ariz.) College 6-3 at Morse Stadium. Joe Robinson got the victory for the Coyotes (6-0), allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts in six innings. Trent Cook went 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs and one RBI.