IN BRIEF

BASKETBALL

Lakers' Jackson to get two-year extension

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson has agreed to terms of a two-year contract extension believed to be worth about $24 million, putting him under contract through the 2009-10 season.

The 62-year-old discussed his contract situation Thursday. When asked if this was his final contract with the Lakers, he hedged a bit and didn't give a direct answer.

"I was in my 50s in the last era, I'm in my 60s in this era, and maybe I can go on into my 70s," he said. "But I really don't think so. I mean, I'm losing a step as I go -- mentally and physically. Being abreast of all these kids is not an easy task. I can hardly speak their language, but I'm trying."

Also: An MRI exam on LeBron James' injured left index finger revealed a sprain, and the Cleveland Cavaliers said their superstar would be a game-time decision for today's game at Toronto. James hurt the finger Wednesday against Detroit.

The Denver Nuggets signed center Jelani McCoy off the Los Angeles Lakers' Developmental League affiliate, bringing back a big man who had played with them in the preseason.

Ralph Beard, who played on Kentucky's first two NCAA championship teams, then saw his career ruined in a 1950s college basketball betting scandal, died Thursday at his Louisville, Ky., home at age 79. He recently had suffered from several illnesses, including a muscle disorder that made movement difficult.

BASEBALL

Torrealba reaches deal to remain with Rockies

Catcher Yorvit Torrealba is staying in Colorado, agreeing to a two-year deal worth about $7 million with a mutual option for 2010.

Torrealba, who filed for free agency after helping the Rockies reach the World Series, was set to sign a three-year contract for about twice the money with the New York Mets this month. The Rockies got back into the mix when that deal fell apart, and the Mets traded for Johnny Estrada instead.

Also: Jorge Posada and the New York Yankees finalized their $52.4 million, four-year contract, more than two weeks after the All-Star catcher and the team reached a preliminary agreement on the deal. Posada will get $13.1 million in each of the four seasons, the highest average salary ever for a catcher.

MISCELLANEOUS

NHL approves change to scheduling format

The NHL's board of governors changed the league's scheduling format to allow every team to face each other at least once every season.

After a three-year experiment in developing rivalries in hockey's far-flung outposts, the NHL voted to go back to the scheduling format used before the 2004-05 lockout, most notably decreasing the current eight games against every team's divisional opponents to six.

Starting next season, teams will play 24 total games against their four divisional foes, 40 against the rest of the conference and 18 against the other conference -- one game against all 15 foes and three home-and-home series against wild-card opponents.

Also: Ryan Lochte beat Michael Phelps by 1.24 seconds with an American-record time of 1 minute, 40.08 seconds in the 200-yard individual medley on the first day of the U.S. short course national championships in Atlanta.

Natalie Coughlin set an American record in the women's 50 freestyle in 21.46.

Former UNLV standout Adam Scott shot a 5-under-par 67 to share the first-round lead with Trevor Immelman in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, South Africa. They lead Ernie Els by two shots.

Switzerland's Daniel Albrecht won a super-combi in Beaver Creek, Colo., for his first career World Cup skiing victory. American Bode Miller finished fourth, about a second slower than Albrecht.