BASKETBALL

JEFFERSON TO PRACTICE WITH NETS

Injured All-Star forward Richard Jefferson plans to practice today as the Nets get ready to take on the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Jefferson has missed almost four months with a torn ligament in his left wrist. Earlier this week, he said he would play if the Nets made the playoffs. The Nets clinched the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a win over Boston on Wednesday night. They open their series against the top-seeded Heat Sunday in Miami.

Coach Lawrence Frank said yesterday he would be better able to evaluate Jefferson’s status after seeing him practice.

“Richard can certainly help us,” Frank said. “But I just don’t know how much. I don’t think he knows how much. It would be unfair to place expectations on him.”

Before he was injured on December 27, Jefferson was averaging 22.2 points per game in 33 games.

TAR HEEL TRIO TO ANNOUNCE PLANS

The North Carolina Tar Heels scheduled a news conference today for players Sean May, Raymond Felton, and Marvin Williams to announce their plans for next season. Guard Rashad McCants already has declared for the NBA draft, and Jawad Williams, Jackie Manuel, and Melvin Scott completed their eligibility.

If May, Felton, and Marvin Williams join McCants in leaving early, the national champs will lose their top seven scorers. May, the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament, was adamant immediately after the season that he would be back, but he has backed off a bit recently. Felton made his decision last week but wanted to wait to announce it.

“It was difficult, but I think it’s what’s best for me,” Felton said then. “It’s something I wanted.”

Marvin Williams likely would have been a lottery pick had he entered the NBA right out of high school, and a few mock drafts on the Internet have him listed as the no. 2 selection, after Utah’s Andrew Bogut.

CAVALIERS FIRE GM PAXSON

Jim Paxson was fired yesterday as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose stunning second-half collapse this season cost them their first trip to the NBA playoffs in seven years.

Paxson’s dismissal has been expected for weeks and came exactly one month after Paul Silas was fired as coach by owner Dan Gilbert, who has had a tumultuous first 50 days running the franchise. Gilbert, who took over as principal owner from Gordon Gund on March 1, said he released Paxson with two years and $2 million left on the GM’s contract because he said change was necessary. Gilbert also said interim coach Brendan Malone, who went 8-10 after taking over for Silas, will not be a candidate to be the Cavs’ next coach. Malone, however, will remain with the organization.

THOMAS: I CAN WORK WITH PHIL JACKSON

Knicks President Isiah Thomas said yesterday that he would be willing to work with Phil Jackson, the unemployed coach with nine championship rings who should expect a phone call soon from the Knicks. Jackson has already publicly expressed a desire to possibly coach the team he once played for.

“I can work with anybody that wants to win,” Thomas said.

He also said no player on the roster was untouchable, but it’s highly unlikely he would part with Stephon Marbury in a trade unless a monster opportunity – something along the lines of the Lakers being willing to part with Kobe Bryant, or Minnesota looking to move Kevin Garnett – presented itself.

“The way I feel right now, I’d trade my mother if the right deal came along,” Thomas said.

CYCLING

ARMSTRONG FALLS TO NINTH IN TOUR DE GEORGIA

Lance Armstrong finished a disappointing ninth in yesterday’s time trial at the Tour de Georgia, nearly two minutes behind the winner in a go-all-out style of cycling he usually dominates. American Floyd Landis won the third stage in 39 minutes, 58.09 seconds. The other spots on the podium also were claimed by U.S. riders – David Zabriskie in second and Christopher Baldwin third.

Armstrong plans to retire this summer after going for a seventh straight victory in the Tour de France. The Tour de Georgia is a tune-up along the way, a six-day chance for Armstrong to gauge his conditioning against the best field that will be assembled on Americans roads. He won this race a year ago, taking control in the time trial.

BASEBALL

GARCIAPARRA OUT AT LEAST TWO MONTHS

Chicago Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra will be sidelined at least two to three months because of a torn left groin.

Garciaparra was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday, one day after he got hurt while leaving the batter’s box during a game against St. Louis. Cubs trainer Mark O’Neal said the muscle pulled away from the bone. The Cubs, doctors, and Garciaparra will decide in the next 10 days whether an operation is needed. Garciaparra was carried off the field after grounding into a double play and collapsing just in front of the batter’s box in the third inning. He is hitting just .157.

FOOTBALL

SEAHAWKS SIGN DYSON, SHARPER

The Seattle Seahawks reached a contract agreement yesterday with unrestricted free agent cornerback Andre Dyson, according to a report on ESPN.com. The four-year veteran, who had played his entire career with Tennessee, was one of the last few quality players remaining in the free-agent pool. He’ll sign a five-year, $17.5 million deal that includes a signing bonus of $3 million and a total of about $6 million in guarantees.

Also yesterday, linebacker Jamie Sharper officially became a member of the Seahawks, signing a five-year, $17.5 million deal that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus. Sharper was released by the Houston Texans on April 1.

GOLF

SINGH TAKES EARLY LEAD IN HOUSTON

Golf’s newest hall-of-famer, Vijay Singh, opened the defense of his Houston Open title by firing an 8-under par 64 yesterday to grab the first-round clubhouse lead at the Redstone Golf Club. Playing his first event since the Masters, the world no. 2 closed out his bogey-free round with birdies on three of his final four holes to hold a one-shot edge over Australia’s Gavin Coles.

– Associated Press