Larry Coyer didn't know what to say after he was fired as defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. So he sent out a personally typed-up statement Tuesday. That way the always talkative Coyer wouldn't accidentally let something slip out of anger. "I have the highest regard for him (Mike Shanahan) and have no choice but to accept his decision and do so with as much dignity and grace as I can...

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor weapons charges Tuesday after a police raid on his home last month. Johnson, dressed in a suit and tie, did not speak during the Lake County court hearing before Judge Theodore Potkonjak. Defense attorney Tom Briscoe entered the plea for him.

Even on a so-so night, the Phoenix Suns had enough to wear down the Seattle SuperSonics. Shawn Marion had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Steve Nash added 27 points and 11 assists, and the Suns beat the fading Sonics 113-102 on Tuesday night for their seventh consecutive victory. "Not great basketball," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said, "but we did our job and lived for another day." The Suns overcame...

Jerry Stackhouse got thrown out and Dirk Nowitzki got zoned in. Stackhouse was ejected at the end of the third quarter for his second flagrant foul, but Nowitzki stepped up with a season-high 38 points, including two free throws with 10.2 seconds remaining, to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Utah Jazz 108-105 on Tuesday night.

LeBron James' three quick 3-pointers were a dramatic flourish on 13 commanding minutes as the Cleveland Cavaliers turned a 17-point deficit into a comfortable lead. When one of their best stretches in an outstanding season was over, the Cavs had made a 42-12 run -- and they were much more proud of the 12 than the 42.

Larry Brown would have loved this if he was still coaching Detroit instead of watching from a 76ers' luxury suite while his new team lost again. Chauncey Billups was hurt and Rasheed Wallace was on the bench. So with precise passing and unselfishness that has defined the Pistons, it was Tayshaun Prince's turn to carry them.

The Los Angeles Lakers followed up a victory over the NBA's best team by getting blown out by the worst. Pau Gasol had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Mike Miller scored 14 of his 25 points in a record-setting third quarter, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Lakers 128-118 on Tuesday night. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Los Angeles, which was coming off a 101-98 victory over the...

It was a decidedly routine night for the San Antonio Spurs at home on Tuesday. But after some of their recent games, no news was good news. "Point-wise we're doing a pretty good job. Tonight we did a pretty good job," said Tim Duncan, who had 16 points in the Spurs' 98-84 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

While his personal life may be in turmoil, Jason Kidd remains the steady hand that makes the New Jersey Nets go. Just hours after filing for divorce from his wife of 10 years, Kidd turned in another solid performance. He had 10 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds to lead the Nets to a 101-86 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in a matchup of the top teams in the weak Atlantic...

It'll be Sid the Kid and the Sabres in the NHL All-Star game. Pittsburgh Penguins phenom Sidney Crosby topped all vote-getters and will join three Buffalo Sabres in the starting lineup for the Eastern Conference in hockey's midseason classic later this month in Dallas. Crosby, at 19 years, 5 months, is the youngest player ever elected by fans.

Three weeks ago, the Phoenix Coyotes were sitting eight games under .500 and going nowhere in the Western Conference standings. Now they're the league's hottest team. Ed Jovanovski and Shane Doan scored power-play goals during a span of 2:21 in the second period and the Coyotes extended their season-best winning streak to seven games with a 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.

Phil Kessel made a triumphant return from cancer, even if the Ottawa Senators prevented his comeback from being a victorious one. Daniel Alfredsson scored 12:25 into the third and Ottawa spoiled Kessel's return to Boston's lineup with five goals in the final period for a 5-2 comeback victory over the Bruins on Tuesday night.

Detroit winger Henrik Zetterberg has moves that are drawing comparisons to Peter Forsberg. The 26-year-old used them against Forsberg's former team, scoring twice in regulation and adding the winning shot in the shootout to lift the Red Wings to a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.

The Nashville Predators have no pity for the ailing Anaheim Ducks, not when they're so busy chasing the Western Conference's best team. Steve Sullivan scored with 1:48 left in overtime, and the Predators beat Anaheim 5-4 on Tuesday night for their third straight victory and 11th in 14 games. The Ducks lost for the fifth time in six games, but still lead Nashville in the West by four points.

Byron Ritchie continued his remarkable impression of Jarome Iginla. Ritchie scored his fourth goal in the last three games, Miikka Kiprusoff made 26 saves for his 100th career win, and the Calgary Flames beat the Minnesota Wild 3-0 Tuesday night. After scoring just three times in the season's first 33 games, Ritchie has caught fire of late thriving on the increased ice time he's received with...

It's clear the Islanders can handle the Rangers, now New York's second citizens need to figure out the rest of the NHL. Mike Sillinger scored his second goal of the game 27 seconds after Viktor Kozlov snapped a third-period tie, and the Islanders broke a six-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Rangers on Tuesday night.

Alex Ovechkin learned before the opening faceoff that he would be a starter in this month's All-Star game. Did the news give him an extra bit of oomph? "Just a little jump," Ovechkin said. "Not a big jump, but a little jump." Ovechkin turned that "little jump" into two goals and an assist Tuesday night in a 6-2 victory that gave the Washington Capitals the franchise's first season sweep of the...

Sidney Crosby became an All-Star and scored a highlight-reel goal. The only thing missing was a Pittsburgh Penguins' victory. Martin St. Louis had a goal and two assists, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Penguins 3-2 on Tuesday night. Late in third period, it was announced that Crosby, at 19 years, 5 months, became the youngest player elected by fans to the All-Star game.

Manny Legace and the St. Louis Blues woke up just in time. Legace stopped Frederik Modin in a shootout and the Blues rallied to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 Tuesday night. Modin tried to score on a backhand, but Legace slid in front of the shot to stop it. "I was just trying to wait him out as much as possible," Legace said.