Latrell Sprewell

The 4-year-old daughter of Golden State Warriors guard Latrell Sprewell was mauled by a pet dog in the family's backyard, officials said. The girl, Page, was attacked Friday about 7 p.m. by one of the family's two pit bulls, according to police reports. One of her ears was bitten off and she was bitten on her lips, forehead and nose. Page was rescued by her mother, Candace Cabbil, who heard her daughter's screams, police said "The girl's injuries were substantial," said Greg Armes, the city's animal control unit director.

The unfortunate episode in which Golden State Warriors' basketball star Latrell Sprewell choked coach P.J. Carlesimo has become a major story in the sports pages and in the front pages, too. But the incident would never have any relevance for fans of the business pages had it not been for the intervention of San Francisco's outspoken mayor, Willie Brown. "Latrell could have been justified," the flamboyant Mayor Brown told the press. "Who is to say his boss did not deserve choking?"

The NBA lockout may not be over, but teams aren't waiting to start deals. And two of the biggest names in the league - Scottie Pippen and Latrell Sprewell - are among those being moved. The Chicago Bulls agreed to a sign-and-trade deal sending Pippen to the Houston Rockets and the New York Knicks were expected to acquire Latrell Sprewell from Golden State, numerous league sources told the Associated Press. Also, top free agent Antonio McDyess narrowed his choices to Denver and Phoenix.

The NBA says it has been told that Latrell Sprewell plans to file a lawsuit seeking damages stemming from his suspension for choking Golden State Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo. "We have been informed by attorneys representing Latrell Sprewell that they are planning to file a lawsuit based upon a claim that Dean Feerick's arbitration award, which upheld a suspension of 68 games, somehow violated Sprewell's rights, the antitrust laws and the labor laws," said a statement yesterday by Jeffrey A. Mishkin, the NBA's chief legal officer.

Latrell Sprewell, the banned NBA star, and Golden State coach P.J. Carlesimo have exchanged and accepted each other's apologies in a phone call, the player's lawyer said yesterday. The lawyer, Kurt Robinson, said that Sprewell had wanted to talk to Carlesimo face to face, but that Sprewell was banned from NBA venues. "The apology was accepted, and he apologized to Spree," Robinson said. Sprewell was scheduled to speak publicly today about his attack on the coach. A spokeswoman for Sprewell's agent, Arn Tellem, said Sprewell would be joined by Tellem and Billy Hunter, executive director of the NBA Players Association, at a news conference to begin at 5 p.m. Philadelphia time.

Arbitrator John Feerick ruled for Latrell Sprewell on both of his grievances yesterday, agreeing that the punishments handed down by the Golden State Warriors and NBA were unduly harsh and unprecedented. The arbitrator ruled that: The Warriors must reinstate his contract and pay him the remaining $17.3 million over the next two years. The NBA suspension will be shortened to seven months from one year, ending July 1. He remains barred from the Warriors' team facilities and NBA arenas until then.

Latrell Sprewell's comeback was overshadowed by Terrell Brandon's. Brandon, returning from a two-game absence with bruised ribs and a bruised thigh, sank two foul shots with eight seconds left as the Milwaukee Bucks sent the New York Knicks to their fourth straight road loss, 88-87, last night. Patrick Ewing, who scored 24 points, missed a potential game-winner from the baseline just before the buzzer. Brandon, the subject of trade rumors because he refuses to negotiate a contract extension in Milwaukee, finished with 16 points.

It's an ignominious mark, but the Atlanta Hawks will concentrate on the positives, such as Steve Smith's eagle eye. Despite combining with the visiting New York Knicks to post the lowest third-quarter points total in NBA history, the Hawks tied Indiana for the Central Division lead by winning their seventh in succession, a 76-73 victory, last night. The teams combined for only 19 points in the third quarter. Atlanta outscored New York, 11-8. Smith, his right eye nearly swollen shut after he was accidentally poked in the eye by Larry Johnson in the ugly third period, sealed the victory by hitting seven free throws in the final 10 seconds.

Free-agent forward Glen Rice has agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with the Chicago Bulls, NBA sources said. The agreement was reached yesterday, and an announcement is expected early next week. The New York Knicks had tried desperately to acquire Rice in the last few days, but a 10-player, three-team trade that also would have involved the Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks died. That deal would have sent Rice to New York, along with Lakers teammate Travis Knight and the Hawks' Dikembe Mutombo and Jim Jackson.

The ruling in the Latrell Sprewell case yesterday elicited expressions of relief from the 76ers. "I'm just happy it's over," coach Larry Brown said last night, before his team played the Milwaukee Bucks at the CoreStates Center. "Now we can get on with our lives. People make mistakes. Hopefully, this will be the end of it. " The decision by arbitrator John Feerick to reinstate Sprewell's contract with the Golden State Warriors - which was terminated for his attack on coach P.J. Carlesimo - and to reduce Sprewell's suspension caused no discernible ripples in the Sixers organization.

  Knicks' big guns wilt in battle with Boston Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Rajon Rondo added 13 points and 12 assists, and the Boston Celtics scored the final 10 points for a spirited 96-86 victory over the Knicks in New York on Monday night. With blood flowing and bodies flying, the Celtics showed the Knicks they will be tough to beat next month in the playoffs. Boston's Ray Allen cut his head during the action and was briefly forced from the game.

Toney Douglas lined up those loud green sneakers behind the arc one last time and let it fly. When the ball went through, the New York Knicks had to rewrite their record book. Douglas tied a franchise record by making nine of the Knicks' franchise-record 20 three-pointers, scoring 29 points in a 120-99 victory over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies last night that snapped a three-game losing streak. "Once I started hitting, I felt like there was no defense out there," Douglas said.

Former NBA star Latrell Sprewell's home is up for foreclosure and his yacht sold at auction to help pay off the $1.3 million he owes on the boat, according to court filings. Sprewell, who once turned down a 3-year, $21 million contract extension saying, "I've got my family to feed," has apparently fallen on tough times. Citizens Bank filed a foreclosure suit last week in Milwaukee County for the $405,000 home Sprewell bought in the Milwaukee suburb of River Hills in 1994. In court documents, the bank said Sprewell owed $295,138 in outstanding payments plus interest.

Kevin Durant is the cornerstone of the Seattle SuperSonics' future. P.J. Carlesimo gets the first opportunity to teach Durant the ways of the NBA. The Sonics concluded their 2-month coaching search yesterday when they hired Carlesimo as their coach. After spending the last 5 years as an assistant with San Antonio, Carlesimo will take charge of a young team still in the throws of a roster overhaul. It is Carlesimo's first head-coaching job since the 1999 season, when he was fired by Golden State.

The mother of four of former NBA star Latrell Sprewell's children sued him for $200 million yesterday, alleging Sprewell broke their long-term cohabitation deal and roughed her up last month in their Westchester County, N.Y., home. Candace Cabbil brought the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, saying Sprewell recently ended the arrangement that developed after they met in 1989 when both attended the University of Alabama. "I certainly have no comment about that at this point," said Jonathan C. Smith, an attorney for Sprewell.

Latrell Sprewell was suspended for one game by the NBA yesterday for yelling a sexual vulgarity at a female fan during a game, the latest episode of a player clashing with spectators. The penalty was harsher than those issued in the past by the league office for oncourt outbursts. The NBA has been particularly concerned about conflicts between players and fans following a nasty brawl in Detroit 2 1/2 weeks ago that spilled into the stands. Sprewell responded to a female heckler with a sexually vulgar term that was clearly picked up by a courtside microphone and broadcast by television stations KTLA in Los Angeles and KSTC in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Timberwolves wanted to take their game to the next level, but their resident superstar, Kevin Garnett, couldn't take them by himself. So general manager Kevin McHale rolled the dice. He brought in a pair of strong-willed veterans, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, in off-season trades to mesh their game with Garnett's and attempt to get the Timberwolves past the first round of the playoffs, where they have been eliminated the last seven seasons. Though viewed in some places as a gamble, the moves have paid off royally for the Timberwolves, who owned the NBA's second-best record entering last night's action.

Isiah Thomas, the best little big man in NBA history, sees a bit of himself in Allen Iverson, except for the tattoos and cornrows. Hair and body art aside, Iverson possesses traits the Knicks sorely lack: a superstar player with a heart as big as his ego. Just like Thomas. "He loves Allen and how he competes," said one of Thomas' close friends. "He would love to have Allen on his team. " Thomas, the Knicks' new president of basketball operations, will have to be creative or lucky to bring Iverson to New York.

Latrell Sprewell made a lot of noise in his return to Madison Square Garden, cursing at the Knicks' owner, screaming at their bench and yelling in triumph after the best comeback game by any player to have spent at least five seasons in New York. Sprewell scored 31 points in between his yells and taunts to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves over the team that traded him last summer, 98-92, last night. Sprewell saved his biggest outburst for the end, too, turning to James Dolan, chairman of the Knicks corporate owner and unleashing a stream of curses after his three-pointer gave Minnesota a 94-89 lead with 1:14 left.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Paul Pierce scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to help the Boston Celtics hold off Orlando, 94-92, last night. It was the Magic's 14th straight loss. Pierce also had eight rebounds and six assists, Vin Baker added 19 points, and Eric Williams had 15 for the Celtics, who ended a four-game losing streak. Tracy McGrady led the Magic with 24 points, but had only two in the fourth quarter and fouled out with 3 minutes, 11 seconds remaining. Donnell Harvey added 16 points, and Juwan Howard had 12 points and 10 rebounds.