Coach D’Antoni poised to move from Phoenix Suns

New York: The New York Knicks said on Saturday that coach Mike D'Antoni has accepted an offer in principle to make the move from the Phoenix Suns to New York, but said the deal had yet to be sealed.

In a story posted on their website, the National Basketball Association team said terms of the contract were not confirmed, and that a news conference would be scheduled when the deal was done.

Press reports on Saturday said D'Antoni and the Knicks agreed on a four-year deal worth $24million. The move seems something of a surprise for D'Antoni, who had two years remaining on his contract with the Suns that would have paid him nearly $9-million. He was reportedly also mulling an offer from the Chicago Bulls.

D'Antoni's departure from the Suns was not unexpected, but a move to the lumbering Knicks was. In Phoenix, he had developed a run-and-gun style that encourages players to take shots within the first seven seconds of the shot clock. (afp)

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Maddux reaches 350th victory

San Diego, California: San Diego hurler Greg Maddux became the ninth pitcher in Major League Baseball history to reach 350 wins on Saturday as the Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2.

A four-time National League Cy Young Award winner, Maddux allowed an unearned run and three hits with no walks and one strikeout over six innings.

The future Hall of Famer's only blemish on the night came in the sixth. Willy Taveras laid down a bunt, and 17-time Gold Glove winner Maddux skipped his throw to first into right field. In his first bid for No. 350, Maddux was hammered for nine runs and 13 hits in seven innings of a 9-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 18. (AFP)