Sports briefs 2/12/05

Basketball

* Karl Malone is retiring, ending a career in which he became one of the NBA's greatest power forwards and was No. 2 on the league's all-time scoring list.

Malone, who teamed with guard John Stockton for 18 seasons with Utah to form one of the NBA's greatest duos, will announce his retirement Sunday at the Delta Center, the Jazz said Friday.

The 41-year-old Malone underwent knee surgery last summer and has not played since last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

* Alonzo Mourning and the Toronto Raptors agreed on a buyout of his contract Friday, clearing the way for the center to sign with the Miami Heat.

Mourning was acquired from New Jersey in a trade for Vince Carter on Dec. 17 but never reported to the Raptors.

The buyout means Mourning could sign with his former team, Miami, when he clears waivers Tuesday at 10 a.m. No team is expected to claim Mourning because they would have to assume his contract.

* Reggie Miller will retire after the season, ending a career with the Indiana Pacers in which he became one of the NBA's greatest shooters.

"I just sensed that this is something he knows is right for him to do," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Friday. "I'd love to have him around another year. This is one of those personal decisions you have to go with your gut on."

Carlisle spoke after telling the players about Miller's decision to retire after spending all 18 of his NBA seasons with the Pacers. Miller, who turns 40 in August, was at Friday's practice at Conseco Fieldhouse but did not speak to reporters.

Miller holds NBA records for most 3-pointers made (2,505) and attempted (6,321) and is the leading scorer in Pacers history with 24,685 points. He appeared in five All-Star games, 131 playoff games and the 2000 NBA Finals.

Hockey

* The weekend has arrived and the death watch on the NHL season has begun.

Commissioner Gary Bettman's deadline for reaching a deal with the players' association is rapidly approaching. If there's no agreement before Monday, he is expected to pull the plug on the season that never was.

When he would do that is anyone's guess, but it should come soon.

"I don't know what he's waiting for," Los Angeles center Sean Avery said.

Representatives from several teams told The Associated Press on Friday they had not yet been given word or warning from the NHL to get ready for the cancellation of the season. They do expect notification from the league before such action is taken.

Tennis

* Top seed Serena Williams pulled out of her quarterfinal clash with Dinara Safina at the Open Gaz de France on Friday because of the stomach flu.

Williams, the Australian Open champion, had already complained of feeling sick in her second-round win over Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France.

Safina, the sister of Australian Open champion Marat Safin, will meet Tatiana Golovin of France in the semifinals.

Golovin advanced after her opponent, Silvia Farina Elia, retired at the start of the second set.

No. 2 seed Amelie Mauresmo played No. 8 Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria in a later quarterfinal.

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova had also pulled out of the tournament because of a respiratory illness.