Guard Stoudamire set to join Spurs

Point guard Damon Stoudamire was expected to sign with the San Antonio Spurs last night, giving the defending champions another veteran option while Tony Parker nurses a left heel injury. Stoudamire negotiated a buyout with Memphis earlier this week after falling behind two young players in the rotation. His agent, Aaron Goodwin, said the 34-year-old planned to sign with the Spurs sometime after clearing waivers last night. An MRI showed Parker has chronic inflammation in the heel but no structural damage. The team said there still wasn't a timetable for his return . . . Chris Paul and David West were picked for their first All-Star Game, giving the hometown Hornets a pair of players for the event New Orleans will host Feb. 17. They will be joined by their coach, Byron Scott, who will be the first to coach the event on his home court in 13 years. Missing out during the worst season of his career was Shaquille O'Neal, ending his streak of 14 consecutive All-Star selections. That tied the record held by Jerry West and Karl Malone . . . The Charlotte Bobcats signed Earl Boykins, adding depth at point guard. The 5-foot-5-inch Boykins, 31, the second-shortest player in NBA history, has been out of the league since he decided last summer not to exercise the $3 million option on his contract with Milwaukee.

Atlanta Thrashers star Ilya Kovalchuk will miss at least two games but apparently avoided serious injury to his right knee when he was hurt in Wednesday night's game against Pittsburgh. Thrashers general manager and interim coach Don Waddell said Kovalchuk was to have a "precautionary" MRI on the knee yesterday afternoon. Waddell said he was encouraged that Kovalchuk felt better, had no substantial swelling in the knee, and was walking without a limp . . . The Nashville Predators signed forward Jordin Tootoo, the first Inuit to play in the NHL, to a two-year contract extension. Tootoo, 24, has 40 points and 365 penalty minutes in 210 career games . . . Former hockey star Guy Lafleur turned himself over to Montreal police, a day after a warrant was drawn up for his arrest for giving contradictory evidence as a witness at his son's bail hearing.

It's time to move Steve Mariucci from "maybe" to "definite" on the list of Washington Redskins coaching candidates. The former 49ers and Lions coach will interview with owner Dan Snyder about the Redskins vacancy before the weekend is out, a person familiar with the selection process told the Associated Press. Mariucci joins former Giants coach Jim Fassel and Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks as leading contenders to succeed Joe Gibbs . . . New Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith added Paul Boudreau as offensive line coach. Boudreau has 21 years of NFL coaching experience, including two seasons with the Patriots . . . A judge in Murfreesboro, Tenn., dismissed misdemeanor charges from an August incident at a strip club against suspended NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones, agreeing with a prosecutor that the Titans cornerback has been punished enough with his legal trouble over the past year.

Clemson point guard Demontez Stitt will miss at least two weeks after having arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in a knee. Stitt, a freshman, has started all 20 games this season, averaging 8.9 points and 3.1 assists. Clemson hosts Boston College tomorrow . . . Connecticut officials say guard Doug Wiggins has been allowed to return to practice, but he and starting guard Jerome Dyson remain suspended from the team. The sophomores, both 20, were suspended last Friday, the day after campus police say they found them in a car with alcohol . . . Kansas State assistant coach Dalonte Hill was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Manhattan, Kan., hours after the team upset No. 2 Kansas, 84-75.

Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze went 2 for 6 at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif., to pull within one of 10,000 victories. Baze already is North America's winningest thoroughbred jockey, notching that title in December 2006 when he surpassed Laffit Pincay Jr.'s record of 9,530 at Bay Meadows . . . David Beckham will have to wait for his 100th international appearance. The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder was omitted when Fabio Capello picked his first roster as England's coach. While bypassing the former captain for Wednesday's exhibition game against Switzerland, Capello said he will consider picking Beckham if the 32-year-old shows good form after the Major League Soccer season opens March 29 . . . The University of Rhode Island is eliminating its women's gymnastics team and will add a women's lacrosse team instead. The gymnastic team will end competition after this season is completed in April. The lacrosse team will start play in spring 2010 . . . Johnny Weir, runner-up at last weekend's US Figure Skating Championships, withdrew from next month's Four Continents competition in Seoul, South Korea, citing fatigue.