Kings forward Andres Nocioni was arrested early yesterday on suspicion of drunk driving. “I want to apologize to the Kings organization, my teammates, my coaches, the fans, the city of Sacramento, and my family,’’ Nocioni said in a statement. “Drinking and driving is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. I made a mistake and I’m very sorry for my lapse in judgment.’’ The arrest came hours after the Kings lost a home game to the Hawks, 113-105, Wednesday night. Nocioni had 14 points and six rebounds in the game . . . The Kings say leading scorer Kevin Martin (30.6 points per game) has a hairline fracture in his left wrist. Treatment options are currently being evaluated . . . Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman was introduced as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks’ affiliate in the NBA Development League, which will tip off next November. “I feel like I’m the right person for the job,’’ she said. “I know how these guys feel. I played in the minor leagues. I’m ultimately connected to that part of development in a player’s life.’’ Mavericks president Donnie Nelson is among the owners of the D-League team, and it was his idea to hire her.

The NCAA has cleared freshman Lance Stephenson to play at Cincinnati without having to miss any games. There were questions about whether the 6-foot-5-inch, 240-pound prep phenom would be eligible because of his involvement in a documentary. Stephenson averaged 28.9 points in his senior season at Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. He was picked as the Big East’s preseason Rookie of the Year . . . Indiana freshman Bawa Muniru, a 6-11, 260-pound center from Tumu, Ghana, has also been cleared by the NCAA to play this season.

Andre Agassi is responding to criticism of his crystal meth use with a plea for compassion, telling “60 Minutes’’ he needed help when he took the drug while depressed in 1997. Discussing his new autobiography, Agassi became emotional when reacting to comments by Martina Navratilova, who compared him to Roger Clemens. CBS will broadcast the interview Sunday night. In his book “Open,’’ which goes on sale Monday, Agassi says he used crystal meth in 1997 and failed a drug test - a result he says was thrown out after he lied by saying he unwittingly took the substance . . . US captain Mary Joe Fernandez expressed regret over the Williams sisters’ decision to skip this weekend’s Fed Cup final in Reggio Calabria, Italy. First Venus, then top-ranked Serena told Fernandez they wouldn’t make it. Now, 18-year-old Melanie Oudin, who reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, and 20-year-old Alexa Glatch lead the Americans. They will face top-20 players Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone . . . A Belgian anti-doping tribunal has suspended US Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer one year for allegedly failing to report her whereabouts to anti-doping officials three times. Wickmayer, who has denied wrongdoing, said on her website she will appeal the suspension. Another Belgian player, 2002 Wimbledon semifinalist Xavier Malisse, also was suspended by the tribunal for breaking the whereabouts rule.

Northeastern’s Devin Petta, a freshman from Whitman, became the first female soccer player in Colonial Athletic Association history to be named the league’s Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Petta scored 14 goals and added seven assists. Northeastern’s Ed Matz is the CAA’s Coach of the Year . . . The widow of boxing champion Arturo Gatti lost her bid for $140,000 she was seeking from the boxer’s estate, but she was awarded $37,500 to cover legal fees and child care. Superior Court Justice Paul Chaput also allowed Amanda Rodrigues to enter their condominium in Montreal to collect her belongings. Rodrigues is in a legal battle with Gatti’s family over his estimated $5.6 million estate. . . . Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn says the automaker will announce whether it will stay in Formula One racing before the year ends.