U.S. Holds Off Brazil, but Anthony Is Injured

After two blowouts, the U.S. got some competition.

The Americans also got a reality check: Facing the world’s best basketball teams without Carmelo Anthony is far from an easy task.

Anthony scored 16 first-half points before being forced out because of a knee injury, and the United States hung on for a 90-86 victory over Brazil on Tuesday night at Guangzhou, China.

The Denver Nuggets forward set the early scoring pace but slipped while chasing a ball to the sideline with 2:21 left in the second quarter. He crashed into Coach Mike Krzyzewski and left the game with a hyperextended right knee.

“The injury doesn’t look like it’s serious,” Krzyzewski said.

Kirk Hinrich added 14 points for the Americans, who led, 52-38, at halftime. Brazil staged a big comeback while Anthony sat out the rest of the game.

The win followed two easy victories -- a 46-point win over China and a 45-point drubbing of Puerto Rico -- and offered a preview of the tougher competition the Americans will probably face at the world championships, which begin in Japan on Aug. 19.

TENNIS

Federer and Nadal Win in Toronto

Playing for the first time since meeting in the Wimbledon final, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal cruised to victories in the first round of the Rogers Cup at Toronto.

Federer eliminated Paul-Henri Mathieu, a semifinalist last year, 6-3, 6-4, and second-seeded Nadal eased past Olympic champion Nicolas Massu, 6-3, 6-2.

Federer defeated Nadal a month ago at Wimbledon for his eighth Grand Slam title and fourth in a row at the All England Club.

British teen Andy Murray, runner-up in Washington last week, advanced with a 6-2, 7-6 (6) victory over David Ferrer.

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Top-seeded Anastasia Myskina earned her first hard-court victory of the summer by knocking off Alicia Molik, 7-6 (5), 6-3, in the Nordic Light Open at Stockholm, Sweden.

Myskina will face Urszula Radwanska in the second round. Radwanska beat Ekaterina Bychkova, 6-2, 6-2.

HORSE RACING

Former Jockey Birzer Reaches Settlement

Former jockey Gary Birzer, paralyzed after a racing accident in West Virginia two years ago, has agreed to settle a $10-million lawsuit against the California-based Jockeys Guild and two former officials who allowed his health insurance to lapse.

Neither Detroit attorney Paul Koczkur nor the guild would disclose the financial terms of the settlement, which is protected by a confidentiality agreement. However, Koczkur said his client was happy with the outcome.

The settlement includes five years of health insurance coverage for Birzer and his family.

MOTOR RACING

Elliott Is Replacing Mayfield for Evernham

Bill Elliott will replace Jeremy Mayfield in the No. 19 Dodge at Watkins Glen, N.Y., this weekend, furthering speculation that Mayfield is on his way out at Evernham Motorsports.

NASCAR’s official entry list showed Elliott subbing for Mayfield, and the team later released a statement confirming the switch.

It said Mayfield’s long-term future with Evernham is undecided, but his name had been removed from the company letterhead.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Nebraska Names Sadler to Replace Collier

Doc Sadler was introduced as Nebraska’s men’s basketball coach, a week after Barry Collier resigned to become Butler’s athletic director.

Sadler, 46, spent the last two seasons at Texas El Paso.

He went 48-18 at Texas El Paso, making the NCAA tournament in his first season with the Miners.

Last season, Texas El Paso was 21-10 and lost to Michigan in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

MISCELLANY

Wie Fires Veteran Caddie Johnston

Michelle Wie fired her caddie Monday, the day after the 16-year-old professional tied for 26th at the British Open. Greg Johnston, who caddied 12 years for Juli Inkster and was on the bag when she won four major titles, was Wie’s caddie since she turned pro in October. Johnston succeeded Wie’s previous caddie, Jimmy Johnson, who also had been fired.

Johnston found out from Wie’s agent that he had been let go while waiting for his flight at the Manchester, England, airport, according to GolfDigest.com.

-- Thomas Bonk

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Chivas USA is sponsoring a 100-hour soccer game that begins today at Bell Gardens Sports Center to commemorate the 100th year of its Mexican parent club, CD Guadalajara. The game, which starts at 1 p.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Sunday, is free and open to players from 8 to 100. Details: (800) 961-1664.

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Chuck Wepner has ended his bid to get compensation from Sylvester Stallone for using him as the inspiration for his “Rocky” movies. Lawyers for Wepner and Stallone filed notice in U.S. District Court last week that they have settled the 2003 lawsuit for undisclosed terms.

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Former UCLA assistant Steve Axman was named the quarterbacks coach at Montana. Axman, 58, takes over for Ron Kowalski, who recently retired.

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Francis Obikwelu overcame a slow start to win gold in the 100 meters at the European Championships in Goteborg, Sweden. Dwain Chambers, in his quest to reclaim the title that was stripped after a doping suspension in 2002, was seventh.

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The Buffalo Sabres rejected forward J.P. Dumont’s one-year, $2.9-million salary arbitration award, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

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Former Vanguard volleyball coach John Ho Lee, 38, drowned July 31 during a missionary stay in Japan.