Anthony ‘sorry’ as police accused

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony said Tuesday he was “truly sorry” for his arrest on DUI charges, and police denied giving him special treatment, even though one officer gave him a lift after his arrest and another drove his car to a city lot.

“I’m here to man up to my mistake, just to let you know that I’m truly sorry for what happened and everything that’s going on,” Anthony, 23, said in Denver with teammate Allen Iverson by his side. “What happened Monday morning was truly and totally unacceptable.”

Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said it’s “not a standard practice [for an officer to give a DUI suspect a ride], but it is done on occasion and it is not a violation of department policy.”

Det. Sharon Hahn said officers also have the discretion to have suspects’ cars towed to an impound lot, let a friend or relative move it or move it themselves.

Nuggets Coach George Karl says he thinks Anthony’s apology is sincere, adding, “I was raised on two words -- respect and responsibility. You did hear those words today.”

------

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire asked the NBA to delay its Friday vote on whether the Seattle SuperSonics can move to Oklahoma City.

In a letter to NBA Commissioner David Stern and team owners, Gregoire said the SuperSonics’ Oklahoma City owners apparently weren’t acting in good faith while trying to get an arena deal in Seattle.

That refers to recently disclosed e-mails that showed team owners discussing whether they could leave Seattle before a good-faith deadline.

The letter comes as an attorney for former SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz said he was preparing a lawsuit against the group in an attempt to regain the franchise, also arguing they breached the “good-faith effort” condition.

Schultz, who sold the team to the group led by Clay Bennett for $350 million in July 2006, does not seek monetary damages in his lawsuit but wants the team back, said his attorney.

A June trial is also set on Seattle’s lawsuit to enforce its lease and keep the team at KeyArena through 2010.

------

Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Sasha Pavlovic will miss at least the first round of the playoffs because of a sprained left ankle suffered Monday against Philadelphia.

--

RESULTS, SCHEDULE

at Detroit 115, Minnesota 103: Jarvis Hayes scored 20 points and Richard Hamilton had 18 as the Pistons clinched the NBA’s second-best record, meaning they would have home-court advantage over any Western Conference opponent if they reach the NBA Finals.

Orlando 121, at Atlanta 105: Maurice Evans scored 23 of his 27 points and six of his Magic teammates also scored in double figures as both playoff-bound teams substituted liberally, knowing the game had no impact on their postseason positioning.

at New Jersey 112, Charlotte 108 (OT): Richard Jefferson scored 28 points and made a go-ahead jumper in overtime and the Nets limited the Bobcats to 47 points in the final 29 minutes after trailing by 20 points in the first half of a game between nonplayoff teams.

at Portland 113, Memphis 91: James Jones made six three-point baskets and had 20 points to give the Trail Blazers (41-40) a chance at a winning record with one game left. The Trail Blazers have not finished with a winning record since the 2002-03 season.

at Lakers 124, Sacramento 101: L.A. won for the eighth time in its last nine games to clinch home-court advantage through the Western Conference playoffs.

at New Orleans 114, Clippers 92: The Clippers lost their sixth straight, with the Hornets using a 26-6 run to clinch the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.

*--* CLIPPERS at Houston, 5:30 p.m. New York at Indiana, 4 p.m. Washington at Orlando, 4 p.m. Detroit at Cleveland, 4 p.m. New Orleans at Dallas, 4 p.m. Philadelphia at Charlotte, 4 p.m. Atlanta at Miami, 4:30 p.m. New Jersey at Boston, 4:30 p.m. Milwaukee at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Toronto at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. Memphis at Denver, 6 p.m. Utah at San Antonio, 6:30 p.m. Portland at Phoenix, 7 p.m. END OF REGULAR SEASON *--*