Mavericks lose Caron Butler to injury

Caron Butler could be out at least two months because of a knee injury, a tough blow for the already ailing Dallas Mavericks.

A person with direct knowledge said the initial diagnosis is a torn patellar tendon. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team was awaiting MRI test results before making any announcement.

Butler was injured during Dallas’ loss at Milwaukee on Saturday night. He was coming off a season-high 30-point performance the previous game while picking up the offensive slack because of an injury to leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki.

Coach Rick Carlisle had no new information about the injury before Sunday’s game at Cleveland. Carlisle said Butler was flying from Milwaukee to Dallas on Sunday evening. Carlisle wasn’t sure when the MRI exam would take place.

Butler, a small forward, is the team’s third-leading scorer at 15 points per game. He plays an average of 30 minutes. A long absence could be especially costly to him because he will be a free agent after this season.

JURISPRUDENCE

Pitcher suspected in killing

Baltimore Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon is the main suspect in a fatal shooting New Year’s Eve in the Dominican Republic, police said Sunday.

The pitcher is suspected of killing 25-year-old Michel Castillo Almonte and wounding his 17-year-old brother during a celebration in the northeast coastal town of Luperon, police said in a statement. No motive was disclosed.

Simon is from the Dominican Republic, and police said he fled after the violence.

Felipe Alou Jr., a Dominican representative for the Orioles, said he spoke with Simon on Saturday and the player said he was in the area when the violence took place but insisted he was not involved in the shootings.

SOCCER

Ronaldinho back in Brazil

Ronaldinho is in Brazil to negotiate a transfer after being allowed to leave AC Milan’s training camp in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Coach Massimiliano Allegri said.

“It’s just a decision by him to change his life, go back to Brazil,” Allegri told the AP. “It’s difficult for him to come back.”

Brazilian clubs Gremio, Flamengo and Palmeiras have said they are interested in the playmaker.

Ronaldinho’s departure Saturday came just days after AC Milan director Umberto Gandini said the Italian club planned to keep him. His agent, however, has been negotiating the player’s release.

Brazilian star Kaka is set to play for Real Madrid for the first time this season.

Kaka has not played for the Spanish club since surgery on his left knee Aug. 5. He wrote on Twitter that he was very happy to be back after such a long time.

He is in the lineup for Monday’s game against Getafe. Coach Jose Mourinho says Kaka is not close to starting but can give the team 15 to 20 minutes of excellent play.

WINTER SPORTS

Parallel slaloms in World Cup

Ivica Kostelic of Croatia and Maria Pietilae-Holmner of Sweden won the first parallel slaloms in the World Cup at Munich, Germany. The event was open to only the top 16 Alpine skiers.

Kostelic, a slalom specialist, beat Julien Lizeroux of France over two heats in the big final by a total of 1.61 seconds. That gave him 100 points for the overall World Cup standings and $43,000.

“You really have to be aware of your senses,” Kostelic said. “You see and hear the other skier.”

American all-rounder Bode Miller won the small final, defeating Felix Neureuther of Germany by 0.05 of a second after leading by 0.25 of a second in the first heat.

In the women’s big final, Pietilae-Holmner trailed Tina Maze of Slovenia by 0.12 of a second after the first heat but came back to win by 0.47 of a second. Elisabeth Goergl of Austria beat Daniela Merighetti of Italy in the small final.

Skiers raced side by side down a 200-meter course that had 20 gates.

More than 25,000 spectators attended at Olympiapark in downtown Munich, which used the event to promote its bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.