George Karl signs deal to coach Denver Nuggets for three more years

Two weeks after Carmelo Anthony punched his ticket out of town, Nuggets Coach George Karl signed his own long-term extension to stay in Denver.

Karl signed on for three more seasons. His deal has been in the works for months but took a back seat to the season-long negotiations to trade Anthony, who was dealt to the New York Knicks two weeks ago.

General Manger Masai Ujiri told the Associated Press, “George has always been a priority, and we had a lot going on this year. But he’s a Hall of Fame coach and he’s been a winning coach with us and we’re excited about the future.”

Karl’s new deal runs through 2014 and includes options for additional years.

Karl is 1,023-698 in 23 NBA seasons for a .594 winning percentage. He’s coached in Cleveland, Golden State, Seattle, Milwaukee and Denver, where he’s guided the Nuggets to the playoffs in each of his six seasons.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Coach Nate McMillan have agreed to a two-year contract extension.

McMillan is in his sixth season as coach of the Blazers. He has a 234-239 record with the team.

McMillan has taken the Blazers to the playoffs twice in his tenure. In 2008-09 he guided Portland to a share of the Northwest Division title and its first postseason appearance in six years.

Last season the Blazers again went to the playoffs, even though players missed a combined 311 games because of injuries, most among the teams that played in the postseason.

Agent accused of stealing from Kendry Morales is jailed

Rodney Fernandez, the former sports agent accused of stealing more than $305,000 from an account belonging to Angels slugger Kendry Morales, was being held in a South Florida jail Tuesday.

Coral Springs, Fla., police conducted a 16-month investigation before determining there was probable cause to arrest Fernandez for grand theft of more than $100,000, a first-degree felony.

Fernandez, 32, who worked for Hendricks Sports Management, Morales’ former representatives, turned himself in to police Monday. He was transferred to the Broward County jail Tuesday where he is being held on a $10,000 bond.

Morales, who is rehabbing from a broken ankle that ended his 2010 season in May, has switched changed agents and is now represented by Scott Boras.

— Kevin Baxter

Woods, Mickelson paired at Doral

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be in the same group in the Cadillac Championship at Doral, Fla., for the first time this year.

The tournament decided to base the groupings for the first two rounds on the world rankings. It’s similar to what the European Tour did in Dubai last month and the U.S. Open did at Torrey Pines in 2008.

That puts Martin Kaymer, the new No. 1., in the same group with Lee Westwood and Match Play winner Luke Donald. However, the greater focus will be on the next batch of players — Graeme McDowell at No. 4, Woods and Mickelson.

Woods and Mickelson have combined for 122 worldwide wins and 18 majors.

It will be the 27th time they have been in the same group. Mickelson has gotten the better of Woods recently. Woods has shot the lower score only once in the last eight times.

Ducks sign Luca Sbisa to four-year extension

The Ducks signed defenseman Luca Sbisa to a four-year contract extension worth $8.7 million, running through the 2014-15 season. He will earn $1.2 million next season, $2 million in 2012-13, $2.6 million in 2013-14 and $2.9 million in the final year of the contract. In 52 games this season, the 21-year-old blueliner has two goals, six assists and 131 hits.

USC’s Armstead leaves hospital

USC defensive end Armond Armstead has been released from a hospital after spending five days in care for an undisclosed ailment. Coach Lane Kiffin said Armstead left USC University Hospital on Tuesday.

Kiffin said the senior will return to class, but won’t be back in conditioning drills with the Trojans until more medical tests are completed.

Iditarod extra tough

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is proving to be a challenge for even the most accomplished mushers this year.

Four-time champion Martin Buser was the first musher into the Nikolai checkpoint on Tuesday morning, but not without challenge.

His dog team became entangled with Jamaican musher Newton Marshall’s team and five of Buser’s dogs got free. Another musher found three of the dogs and two trotted into the next checkpoint on their own, but the mishap cost Buser time.

Five-time champion Rick Swenson crashed his sled and perhaps broke his collar bone. And veteran Iditarod musher DeeDee Jonrowe got lost before turning her sled around and finding the trail again.

Two mushers, Melissa Owens and Zoya DeNure, scratched.

Tiki Barber plans to run again

After four years in retirement, former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber is looking to get back into the NFL.

It won’t be with the Giants, though.

The Giants acknowledged that the 35-year-old Barber has asked to be taken off the reserve-retirement list and that they will release him once the league allows it. Teams cannot make roster moves during the current extension of labor talks.

Barber is the Giants’ all-time leading rusher with 10,449 yards, 22nd best in league history.

NFL Films’ Steve Sabol hospitalized

NFL Films President Steve Sabol is recovering from a seizure in Kansas City, Mo., where he was to accept an award on behalf of his company. The 68-year-old Sabol was stricken Saturday night and taken to a hospital.