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Sports Brief

■ Basketball
Lakers beat Pacers
Shaquille O'Neal scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half and the Los Angeles Lakers overpowered the Indiana Pacers 99-77 on Sunday night in a matchup of the teams with the NBA's best records. The Lakers (14-3) forced 23 turnovers and limited the Pacers (14-3) to 39.1 percent shooting. The victory was the sixth straight and ninth in 10 games for the Lakers and extended their regular-season home winning streak to a Los Angeles franchise-record 25, including 10 this season. The previous record of 24 was set 15 years ago. The loss snapped the Pacers' eight-game winning streak and was their first setback in eight road games. Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher added 12 points each and Karl Malone had 11 points and 15 rebounds in 31 minutes for the Lakers. Al Harrington led Indiana with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jermaine O'Neal added 14 points for the Pacers. Ron Artest was held to six points and five rebounds.

■ Soccer
Eriksson dismisses rumors
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson on Sunday dismissed a report he had been offered an ?18 million (US$29 million) four-year deal to take over at Chelsea. He also declined to talk about an extension to his current England contract. In Lisbon to discover that England had been drawn in the same Euro 2004 group as defending champion France, Eriksson joked about the latest report linking him with Chelsea. "How much? I think I should sign at once," the Swede said when he was told about the story. "No, I have not heard anything about that." Eriksson, whose contract with England goes until the 2006 World Cup, has been linked with the job at Stamford Bridge since he had lunch with new Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and the Russian's agent three months ago. The former Benfica, Sampdoria and Lazio coach has also said he would like to return to club management when he ends his involvement with England.

■ Soccer
Milan releases Rivaldo
European champions AC Milan have released Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo from his contract, leaving him free to find a new club when the transfer market re-opens. Milan said in a statement yesterday that they had ended the contract, which had another 18 months to run, by "common accord." A similar arrangement, which means the Serie A joint leaders will not be able to ask for a transfer fee for the player, was agreed in September before the 31-year-old forward had a change of heart and decided to stay with the club. "We thank Rivaldo for the contribution he gave to the winning of the Champions League, the Italian Cup and the European Super Cup and wish him all our luck for the continuation of his extraordinary career," the club said the statement.

■ Rugby League
Triumphant coach sacked
A week after returning from a three-test series sweep over Britain, Australian rugby league coach Chris Anderson was sacked by the Cronulla Sharks of the National Rugby League. Anderson was contracted as head coach for next season with an option of a further two more years if the Sharks make the finals next year. "The board has resolved to terminate my employment with the Sharks," Anderson said yesterday. "I am bitterly disappointed. I was committed to seeing out my contract with the Sharks. I put my case to the board tonight but unfortunately the board was not persuaded. I feel like I have not been given a fair go."

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