NBA
Notebook: Kings' Peeler will miss Game 7 vs. T-wolves

By The Associated Press and Seattle Times staff

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NEW YORK — Sacramento's Anthony Peeler was suspended for two games yesterday for elbowing Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, meaning the Kings guard will miss Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Peeler was suspended without pay by the NBA.

Peeler hit Garnett in the midsection with 31.2 seconds left in the third quarter of Sunday's Game 6. Peeler elbowed the league MVP in the head with 13.5 seconds remaining in the period and was ejected.

The Kings beat the Timberwolves 104-87 and forced a deciding game tomorrow.

Garnett was fined $7,500 for hitting Peeler in the chest with an elbow.

Peeler will serve the first game of his suspension tomorrow. He will then miss either Game 1 of the Western Conference finals or the first game of the 2004-05 season.

Sonics' Casey will meet with Atlanta Hawks tomorrow

The Sonics granted permission to associate head coach Dwane Casey to speak with Atlanta about the Hawks' vacant coaching position.

Casey, whose contract with Seattle expires next month, is expected to meet with the Hawks tomorrow. He is among several candidates for the job, including Dallas assistant Del Harris and Denver associate head coach John MacLeod.

Atlanta fired Terry Stotts, a former Sonics assistant who worked with Casey, on May 6. The Hawks reportedly would like to hire a coach before July 1.
 
Last year, Casey interviewed with the Toronto Raptors and was linked to the opening in Milwaukee. He has spent 10 years in Seattle and assumed his current position in 2000.

A Sonics spokesperson said yesterday that coach Nate McMillan and the front office have yet to decide if the contracts of Casey and the three other assistants, which also expire in a few weeks, will be renewed.

Adidas signs prep star

Josh Smith, a Virginia high-school star who is skipping college to enter next month's NBA draft, signed a multi-year endorsement contract with Adidas.

The announcement came two weeks after the world's second-largest sporting-goods maker signed Sebastian Telfair, a New York high-school standout who's also going directly to the NBA. Scouts are projecting both players as first-round picks in the June 24 draft.

Adidas didn't disclose financial terms of Smith's contract.

Smith, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward, averaged 23.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and four assists last season for Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. He led the school to a 38-0 record and the top ranking in USA Today's prep basketball poll.

Seattle Times staff reporter Percy Allen contributed to this report.