NBA ROUNDUP \ News & notes

Cavs’ Gibson has surgery: CLEVELAND — Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson had arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle Tuesday and is expected to be ready for training camp. The second-year guard, a restricted free agent, had the operation in Houston, his hometown. The team said he is expected to start rehab next week. Gibson sprained his ankle Feb. 20 at Indiana and sat out 18 games. He missed the final two games of the playoff series against Boston with a separated shoulder. One of the Cavs’ best outside shooters, he averaged 10.4 points in 58 games. He was named MVP of the All-Star Rookie/Sophomore game in New Orleans when he made a record 11 3-pointers.

Referee says games tainted: NEW YORK — A disgraced NBA referee says his fellow refs broke league rules by routinely fraternizing with players, coaches and team management. A letter filed Tuesday in Brooklyn by a lawyer for Tim Donaghy in his federal gambling case alleges the inappropriate relationships influenced the outcomes of games. He claims one general manager in 2004 made a game-day phone call to referees to encourage them to call more personal fouls against an opponent. The letter doesn’t name anyone involved. Donaghy’s attorney and prosecutors have declined to comment. The league has denied the scandal goes beyond Donaghy and two co-defendants. The veteran referee pleaded guilty last year to felony charges alleging he took cash payoffs from gamblers and bet on games. He faces up to 33 months in prison.

Suit against Randolph dropped: PORTLAND, Ore. — A $300,000 lawsuit that accused former Portland Trail Blazer Zach Randolph of battering and harassing a man he thought had given information to police about ex-teammate Qyntel Woods has been dropped. Both sides declined to say if there was a cash settlement. Trial had been set to begin Monday. Robert Bacote filed suit against Woods and Randolph, now with the New York Knicks, in October 2006. He said the pair wrongly suspected him of telling police two years earlier that Woods abused animals. One of Woods’ pit bulls had been found in a Portland alley with cuts, bruises and scarring, and police discovered bloody paw prints and smears in his Lake Oswego home. He pleaded guilty to animal abuse and was sentenced to one year of probation and 80 hours of community service. Bacote said he lived in fear the next two years as Woods, Randolph and their followers harassed him. The suit contended that Bacote, a 34-year-old rapper, was surrounded by Woods, Randolph and their friends after performing at the Roseland Theater in 2004. The suit said Woods confronted Bacote and punched him in the chest. The suit claimed Randolph pushed Bacote from behind and egged on Woods. The suit also alleged that Randolph struck Bacote in the chest at a nightclub.

Associated Press