NBA signs deal with referees

NEW YORK, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The NBA and its veteran referees signed a two-year labor deal Friday, ending a league-imposed lockout that began Sept. 18.

Although neither side disclosed terms of the agreement, reports early in the week said the NBA had accepted the most recent union offer.

The contract was signed four days before the start of the 2009-10 season.

"We are pleased to reach this agreement," NBA Commissioner David Stern said. "The negotiations extended further than either side had hoped, but when our regular season tips off on Tuesday, we'll have the best referees in the world officiating our games.

"We appreciate the job done by our replacement officials during the preseason."

Referees from the NBA's development league had worked during the exhibition season and drew mostly poor reviews. Three head coaches were fined for publicly complaining about the replacements, who completed their assignments Friday during the final 11 exhibition games.

The opening regular-season games Tuesday will be played in Cleveland, Dallas, Portland and Los Angeles.