UPI NewsTrack Sports

Nets remain winless to start the season

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Thaddeus Young sealed the victory with a steal in the final seconds Wednesday, allowing Philadelphia to escape with an 82-79 triumph over winless New Jersey.

The 0-8 beginning for the Nets is the worst start to a season in franchise history.

Young scored 20 points and had a chance to wrap up the game at the free throw line with 5 seconds to play. He missed the second of two attempts, however, giving the Nets an opportunity to send the game into overtime.

Young then stole the inbounds pass to ensure another New Jersey loss.

Marreese Speights added 19 points and nine rebounds for the 76ers, who had lost three of their previous four games.

Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand combined to make just 4-for-20 shots from the field.

New Jersey was led by 23 points and 14 rebounds from Brook Lopez.

The Nets went on a 15-4 run in the fourth quarter to take a 75-71 lead, but Philadelphia took the lead for good at 80-79 on a 3-point play off an offensive rebound by Speights.

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Carolina losing streak reaches 13

RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Erik Ersberg made 22 saves on 24 shots Wednesday, leading the Los Angeles Kings to a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

LA's Justin Williams, Wayne Simmonds and Randy Jones all had a goal and an assist, with Jones scoring on the power play to snap a 2-2 tie with 6:41 left in the third period.

Anze Kopitar and Alexander Frolov had two assists apiece for the Kings, who rose to 3-2-2 in their last seven contests.

Tuomo Ruutu scored Carolina goals, one in the second, the other in the third.

Manny Legace was beaten four times on 30 shots for the Hurricanes, who sank to 0-10-3 since a 7-2 win over the Florida Panthers Oct. 9, the longest winless streak in franchise history.

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Federer beaten at Paribas Masters

PARIS, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Roger Federer lost 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 to Frenchman Julien Benneteau Wednesday at the Paribas Masters tennis tournament at Paris.

Federer, the tournament's top seed, lost despite hitting 14 service aces, and the unseeded Benneteau failing to create any break-point chances in the first two sets.

"It's magic," said an elated Benneteau. "This memory will stay forever in me."

Second-seeded Rafael Nadal eased past fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 after saving five match points in the second set, and U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, the fifth seed, was a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 winner over former world No. 1 Marat Safin.

It was the final match in Safin's career, who announced this year he would retire at the end of the season.

Other winners were French Open runner-up Robin Soderling; No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia; No. 4 Andy Murray of Scotland; No. 10 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, No. 12 Marin Cilic, No. 15 Gael Monfils, and No. 13 Radek Stepanek.

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Report: Riggleman to manage Nationals

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The Washington Nationals called a news conference for Thursday amid reports they will name Jim Riggleman as the team's manager.

Riggleman held the post on an interim basis for 75 games of the 2009 season, taking over after Manny Acta was fired July 12. Riggleman inherited a team that had gone 26-51 prior to his taking control and under his leadership the Nationals went 33-42.

He owns a career mark of 555-694 in parts of 10 seasons as a manager. He also led San Diego (1992-94), the Chicago Cubs (1995-1999) and Seattle (2008).

Riggleman and Bobby Valentine were reportedly the final candidates in the running for the Nationals' position.