NBA: Short-handed Nuggets rip Grizzlies

The Nuggets, playing with only nine players, last night beat the visiting Grizzlies, 120-107, hours after finalizing the blockbuster deal that sent Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the Knicks.

The former Knicks — Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov — arrived at the Pepsi Center in the second quarter and received a rousing ovation from the sparse crowd. They hope to suit up tomorrow night against Boston. “They played great tonight, played hard,” Chandler said as he settled into his new swivel chair inside the Nuggets’ locker room. “They have a lot of good players here. I’m happy to be here and hopefully we can get started on a good note.”

COLLEGE: Calhoun cited in UConn probe

UConn coach Jim Calhoun yesterday was suspended by the NCAA for three games next season for recruiting violations committed under his watch, though the program dodged a major sanction when it was spared a postseason ban.

Calhoun was cited by the NCAA for failing to create an atmosphere of compliance within his program and was suspended for the first three Big East games during the 2011-12 season. The NCAA also hit UConn with scholarship reductions for three academic years, recruiting restrictions, permanent disassociation of a booster and three years probation.

* Tennessee received a notice of allegations from the NCAA yesterday detailing infractions by the men’s basketball, football and baseball teams.

NFL: Saints say goodbye to Shockey

Jeremy Shockey was released yesterday by the Saints. The 30-year-old tight end was acquired in a trade with the Giants before the 2008 season. In his three seasons in New Orleans, he caught 139 passes for 1,460 yards with six touchdowns in 38 regular-season games.

* Commissioner Roger Goodell met with union reps for about eight hours yesterday in Washington. The union, optimistic that talks will continue, have postponed a meeting tomorrow with player agents in Indianapolis. The current labor deal expires March 3.

GOLF: Tiger faces Bjorn in Match Play

Tiger Woods, the No. 3 seed, returns to the PGA Tour today when he faces Thomas Bjorn in the first round of the Match Play Championship at Marana, Ariz. Phil Mickelson, the No. 4 seed, opens with Brendan Jones of Australia.

ETC.: Seton Hall hires new AD

Seton Hall named Patrick Lyons, formerly of Iona, as its new athletic director. He replaces Patrick Hobbs, the Seton Hall Law School dean who has been running the Big East Conference on an interim basis since Joe Quinlan resigned last year.

* Carol Blazejowski was named a vice president for university advancement at Montclair State. She most recently was president and general manager of the Liberty.

* NBC will televise all three Triple Crown races this year. The network already had the May 7 Kentucky Derby under contract and renewed the rights to the May 21 Preakness before it reacquired the rights to the June 11 Belmont Stakes. — Ed Fountaine