Sports briefs for May 19, 2005

Thursday, May 19, 2005 | 10:48 a.m.

Van Gundy gets contract extension

Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Rockets through the 2007-08 season.

Van Gundy has two years remaining on his original four-year deal that he signed in June 2003 and paid him $18 million. Terms of the extension weren't immediately available.

Van Gundy has led the Rockets to two straight playoff appearances, turning around a franchise that had missed the postseason for four consecutive seasons.

Duncan, who averaged 20.3 points and 11.1 rebounds in leading San Antonio to its eighth consecutive playoff appearance, finished third behind Miami center Shaquille O'Neal and NBA MVP Steve Nash in voting by a 124-member media panel.

O'Neal, a seven-time first-team selection, received 122 first-place votes and 616 points. Nash was second with 118 first-place votes and 606 points, and Duncan got 95 first-place votes and 553 points. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki earned the second forward spot opposite Duncan, and Philadelphia's Allen Iverson joined Nash at guard.

Air Force hires coach

Air Force hired former Denver Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik as its new head coach.

The Nuggets fired Bzdelik Dec. 28 after a 13-15 start. He went to Denver in 2002, taking over one of the NBA's worst teams, and led the Nuggets to the playoffs in 2004.

Bzdelik replaces Chris Mooney, who resigned May 5 after one season to become head coach at Richmond.

Hewitt out of French

Lleyton Hewitt, the world's second-ranked men's player, announced today he has withdrawn from the French Open, which begins Monday in Paris. Hewitt, 24, injured his ribs in a fall at his Sydney home this month. He hasn't played since losing to Roger Federer in the Indian Wells final in March.

-- Sun wire services