ATLANTA — Billy Knight will resign as general manager of the Atlanta Hawks in July, despite leading the team to its first playoff appearance in nine years.

Knight said Wednesday it was time to “take a break” following a season when his authority appeared to be weakened by unsuccessful lobbying with owners to fire coach Mike Woodson.

Knight will step down July 1.

The Hawks, absent the playoffs since 1999, lost in the first round to the heavily favored Boston Celtics in seven games. Over six years, Knight played the lead role in rebuilding the Hawks and ended the NBA’s longest playoff drought.

NBAsuspends Williams

ATLANTA — Atlanta forward Marvin Williams was suspended one game without pay for committing a flagrant foul, penalty two in the Hawks’ Game 7 playoff loss in Boston.

Williams, who will serve the suspension in his first game next season, knocked Boston’s Rajon Rondo to the floor with 9:09 left in the third period of Boston’s 99-65 victory on Sunday.

Anthony ticketed

DENVER — Denver Nuggets All-Star Carmelo Anthony was ticketed for speeding, three weeks after he was cited on a charge of driving under the influence.

Police said Anthony was pulled over Saturday for driving 60 mph in a 45-mph zone.

The 23-year-old was arrested on a DUI charge in Denver on April 14. He apologized the next day. He is scheduled to be in court June 5 on the DUI charge.

Pacers promote Morway

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers promoted David Morway to general manager.

Morway, who had been senior vice president of basketball operations, will oversee salary cap issues and help president of basketball operations Larry Bird with all personnel decisions. He adds that to his previous duties of overseeing the day-to-day operation and administration of the basketball division.

SuperSonics trial set to start in June

SEATTLE — A trial that likely will determine whether the SuperSonics play in Seattle or Oklahoma City next season will begin June 16 as scheduled.

U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman denied a motion by the team’s owners for her to rule on how much money Seattle could be awarded in damages should the Sonics leave the city.

FOOTBALL

Reid’s son sent to prison

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid’s son was sent to state prison after admitting he smuggled 89 prescription pills into a county jail.

Garrett Reid pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges on Wednesday and faces a minimum of two years in state prison. The 25-year-old Reid, however, could be released earlier to a less restrictive facility if he is accepted into a drug-treatment program, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

HOCKEY

Toronto fires coach

TORONTO — Paul Maurice was fired as coach of the Maple Leafs after failing to make the playoffs during his two years. The dismissal was the first big move in what is expected to be an active offseason for the team. The Maple Leafs finished 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 36-35-11 record.

They are looking for a full-time GM after firing John Ferguson in January. In other moves Wednesday, assistant coach Randy Ladouceur was dismissed while assistant Dallas Eakins was offered a position elsewhere in the organization. Keith Acton will remain an assistant.

BASEBALL

Players go pink for a good cause

CHICAGO — White Sox outfielder Nick Swisher, pitcher John Danks and backup catcher Toby Hall dyed their facial hair hot pink in an effort to raise awareness for breast cancer and pay tribute to Mothers Day.

A group of children from Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, a national support group for those affected by pediatric cancer, watched as Swisher, Hall and Danks took the pink plunge while seated on top of the White Sox’s dugout on Wednesday. The players also made a donation on behalf of their teammates.

HORSE RACING

Recapturetheglory to race in Preakness

BALTIMORE — Recapturetheglory, fifth in the Kentucky Derby behind winner Big Brown, will run in the May 17 Preakness, likely making the colt the only one from the Derby that will challenge Big Brown.

Recapturethelglory jogged a mile and then galloped a mile Wednesday at Churchill Downs, where Big Brown also is training before leaving for Baltimore next week.