A person close to the talks says the New Jersey Nets are involved in very complicated negotiations with the Denver Nuggets for small forward Carmelo Anthony.

The person says no decision was expected Friday and spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the person is not authorized to speak for the team.

Yahoo! Sports first reported the trade talks.

Beasley: Fine wasn’t needed

Minneapolis — Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley says he doesn’t think team president David Kahn should have been fined for talking about Beasley’s past drug use on a local radio station.

Beasley was asked Friday about Kahn’s comments at the team’s media day. Kahn was fined in July after he said in a radio interview that Beasley smoked too much marijuana during his time in Miami.

College basketball

Bledsoe gets to keep grade

Birmingham, Ala. — The Birmingham school board is letting basketball star Eric Bledsoe keep a grade that helped him gain NCAA eligibility to play at Kentucky.

Superintendent Craig Witherspoon said Friday that a teacher claims Bledsoe completed makeup work to justify a higher grade in an algebra course during the 2008-2009 school year. The mark was switched from a “C” to an “A.”

Witherspoon says an investigation found no documentation to justify the improvement. But, he says, an investigation didn’t prove that it was improper, either.

Auto racing

Bowyer: I wouldn’t cheat

Dover, Del. — Clint Bowyer’s car flunked inspection, and few around the garage are buying his alibi.

Bowyer is sticking to his story.

He gave a defiant defense of his Chase-opening victory Friday, saying he “wouldn’t cheat” to win a race after his car failed a follow-up inspection. If anything should be blamed for the infraction, he told reporters, it’s a tow truck.

“We have a lot more integrity for myself and our race team at RCR,” Bowyer said.

Richard Childress, his owner, was united with his driver in blaming a wrecker for wrecking Bowyer’s championship run. The defense: The wrecker hit the rear bumper when it pushed the No. 33 car into the winner’s circle at New Hampshire.

Johnson takes pole at Dover

Dover, Del. — Jimmie Johnson is back on top, shaking off a poor finish in the Chase opener to take the pole at Dover International Speedway on Friday.

Patrick nabs top-10 finish

Dover, Del. — Danica Patrick finished sixth in the K&N Pro Series East race Friday at Dover International Speedway for her first career top-10 finish in NASCAR.

College football

Ailing coach visits Spartans

East Lansing, Mich. — After a long, tense week of worrying about their stricken coach, the Michigan State Spartans got a welcome dose of good news as they wrapped up preparations for Northern Colorado.

Coach Mark Dantonio made a surprise visit to practice Friday, just five days after he suffered a mild heart attack and was taken to a hospital for surgery following his daring call in overtime to beat Notre Dame.

Police: Pitt DB hit girlfriend

Pittsburgh — A Pitt defensive back who was kicked off the team hours before the Panthers’ 31-3 loss to Miami had been arrested the night before for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend after she told him she was pregnant.

Jeffrey Knox Jr., 18, cursed at the woman, slapped her and choked her Wednesday night in front of a dormitory at Chatham University, a smaller private school not far from the Pitt campus, according to a criminal complaint filed by Chatham campus police.

Golf

Furyk, Donald tied for lead

Atlanta — Here’s a wake-up call for Jim Furyk: He’s tied for the lead at the Tour Championship, and very much in the hunt for the $10 million FedEx Cup prize.

Furyk played bogey-free on the back nine at East Lake and shot a tournament-best 65 on Friday for a share of the 36-hole lead with Luke Donald of England, who had another 66.