Carmelo Anthony had previously said he planned to opt out of his contract with the New York Knicks and reportedly will do just that on Monday. Anthony has a June 23 deadline to make that decision and Yahoo Sports cited a source in a report Sunday that said the seven-time All-Star will notify the Knicks of his intention to exercise that right and become a free agent. The 30-year-old veteran, in past comments, said he wouldnt rule out a return to the Knicks, adding that he just wanted to test the market. Teams reportedly interested in Anthony include the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets. The Knicks, however, can offer Anthony the most money and longest contract. New Knicks president Phil Jackson, however, has indicated that he would like Anthony to take less money in an effort to rebuild a team that missed the playoffs in 2013-14. Anthony averaged 27.4 points, a career-high 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 77 games for the Knicks this past season. He sat out the final two games with a shoulder injury once the Knicks were eliminated from postseason contention. In three-plus seasons since joining the Knicks in a February 2011 trade from Denver, Anthony has averaged 26.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. The Syracuse product has career averages of 25.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 790 games with the Nuggets and Knicks. . Brassard and Coyotes defenceman Derek Morris were battling for position in the crease when a nudge from Morris sent Brassard on top of Smith late in the third period. . (AP) -- The head of the committee that developed Major League Baseballs plan to expand instant replay says he is optimistic the system will be in place this season, even though owners and unions for players and umpires have yet to approve. . -- Green Bay wide receiver Greg Jennings will be on the sideline as the Packers make their push for a perfect regular season. . The appointment of Boullier continues the behind-the-scenes restructuring at McLaren, who recently brought back former team principal Ron Dennis as its new chief executive. . The D-Backs came into being in 1998 and appear destined to finish second in the AL West after the Tsunami that is the Los Angeles Dodgers swept over them. I thought it might be interesting to see what the D-backs have done over their 16 years compared to what the Blue Jays have done over their past 16 campaigns.ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Fernando Torres scored a valuable away goal for Chelsea in a 1-1 draw at Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday, but the Premier League side left Istanbul frustrated at its failure to build on its superior start. Torres scored the first goal by an English team in the knockout phase of the Champions League this season when he met Cezar Azpilicuetas cutback in the ninth minute of their first leg match in the last 16. But Chelsea failed to make the most of its counterattacks and the Turkish champions equalized in the second half after gaining in confidence and cutting out their defensive mistakes. Aurelien Chedjou put the ball past goalkeeper Petr Cech in the 64th after connecting with Wesley Sneijders corner. "I wouldnt want to say thats a great result, we all now know what a strong team they are," Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard told British broadcaster Sky Sports. "So (Im a) little bit disappointed today really at halftime it wasnt more than one nil up. I think we played very well first half, we controlled it. "They didnt have any chances and we have about four or five very good counterattacks, and we didnt make more of them." Unlike Chelsea, Real Madrid is virtually certain of a place in the quarterfinals after Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo each scored a brace in a spectacular 6-1 victory at Schalke in the nights other game. By contrast, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was already bracing for his sides second leg match in west London on March 18. "They have very powerful strikers and we are going to have a difficult time at Stamford Bridge -- thats for sure," Mourinho said. The pre-match build-up centred on the Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba facing the team he won the Champions League with in 2012. But it was another former Premier League regular who played a key role as Chelsea took an early lead -- for the wrong reasons. Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue was dispossessed too easily inside the Chelsea half, allowing Mourinhos side to launch a counterattack down the left flank. Andre Schurrle fed the advancing defender Azpilicueta, who cut the ball back for the unmarked Torres to side-foot into an openn net.dddddddddddd The hosts were leaving themselves too exposed, and unable to cause Chelsea many problems. The closest they came to levelling before the break was Izet Hajrovic sending a shot over the top. The winger, though, was substituted in the 31st, with Yekta Kurtulus coming on as coach Roberto Mancini responded to the poor start. "The game started and we did three of four mistakes," Mancini said. "Maybe in the first half we played too deep, with fear." But Chelsea would pay for not making the most of its confident start, with Ramires volleying over. Galatasarays defence looked as fragile at the start of the second half. Felipe Melos clearance went straight to Eden Hazard, who ran through the centre and released Torres. Although the striker broke through the defence, his shot was saved by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. "We had too much respect for Chelsea ... we should have played more offensively without problems like in the second," Mancini said. Galatasaray recovered from its shaky start and proved a much tougher opponent after the break. "We had chances to kill the game," Mourinho said. "Im not critical of my strikers because my strikers did a very good game, but overall when we go to counterattack situations we are missing the last pass, the last control, the last choice ... the second goal would have changed the story of the game." It never came. The woodwork did deny Galatasaray. Drogba headed down from Sneijders delivery to Selcuk Inan, who hit the post. But Mancinis side found the target barely a minute later. Sneijder swung in a corner from the left, Chedjou turned the ball in from close range after getting in front of Chelsea captain John Terry. "We probably deserved to score another goal," Mancini said. Indeed, Cech only spared Chelsea from travelling back to London needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit, by tipping over Alex Telles swerving shot after William gave the ball away. "We werent passing it like we was in the first half," Lampard said. "A few things were disappointing. Its one of those results -- you are kind of happy with it, but we have still got a lot of work to do." ' ' '
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