in brief: Islanders fire Gordon after dismal start

NHL: The New York Islanders have fired coach Scott Gordon and replaced him on an interim basis with minor league coach Jack Capuano.

The team announced the dismissal in the midst of a 10-game losing streak. The Islanders are 4-10-3, tied with Edmonton for the fewest points in the NHL.

Gordon has been moved to the front office as an adviser to general manager Garth Snow.

Capuano had been coaching the Islanders’ AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He will make his Islanders coaching debut Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

• Lecavalier out 4-5 weeks after surgery: Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier is expected to be sidelined four to five weeks after having surgery on his broken right hand.

Terry, Mavs hand Hornets first loss

NBA: Jason Terry scored 26 points, including the go-ahead jumper in the final minute, and the Dallas Mavericks handed the New Orleans Hornets their first loss of the season, 98-95.

New Orleans, which had been off to a franchise-best 8-0 start, got 22 points from Chris Paul, but only two came in the second half.

Dirk Nowitzki had 25 points and 10 rebounds to help the Mavericks stretch their winning streak to four games.

Hurdle officially hired to be Pirates manager

MLB: Clint Hurdle has been hired as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ manager, saying he’s not intimidated by the franchise’s record 18 consecutive losing seasons.

Hurdle said he was attracted to the Pirates because of their core of young talent.

• In other baseball news, the Seattle Mariners have hired Rick Waits as their new minor league pitching coordinator. The former Spokane Indian comes to Seattle after spending the past 15 seasons in player development for the New York Mets. … The Philadelphia Phillies have re-signed right-hander Jose Contreras, agreeing to a $5.5 million, two-year contract that includes a club option for 2013. … The Reds have agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with catcher Ramon Hernandez. … Infielder Geoff Blum agreed to a $2.7 million, two-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Texas RB Newton to give up football

Miscellany: Texas sophomore running back Tre’ Newton, son of former Dallas Cowboys lineman Nate Newton, announced that he is giving up football after several concussions over his career.

Team doctors advised him to give up football to avoid long-term problems.

• O’Meara and Price win skills challenge: Mark O’Meara and Nick Price won the 19th annual ADT Golf Skills Challenge in Palm Beach, Fla.

The duo beat Fred Couples and Dustin Johnson in the reverse scramble final, in which teams picked the worst shot of the opponents to be played throughout the 4-par, 10th hole.

• Gebrselassie calls off retirement: Haile Gebrselassie called off his retirement after eight days.

The Ethiopian star said he had changed his mind and would run until the 2012 London Olympics.