Latest Florida sports

RESTING HEAT

Heat resting up before return to East finals

MIAMI (AP) Chris Bosh remains sidelined, and just about everyone else on the Miami Heat seems to be dealing with at least some minor aches and pains.

An extra day of rest doesn't sound like much, but it means plenty right now to the Heat.

Now halfway to their goal of an NBA championship, the Heat took a welcomed and needed off day on Friday, after closing out their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.

The East finals open Monday in Miami against either Philadelphia or Boston, teams that will settle their second-round series with a Game 7 on Saturday night.

Heat forward LeBron James says the reigning East champs will "take advantage" of the short break.

SAINTS-HICKS

Hicks hopes his path makes him a better pro

METAIRIE, La. (AP) Akiem Hicks looks the part of an NFL defensive tackle, even if his resume does not stack up against those of most players selected in the first half of the NFL draft.

The closest the 6-foot-5, 324-pound Hicks came to playing major college football was the few months he spent at LSU before dropping out without playing a down.

Yet Hicks, who wound up finishing his college career in Canada, says he "wouldn't change a thing" because the setback forced him to grow up quickly.

The third-round pick has participated in rookie camp and his first three offseason practices with the full squad this week.

Assistant head coach Joe Vitt says Hicks is "very athletic for a big man," adding that he is "very happy with him so far."

MIAMI-ACC

Miami says it will remain committed to ACC

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) Miami says it will remain committed to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Hurricanes athletic director Shawn Eichorst released a statement Friday saying the school has not had any "formal or informal discussions" about switching affiliations.

Speculation about schools like Florida State, Clemson and Miami in the ACC has increased in recent days, with reports linking all three on some level to the Big 12. Florida State says it has not talked to the Big 12, and the chairman of Clemson's board of trustees said Thursday that the Tigers have not received any offers to move out of the ACC.

On Friday, Miami insisted it was staying put as well, with Eichorst saying "we are committed to the ACC."

Miami joined the ACC in 2004.

US ROSTER

Agudelo, Morales, Williams, Zusi cut by US soccer

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) Forward Juan Agudelo, defender Alfredo Morales and midfielders Danny Williams and Graham Zusi have been cut from the U.S. soccer roster.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has selected his 23-man roster for upcoming exhibition games and World Cup qualifiers.

Klinsmann says "we have chosen the 23 players who are in the best form right now and ready to get the job done."

The Americans have exhibitions against Scotland on Saturday at Jacksonville, Fla., Brazil on Wednesday at Landover, Md., and Canada on June 3 at Toronto.

Seeking its seventh straight World Cup berth, the U.S. opens qualifying on June 8 against Antigua and Barbuda at Tampa, Fla., then plays at Guatemala on June 12.

KNICKS PLAYER ARRESTED

Knicks' J.R. Smith arrested in Fla.'s South Beach

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) Miami Beach police say a New York Knicks player has been arrested on a bench warrant for not having a valid driver's license.

Sgt. Bobby Hernandez says 26-year-old J.R. Smith was stopped Thursday night on Washington Avenue in South Beach. A routine search revealed the bench warrant and he was arrested.

Details were not immediately available on what led police to stop Smith around 8:30 p.m.

Hernandez says Smith was taken to the Miami-Dade County jail, where officials say he bonded out early Friday.

No attorney was listed on jail records for Smith, whose legal name is Earl Joseph Smith.

Smith was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets in 2004. He played in China during the NBA lockout last fall and played for the New York Knicks in 2012.