Sprewell, Coach Meet

For the first time since the attack that rocked the NBA, Latrell Sprewell and coach P.J. Carlesimo of the Golden State Warriors met face to face Wednesday in Portland during a hearing over whether Sprewell’s punishment was unduly severe.

The sessions are closed and arbitrator John Feerick, dean of the Fordham Law School, has issued a gag order. The sessions end today in Portland and resume next week in New York.

Sprewell apologized to Carlesimo by telephone a month ago, but the two had not been in the same room together since practice Dec. 1. At the time, the star guard choked Carlesimo and threatened to kill him.

The NBA threw Sprewell out of the league for a year and the Warriors terminated the remaining three years of his contract.

Carlesimo listened throughout Wednesday’s lengthy session, but flew out of Portland afterward without taking his turn as a witness. His testimony may not come until the sessions shift to New York next week.

On the courts

Rookie Keith Van Horn scored 30 points and Kerry Kittles added 24 as the New Jersey Nets beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time in four years, 106-95 Wednesday night in Inglewood.