Los Angeles  - Allen Iverson made his Detroit Pistons debut, but Devin Harris had all the answers.

Harris poured in 31 of his career-high 38 points in the second half despite a sore ankle, and the New Jersey Nets handed the visiting Pistons their first loss of the season after four wins with a 103-96 victory on Friday night.

"Devin was off the charts and doing that all on a bad, bad ankle," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "He showed unbelievable grit, fighting through, making plays, attacking the paint, having to guard Iverson. He was tremendous."

"I got some good shots," said Harris, who hit nine-of-15 field goals and 20-of-24 free throws to shatter his previous high of 27 points set in March 2007.

Buenos Aires - Diego Simeone resigned Friday as coach of Argentine football club River Plate, hours after the team's elimination from the Copa Sudamericana in the quarterfinals, at the hands of Mexican side Chivas.

"Simeone asked us for a meeting and informed us that he stopped being (River Plate's) coach as from the game on Sunday," River Plate football department top official Roberto Cuina confirmed.

Madrid - Real Madrid striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy will be out of action indefinitely and may need an operation on his troubled right knee, sports daily AS reported Friday on its website.

The Real doctors carried out stringent tests on Van Nistelrooy's right knee on Friday morning, without yet deciding whether he will need a cartilage or ligament operation.

According to AS, they now want to consult with doctor Steadman, the specialist who operated upon Van Nistelrooy's knee in 2000.

London- Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will begin talks over a new contract with the club's owners next week.

The Spaniard, whose existing contract expires in 2010, said Friday he would discuss a new deal with Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr.

"I received a phone call from Tom Hicks on behalf of George Gillett also," Benitez said on Liverpool's official website.

"They are talking about a meeting with my advisors and a contract extension. This is very positive news. We decided to meet in the next week and now my advisors are in contact with them.

London, Nov. 7 : Chelsea is weighing the option of recruiting Michael Owen to cover for Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.