Driver in Sealy’s Death Gets Four Years in Prison

The driver who killed Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Malik Sealy in a wrong-way car crash was sentenced Wednesday in Minneapolis to four years in prison.

Prosecutors asked for the four-year term for Souksangouane Phengsene, 44, who told Judge Andrew Danielson at the hearing in Hennepin County District Court that he was sorry for causing the accident. Phengsene’s blood-alcohol content was almost twice the legal limit at the time of the crash.

Lisa Sealy, the player’s widow, also asked Danielson to impose the four-year sentence. “I implore you to give him the maximum, but four years still isn’t enough,” she said.

To Phengsene, she said: “And I want to say to you, no matter what happens here today, God is going to give you your punishment.”

Phengsene had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19 when his pickup truck smashed head-on into Sealy’s sport-utility vehicle on May 20.

Lisa Sealy also is suing Phengsene over the crash.

*

Utah star forward Karl Malone, diagnosed with a mild sprain of his left knee, will make the Jazz’s three-game exhibition trip this week. It was not known if he would play, though Malone said, “If I had to play, I could probably play.” He was injured in Tuesday’s exhibition against Cleveland.

*

Toronto Raptor rookie forward Morris Peterson will be sidelined the next two weeks after suffering a small tear in his right calf muscle in Monday’s exhibition loss.

*

Chicago Bull guard Corey Benjamin, 22, was charged with domestic battery after his live-in girlfriend accused him of slapping her in Deerfield, Ill. . . . The Detroit Pistons waived forward Ansu Sesay, a day after he was acquired from Dallas. . . . Rookie Mark Karcher was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers.