Internal feud leaves Wiz shorthanded
Sat, Feb 10, 2007
By Associated Press
WASHINGTON --The running feud between Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood escalated with another exchange of blows, leading to a two-game suspension for Thomas and leaving the Washington Wizards thin along the frontcourt.
Thomas was suspended for throwing a punch at Haywood during practice Friday. Thomas was retaliating for what he believed was an intentional elbow.
Thomas will miss games Sunday against Portland and Wednesday at Philadelphia. He will not practice with the team during the suspension.
Nash questionable
Sun, Feb 11, 2007
Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash is considered questionable for tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls because of a sore shoulder. Nash hasn't played since injuring his right shouldler against the Denver Nuggets Feb. 5.
"As soon as he's ready to go, he'll play," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni told the Arizona Republic Friday night.
Phoenix has struggled in the two games Nash has missed (1-1 ATS). Without their MVP, the Suns needed overtime to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers and lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday 120-111. Both games were home games for Phoenix.
Golden State without Davis tonight
Sun, Feb 11, 2007
Golden State Warriors point guard Baron Davis will not play tonight against the Atlanta Hawks because of a lingering pain in his bruised right knee.
Davis has missed the Warriors last three games and the team has gone 2-1 against the spread. He leads Golden State in scoring, assists and steals.
The UCLA alumni missed five games in November and one game in January due to injury as well.
Florida State's Toney Douglas has been ruled out (hand) of Sunday's game.
Clippers Corey Maggette ( flu) and Tim Thomas ( knee) are both questionable for Sunday's game.
Kings' C Miller out until after All-Star break
Sun, Feb 11, 2007
By Associated Press
SEATTLE -- The Sacramento Kings will be without center Brad Miller until after the All-Star break after pain from a partially torn fascia in his left foot flared up.
Miller was bothered of late by the foot and had an MRI done in Sacramento on Friday. He went through shootaround on Saturday, but doctors determined rest would be the best treatment.
The Kings, on a five-game straight up win streak (4-1 ATS), host the Sonics tonight in the second game of a home-and-home series.
Sacramento head coach Eric Musselman was at a mall getting lunch Saturday when he received a phone call that Miller wouldn't play in Sacramento's last four games before next week's All-Star break.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim started in place of Miller.
"One All-Star out, one All-Star in," Musselman said, in reference to Seattle getting back Rashard Lewis for Saturday's game."
Miller originally injured the foot in the third game of the season at Milwaukee and missed the next eight games. He also missed three games in January -- one with the flu and two for personal reasons -- but had been playing well of late, corresponding with the Kings' four-game win streak.
But when Miller would leave the floor, the pain in his foot would keep the 7-footer off his feet.
"I don't see it as much, but definitely when I got home there's not much walking around," Miller said.
Miller was playing just 19 minutes per game, down from the career-high 36.8 minutes he averaged last year. But the biggest change will be in the Kings' offensive execution as Miller is one of the top passing big men in the league.
In just his last five games, Miller had 25 assists. In the last 12 games, Miller was averaging 8.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
Miller expects to be ready when the Kings host Boston on Feb. 20, their first game after the All-Star break.
"I'm expecting to go," Miller said. "I'm just resting it and see what happens with that, and if it helps out, and then go from there."