Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Magic releases struggling Grant

ORLANDO -- The Magic on Wednesday released 15-year NBA veteran Horace Grant, who had struggled to recover from offseason arthroscopic knee surgery.

Grant, 37, played just five games this season for the Magic, missing 17 games with a sore left knee and one game because of back spasms. Grant was averaging 5.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 17 minutes.

"We are sorry to see Horace go, but honestly felt his contributions were limited," general manager John Gabriel said. "He's had a great career and has the championship rings to prove it."

A veteran of 1,110 NBA games and in his second stint with Orlando, Grant had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Sept. 13. The knee has been sore and swollen throughout the season.

"Horace has had a great run," coach Doc Rivers said. "His body just won't let him do the things he used to."

Grant, who signed with Orlando in July 2001, averaged eight points and 6.3 rebounds last season.

In his 15-year career with Chicago, Orlando, Seattle and the Los Angeles Lakers, Grant has averaged 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds.

An All-Star in 1994 and a four-time All-Defensive second team member, Grant picked up three titles with the Bulls in the early 1990s and another with the Lakers in 2001.

SPURS 111, MAVERICKS 104: Tony Parker scored a career-high 32, including seven free throws in the final minute, to lead host San Antonio. The loss was only the third in 22 games this season for Dallas, which played without leading scorer and rebounder Dirk Nowitzki, who is day-to-day with a sprained ankle.

SONICS 92, 76ERS 88: Brent Barry sank a 3-pointer and Gary Payton made two free throws in the final 23 seconds as Seattle snapped the Sixers' 10-game home winning streak. Payton and Rashard Lewis each scored 20 points and Barry had 18 for the Sonics. Allen Iverson had 26 points and Keith Van Horn scored 24 for Philadelphia.

CAVALIERS 96, RAPTORS 83: Rookie Dajuan Wagner scored a career-high 33 points to lead host Cleveland past injury-riddled Toronto. Toronto traveled to Cleveland without six injured players and lost point guard Alvin Williams to an ankle injury in the second quarter.

SUNS 103, CELTICS 94: Shawn Marion had 32 points and 11 rebounds and Amare Stoudemire added 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead Phoenix to its second road victory of the season. Boston's Paul Pierce lost pieces of his two front teeth and had facial abrasions after a hard foul by Stoudemire but returned wearing a mouthpiece.

NETS 105, BLAZERS 104: Jason Kidd had 27 points and 12 assists for host New Jersey. Richard Jefferson added 22 points and career-highs of 15 rebounds and seven assists as the Nets won their sixth straight at home.

PACERS 126, BUCKS 119 (OT): Jermaine O'Neal forced overtime with two free throws and matched his season high with 30 points, Jamaal Tinsley scored 21 and Reggie Miller 20 for visiting Indiana.

PISTONS 91, HAWKS 80: Richard Hamilton scored a season-high 32 points, and Cliff Robinson added a season-best 21 for host Detroit.

GRIZZLIES 96, NUGGETS 93: Jason Williams scored five of his 16 points in the final 36 seconds for host Memphis.

HAWKS: Center Nazr Mohammed, who missed the first 20 games with a stress fracture in his right foot, was activated from the injured list.

JAZZ: Center Greg Ostertag apologized to his teammates for his outburst during a game against the Lakers in which he charged a referee and was ejected.

KNICKS: Center Kurt Thomas was fined $5,000 for shoving Seattle's Vladimir Radmanovic.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright