NBA

Sacramento's Miller out, breaks leg in drill

By wire services
Published March 13, 2005

Sacramento Kings center Brad Miller will be out for at least a month after breaking his left leg during a light shooting drill Saturday.

Miller, a two-time All-Star, missed Sacramento's last six games with a bruised calf. He was expected to return for today's game against Houston - but in the latest bizarre injury in a long franchise history for the Kings, Miller broke his left fibula during a noncontact drill.

The bone will heal in four to six weeks, according to team doctors, and Miller should be able to ride a stationary bike in 10 days. But the playoffs begin in six weeks, and the Kings aren't sure whether he'll be ready.

Miller is averaging 15.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his second season with the Kings, who acquired him in a trade with Indiana. His emergence as an elite passer and rebounder encouraged the Kings' decision to trade Chris Webber to the Philadelphia 76ers two weeks ago.

JOHNSON SPEAKS OUT: Count Magic Johnson among those who don't think the Lakers will make the playoffs.

Johnson, a Lakers vice president, said during Thursday night's TNT broadcast of the Lakers' 100-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks that he couldn't see his former team advancing to the postseason with 14 of its final 22 games to play on the road.

"I would have to say it's probably going to be impossible for the Lakers to make it (to the playoffs) with the road schedule that they have," Johnson said.

"We'd have to play perfect basketball, and we don't have a perfect team to play perfect basketball."

Johnson also said of the Shaquille O'Neal trade: "When you trade the most dominant player in all of basketball, you kind of figure things will go bad. We didn't think things would go this bad."

Johnson referenced Rudy Tomjanovich's resignation as coach and Kobe Bryant's severely sprained ankle as things nobody could have foreseen.

The Hall of Famer also said "we know" Minnesota has more talent than the Lakers.

INJURIES: The Trail Blazers placed guard Nick Van Exel on the injured list Saturday because of an arthritic left knee, and signed free-agent guard Maurice Baker to a 10-day contract. Van Exel, averaging 11.1 points and 4.3 assists in 53 games this season, has missed three of the last four games. Baker signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers in February, and played a minute in one game. He also played for the Dakota Wizards of the Continental Basketball Association, averaging 17.4 points and seven assists in 34 games. ... Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili sat out the Spurs' game against Denver on Saturday night because of injuries. Duncan has a sprained right ankle, and Ginobili has tightness in his right groin.

[Last modified March 13, 2005, 00:23:15]