NBA

Mourning relieved injury wasn't more serious

MIAMI - Alonzo Mourning first thought he'd suffered a cramp. His team's medical staff feared a ruptured Achilles' tendon.

The Heat center was relieved to learn he had a torn right calf, an injury somewhere in the middle.

"It is discouraging," Mourning said Friday. "But at the time same, I know it could have been worse."

He injured his leg Wednesday in Miami's loss to Detroit. He began rehabilitation Saturday, and estimates he'll be out three to four weeks. But he hasn't ruled out returning before Miami's regular season ends April 19.

"I'm going to make sure that I'm healthy before I come back," he said. "It's important for me to be right before I step back on the court, especially going into the postseason. I don't want to risk coming back too early and injuring it again. It wouldn't be worth it."

Mourning was having a fine season for the Heat, who were touting him as a defensive player of the year candidate. His 2.66 blocks per game rank fourth in the NBA, and that stat gets even more impressive considering he only averaged about 20 minutes.

Offensively, he averaged 11.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in 20 games when Shaquille O'Neal was injured. Since Jan.1, Mourning has shot 68.8 percent from the floor.

Mourning sees a bit of a silver lining - he's getting some time to rest before the playoffs.

"It's an unfortunate circumstance," Mourning said. "But if I had to pick a time to get injured, I'd have picked this time, before we go into the postseason."

[Last modified March 26, 2006, 00:26:15]