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Bobcats' Wallace fine after scary fall

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published November 3, 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace went through a full practice Thursday, a day after he was injured in the team's season-opening loss to Indiana.

Wallace, who worked with the first unit, did not have a concussion and is expected to play today at Memphis.

"I think their main focus was how my head was feeling," Wallace said. "They just wanted to make sure I didn't have a concussion or brain damage or anything.

"They said as long as that was fine, I was good to go."

Wallace, the Bobcats' leading scorer last season, left in the second quarter Wednesday with dizziness and a sore neck and back after hitting his head on the floor following a flagrant foul by Danny Granger.

He was going in for a dunk when Granger swiped at the ball from behind, catching Wallace's arms. Wallace hit the floor headfirst and was attended to for several minutes before getting to his feet.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle went into the Charlotte locker room after the game to check on Wallace and Granger apologized, saying he hadn't been trying to hurt him.

ASSISTANT COACH PLEADS GUILTY: Charlotte assistant coach John-Blair Bickerstaff pleaded guilty to driving while impaired. Bickerstaff, son of Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff, was given a suspended sentence Wednesday in Mecklenburg District Court and ordered to complete 24 hours of community service for his July 19 arrest. He lost his driver's license for a year, but was given a restricted license for driving to work.

[Last modified November 3, 2006, 02:34:41]