Rodman Hits Another Low
Around the NBA
Dennis Rodman kicked a courtside cameraman in the groin during the third quarter Wednesday night before Scottie Pippen sparked the Chicago Bulls to a 112-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.
The game was tied 71-71 when Rodman stumbled out of bounds along the baseline while struggling with Kevin Garnett for a rebound. Rodman fell over Timberwolves photographer David Sherman, and television cameraman Eugene Amos, sitting nearby, turned his camera on Rodman.
Still sitting on the floor, Rodman kicked out with the bottom of his foot and caught Amos in the groin. The cameraman slumped over for about 7 minutes before he was carried off on a board. The extent of his injury was not immediately known.
Rodman remained in the game, which Chicago led 79-75 entering the final period.
Hill on top of game
Grant Hill fell one assist short of a triple-double for the second straight night as he led the Detroit Pistons to a 103-79 win over the Vancouver Grizzlies at Vancouver, British Columbia.
Hill finished with a game-high 31 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists before going to the bench for good with 5:23 left.
After leading the NBA with 10 triple-doubles last year, Hill has only one this year, recorded last month against the Knicks. He had 20 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists Tuesday night in a 95-86 loss at Portland.
Penny Hardaway scored 26 points and the Orlando Magic held the Dallas Mavericks to the lowest point total in franchise history in a 78-66 victory.
The Mavericks’ previous franchise-low was 68 points on Feb. 4, 1981, against the Houston Rockets.
Kemp closes in on Sir Charles
Houston’s Charles Barkley continues to lead West Conference vote-getters in fan balloting for the Western Conference All-Star team. Barkley has received 786,811 votes to Shawn Kemp of Seattle’s 785,813.
Reggie Miller scored 25 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Los Angeles Clippers. It was Indiana’s eighth consecutive victory over the Clippers and the Pacers’ fourth straight win at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles.
Charlotte reserve forward Matt Geiger underwent what was called successful surgery to remove a herniated disc. The team said Geiger, who was placed on the injured list Jan. 2, should be out for another eight weeks.
San Antonio once again played without four of its regulars as Chuck Person (back surgery), Charles Smith (right knee), David Robinson (fractured foot), and Dominique Wilkins (strained knee tendon) sat out against the Knicks.