Injuries Threat To Ford’s Job

Are coach Chris Ford’s days numbered in Milwaukee?

With Glenn Robinson and Terrell Brandon on the injured list, the Bucks are toast and on their way to a seventh consecutive lottery draft after hanging around the periphery of the playoff race all season.

There is speculation this will bring about a Ford watch, only because owner Herb Kohl made a preseason demand that the Bucks return to the playoffs.

Fair? Maybe not. The Bucks are playing with the least-offensive (only in terms of the points it can produce) lineup in the league. Their only scorer is Ray Allen, who has been so hounded by defenses that he was 9 for 30 in the first two games after Robinson went on the injured list with a bone compression.

As for Brandon, he sat out six weeks with what the team privately is saying should have been a two-week recovery for a routine ankle sprain. It is the same left ankle Brandon sprained Dec. 11. He missed seven games then. Upon his return, the Bucks went on a roll, won six in a row and were a half-game out of eighth place in the East. Brandon reinjured the ankle Feb. 5, and the downward spiral began.

Kidd player of week

Jason Kidd of the Phoenix Suns on Monday was named the NBA’s player of the week.

Kidd sparked the Suns to a 4-0 record, averaging 16 points, 10 assists, 6.5 rebounds and three steals in those four games. He ranked second in assists, fourth in steals and eighth with a field-goal percentage of .622 among leaders for the week.

Rogers on injury list

The Portland Trail Blazers placed forward Carlos Rogers on the injured list because of fluid on his right knee. Alton Lister was activated from the injured list to fill the roster spot.

The Minnesota Timberwolves activated forward Bill Curley from the injured list, paving the way for his first action in almost three years.

Curley last appeared in a game on April 23, 1995, while a member of the Detroit Pistons. He missed the 1995-96 season with an ankle injury and sat out last season after undergoing knee surgery.

Jazz keep rolling

Karl Malone scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half Monday night as the Utah Jazz extended their winning streak to 11 with a 102-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.

John Stockton scored 10 of his 22 points in the final 4:50 of the game as the Jazz overcame a 91-87 deficit.

Elsewhere

Grant Hill scored 26 points as the Detroit Pistons beat the Miami Heat 103-90 in Miami.

Denver’s season-best, two-game winning streak ended when Charlotte held the Nuggets to a combined 11 field goals in the second and third quarters and rolled to a 109-87 victory in Charlotte.

Toni Kukoc scored 14 of his 21 points in the third quarter when Chicago outscored the New Jersey Nets 30-10, and the Bulls went on to win 88-72 at home despite a poor performance by Michael Jordan.

Jordan had 17 points, 11 fewer than his NBA-leading average.

Rony Seikaly, acquired in a Feb. 19 trade with Orlando, made his New Jersey debut after missing 12 games and scored six points.

Tim Duncan had 25 points and 17 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs beat the slumping Milwaukee Bucks 96-85 in San Antonio.