Rodman Predicts Leg Injury Will Shelve Him For A Month

NBA

Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman said Thursday he will miss a month with a leg injury, but the team said his status is day-to-day.

Rodman told Chicago radio station WSCR-AM that he ripped his left calf muscle trying to jump on the last play of Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.

He said it feels similar to an injury he suffered three years ago that caused him to sit out for a month.

“I know it’s a month,” he told the station in a telephone interview from Cleveland. “It’s kind of disappointing.”

Around the league

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tyrone Hill remained hospitalized Thursday because of injuries sustained in a car accident two days earlier… . Washington Bullets owner Abe Pollin announced that his NBA team will get a new nickname when it moves into the MCI Center downtown in 1997… . The New Jersey Nets will be without Kenny Anderson for at least one game. Anderson will miss tonight’s game in Miami against the Heat with a strained left groin and he is also doubtful Saturday against the Sacramento Kings… . Phoenix Suns point guard Kevin Johnson’s knee injury isn’t as serious as feared. The team said an MRI performed revealed nothing but a tendon strain. He will miss the game against Toronto tonight and a home contest Sunday against Golden State.

Knicks 103, Pacers 95

New York

Two nights after getting a broken nose, Charles Smith scored 21 points off the bench, keying a third-quarter spurt that helped New York hand Indiana its first loss of the season.

In a contentious game that illustrated the bitter rivalry that has developed between the teams, 54 fouls were called, play was physical and tempers were short. Pacers coach Larry Brown was ejected with 4:54 left after drawing two quick technicals.

INDIANA (95)

Ferrell 2-7 0-0 4, D.Davis 4-7 1-6 9, Schintzius 3-5 3-4 9, Jackson 2-3 3-3 7, Miller 9-16 5-6 27, Workman 5-10 4-6 14, Johnson 3-9 0-0 6, A.Davis 0-2 1-2 1, Pierce 3-7 1-4 8, Best 2-3 1-1 5, Caldwell 0-0 0-0 0, Hoiberg 1-2 3-3 5. Totals 34-71 22-35 95.

NEW YORK (103)

Mason 1-6 5-6 7, Oakley 2-6 1-2 5, Ewing 9-17 3-4 21, Harper 8-11 3-5 22, Starks 7-14 3-5 18, Smith 6-11 8-10 21, Ward 1-3 1-2 3, H.Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Grant 1-2 4-4 6, M.Williams 0-2 0-0 0, Christie 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 35-73 28-40 103.

Indiana 24 18 16 37 - 95

New York 20 21 26 36 - 103

3-Point goals-Indiana 5-14 (Miller 4-7, Pierce 1-1, Hoiberg 0-1, Workman 0-1, Ferrell 0-2, Johnson 0-2), New York 5-16 (Harper 3-5, Smith 1-1, Starks 1-6, Oakley 0-1, H.Davis 0-1, Ward 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Indiana 55 (D.Davis 12), New York 45 (Ewing 14). Assists-Indiana 18 (Jackson 7), New York 22 (Starks 8). Total fouls-Indiana 29, New York 25. Technicals-Indiana coach Brown 2, Indiana illegal defense. Ejection-Indiana coach Brown. A-19,763 (19,763).

Mavericks 104, Bucks 94

Dallas

Jamal Mashburn scored 27 points and Jason Kidd added 22 as Dallas improved to 4-0, its best start in team history, with a decision over Milwaukee.

MILWAUKEE (94)

Robinson 5-12 4-4 15, Baker 14-22 1-3 29, Conlon 4-11 0-0 8, Mayberry 6-13 0-0 13, Newman 6-12 2-3 14, Cummings 3-4 1-2 7, Respert 2-6 1-1 6, Murdock 1-7 0-0 2. Totals 41-87 9-13 94.

DALLAS (104)

Mashburn 11-23 2-2 27, Jones 3-5 0-0 6, Williams 3-7 0-0 6, Kidd 8-15 2-2 22, Jackson 6-10 1-1 15, Harris 4-8 0-0 8, Brooks 2-4 0-0 4, Parks 1-3 0-0 2, McCloud 6-8 0-0 14, Meyer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 44-84 5-5 104.

Milwaukee 22 25 29 18 - 94

Dallas 33 29 21 21 - 104

3-Point goals-Milwaukee 3-11 (Robinson 1-2, Respert 1-2, Mayberry 1-4, Conlon 0-1, Newman 0-1, Murdock 0-1), Dallas 11-23 (Kidd 4-8, Mashburn 3-7, Jackson 2-3, McCloud 2-3, Harris 0-1, Brooks 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds- Milwaukee 43 (Baker 14), Dallas 47 (Jones 15). Assists- Milwaukee 20 (Baker, Murdock 5), Dallas 23 (Kidd 7). Total fouls-Milwaukee 13, Dallas 13. Technicals-Milwaukee coach Dunleavy, Dallas coach Motta. A-15,095 (17,502).

Bulls 106, Cavaliers 88

Cleveland

Michael Jordan overcame a lackluster first half and scored 29 points, and Scottie Pippen had a triple-double as Chicago beat Cleveland.

Pippen had 18 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for the Bulls.

CHICAGO (106)

Pippen 5-12 5-5 18, Simpkins 5-6 2-2 12, Longley 2-6 2-3 6, Jordan 12-24 1-2 29, Harper 0-3 2-4 2, Wennington 2-5 0-0 4, Kukoc 2-4 2-2 6, Kerr 3-4 1-1 8, Brown 2-6 0-0 4, Buechler 6-6 0-0 13, Caffey 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 41-79 15-19 106.

CLEVELAND (88)

Mills 5-15 8-9 19, Ferry 3-11 0-0 6, Cage 3-8 2-3 8, Phills 11-20 4-4 26, Brandon 4-6 3-4 11, Amaechi 5-6 1-1 11, Majerle 0-4 1-2 1, Sura 3-7 0-0 6, Miner 0-3 0-0 0, Marshall 0-2 0-0 0, Crotty 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-82 19-23 88.

Chicago 28 23 23 32 - 106

Cleveland 24 23 22 19 - 88

3-Point goals-Chicago 9-15 (Jordan 4-8, Pippen 3-5, Kerr 1-1, Buechler 1-1 ), Cleveland 1-11 (Mills 1-2, Brandon 0-1, Sura 0-1, Marshall 0-1, Ferry 0-2, Mills 0-2, Majerle 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Chicago 51 (Pippen 13), Cleveland 43 (Cage 11). Assists-Chicago 32 (Pippen 12), Cleveland 27 (Brandon 9). Total fouls-Chicago 21, Cleveland 18. Technicals-Cleveland coach Fratello. A-20,562 (20,562).

Hawks 125, Warriors 121

Oakland, Calif.

Steve Smith had 28 points, including a long 3-pointer with 2:20 left, as Atlanta outlasted Golden State.

ATLANTA (125)

Long 6-8 5-6 17, Norman 2-5 0-0 4, Lang 8-12 4-6 20, Blaylock 5-13 5-6 20, S.Smith 11-23 3-3 28, Mundt 1-3 0-0 2, Augmon 8-8 2-4 18, Ehlo 3-4 0-0 7, Henderson 3-3 0-0 6, Webb 0-3 3-3 3. Totals 47-82 22-28 125.

GOLDEN STATE (121)

Mullin 2-7 4-4 8, J.Smith 13-17 4-4 30, Seikaly 10-13 7-8 27, Hardaway 6-10 8-10 23, Sprewell 0-7 0-0 0, Armstrong 3-7 1-2 8, Gatling 7-9 1-3 15, Marshall 1-3 0-0 2, Kersey 2-5 1-2 5, Barry 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 45-80 26-33 121.

Atlanta 31 38 34 22 - 125

Golden State 32 37 25 27 - 121

3-Point goals-Atlanta 9-28 (Blaylock 5-13, S.Smith 3-10, Ehlo 1-2, Webb 0-1, Norman 0-2), Golden State 5-14 (Hardaway 3-4, Barry 1-2, Armstrong 1-3, Marshall 0-1, Sprewell 0-2, J.Smith 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds- Atlanta 45 (Long 10), Golden State 38 (J.Smith 8). Assists- Atlanta 39 (Blaylock 16), Golden State 32 (Sprewell 8). Total fouls-Atlanta 24, Golden State 20. Technicals-Kersey, Golden State illegal defense. Flagrant foul-Lang. A-15,025 (15,025).