Pistons’ Hill Has Toe Surgery

Pistons forward Grant Hill will miss the rest of the preseason after undergoing minor toe surgery. Hill had the nail on the big toe of his right foot removed so that a new nail could grow. He’ll likely be ready to play in Friday’s season-opener against the Washington Wizards.

Trevor Ruffin, who was waived by the New Jersey Nets last fall, was among three men accused of kidnapping at gunpoint an 11-year-old boy who had reportedly broken into Ruffin’s Mercedes-Benz in Buffalo, N.Y.

Ruffin, 27, of Buffalo was charged Thursday with kidnapping, criminal use of a firearm, endangering the welfare of a child and robbery. He also had been wanted on unrelated vehicle and traffic charges.

In Harrisonburg, Va., former NBA referee George Toliver was fined more than $30,000, but got no jail time for filing a false federal income tax return in an airline ticket scam. He agreed to cooperate with the investigation of tax fraud among NBA referees.

The University of Michigan promoted assistant Brian Ellerbe to interim basketball coach, three weeks before the Wolverines open their regular season.

He replaces Steve Fisher, who was fired Oct. 11.

Athletic director Tom Goss said he’ll look for a permanent replacement after the season.

After eight years in the CBA, the Omaha Racers are no more. Co-owners Steve Idelman and his wife, Sheri, said they were losing money with the team and cannot field a squad this season.