Short-handed Suns get by Sonics
The Phoenix Suns opened their exhibition season without Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash and beat the Seattle SuperSonics 114-113 on Friday night at Seattle.
Raja Bell had 26 points and James Jones added 18 for the Suns, who will be without Stoudemire for about four months after undergoing surgery for torn cartilage in his left knee. Nash, last season’s Most Valuable Player, was left at home in Arizona because of a bad cold. He is expected to play today when the Suns host the Los Angeles Clippers.
Ray Allen, a five-time All-Star who signed an $85 million, five-year contract for the Sonics during the off-season, had 28 points.
Rashard Lewis added 19 points and Luke Ridnour 18 for the Sonics.
Lewis put Seattle ahead 110-109 with two free throws with 3:37 left. Jones then gave Phoenix back the lead with a three-point play with 2:12 remaining. Kurt Thomas added two free throws after being fouled by Reggie Evans with 1:04 left to give the Sonics a 114-110 lead.
Allen hit a 3-pointer with 28.7 seconds left. After the Suns failed to get off a shot and the Sonics got the ball back with 4.2 seconds left, Ridnour missed a shot at the buzzer.
The Sonics led 66-52 at halftime, outscoring the Suns 18-8 in the final 4:31, with Allen sinking two 3-pointers and Lewis one.
Allen’s second 3-pointer with 1:36 left in the first half capped a 9-0 run by the Sonics.
In the third quarter, the Suns came back to tie the score at 76 and 78, before the Sonics, led by Ridnour with six points, went on a 9-0 run and took a 94-87 lead going into the final period.
James released from hospital; treated for virus
Cleveland All-Star forward LeBron James was released from the hospital following a two-night stay because of a virus that caused severe pain in his chest.
James was hospitalized Wednesday for what the team initially called a strained pectoral muscle. But Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry said that James came down with pleurisy, an inflammation of the thin layers of tissue covering his lungs and chest cavity.
The 20-year-old is being treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, and the team said it expects James to make a “quick, full recovery.”
James sat out the Cavs’ preseason home opener against Philadelphia, and it remains unclear when the third-year pro will return.
Diogu forced out with broken hand
Rookie forward Ike Diogu learned he’ll miss the rest of the Golden State Warriors’ exhibition schedule with a broken left hand.
Diogu will be out at least three weeks, according to the team doctors’ diagnosis when the Warriors returned to practice at their training complex in Oakland, Calif., after opening camp in Hawaii.
Knee surgery sidelines Bradley
Philadelphia forward Michael Bradley will miss 4-6 weeks after having surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee. Bradley was hurt during training camp.