duncan228
12-20-2009, 12:58 AM
Spurs' Bonner sidelined by broken hand (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Bonner_sidelined_by_broken_hand.html)
Mike Monroe
Spurs center-forward Matt Bonner has something in common with Lakers star Kobe Bryant: Just like Bryant, he can make shots after breaking a bone in his shooting hand.
Unlike Bryant, who broke the index finger on his right hand on Dec. 11 and has continued to play, Bonner is going to miss quite a few games.
At some point late in the first quarter of Saturday's Spurs-Pacers game at the AT&T Center, Bonner broke the fourth metacarpal — the bone in the meaty part of the hand that leads to the ring finger — on his right hand.
X-rays taken at the arena showed a partial fracture, and the initial diagnosis does not appear to indicate a need for surgery to repair the bone. Bonner will be re-examined on Monday before a final timetable for his return is announced, but he is certain to miss a significant number of games. He is optimistic his hiatus will last no more than a month.
“It's not broken all the way through, so it should heal itself in about four weeks,” he said. “That's about it.”
Bonner could not recall how the fracture occurred.
“I don't remember exactly when I did it,” he said. “But I was 3 for 3 after the broken hand.”
Bonner made three baskets late in the first period, then was removed from the game between the first and second periods and sent to the X-ray room.
“(Losing Matt) is huge for us,” Spurs captain Tim Duncan said. “Hopefully, it's a quick one and he gets back with us, but it's a big loss. He really plays some good minutes for us and changes the look on the floor. We'll have to adjust without him and hope he gets back soon.”
Energizer dunk: The crowd at the AT&T Center was just beginning to come alive as the Spurs whittled away at an 11-point Pacers lead in the fourth quarter Saturday, but it reached full roar with 7:23 left in the fourth when Spurs forward Richard Jefferson drove from the right corner for an emphatic reverse dunk that cut the deficit to six.
“We got in the bonus early (in the fourth), so (coach Gregg Popovich) told us just to keep going hard to the cup,” Jefferson said of the play. “Fortunately, I got some space and was able to get a good dunk in.”
Ho-hum: Predictably, Popovich was underwhelmed by the fact he recorded his 700th career victory on Saturday.
“It doesn't mean anything, other than that one has been in one place for a while and one has had good players, and so the wins come,” he said. “That's all it means. That's the truth.”
Mike Monroe
Spurs center-forward Matt Bonner has something in common with Lakers star Kobe Bryant: Just like Bryant, he can make shots after breaking a bone in his shooting hand.
Unlike Bryant, who broke the index finger on his right hand on Dec. 11 and has continued to play, Bonner is going to miss quite a few games.
At some point late in the first quarter of Saturday's Spurs-Pacers game at the AT&T Center, Bonner broke the fourth metacarpal — the bone in the meaty part of the hand that leads to the ring finger — on his right hand.
X-rays taken at the arena showed a partial fracture, and the initial diagnosis does not appear to indicate a need for surgery to repair the bone. Bonner will be re-examined on Monday before a final timetable for his return is announced, but he is certain to miss a significant number of games. He is optimistic his hiatus will last no more than a month.
“It's not broken all the way through, so it should heal itself in about four weeks,” he said. “That's about it.”
Bonner could not recall how the fracture occurred.
“I don't remember exactly when I did it,” he said. “But I was 3 for 3 after the broken hand.”
Bonner made three baskets late in the first period, then was removed from the game between the first and second periods and sent to the X-ray room.
“(Losing Matt) is huge for us,” Spurs captain Tim Duncan said. “Hopefully, it's a quick one and he gets back with us, but it's a big loss. He really plays some good minutes for us and changes the look on the floor. We'll have to adjust without him and hope he gets back soon.”
Energizer dunk: The crowd at the AT&T Center was just beginning to come alive as the Spurs whittled away at an 11-point Pacers lead in the fourth quarter Saturday, but it reached full roar with 7:23 left in the fourth when Spurs forward Richard Jefferson drove from the right corner for an emphatic reverse dunk that cut the deficit to six.
“We got in the bonus early (in the fourth), so (coach Gregg Popovich) told us just to keep going hard to the cup,” Jefferson said of the play. “Fortunately, I got some space and was able to get a good dunk in.”
Ho-hum: Predictably, Popovich was underwhelmed by the fact he recorded his 700th career victory on Saturday.
“It doesn't mean anything, other than that one has been in one place for a while and one has had good players, and so the wins come,” he said. “That's all it means. That's the truth.”