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Spurs notebook: Brown may miss rest of regular season
Web Posted: 03/26/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
The Spurs already knew they might have to go the rest of the regular season without Tim Duncan. On Friday they learned Devin Brown could be out just as long.
Brown has a disc injury between his L4/L5 vertebrate which is expected to sideline him for the next two to four weeks. He has received treatment for a few days, but team officials haven't seen much improvement in his condition.
Brown came to the SBC Center for treatment Friday then left prior to the game. Sitting in a chair for 21/2 hours isn't the best therapy for a back injury.
"He's walking like an old man who has been injured a couple of times," coach Gregg Popovich said. "He can't stand up straight. It's going to be a while."
Brown's back began troubling him as he warmed up prior to Sunday's game in Detroit. He played against the Pistons and also against New York Monday before the team sent him home.
An MRI revealed he has inflammation around a nerve root in his lower back.
The Spurs placed Brown on the injured list and activated forward Linton Johnson III.
Johnson, who had been inactive since training camp while recovering from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot, made his first appearance of the season Friday against the Hawks.
Johnson has practiced with the team for about three weeks, but looked tentative at times during workouts. He had three rebounds in six minutes Friday.
"He says he's ready to go and that sort of stuff, but you watch him and he's holding back," Popovich said prior to the game. "He's still a little nervous about the whole thing. He's been practicing, he's had contact and he's been medically released. But it's just up to him in regard to pain tolerance and feeling confident on his foot."
Turkey sandwich: Dion Glover, a first-round pick of Atlanta in 1999, didn't get the opportunity to play against his former team Friday.
He also might not get the chance to play again this season.
Spurs officials were informed Friday that FIBA still considers Glover under contract with Ulker Istanbul of the Turkish Basketball League, voiding his current NBA deal. Ulker supposedly released Glover more than a month ago.
Glover's 10-day contract would have expired today, but Popovich said the team was planning to re-sign him for another 10 days. Because FIBA's offices are closed for the weekend, Spurs officials can't attempt to resolve the situation until Monday.
Glover is remaining in town for now, though the Spurs probably won't wait too long before examining other options.
Military salute: Spurs suite holders and courtside season-ticket holders donated more than 500 tickets to Friday's game as part of the team's Military Appreciation night.
Wounded soldiers and family members of soldiers killed in the war in Iraq sat in the prime seats Friday. Dallas owner Mark Cuban held a similar event early this season.
The Spurs wore special flag-themed T-shirts as they warmed up before the game.
