Jordan no show for Thursday??

I bet the Rockets are happy the tickets don't have a money back guarantee.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Given the physical setbacks he suffered over the summer, it seemed rather ambitious when Michael Jordan said he planned to play every game this season. That plan already is in jeopardy.

After just 16 games, Jordan can barely practice and was dominated down the stretch Saturday night by Orlando's Tracy McGrady. Jordan's right wrist and both knees have been ailing, but it is soreness and swelling in the right knee that prompted him to schedule an appointment Sunday with a doctor in Chicago.

"I just developed some fluid on my knee, and I think it's about time to pay attention to it so it won't linger all season long," Jordan said. "I don't think it's going to be something that's going to linger. I have to make sure there's no ligament damage, and get it treated, get it drained and see what the doctors say I have to do and see if I can get rid of it."

Jordan has already had the knee drained once this season. He last missed a game due to injury on March 5, 1993, against San Antonio, the second of two games he missed while hospitalized with a foot infection.

The Wizards' next opponent: San Antonio again. A four-game road trip starts Tuesday, and Jordan said he might have to sit out a game or two if the Wizards team doctor and the doctor in Chicago agree that it's for the best.

Jordan will undergo an MRI exam in Chicago on Monday to check for ligament or cartilage damage, The Washington Post reported. A Wizards spokesman had no new information on Jordan's course of treatment.

"It's early in the season. I don't want to. I'd rather continue to play," Jordan said. "But if it's not going to get any better other than me sitting out -- long-term, I want to play later in the season."

Jordan scored a season-low 15 points in Saturday night's 96-87 loss to Orlando. Matched one-on-one against McGrady, Jordan was 2-for-12 in the second half, missed all four shots he took in the fourth quarter and was taken out by coach Doug Collins with 3:50 to play and the Wizards trailing by 13.

"He would have played until the end of the game no matter what, because he doesn't want to make it look like he's walking away from a player," Collins said. "But I saw him stop a couple of times, just shoot his jump shot, and it's almost like he didn't put the leg down. I said to the coaches, 'That's it.'"

McGrady scored 16 of his 26 points in the second half in a much-anticipated matchup between Jordan and one of the "young dogs" he said would be chasing him this season. Jordan also missed a few minutes in the first half when his eye was poked while grabbing a rebound.

"I got poked in the eye and my knee's a little sore. Is that why he took it easy on me?" Jordan said. "Obviously I felt it on my lift on my shot more than anything, and I did whatever I could to contain him in the second half."

Collins said Jordan had scheduled the trip to Chicago before Saturday's game, the Wizards' fourth in five nights. The injury is not only hampering Jordan's performance, it's slowing the development of the team chemistry that needs to develop as the young Washington players try to learn to play with the returning superstar.

"Michael can't go through a full practice," Collins said. "They don't get much practice time with MJ. We've got to keep him fresh for the game. I can't ask Michael to go through a 1 1/2-hour practice and ask him to play 35 minutes."

The rigors of an NBA schedule on Jordan's 38-year-old body always seemed the biggest obstacle in his second comeback. He was slowed by back spasms, two cracked ribs and knee tendinitis in workouts to get in shape over the summer. Nevertheless, he said he planned to play all 82 regular-season games when he announced his return.

Any decision to sit will be made by Jordan and the doctors. Collins said he would never make the suggestion himself.

"I'd never say that to Michael," Collins said. "Michael taught me a long time ago, 'Never keep a thoroughbred from running.' Because at some point and time if you do, they won't want to run."

 

Might be ready for Rockets game:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Michael Jordan is almost certain to miss the Washington Wizards' game at San Antonio on Tuesday because of a knee injury.

Coach Doug Collins said Monday that Jordan was "very questionable" to play against the Spurs but might be ready for Thursday night's game against the Houston Rockets.

Jordan was undergoing an MRI in Chicago while the Wizards were practicing Monday morning. Trainer Steve Stricker had no information on the results, but he said general manager Wes Unseld would release a statement later in the day.

Jordan last missed an NBA game because of injury on March 5, 1993, also against San Antonio, when he was hospitalized with a foot infection.

Jordan hyperextended the knee during a preseason game and recently had fluid drained from it. He has been bothered by soreness and swelling in the knee on top of the tendinitis he has suffered in both knees since he resumed workouts earlier this year.

The best remedy usually is rest, which means Jordan could go on the injured list and miss a handful of games. If tests show ligament or cartilage damage or worse, he'll be out much longer.

"I have to make sure there's no ligament damage, and get it treated, get it drained and see what the doctors say I have to do and see if I can get rid of it," Jordan said after Saturday night's loss to the Orlando Magic.

If Jordan is placed on the injured list, he would have to miss five games unless the Wizards leave a roster spot open. The San Antonio game is the start of a four-game road trip.

Collins said he was unsure who would start at small forward if Jordan can't play. Courtney Alexander's confidence is shaken, and he's played little recently, so the coach said rookie Kwame Brown might fill the spot.

"We don't have a natural small forward," Collins said.

Jordan went to Chicago after Saturday's game to see Dr. John Heffron, the Bulls' former team physician.

"I'd rather continue to play," Jordan said. "But if it's not going to get any better other than me sitting out -- long-term, I want to play later in the season."

Saturday's game was the fourth in five nights for the Wizards, but Collins said Jordan has been ailing all season. Jordan's inability to practice most days has made it hard to develop team chemistry on the court.

"Michael can't go through a full practice," Collins said. "They don't get much practice time with MJ. We've got to keep him fresh for the game. I can't ask Michael to go through a 11/2-hour practice and ask him to play 35 minutes."

Jordan scored a season-low 15 points in the 96-87 loss to Orlando. Matched one-on-one against Tracy McGrady, Jordan was 2-for-12 in the second half, missed all four shots he took in the fourth quarter and was taken out by Collins with 3:50 to play and the Wizards trailing by 13.

The rigors of an NBA schedule on Jordan's 38-year-old body seemed the biggest obstacle in his second comeback. He was slowed by back spasms and two cracked ribs as well as the knee tendinitis in workouts to get in shape over the summer. He has also been playing with a sore right wrist.

Nevertheless, when he announced his return, he said he planned to play all 82 regular-season games.

 

Here's the latest:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Michael Jordan will miss the Washington Wizards' game at San Antonio on Tuesday because of a knee injury.

A statement by the Wizards said Jordan will not be in uniform and will be listed as "day-to-day with inflammation in his right knee." The Wizards' four-game road trip starts against the Spurs, followed by a Thursday game at Houston.

"My body is sending me messages, and I need to listen," Jordan said. "I hope to be ready to play on Thursday.

 

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Michael Jordan needs to rest his knee, and he sends his regrets to San Antonio's fans.

"Every time I've come here people have been very, very respectful," he said. "But I have to look at the bigger picture, obviously."

Jordan shot a little during the Washington Wizards' afternoon shootaround but was to sit out Tuesday night's game against the Spurs because of a knee injury.

Some fans paid hundreds of dollars for one of the 34,000-plus tickets to see the Wizards' only game in San Antonio this season.

"I wish I could just push the button and make everything OK and come on out and play," he said. "But I have to recover and come back and play the next game and finish out the season. The doctors suggested this is a time when I have to rest my body."

The Wizards are in the middle of a demanding stretch. They played four games in five nights last week, and after San Antonio, they will be in Houston on Thursday and Dallas on Saturday. Jordan said he hopes to play against the Rockets.

Fluid was drained from Jordan's right knee for the second time this season on Monday, and a subsequent MRI showed no serious damage. He hyperextended the knee during the preseason and it has been consistently sore and swollen.

"It's feeling better today than it did Saturday," he said. "The doctors said rest is going to be the biggest thing."

The San Antonio crowd would have been the largest to see Jordan play this season. The Alamodome is the league's most spacious arena and the Spurs opened nearly 2,000 extra seats to satisfy part of the fan demand.

"I know they want to see their team win and they want to see me score 50," Jordan said with a chuckle. "That's [the case for] most of the away games."

Jordan last missed an NBA game because of injury on March 5, 1993, also against the Spurs. It was the second of two games missed while he was hospitalized with a foot infection.

He is averaging 24.8 points a game, sixth best in the league but well below his career average. He also leads the league in shots taken and shots missed. He led Washington in scoring in 13 of its first 16 games.