Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson will not play in the
76ers' preseason finale in San Antonio on Thursday
night because of soreness in his right knee.
Iverson has missed three preseason games, including a loss to New York on Tuesday night. The 76ers will open the regular season Tuesday night against Milwaukee.
Iverson did practice Wednesday, and said he had no intention of playing in the last two games exhibition.
"It probably was a fall and it swelled up on me," Iverson said. "I kept playing on it. ... My doctors just said rest it as much as possible."
Injured starters Chris Webber and Samuel Dalembert both made their preseason debuts against the Knicks. Because of all the various injuries, the Sixers have not had their starting five together for a single practice or game.
"I think it would have been good if we could have played all preseason games together," Iverson said. "It will be something we'll have to deal with, something we'll have to fight through."
Houston Rockets: All-star forward Tracy McGrady missed the
Rockets' preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday with
tendinitis in both knees.
McGrady, who is averaging 15 points a game in the preseason, sat on the bench in street clothes. He is expected to play in the Rockets' preseason finale on Thursday against the New Orleans Hornets at Oklahoma City.
Center Yao Ming also sat out a game earlier in the exhibition season.
New York Knicks: The Knicks waived guards Jamison Brewer
and Steven Barber and forward Otis George, reducing
their roster to 15.
Brewer played 18 games for New York last season, averaging 1.7 points. He appeared in two exhibition games this season, scoring two points.
Barber, a 5-foot-10 rookie who played at Texas-Arlington, averaged 3.3 points in four exhibition games. George, a former Louisville players, appeared in one preseason game.
San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs announced that they have waived guards Stephen Graham, Melvin Sanders and forward Sharrod Ford.
Graham appeared in seven preseason games where he averaged 5.4 points and 1.7 rebounds.
Sanders averaged 6.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in seven preseason contests.
Ford appeared in all eight Spurs preseason games and averaged 4.9 points and 2.5 rebounds.
The Spurs roster now stands at 13.
Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press
