Visit To Family Costs Coleman
Derrick Coleman spent the weekend in Detroit with his family and his agent said Monday that the Philadelphia 76ers are wrong to fine the formerAll-Star.
The club fined Coleman after he missed Saturday’s game in Detroit and Monday’s practice in Philadelphia. The 76ers also said they were unable to contact Coleman, who is sidelined with an injured finger.
Coleman’s agent, Harold MacDonald, called it a “total misunderstanding.” By Monday night, Coleman had returned to Philadelphia.
“Derrick asked for permission to fly to Detroit on the team charter to see his family,” MacDonald said. “There is no basis for fining him.”
MacDonald said he contacted 76ers general manager Brad Greenberg to inform him of Coleman’s whereabouts.
“Derrick spent the whole day at the Detroit airport, but he was weathered in. He was trying to get back,” he said. “I told (Greenberg), ‘Let’s try to work this thing out.”’ When Coleman didn’t show for practice, the 76ers fined him an undisclosed amount.
“Yes, I’m annoyed, more than a little,” Greenberg said earlier Monday. “It’s an unexcused absence and he’ll be fined accordingly. But I’d like to get all the information before making a decision.”
Legendary shootout
Former All-Stars Nate Archibald, George Gervin, Randy Smith and Jo Jo White will compete in the Legends Edition of the NBA Shootout during All-Star Weekend.
The competition will take place on Friday, Feb. 7, in Cleveland. The format is similar to the shootout contest involving current NBA players, where shots are taken from spots marked on the floor.
The NBA All-Star Game will take place Sunday, Feb. 9.
Injury report
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Chris Mills has a swollen left heel and may miss today’s game at New Jersey.
Miami Heat forward Kurt Thomas, who has already missed 25 games this season because of injuries, fractured his right ankle when he stepped wrong on a stairway. Thomas will be sidelined indefinitely.
San Antonio Spurs center Will Perdue will miss at least one week after breaking a bone in his right eye socket in Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
On the court
The Miami Heat shot 63.2 percent, a franchise record and the best effort in the NBA this season, to beat the Phoenix Suns 125-97 Monday.
The victory was Miami’s first against Phoenix at home. The Suns had been 9-0 at Miami Arena since the Heat joined the league in 1988.
The Heat’s point total and margin of victory were team season highs. Miami broke the franchise shooting record of 62.4 percent set against New York in February 1990.