NBA Capsules: Spurs' Oberto sidelined 2 games with heart trouble

SAN ANTONIO - Spurs forward Fabricio Oberto will miss San Antonio's next two games because of heart trouble.

Oberto felt his heart beating abnormally Thursday, and tests confirmed he was experiencing atrial fibrillation. His heart is back to normal, but Oberto will not play Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers or Sunday against New Orleans so that doctors can monitor him.

Oberto is averaging 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds off the bench.

Wizards' Arenas on track to start Saturday

WASHINGTON - Gilbert Arenas loves to keep everyone guessing.

Is he going to make his season debut Saturday night, when the Washington Wizards host the Detroit Pistons?

Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott confirmed after practice Friday the plan is for Arenas to suit up against Detroit - and probably start, too. Still, Tapscott felt the need to caution that the three-time All-Star guard's status will be a game-time decision.

Wizards co-captain Antawn Jamison said that, as far as he knows, Arenas is going to play.

And what about Arenas himself?

Well, by the time Washington's practice court was opened to the media after Friday's light workout, Arenas was nowhere to be seen.

When he left the locker room later, he walked straight past the assembled reporters and TV cameras, not pausing for interviews.

Asked whether he would play Saturday, all Arenas did was shrug.

Asked why he didn't take part in the full practice, Arenas shrugged again.

Asked why he wasn't talking, Arenas said: "I don't have anything to say."

And then he ambled down the stairs to the garage.

"I'm sure he's probably anxious," teammate Caron Butler said. "Probably real nervous."

Perhaps. By every account, though, Arenas finally is ready to go. He's been sidelined all season after having his third operation in 1½ years on his left knee.

"The most important thing is seeing a healthy Gilbert. That's something we haven't seen in a while. But the last couple of practices, he's looked normal, talking trash," Jamison said, smiling. "This is the guy that you're accustomed to seeing, and this is the guy that you want to see get back healthy and entertain people. And I think you're going to see him entertain."

Arenas originally was injured in April 2007, and he played in only 13 games last season. His latest comeback picked up last month, when he began practicing at full speed.

Tapscott estimated Arenas could play 24 to 28 minutes against Detroit, which would be the first court time under his $111 million, six-year contract.

"We'll see how it goes. I don't think people should have any expectation of a scoring explosion," Tapscott said. "He'll play the game, and he'll let the game come to him as he knows how."

Teammates are looking forward to seeing Arenas back on the court, even if they don't necessarily expect him to immediately return to being the same old Agent Zero, a player capable of scoring 30 points and known for making buzzer-beaters.

Without Arenas, without starting center Brendan Haywood - who's missed the entire season after wrist surgery - and missing several other players at times because of various injuries, the Wizards are 17-56.

No NBA team has more losses.

"I just want to win, and in order for that to happen, we need our franchise guy back out there," Butler said. "It would mean a lot just to see him back out there, healthy, establishing a rhythm, and getting him back into the flow of things by the end of the season."

The Wizards are used to playing without Arenas.

They prefer to play with him.

"Up until I see him getting focused, the head phones on before the game ... I'm treating it as if he's not playing," Jamison said. "I just want him healthy. That's the biggest thing for me, is to make sure he's healthy and ready to go, especially next year, when we start everything off on a clean slate."

The teams expect a sellout crowd Saturday; there was a spike in single-game ticket sales after word emerged of Arenas' return.

The Pistons have been paying attention, too.

"I know he came back early last year and missed most of last year and this year, but I'm sure their medical staff has been advising him the right way, in terms of getting him on the court this year," Detroit coach Michael Curry said. "I wish him well, as far as healthwise. I just hope he doesn't have a good game against us."

-- Howard Fendrich

Chandler out another 1-2 weeks with sore ankle

NEW YORK - New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler has been fitted with a walking boot to immobilize his sore left ankle and is expected to be out of action for another one to two weeks.

The 7-foot-1 Chandler remained in New Orleans and did not travel with the Hornets, who were playing the Knicks on Friday night.

A sprain of the same ankle sidelined Chandler for about a month earlier this season. He returned for 12 games but has missed his last four since his ankle began bothering him again.

"We don't forget about him, we just kind of put him on the back burner," Hornets coach Byron Scott said before the game. "We've got to understand right now we've just got to go on without him for a little while and other guys have got to step up."

Chandler has played 44 games this season, averaging 8.8 points and 8.9 rebounds.

The Hornets briefly attempted to trade Chandler to Oklahoma City two days before the NBA's Feb. 19 trading deadline. The Thunder rescinded the deal a day later, saying Chandler could not pass a physical.

Oklahoma City's team doctor cited concerns about a past turf toe condition.

Chandler has said his toe has been fine this season, but his ankle has bothered him since he sprained it Jan. 19 in a game against the Indiana Pacers. He then missed 16 games before returning to action Feb. 23 at Sacramento, when the Hornets began a seven-game winning streak, all with Chandler in the lineup.

Near the end of a loss to Houston on March 16, Chandler began limping again and said after the game that he did not believe his ankle had fully healed.

Team officials remained confident, even after Chandler was fitted with the boot on Friday, that he would return before the end of the regular season. Scott said an MRI exam revealed swollen tendons.

"As long as he's walking, obviously it's not going to heal properly and that's why it was taking so long," Scott said.

The Hornets, fifth in the Western Conference heading into Friday's games, will need him should they make the playoffs.

Chandler is one of New Orleans' best rebounders and defenders. His nearly 1.3 blocked shots per game leads the team. He also provides All-Star point guard Chris Paul with his best target for alley-oop lobs. The pair have combined for 62 alley-oop baskets this season and led the league with 106 last season.

The Hornets were still without forward Peja Stojakovic, who has back spasms. Scott said he is improving but still day to day.

Garnett given ‘day of rest' against Hawks

ATLANTA - Boston forward Kevin Garnett's comeback after missing 13 games with a right knee strain was put on hold Friday night when he was held out against the Atlanta Hawks.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he is "not concerned in the big picture," but said he believed it was necessary to give Garnett "a day of rest."

"I'm just going to make sure I don't have concern by doing it this way," Rivers said.

Garnett has played in four games, logging fewer than 18 minutes each game, after missing 13 straight games. He had only four points and eight rebounds while playing 16 minutes in Wednesday night's loss at Orlando.

Rivers said Garnett, averaging 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds was "just not feeling great" but would have been in uniform for a playoff game.

"We're just not going to take the chance," Rivers said, adding he will consider holding Garnett out more games if necessary to keep him healthy for the playoffs.

"We're just going to go day by day," Rivers said. "I would say we're probably going to do it more than one game, but I'm just not sure yet.

"It's uncharted waters. We don't know where we're going with this right now. What we do know is that we're going to do whatever it takes to get him to be 100 percent when it gets to the playoffs. Whatever that takes, that's what we're going to do."

Rivers hinted he is considering shutting Garnett down for a significant period of time, if necessary.

"We'll see," Rivers said. "We'll make that evaluation at some point soon."

Rivers said Garnett was experiencing "just soreness" and there are no plans for further tests on the knee.

"I look at the silver lining," Rivers said. "It gets more guys on the floor. Hopefully it gets them closer to being ready."

-- Charles Odum

D-Wade to play Roddick and Fish in H-O-R-S-E

MIAMI - The Miami Heat practice court is hardly Andy Roddick's best surface - especially when the opponent is Dwyane Wade.

Roddick and fellow tennis pro Mardy Fish plan to play Wade in H-O-R-S-E. The game is tentatively set for Sunday following Heat practice, although the tennis players' schedules may necessitate a change.

For Wade, victory should be a slam dunk. He's the NBA scoring leader, while Roddick always disparages his basketball abilities.

Roddick and Fish are in South Florida for the Sony Ericsson Open.

``Mardy's actually got a pretty good shot,'' fellow tennis pro James Blake said. ``Hopefully the cameras will be rolling and you can watch Andy throw up a few bricks. ... If they're both together and they get about five extra letters, they might - no, they still don't have a chance.''

Utah Jazz's Boozer files for divorce in Miami

MIAMI - Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer has filed for divorce from his wife of more than six years.

Court documents filed Thursday in Miami call the marriage between Boozer and his wife, Cindy, "irretrievably broken." Boozer says the couple's home in Miami is for sale. The Jazz star also wants rights to a second home they own in Salt Lake City.

The couple has twin 19-month-olds and a 2-year-old. Boozer seeks shared child custody and is willing to pay child support.

Florida is a no-fault divorce state, meaning a divorce does not require proof of any wrongdoing.

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound forward is in his sixth year in the NBA, averaging more than 16 points and almost 11 rebounds per game. Boozer played college ball at Duke.

Luke Ridnour back for Milwaukee Bucks

ORLANDO, Fla. - Milwaukee guard Luke Ridnour has returned to the Bucks' active roster after being sidelined with back spasms.

Milwaukee plays at the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Ridnour was injured during Monday's practice and did not accompany the team to Toronto on Wednesday night. He is averaging 10.1 points and 5.3 assists per game this season.

Milwaukee began the day 3½ games behind Detroit and Chicago for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks were already without guard and leading-scorer Michael Redd and center Andrew Bogut.

Redd tore knee ligaments on Jan. 24 and is out for the season. Bogut has not played since Jan. 31 because of a sore back. He will be reevaluated next week.

Knicks sign Crawford to 10-day contract

NEW YORK - The New York Knicks have signed free agent guard Joe Crawford to a 10-day contract.

The 6-foot-5 Crawford had been with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA's Development League, and was averaging 20.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 43 games.

The Knicks also said Friday that they did not re-sign Demetris Nichols, whose 10-day contract expired.

Crawford was a second-round pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, and was waived Oct. 22

Police look into altercation involving Cavs owner

DETROIT - Police are investigating an altercation between Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and a former executive of his mortgage company at a suburban Detroit hotel.

Birmingham police Chief Richard Patterson said Friday it involved Gilbert and David Hall, a one-time senior vice president at Rock Financial.

Patterson says the "simple altercation" occurred during an event on the night of March 21 at the Townsend Hotel.

Gilbert did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment. A company spokeswoman declined to comment. The Associated Press also sent an e-mail to Hall on Friday seeking comment.

Rock Financial is part of Livonia-based Quicken Loans Inc., of which Gilbert is chair and founder.

-- Corey Williams