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NBA tells players to cool the comments

Apr 30, 2004 10:06 AM EST

The NBA has stepped in hoping to put an end to the war of words between the Timberwolves and the Nuggets leading up to Game 5.

According to Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post NBA vice president of operations Stu Jackson told members of both teams to zip it.

"He spoke to the teams and the players who made comments and told them that wasn't appropriate," NBA spokesperson Tim Frank said.

Things heated up between the teams after the Nuggets Francisco Elson called Minnesota superstar "gay" for hitting him in the groin in Game 4. Elson later apologized to the gay and lesbian community for his comments.

"I would like to apologize to the gay and lesbian community for my comments about Kevin Garnett. I realize my comments were insensitive and they were out of character for me. However, I take full responsibility, and I have learned a valuable lesson."

"I didn't mean anything negative towards them or towards anybody about it," Elson said. "I said it, I apologized, enough said. Hopefully they will respect me and take my apology as it is."

Despite the warning from the league, the verbal comments did continue on Thursday.

Asked whether he expected more cheap shots tonight in what has become a physical series, Nuggets guard Jon Barry said: "You worry about that, them sending some thug like that, like Oliver Miller, to knock somebody out or something like that, at the end of the game if it gets out of hand."

Minnesota coach Flip Saunders is disappointed at the talking coming from Denver players.

"They can say all they want. No one wants to fight. These guys are not fighters. ... We're not going to get caught up in all that. I'm sure they're not. First of all, they are professional players. They are here to represent the league. The league isn't about fighting."

Via Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves

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Szczerbiak out with broken bones in his back

Apr 26, 2004 9:41 PM EST

The status of Timberwolves forward Wally Sczcerbiak is worse than expected, with doctors relealing that Szczerbiak suffered broken bones in his back as a result of the fall he took in Saturday night's 107-86 Nuggets loss in Denver.

Szczerbiak is guaranteed to miss the remainder of the Denver series at least, while the games beyond this at this stage is unknown.

Szczerbiak, who had missed most of the season with a foot injury, lost grip of the rim on a fast break dunk late in Game 3 and fell onto his upper back.

Via Minneapolis Star-Tribune

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Szczerbiak unlikely to play in Game 4

Apr 26, 2004 6:19 AM EST

Don't expect Wolves forward Wally Szczerbiak to be playing in Game 4 writes Steve Aschburner of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, with Minnesota coach Flip Saunders describing his status as "doubtful at best."

Szczerbiak fell on his back hard after losing grip on the rim on a dunk late in the third quarter of Game 3 on Saturday night. Absorbing the contact from Nuggets forward Chris Andersen on the play, Szczerbiak suprisingly was able to go to the foul line on the play then stay in the game.

The diagnosis was not as good on Sunday as Szczerbiak was said to be walking gingerly with a swollen, painful back. As his teammates practiced Wally went for a MRI exam, the result of which will not be known until today.

"I've said it before: He's a tough kid," Saunders said. "He shot that free throw, and found out he was in too much pain to stay in the game. . . . He's definitely hurting."

Fred Hoiberg is expected to step in for Szczerbiak in Game 4, along with forward Gary Trent. Hoiberg, a free agent signing from Chicago, showed his value earlier in the season playing regularly while Szczerbiak missed 53 games because of a foot injury.

"The rotation may just go back to the things we were doing early," said Hoiberg. "I'm comfortable in that role."

Hoiberg also is familiar with the type of play in which Szczerbiak got hurt. "I've had that happen a few times, and, normally, the day after, you're real stiff," he said. "Then gradually it gets a little better.

"The days off should help so that, if Wally's not able to go Tuesday, he'll be back Friday."

Via Minneapolis Star-Tribune

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Timberwolves Apr 2004 Archive

  • Confrontation 'no big deal'

    Minneapolis Star-Tribune | Apr 26, 2004

    Andre Miller's small shove on Wolves superstar Kevin Garnett late in Game 3 was no big deal to either player if you listen to them now, but according to Steve Aschburner and Patrick Reusse of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune it did have the potential to blow up into something bigger.

  • Opinions differ on effect of Denver's thin air

    Minneapolis Star Tribune | Apr 24, 2004

    A common rumor in the NBA is altitude being one of the things a team must contend with when they play in Denver.

  • Sprewell, Camby stay close, even as rivals

    Rocky Mountain News | Apr 21, 2004

    Minnesota's Latrell Sprewell and his good friend Denver's Marcus Camby might be going against each in the first round of this year's playoffs but they still have a great friendship that goes back to the day they were Knicks teammates.

  • Olowokandi likes being player in playoffs

    Minneapolis Star-Tribune | Apr 20, 2004

    He played for five years with the Los Angeles Clippers, never really getting close to the playoffs.

  • 'Big Ticket' punches up intensity with help

    Denver Post | Apr 18, 2004

    Stoic Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Kevin Garnett went down the bench, acknowledging teammates and coaches one by one Wednesday during the final seconds of his team's victory over Memphis.

  • Szczerbiak, healthy and happy, entering playoffs

    Minneapolis Star Tribune | Apr 17, 2004

    Most of the suspense was gone.

  • Denver not thrilled by 17-day schedule

    Rocky Mountain News | Apr 16, 2004

    Rome might not have been built in a day, but its construction probably had a tighter schedule than the NBA playoffs.

  • Hudson's season is done

    Minneapolis Star Tribune | Apr 15, 2004

    Troy Hudson's season of uncertain availability gave way Wednesday to a postseason of certain unavailability, with the news that the Timberwolves' backup point guard would be shut down immediately for surgery on his chronically sprained right ankle.

  • Hudson still bothered by ankle sprain

    Minneapolis Star Tribune | Apr 13, 2004

    Troy Hudson spends part of his day doing his rehab, another part praying and hoping.

  • Garnett has no regrets for signing extension

    Minneapolis Star-Tribune | Apr 12, 2004

    Kevin Garnett said he doesn't have any misgivings about signing his new contract, a five-year deal that starts this fall.

  • Garnett NBA's Most Valuable

    Hartford Courant | Apr 11, 2004

    The buzz around the NBA is that Kevin Garnett will be the 2003-04 NBA Most Valuable Player.

  • Sloan, Brown top picks for coach of year

    Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel | Apr 11, 2004

    An informal poll of 24 reporters who cover the league regularly - 13 from the Western Conference and 11 from the East - showed that Utah's Jerry Sloan had an edge over Hubie Brown of Memphis for the coaching honor.

  • Reserves Olowokandi, Szczerbiak big for Wolves

    Minneapolis Star-Tribune | Apr 11, 2004

    The Wolves have won seven consecutive games and are have the best record in the Western Conference.

  • Wolves move into first place in West

    Saint Paul Pioneer Press | Apr 9, 2004

    In games that could determine home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs, every possession, every substitution and every momentum-swinging basket is scrutinized.

  • Szczerbiak target as women strays on court

    Washington Post | Apr 3, 2004

    Just how safe are the players and officials in the NBA if a person is able to simply wander onto the court, have time to stand around, then chase a player down to the other end? This is what happened in Minnesota as the Timberwolves hosted the Washington Wizards last night.

  • Hoiberg, Hassell savor playoff team

    Minneapolis Star-Tribune | Apr 3, 2004

    Fred Hoiberg doesn't have to think back very far to remember what it's like to be going through the motions in April.

  • Sprewell elevates game

    St Paul Pioneer Press | Apr 2, 2004

    The message is simple.

  • Wolves put Hudson on injured list, sign Martin

    Associated Press | Apr 1, 2004

    MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Timberwolves put point guard Troy Hudson on the injured list Wednesday with a sprained left ankle and signed Darrick Martin to replace him.