Sean

Artest Flies to New York for Thumb Examination
Jan 26, 4:57 PM (ET)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest missed practice Monday to fly to New York for an examination of his injured left thumb.

Artest hurt the thumb on his non-shooting hand in a game at New Jersey on Jan. 17. He has played the last four games with the thumb heavily wrapped, which has clearly affected his shooting. Artest is 20-for-62 (32 percent) since the injury.

After Friday's loss to Houston, in which Artest was 3-for-18, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said he didn't "have any doubt he was affected by the injury."

Carlisle said after practice Monday that Artest was "optimistic" that the injury wasn't serious.

Carlisle was hoping that having three days off before the team's next game - Wednesday against Phoenix - will benefit the team's second-leading scorer.
http://sports.iwon.com/news/01262004/v6039.html

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Sean

Pacers' Artest Has Torn Ligament in Thumb
Jan 27, 3:32 PM (ET)

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest has torn ligaments in his left thumb that will require surgery, but an operation might not be needed until after the season.

Artest flew to New York on Monday to have the thumb examined by the doctor who repaired a similar injury when Artest was a sophomore at St. John's. Artest said Tuesday he had not seen the results, but Pacers coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that the ligaments were torn.

Carlisle said the team was still in the "discovery phase of the injury," and had not determined whether Indiana's second-leading scorer will wait until after the season to have it repaired.

Artest is averaging 17.5 points a game, but has struggled with his shot since injuring the thumb against New Jersey on Jan. 17. He shot 32 percent in the four games since the injury, including a 3-for-18 performance Friday in a loss to Houston.

Artest is questionable for Wednesday night's game against Phoenix.

http://sports.iwon.com/news/01272004/v7150.html

__________________
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." – mom, circa 1974

"Either you are still a Laker fan, or you never were." - Guru

DetBNyce

Can't be good at all... Looks like Al Harrington will be scoring a lot more.

Sean

Pacers' Artest Has Sprained Thumb
Jan 27, 3:58 PM (ET)

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest is day to day due to a sprained thumb that is not damaged as badly as originally thought.

Artest flew to New York on Monday to have the thumb examined by the doctor who repaired torn ligaments in it when Artest was a sophomore at St. John's.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said on Tuesday that the ligaments on Artest's non-shooting hand were torn again, but after trainers examined an MRI taken in New York, it was determined that the thumb was only sprained.

Artest is Indiana's second-leading scorer. He is averaging 17.5 points a game, but has struggled since injuring the thumb against New Jersey on Jan. 17. He shot 32 percent in the four games since then, including a 3-for-18 performance Friday in a loss to Houston.

Artest said he believed he could play with the injury.

"It won't affect me much," Artest said. "I'm a righty anyway. I'll just have to play through it and get used to it."

http://sports.iwon.com/news/01272004/v7177.html

__________________
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." – mom, circa 1974

"Either you are still a Laker fan, or you never were." - Guru

R-Star

I hope its not too serious. Lets hope Harrington can step it up in the absence of Artest.