Spurs notebook: Brown to miss up to two weeks with bad back
Web Posted: 03/24/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Two days after announcing Tim Duncan could be sidelined until close to the playoffs, the Spurs learned they also will be without their top reserve for a while.
Devin Brown is expected to miss 10 days to two weeks because of inflammation around a nerve root in his lower back, coach Gregg Popovich said.
An MRI taken Wednesday morning revealed the problem. Brown is taking medication to reduce the swelling and will be re-evaluated in a few days to determine a more accurate timeframe for his return.
Brown, who said he has had similar trouble the previous two seasons, injured his back while warming up before Sunday's game in Detroit. The team sent him home Tuesday.
"It's kind of weird for a strong, young kid like that," Popovich said. "All of a sudden his back does that — it's kind of a surprise.
"It's really unfortunate for him and for us because he was starting to play real well."
Brown averaged 18.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in his last three games, two of which he played hurt.
Also back at the ranch: Duncan spent time in the pool and a hyperbaric chamber Wednesday while rehabbing his sprained right ankle, but he isn't walking on the foot, Popovich said.
"He's getting on it as little as possible," Popovich said. "The swelling has gone down a little bit from the beginning, but it's still pretty big."
Popovich initially thought Duncan had broken his foot. Veteran official Danny Crawford, who was working Sunday's game against Detroit, told Brent Barry it was the worst sprain he has seen.
"When you've had that injury, you know what you have to go through to get yourself back to health," said Barry, who missed eight games in the 1998-99 season with a sprained right ankle. "And it just isn't fun."
