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Jackson to have left hip replaced

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson is scheduled to undergo surgery this morning to have his left hip replaced, eight months after having his right one replaced.

Jackson, 61, was able to walk with a cane within a week of his operation last October. He required a month of recovery time before he was able to travel with the team. He is expected to be fully recovered for his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in September in Springfield, Mass.

The procedure will be performed by Lawrence Dorr at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center in Inglewood. Jackson is expected to be released from the hospital Wednesday or Thursday.

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Jackson, who played 12 seasons in the NBA, took the first step toward eliminating a years-long limp with his hip-replacement surgery last year. He still sat on a specially designed chair on the Lakers’ bench during games but reported feeling markedly better overall.

-- Mike Bresnahan

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The Detroit Pistons have no plans to fire Coach Flip Saunders despite disappointing endings the last two seasons.

“Just because we haven’t gotten to the Finals, it doesn’t mean Flip has done a bad job,” said Joe Dumars, president of basketball operations.

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Saunders just completed the second year of a four-year contract worth up to $26 million.

Dumars also said the team doesn’t plan drastic changes this off-season, adding, “We don’t have a fire sale going on.”

With four of the same starters, the Pistons have lost in the Eastern Conference finals as the top-seeded team the last two seasons after winning a title in 2004 and falling just short of repeating.

Dumars said his top priority is re-signing point guard Chauncey Billups when he becomes a free agent next month. He also plans to bring back most of his key players.

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Rasheed Wallace has been the subject of trade rumors, but Dumars does not seem willing to move the power forward.

“You’re talking about the guy that was our best and most consistent player in the playoffs,” Dumars said. “He’s probably also the guy that is the most volatile and crosses the line at times, but I have to balance that.”

Wallace and Saunders have struggled to coexist the last two seasons. If that persists, Dumars insists he will not let that lead to the unraveling of the team.

“If we can’t get it done, I’ll make changes,” said Dumars, who acknowledged calls from other teams looking to make major moves. “I wouldn’t blink an eye about it.”

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The Orlando Magic is offering refunds to fans who bought season tickets just after Billy Donovan’s hiring as coach.

More than 200 packages sold within 24 hours of the announcement that the Magic had lured Donovan away from Florida. Donovan changed his mind a day after his May 31 introduction, deciding to return to the Gators.

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The Magic said it was contacting individual fans who bought tickets within 48 hours of the Donovan announcement. So far some have decided to keep the tickets, the team said without specifying an amount.

Orlando let Donovan out of the deal after several days of legal wrangling and hired former Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy to replace him.

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The San Antonio Spurs’ 103-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night drew a 6.9 overnight rating on ABC, down 24% from last year’s 9.1 for Game 2 between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat.

Overnight ratings measure the 55 largest television markets in the U.S., and each overnight rating point represents about 735,000 households.

National ratings were expected today.

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