Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol out indefinitely with broken right foot

Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol is out indefinitely with a broken bone in his right foot after an MRI exam found the fracture earlier Tuesday.

The Grizzlies said in a statement that Gasol was examined by team physicians Tuesday morning.

General Manager Chris Wallace said the team would have an update on Gasol’s condition after this weekend’s All-Star break.

The 7-foot-1 Gasol is averaging 16.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in 52 games this season. He left Monday night’s overtime loss to Portland in the first quarter after scoring 11 points and did not return. Coach Dave Joerger said after the game that Gasol had a problem with each leg.

Gasol signed a five-year contract last July after earning a starting spot in the All-Star game last season and also became the first Grizzlies player voted to the All-NBA first team.

The Grizzlies (30-22) ranked fifth in the West going into Tuesday nights’ games and have made the playoffs the past five seasons.

Bulls’ Butler sidelined

Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler will miss the next three to four weeks with a strained left knee and will be replaced in the All-Star game by teammate Pau Gasol.

The Bulls said that Butler has begun rehabilitating his knee and will focus on conditioning over the next few weeks. He was injured during Friday night’s game at Denver.

Karl still Kings’ coach

George Karl remains the coach of the Sacramento Kings — for now.

General Manager Vlade Divac said in a statement that Karl “is our coach and we’re collectively working through our issues.”

Sacramento is 21-31 and on a four-game losing streak. The Kings have lost eight of 10 going into Wednesday night’s game in Philadelphia.

They lost at Cleveland, 120-100, on Monday, raising speculation Karl might be fired Tuesday before the sides decided to try to work things out.

Sacramento is in 10th place in the Western Conference, and the skid follows last month’s five-game winning streak.

Kings star DeMarcus Cousins and Karl have struggled to coexist, and the All-Star center has not hid his emotions or frustrations. Last year, Karl became the Kings’ third coach in one season. He took over following the 2015 All-Star break, succeeding Tyrone Corbin. Corbin had been promoted from top assistant to replace the fired Michael Malone. Karl coached Sacramento to an 11-19 record for the rest of last season.

Rule clarification

The NBA league sent a memo to teams and referees clarifying that intentionally fouling a player inbounding the ball will be a delay of game violation — and possibly a technical foul.

The memo, sent from league executives Kiki Vandeweghe and Mike Bantom and obtained by the Associated Press, comes in response to questions after San Antonio’s Danny Green fouled Houston’s Clint Capela as Capela was attempting to inbound the ball in a Jan. 28 game.

Citing a specific rule in the rule book, the memo says that if a defender crosses the sideline before the ball has been thrown, a delay of game will be assessed. If it comes in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, a technical foul will be called.

A technical will also be called if referees determine there was “unsportsmanlike contact” on the inbounder, and officials could also rule it a flagrant foul.