Soviet Star Center Will Miss Basketball Game Against AIA
Star center Arvidas Sabonis will not play for the Soviet team in tonight’s exhibition basketball game against Athletes in Action at 7:30 in the San Diego Sports Arena.
The 7-foot 2-inch Sabonis, a first-round draft choice of the Portland Trail Blazers this year, reportedly is suffering from a strained Achilles’ tendon.
The Soviet team has only eight players and will be without three starters tonight. Forwards Aleksandr Belostenny and Rimas Kurtinaitis are competing for a Soviet team that is playing in the European Cup in Turkey. Sabonis, Belostenny and Kurtinaitis are expected to play in Monday’s series finale against AIA at the Forum in Los Angeles.
In the opener of the three-game series, AIA came back from an 11-point deficit in the second half to defeat the Soviets, 90-82, in Arco Arena at Sacramento Thursday night. AIA was led by Doug True with 20 points, former NBA guard Lorenzo Romar and Brian Kellerman with 13 apiece and former Clipper Swen Nater with 12.
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