Pistons’ Dawkins Expected to Miss 2 Weeks of Action

Detroit Pistons center Darryl Dawkins is expected to miss at least two weeks with a partially separated shoulder, team trainer Mike Abdenour said.

The injury was diagnosed Sunday afternoon, and Dawkins will go on the injured reserve list Friday.

Dawkins injured the shoulder last week during the Pistons’ 116-100 victory over Miami when he collided with rookie Grant Long. He missed Thursday’s 88-85 loss to the New York Knicks.

Dawkins has scored 20 points in 38 minutes this season, his second with the Pistons. He has played in 12 games.

The 13-year NBA veteran has played with Philadelphia, New Jersey and Utah. He had surgery on the shoulder in 1977.

“I was just getting in the swing of things and getting my shot,” Dawkins said. “This is disappointing. Things happen for a reason, but I don’t know why this happened.”