THE SIDELINES : Utah’s Afeaki Shot in Scuffle

University of Utah basketball player Paul Afeaki was treated and released after being shot in the left shoulder in a confrontation with another motorist, officials said.

Afeaki, 22, was treated at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center for what spokesman John Dwan described as a superficial wound to the left shoulder.

Dwan said doctors estimated the 6-foot-10 reserve center will not be able to play for about a month.

Afeaki, a junior from Nukualofa, Tonga, who played at Snow Junior College, had six points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal in 12 minutes during 14th-ranked Utah’s 77-72 victory over Wyoming Thursday night.

Police Lt. Mark Zelig and Dwan said Afeaki and his wife were driving home about 10:50 p.m. when the incident occurred. Afeaki may have “inadvertently cut off another” driver, who then started tailgating him, Dwan said.

Afeaki stopped and was walking toward the car carrying two people to ask what the problem was when the driver fired at him with a handgun, Zelig said.