Suns to Get Manning Back Tonight

Forward Danny Manning, sidelined nearly one year because of a knee injury, has been activated by the Phoenix Suns and is expected to play tonight at Cleveland.

Manning, who signed with Phoenix as an unrestricted free agent in September 1994, has been out since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during practice last Feb. 6.

At the time of the injury, the Suns owned the NBA’s best record at 36-10. They lost 13 of the season’s final 36 games and were eliminated for the second year in a row by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the playoffs.

Without Manning, the Suns have struggled this season to a 19-23 record, their worst since 1987-88.