Horace Grant on Injured List

The Orlando Magic put forward Horace Grant on the injured list because of a strained left calf and activated rookie Johnny Taylor on Friday.

Grant, averaging 10.5 points and 7.2 rebounds in 13 games, was injured during Monday night’s victory over the Washington Wizards, then sat out Wednesday night’s loss to the Miami Heat.

Taylor, from Tennessee Chattanooga, was the Magic’s first-round pick in this year’s draft and No. 17 overall. He began the season on the injured list because of a right shoulder strain.

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The Toronto Raptors signed center Oliver Miller for the rest of the season, reportedly for the NBA minimum of $272,500 plus incentives.

This will be his third stint with the Raptors.

Miller averaged 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in Toronto’s expansion year in 1995-96, but opted to sign with Dallas at the end of that season. He rejoined the Raptors last February after the Mavericks released him.

With injuries to Zan Tabak and Sharone Wright, the Raptors are short-handed at center.

The 6-foot-9 Miller has been unable to stick with any team because of problems with keeping his weight under control. Miller’s weight at times has exceeded 350 pounds.

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The Portland Trail Blazers put forward Dontonio Wingfield on the injured list and activated guard-forward Vincent Askew to replace him. Wingfield has tendinitis in his left hand, the team said.

NBA rules require that he be out of action for five games. He’ll be eligible to rejoin the active roster Dec. 12 when the Seattle SuperSonics host the Trail Blazers.

Askew had been put on the injured list Nov. 19 because of a sprained left ankle.

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After tonight’s game between the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls, USAir Arena in Landover, Md., will close its doors.

The Wizards will open the new downtown MCI Center on Tuesday against Seattle.

USAir Arena opened Dec. 2, 1973, as the Capital Centre when the Bullets relocated from Baltimore, and the NHL’s Capitals moved in the following season when they entered the league. The arena was renamed July 1, 1993.

The Bullets changed their nickname to Wizards during the off-season.

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Atlanta guard Steve Smith will play tonight when the Hawks meet the Charlotte Hornets at the Georgia Dome. Smith has been out because of back spasms since the Nov. 20 game against the New York Knicks. . . . Washington signed veteran swingman Ledell Eackles to take the roster spot of rookie point guard God Shammgod, who has been put on the injured list because of tendinitis in his left knee.