Rider Suspended Again

Guard Isaiah Rider was suspended for being late for practice and did not play Wednesday night when the Portland Trail Blazers faced the Utah Jazz at Salt Lake City. It was the seventh game Rider has missed this season because of suspension.

Rider was “excessively late” for practice Tuesday, Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

“This is something we’ve addressed before,” Dunleavy said.

The NBA suspended Rider for two games for a no-contest plea to possessing illegal cellular phones and a marijuana possession conviction. The league also suspended him for three games for spitting on a fan during halftime at a game in Detroit.

The Trail Blazers suspended him for one game after he walked out of the Rose Garden during a game against the Lakers.

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Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning was released from a Miami hospital after surgery to repair his broken left cheekbone.

The team did not say when Mourning will play again, but he will not be with the Heat in San Antonio for tonight’s game against the Spurs.

Mourning, who had the surgery Tuesday night, will wear a protective mask when he does return. He is averaging 19.2 points and 9.7 rebounds.

Mourning was hurt Monday night when he collided with Boston’s Andrew DeClercq while both were going after a loose ball. Both hit the floor hard but DeClercq wasn’t hurt.

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The San Antonio Spurs have signed veteran Brad Lohaus to a 10-day contract.

Lohaus, a 6-foot-11, 230-pound forward, began the 1997-98 season with V.L. Pesaro in the Italian League.