Malone to Robinson: ‘Sorry’

One fierce elbow and one concussion later, Karl Malone and David Robinson are still friends.

“My first words to him were, ‘I’m sorry,’ ” Utah’s Malone said. “He said, ‘Karl, those things happen.’ ”

Malone visited Robinson at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night, where the San Antonio center went after being inadvertently elbowed by Malone in Utah’s 98-88 victory.

Robinson was unconscious for about two minutes and was left with a concussion. He was released from the hospital on Thursday.

The Spurs said they would evaluate him before deciding whether he can play tonight against Seattle.

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Juwan Howard did his best to stay upbeat while Chris Webber was sullen and downcast when speaking publicly for the first time since Washington police announced the two Washington Wizards were implicated in a sexual assault complaint.

Webber said he was disappointed by Wizard General Manager Wes Unseld’s comments that Howard and Webber had a “lack of judgment.” Howard said that people who know them “know we’re not capable of doing anything like that.”

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The Golden State Warriors signed 6-foot-5 guard Jeff Grayer to a 10-day contract to replace forward Donyell Marshall, who was put on the injured list because of a broken rib. Marshall was injured Tuesday night when he was accidentally kneed by Malone in the ribs.

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The Phoenix Suns said forward Danny Manning would be out the rest of the season and put him on the injured list because of an injury to his right knee, suffered Tuesday against Sacramento. His spot on the roster will be taken by center Horacio Llamas.

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A jury in New York awarded $7.85 million to Sandra Ortiz-Del Valle, who seemed in the running to be the NBA’s first female referee before discovering the league did not want her. The league, which has since hired two women as officials, expects to appeal.

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Darla Harper, the 15-month-old daughter of Orlando Magic guard Derek Harper, was upgraded to good condition two days after nearly drowning in a backyard swimming pool.