Nets’ Van Horn Is Questionable Because of Virus

Rookie forward Keith Van Horn of the New Jersey Nets sat out Thursday’s practice because of a stomach virus and team officials are not sure he will play in the Eastern Conference playoff opener tonight at Chicago.

“I’m worried,” New Jersey Coach John Calipari said about Van Horn’s status. “It’s just another piece of adversity for this team to face. The only good thing is it doesn’t faze me anymore.”

Nets’ players missed 127 games during the season because of various ailments.

Van Horn underwent a medical examination Thursday morning and remained at the team hotel while the Nets ended three days of playoff preparations at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Center Jayson Williams (broken right thumb) and guard Sam Cassell (groin strain and bruised lower back) practiced. Calipari said he hasn’t decided if they will start, but added both will get “their minutes” in Game 1.

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The Bulls’ Michael Jordan insisted he’s sticking with his season-long pledge to play next year only if Phil Jackson returns as coach.

But then, with some introspection and a bit of contradiction, he added he still holds the option of playing for a new guy, should Jackson leave.

“I can choose to take a step back and say: ‘Hey if I want to play for whoever they want to come in, if I really want to play, I can play for whoever.’ So I can chose to do that,” Jordan said Thursday.

“Or else to say, ‘I don’t want to play for whoever you bring in.’ That sounds like a choice for me. I haven’t chosen yet.”

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Finally, Vin Baker’s playoff time has arrived.

After four seasons of frustration in Milwaukee, the all-star power forward will appear in his first NBA playoff game tonight when his new team, the Seattle SuperSonics, faces the Minnesota Timberwolves in a first-round opener at Seattle.

“I’ll probably have to call a timeout to calm him down,” Coach George Karl said of his team’s top scorer and leading rebounder. “He’ll probably be too exited and play too hard.”

Baker averaged 19.2 points and 8.0 rebounds this season after being acquired in a three-team trade in September that sent disgruntled Shawn Kemp to Cleveland.

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Washington Wizard forward Chris Webber temporarily maintained his Maryland driving privilege after a hearing before an administrative law judge at the Motor Vehicle Administration office in Largo, Md.

Judge Stephen Nichols said he will review the case further and issue a final decision within 30 days.

Webber, 25, was charged with second-degree assault, resisting arrest, marijuana possession, driving under the influence of drugs and several other traffic offenses after being stopped in Landover on Jan. 20 for allegedly speeding while on his way to practice.

The criminal case is set for trial on May 7.

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The NBA and the players’ union held their third formal collective bargaining session in New York, with discussions moving toward such non-economic issues as drugs and discipline.

The three-hour meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik and several lawyers from each side. Commissioner David Stern and union director Billy Hunter were not present.