Absent Strickland Is Suspended

Rod Strickland was suspended for one game by the Washington Wizards, culminating a disruptive three-day period in which he missed two practices, said he wants to play elsewhere and complained about reduced playing time.

The point guard was a no-show at Thursday’s practice and didn’t tell the team where he was. He didn’t accompany the Wizards on their flight to Miami, where they play the Heat tonight.

“Prior to the season, I told our players that they would be held accountable for their actions and that they would have very specific rules to follow,” president of basketball operations Michael Jordan said in a statement released by the team. “Rod Strickland has violated those team rules and he has therefore been suspended for [tonight’s] game.”

Strickland overslept and missed practice Tuesday. He didn’t help matters when he showed up after the workout and reiterated, on the eve of a game against the Knicks, that he “would love to play in New York.”

That was his first misstep under first-year Coach Leonard Hamilton. Strickland was fined and didn’t start against the Knicks, playing only 18 minutes.

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Utah Jazz guard John Starks was suspended for Thursday night’s game against Portland for violating team policies.

Team spokesman Kim Turner refused to elaborate on the suspension, but said Starks would return for tonight’s game at Golden State. Starks had started all but two games this season and has averaged 9.9 points.

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New Jersey Net guard Kendall Gill will be sidelined indefinitely because of tendinitis in his right knee. Gill was to meet with team doctors Thursday night.

“We want to go over a plan of action so I can play the way I want to play,” said Gill, who signed a one-year, $7-million contract in the off-season.

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Alonzo Mourning has made progress in his battle against a kidney disease, but still doesn’t expect to play this season.

“My diagnosis is improving--where the doctors are pleased and right where they hoped I would be,” Mourning said. “There is still no doubt to them I won’t be back this year.”