Broken Ankle to Sideline Kidd Rest of Regular Season

All-Star guard Jason Kidd will be sidelined the rest of the regular season after suffering a broken left ankle Wednesday night in the Suns’ 114-93 victory over the Sacramento Kings at Phoenix.

Kidd, who leads the NBA in assists and averages 14.5 points a game, suffered the injury with two-tenths of a second left in the first half while racing the clock to take a shot.

He is “questionable for the playoffs,” said Julie Fie, the Suns’ director of media relations.

She said Kidd fractured a bone high in the left ankle and will have surgery today.

The Suns, 44-23 and virtually assured of a playoff berth, are already without forward Tom Gugliotta, sidelined for the rest of the season because of ruptured knee ligaments.

Guard Rex Chapman is recovering from an appendectomy Saturday and starters Luc Longley and Penny Hardaway also have sat out significant time.

“Injuries happen, but I’ve been around the league for 14 years now and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Sun Coach Scott Skiles told reporters before learning the extent of Kidd’s injury.

The one constant had been Kidd, who has not sat out a game since the 1996-97 season.

After the Kings had taken a 52-50 lead, Kidd took an inbounds pass and drove down the right sideline before Jason Williams of the Kings forced him to stop. Kidd fumbled the ball out of bounds, then spun and reached for the ball. When the clock stopped, Kidd remained doubled over, holding his lower calves.

Kidd was scoreless but had seven assists and five rebounds when he was injured. He tried to walk off the court, but took one tentative step before teammates carried him into the locker room.

“I was across the floor but I think he turned wrong,” Hardaway. “I think it happened when he tried to get the ball back. It was one of those awkward plays where you move the wrong way and something gives or something doesn’t give.”

Philadelphia 106, Toronto 93--Allen Iverson, playing with an injured big toe, scored 44 points--30 in the final 19 minutes--to lead the 76ers and outshine Vince Carter at Philadelphia.

“When you have that type of quality player come in, you want to step it up,” Iverson said. “When you add to that he’s coming into my house, I want to play good in front of my fans. It’s my house.”

Carter overcame a tough first half to score 26 points, almost all on jumpers as he was held without a dunk for the second consecutive game.

“Not many people can stop him,” Carter said of Iverson. “We were just added to that list.”

Tyrone Hill added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the 76ers and Eric Snow had 11 points and 14 assists. Tracy McGrady added 20 for Toronto, which lost its second in a row after winning 11 of 12.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for the 76ers, who pulled into a tie with Toronto for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference at 39-28.

Iverson, who will have X-rays on his injured left toe today, scored 15 points in the third quarter as the 76ers pulled away. Iverson made 17 of 29 shots and all nine of his free throws. He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter on eight-for-10 shooting.

Detroit 104, Portland 95--Grant Hill took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his 24 points in the last 12 minutes to lead the Pistons at Portland.

Jerry Stackhouse added 23 points and Terry Mills had 14 of his 16 in the second half on four-of-five three-point shooting for the Pistons, who have won three consecutive road games after losing 11 in a row.

Rasheed Wallace and Steve Smith each scored 20 for the Trail Blazers, who led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter and 11 late in the third before faltering and falling six games behind the Lakers in the Pacific Division.

Charlotte 119, New Jersey 103--Eddie Jones scored 26 points and Derrick Coleman and David Wesley added 22 apiece as the Hornets made a season-high 56% of their shots at Charlotte, N.C.

New York 78, Chicago 67--Latrell Sprewell scored 21 points at New York and the Knicks produced their best defensive effort of the season.

The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Knicks and the loss was the eighth in a row for the Bulls, who have lost 16 of 17.

Minnesota 109, Boston 106--Kevin Garnett scored a career-high 40 points for the Timberwolves and Anthony Peeler made a game-winning three-point shot with two-tenths of a second to play at Boston.

Orlando 103, Atlanta 90--Darrell Armstrong had 27 points and 10 assists at Orlando, Fla., as the Magic maintained its hold on the eighth playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Around the League

Doctors have told Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets to stop playing for up to three weeks because of on-going breathing problems. Olajuwon, 37, was diagnosed March 1 with a disease that restricts the flow of air through his bronchial passages during heavy exercise, causing spasms in his lungs. He has been taking medicine for the condition. . . . Injured Phoenix Sun forward Tom Gugliotta has told the U.S. Olympic Team to replace him on its roster for the Sydney Games. . . . Forward Derrick Coleman of the Charlotte Hornets was fined $7,500 for a flagrant foul against Toni Kukoc of the Philadelphia 76ers in Monday’s game. . . . New Jersey Net center Jayson Williams underwent foot surgery, a week after suffering a broken bone in his foot.