Mourning ‘Doing Fine’ in Battle With Illness

An upbeat Alonzo Mourning said Wednesday he is making slow but steady progress in his battle with a kidney disease that ended his season.

“It’s a day-to-day process for me,” Mourning said in his first public comments since announcing a month ago that he had focal glomerulosclerosis, an illness which leads to kidney failure in about half the cases.

“I’m doing fine,” the five-time all-star said in a brief meeting with reporters before the Heat played the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J. “The doctors are pleased with the progress. I’m not going backward, I’m going nothing but forward.

“The biggest thing--and the doctors continue to pound this in my head--is being patient. That’s something that I’m not used to.”

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The Seattle SuperSonics like what they’ve seen of Patrick Ewing, but haven’t made up their minds about discussing a contract extension.

“Both sides want to wait and see how it goes this year,” General Manager Wally Walker said Wednesday. “There has never been any discussions about any extension.”

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Minnesota’s Wally Szczerbiak said he and teammate Kevin Garnett have resolved their differences after a post-practice confrontation Tuesday in which Garnett had to be forcibly restrained. The incident apparently developed from a play during practice. . . . Miami Heat backup forward Don MacLean underwent surgery to repair a toe injury and will miss at least a month, the team said. . . . Mark Bryant, a 12-year veteran who hasn’t played this season because of injury, was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers. . . . The Golden State Warriors put forward Danny Fortson (sore foot) on the injured list and signed guard Randy Livingston.