Back Injury Will Keep Robinson Out of Lineup

The San Antonio Spurs will be without starting center David Robinson today when they face the SuperSonics in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series at Seattle.

The series is tied at 1-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Wednesday in Seattle. Robinson, who did not travel to Seattle, is doubtful for that game as well, Spur Coach Gregg Popovich said Friday.

Robinson’s sprained lower back kept him out of Monday night’s game in San Antonio, when the SuperSonics scored a 98-90 victory. He played only seven minutes in Game 1, a 110-89 victory for the Spurs.

The underdog SuperSonics, seeded No. 7 in the West, say they believe they can beat the Midwest Division champion Spurs, and they have a better chance to do it with Robinson out. The 7-foot-1 center, a 10-time All-Star, averaged 12.2 points and 8.3 rebounds during the regular season.

“Two big towers like that in the middle is a lot different,” Seattle All-Star point guard Gary Payton said.

“You know if you get away from one, the other one is going to be there.”

With Robinson missing, 7-foot power forward Tim Duncan had to play 47 minutes in Game 2. He had 32 points and 12 rebounds, making nine of 19 shots from the field.

Seattle outrebounded San Antonio, 49-35, with Payton leading his team with 11 rebounds and Vin Baker grabbing 10.

Duncan, an MVP candidate after averaging 25.5 points and 12.7 rebounds, hopes Robinson can return to action in the series.

“It’s a lot tougher doing it without him,” he said. “We really missed him in situations like the last game.

“We have to do better as a team, keeping our blocks out and putting bodies on people.”

The SuperSonics could be missing a key player too. Vladimir Radmanovic, a 6-10 rookie forward, has a sore right big toe that kept him out of practice this week. He was on the injured list from March 22 to April 5 with the toe injury. In Game 2, Radmanovic had five points and five rebounds in 22 minutes.

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Jamal Mashburn will remain in Charlotte, N.C., and be treated for anemia and vitamin deficiency while his Hornet teammates play Game 3 of their playoff series today at Orlando.

The Hornets practiced in Charlotte on Friday, then boarded a plane for Orlando without their leading scorer. The best-of-five series is tied, 1-1.

Charlotte has not ruled out the possibility of Mashburn playing in Game 4 on Tuesday.

“I talked to him [Thursday] and he’s still a little lightheaded and weak,” Hornet Coach Paul Silas said.

“So we’ll just plan that day to day. I’ll give him a call over the weekend and see how he is feeling.”

Mashburn, who averages 21.5 points, has played only 10 minutes in the series. He left in the first quarter of Game 1 with what was believed to be a virus.

He was hospitalized overnight, checked himself out on Sunday, and was with the team for shooting and stretching on Monday. But he began to feel bad again on Tuesday, hours before Game 2, and was sent back to the hospital.

That’s when the anemia and a B-12 deficiency was discovered, and he remained hospitalized for two nights for treatment.

Charlotte may also be without guard Baron Davis, who has picked up much of the scoring load in Mashburn’s absence.

Davis, suffering from a strained back, has been using a chiropractor, masseuse, ice and stretching. Despite the therapies, he said he is only “50-60%.”

But Silas scoffed at Davis’ status, and said: “We’ll see. He’ll play, he’ll play.”

Orlando’s Tracy McGrady, the series’ leading scorer at 25.5 points, said his injured back is improving.