Dallas Loses LaFrentz

Dallas Maverick center Raef LaFrentz will be sidelined three to six weeks because of a severely sprained right ankle, the team said Monday.

LaFrentz suffered a third-degree sprain Saturday night in a victory over the Phoenix Suns.

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Though listed as day-to-day, Toronto Raptor star Vince Carter will miss one to two weeks after re-injuring his left quadriceps tendon Saturday, General Manager Glen Grunwald said.

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Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill expects to miss games this season because of his ailing left ankle, but he intends to play against the visiting Sacramento Kings tonight despite missing the second half of Saturday’s victory at Milwaukee after feeling pain in the ankle.

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A potential ownership group that includes Larry Bird is assuming the NBA will award it the rights to a new Charlotte, N.C., franchise.

Despite reports in the New York Daily News, Steve Belkin, a Boston-area businessman, said the league has not approved his application.

“We’ve heard rumors that we are the front-runners, but it’s not true that we have already been selected,” Belkin said.