Van Exel Has Surgery

Dallas Maverick reserve guard Nick Van Exel had arthroscopic knee surgery Monday and is expected to be out three to six weeks.

Van Exel had torn cartilage in his right knee. The knee had been bothering him since training camp and he decided to have surgery now rather than let it linger.

Van Exel was averaging 9.5 points, 3.3 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 20.2 minutes through six games, all Dallas victories.

Dallas replaced Van Exel by activating undrafted free-agent guard Adam Harrington of Auburn. Harrington was on the injured list because of tendinitis in his left knee.

*

Bonzi Wells of the Portland Trail Blazers was suspended for one game by the NBA for spitting on San Antonio Spur forward Danny Ferry.

Wells spit on Ferry in the fourth quarter of Portland’s victory over the Spurs on Saturday.

*

The Charlotte, N.C., city council voted, 8-3, to build a $265-million downtown arena and bring the NBA back to a city abandoned earlier this year by the Hornets.