Pistons’ Wallace Might Have to Sit Out Game 1

Ben Wallace practiced Friday for the first time since injuring his left knee nearly two weeks ago but does not know whether he will play for the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Wallace, the NBA’s leading rebounder and second-leading shot blocker, said there is “maybe” a chance he will sit out when the best-of-seven series starts in The Palace at Auburn Hills, Mich.

“I don’t know,” Wallace said about his playing status. “Right now, I can’t really say.”

Wallace sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee April 6, and doctors said he would be out two weeks.

“I can go on the floor,” Wallace said. “But I’m not going to go out there if I can’t play the way I’m capable of playing, not only to hurt me, but most of all, to hurt this team. I don’t want to be out there and have my teammates depending on me if I can’t help out.

“If I’m not 100%, I think it would be selfish to play because I would be holding somebody else back.”

Detroit Coach Rick Carlisle was encouraged to see Wallace healthy enough to go through parts of Friday’s practice.

“We’re cautiously optimistic about Sunday,” Carlisle said. “But to say he’s 100% or anywhere near 100% or to expect him to be 100% on Sunday is unrealistic. We’ll just see how things progress.”

Wallace averaged 15.4 rebounds, 3.15 blocks, 6.9 points and a team-high 39.4 minutes to help Detroit’s defense allow a league-low average of 87.7 points.

Without him, the top-seeded Pistons went 3-3.

Orlando forward Pat Garrity has a bruised pelvis but is expected to play.

Garrity averaged 10.7 points this season and made 161 three-point baskets, sixth-most in the NBA.

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Jim Paxson was careful not to mention LeBron James by name. But that doesn’t mean Cleveland’s general manager isn’t talking about the high school star.

According to NBA rules, Paxson isn’t permitted to publicly discuss any players who have not yet applied for the draft. But rules didn’t stop the Cavaliers from including James in one of their scrimmages last year, which resulted in a $150,000 fine and a two-game suspension for former coach John Lucas.

So, on Friday, Paxson referred to James as “him,” “somebody,” and “the player.”

While he never once muttered James’ name, Paxson did call the Akron superstar the only player who can help save the Cavaliers. And Paxson said James is his only choice if the Cavaliers are lucky enough to win the draft lottery May 22.

“There’s only one player potentially in this draft who economically could change [things],” Paxson said. “And that’s the reason why I won’t be here if I don’t pick him.”

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Indiana Pacer assistant Brendan Malone is interested in the head coaching job with the Toronto Raptors, a team he coached in its inaugural season.

“There’s a nucleus of a very good basketball team,” Malone said after Indiana practiced Friday for its first-round playoff series against Boston. “I’d love to have the opportunity to coach that team.”

Lenny Wilkens and the Raptors parted ways “by mutual agreement” Thursday after a 24-58 season.

Malone coached the Raptors during the 1995-96 season, finishing with a 21-61 record. He was fired because of differences with then-general manager Isiah Thomas.

Thomas now is the Pacers’ coach and hired Malone in 2000.