Injury Sidelines Iverson

Allen Iverson will sit out the Philadelphia 76ers’ second game against former coach Larry Brown’s Detroit Pistons tonight because of a injury to his right knee.

Iverson, the NBA’s leading scorer at 29.4 points per game, didn’t travel to Detroit with the 76ers. He banged his knee during a victory over Miami on Friday.

“He just needs rest and to stay at home,” 76er Coach Randy Ayers said. “The MRI [exam] looks good, but hopefully with an extra day of rest, he’ll be OK. He just needs to get better.”

Aaron McKie will replace Iverson, who could have a full week between starts because Philadelphia’s next game isn’t until Friday against Denver.

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Initially expected to sit out about a week, Phoenix Sun forward Amare Stoudemire was placed on the injured list and is expected to be sidelined for about a month because of a sprained left ankle.

He was injured in Friday’s victory at Boston. Stoudemire, who did not miss a game en route to becoming rookie of the year last season, was averaging 15.1 points and 8.9 rebounds.

Phoenix activated center Cezary Trybanski.

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The Atlanta Hawks suspended guard Stephen Jackson one game for conduct detrimental to the team.

The team refused to elaborate, but Jackson had a heated exchange with coaches in the locker room Saturday night after a loss in Cleveland.

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The NBA and the National Basketball Players Assn., announced that the league will exercise its option to extend the collective bargaining agreement through the 2004-05 season.

If the extension option wasn’t exercised, the agreement would have expired after this season -- the sixth since the deal was reached. Both sides also agreed to meet regularly in order to reach a new, long-term agreement.