Allen to Sit Out 2 Games

Guard Ray Allen of the Seattle SuperSonics will sit out at least the first two games of the season because of a right ankle injury.

After seeing an ankle specialist Friday, Allen plans to seek another opinion early next week in Los Angeles. He then will decide what type of surgery to have.

It wasn’t known how long the injury will keep the three-time All-Star sidelined. Allen averaged 24.5 points after joining Seattle in a trade with Milwaukee last season.

He complained of soreness in the ankle during Wednesday night’s exhibition victory over Golden State and left the game in the third quarter. He said he first noticed the injury during practice Tuesday.

Allen won’t accompany the SuperSonics when they travel to Japan next week for two games against the Clippers to begin the season.

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Forward Jamal Mashburn of the New Orleans Hornets will be sidelined approximately the first two weeks of the season because of a slow-healing bone bruise in his right knee.

Mashburn, the Hornets’ leading scorer last season, sat out all eight exhibition games and could be out for the first six games of the season. He averaged 21.6 points last season.

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Minnesota point guard Troy Hudson will be sidelined at least two weeks because of a sprained right ankle suffered Thursday night during the fourth quarter of the Timberwolves’ final exhibition game, a win over Indiana. X-rays taken Friday were negative.... The Phoenix Suns exercised their fourth-year option on guard Joe Johnson, meaning he will be with the team at least through the 2004-2005 season.... Forward Ryan Bowen of the Denver Nuggets had an irregular heartbeat during the third quarter of Friday night’s game against Indiana and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. His status was listed as day to day.