O’Neal Will Learn More After MRI on Knee Today

Heat center Shaquille O’Neal won’t play before his injured knee is examined by doctors today in Miami.

“He’s taking an MRI tomorrow,” Heat Coach Stan Van Gundy said before Wednesday night’s game at Indianapolis.

Van Gundy said the team trainer doesn’t think O’Neal’s injury is serious.

Miami’s next game will be at home on Saturday against Orlando. Van Gundy wouldn’t speculate how long O’Neal might be sidelined.

O’Neal left the game against Chicago on Tuesday night after landing awkwardly early in the first quarter. He fell onto Bull forward Othella Harrington, after going up for an alley-oop pass from Dwyane Wade, and stayed on the floor for several minutes -- holding his knee.

He was then helped off the floor and into the locker room.

O’Neal appeared to limp slightly as he walked through the Miami locker room at Conseco Fieldhouse before Wednesday night’s game, saying only, “I feel good,” but refusing to answer questions from the media.

Van Gundy said he wasn’t anxious in anticipation of O’Neal’s MRI.

“I’ve got no control over it,” he said. “I’m more on pins and needles to see how we’re going to play, to be honest.”

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Utah Jazz guard Raul Lopez, who has twice ruptured ligaments in his right knee, was placed on the injured list because of irritation in his left knee and could miss the rest of the season.

Lopez was injured in a loss to the Lakers last week and it got worse over the All-Star break. He is getting a second opinion and was scheduled to undergo an MRI, the team said.

The Jazz activated Keith McLeod, who started at point guard until he went on the injured list Jan. 26 because of a strained right hamstring.

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Former Denver Nugget coach Doug Moe was named an assistant to Coach George Karl, replacing Michael Cooper, who will be reassigned.

Moe, the winningest coach in franchise history with a record of 432-357, was fired in 1990 but has been a consultant since 2002.

Moe, 66, coached the San Antonio Spurs in 1976-80 and the Philadelphia 76ers in 1992-93. With 628 career victories, he is 18th in NBA history.

Cooper resigned as coach of the WNBA’s Sparks to join the Nuggets as an assistant before this season. He was interim head coach for 14 games after Jeff Bzdelik was fired on Dec. 28.

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The Charlotte Bobcats placed guard Steve Smith on the injured list as he contemplates a trade that would send him to the Miami Heat.

Coach Bernie Bickerstaff said Smith has the right to refuse any deals. Smith has already nixed a deal that would send him to the New Jersey Nets, and has until this afternoon to decide if he wants to join the Heat.

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The Dallas Mavericks put center Eric Dampier on the injured list because of a stress fracture in his right foot.