NBA, union stand by New Orleans

The NBA and its players’ association reiterated their commitment to New Orleans on Tuesday, a day after union director Billy Hunter said he could sue over the league’s plans to host its next All-Star game there.

Hunter plans to fly to New Orleans next week for his first visit since Hurricane Katrina, and will meet with city officials and look into accommodations for players and their guests. He also said he has meetings planned with Commissioner David Stern to discuss next year’s festivities.

Hunter, saying he was only speaking hypothetically about legal action on Monday to Newsday, said he anticipates no problems in New Orleans, adding that a number of Hornets players look forward to their return there from Oklahoma City.

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New York Knicks guard Jamal Crawford could miss the rest of the regular season because of a stress fracture in his right ankle, the team said.

The Knicks said that surgery was likely and could force Crawford to miss the rest of the regular season, though he might be available if they make the playoffs. Crawford, the Knicks’ second-leader scorer with a 17.9 average, didn’t know when the injury occurred.

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Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade intends to decide by the end of the week if he’ll rehabilitate his dislocated left shoulder and try to return or have season-ending surgery to repair the joint.