Sonics Rookies Durant, Green Each Nursing Sprained Ankle

Kevin Durant missed his second consecutive preseason game for the SuperSonics on Friday night in Vancouver, B.C. The second overall pick in June's draft was back in Seattle shooting and walking on a treadmill to test his sprained left ankle.

Then Jeff Green, the fifth overall pick, sprained his left ankle during the third quarter of Friday's game with the Phoenix Suns. He went to the locker room to get treatment, returned to finish the period and General Manager Sam Presti said his key rookie was fine. But Green returned to the locker room for good at the start of the fourth quarter, having scored 13 points.

The former Georgetown star played down the injury, saying it was "just a tweak."

Green said he feels assured he will be ready for the season opener Wednesday at Denver, and probably practice today.

"I just didn't want to go out there and [aggravate] it," Green said, not wearing ice or even a wrap as he prepared to board the team bus. "This is nothing right now."

Coach P.J. Carlesimo said he talked to Durant, his rookie shooting guard who turned his ankle late in a game Tuesday, but the coach had no idea whether Durant will be ready for the opener. Doctors hope to have a better idea after the team resumes practicing today.

¿ BRYANT MISSES PRACTICE: Kobe Bryant didn't practice with the Los Angeles Lakers yesterday because of the sprained right wrist that kept him out of Friday night's final exhibition game.

Bryant didn't travel to Las Vegas with the team and his status was day-to-day, Lakers spokesman John Black said

Coach Phil Jackson said he expected Bryant to play Tuesday night in the season opener against the Houston Rockets.

¿ ATKINS IS OUT: Denver Nuggets guard Chucky Atkins is expected to miss six to eight weeks after an MRI exam revealed a severe right groin strain.

¿ KNICKS RE-UP WITH FOUR: Forward David Lee, guard Nate Robinson, forward Renaldo Balkman and guard Mardy Collins had options exercised on their contracts by New York.