Monday, November 24, 2008

Raptors F Jermaine O'Neal left a game against the Celtics in the second quarter yesterday following a fall after a missed jump shot.

O'Neal started despite having strained his surgically repaired left knee against New Jersey on Friday. He scored six points before falling backward on a missed jumper midway through the second. He left the game one possession later and spent the second half in the locker room receiving treatment.

Against the Nets, O'Neal hurt his knee when he was pulled down in the fourth quarter by Sean Williams as he went up for a shot under the basket.

O'Neal did not practice Saturday.

· PISTONS: F Antonio McDyess is coming back to Detroit.

Andy Miller, McDyess's agent, confirmed that the former all-star and Olympian will re-sign next month.

Detroit dealt McDyess, G Chauncey Billups and project C Cheikh Samb to Denver for G Allen Iverson on Nov. 3.

The cost-cutting Nuggets waived McDyess a week after obtaining him. He must wait until 30 days have passed since the trade to rejoin the Pistons.

McDyess, 34, has averaged 13.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in 12 seasons. He had been a key reserve for Detroit before the trade.

· SUNS: In his first matchup against 20-year-old 2007 No. 1 pick Greg Oden of Portland on Saturday night, 36-year-old C Shaquille O'Neal made a statement with 19 points and 17 rebounds. He also reminded centers of his status in the league.

"I'm the shogun," O'Neal said. "And before you get to the shogun, you've got to go through a lot of ninjas. He has to go through Dwight Howard and Yao Ming and by that time, I'll be out of here."

-- From News Services