Riley Doesn’t Expect Shaq To Return Until Next Week

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 8 (AP) -- The Miami Heat won't get Shaquille O'Neal back for at least a week while he receives treatment for a hip injury that has sidelined him for six games.

Coach Pat Riley said after Tuesday morning's shootaround that O'Neal is still in Los Angeles, but they are encouraged by the treatment there and "hope he'll be back by next week.''

O'Neal bruised his left hip on Dec. 22 against Utah while diving for a loose ball and crashing into the scorer's table. The injury flared up on Dec. 26 against Philadelphia.

Miami has lost seven in a row to fall to 8-26, the worst record in the Eastern Conference, heading into Tuesday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

While injuries have resulted in the worst statistical season of O'Neal's 16-year career - 14 points and 7.8 rebounds per game - the Heat sorely miss his presence in the paint on both ends of the court.

The once-proud defensive team hasn't given up fewer than 94 points in a game since Dec. 17, and opponents have shot better than 50 percent in four of the past 10 games.

LeBron James, Iverson Named Players Of The Week

NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2008 – The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the Denver Nuggets’ Allen Iverson today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 31 through Sunday, Jan. 6.
James led Cleveland to a 3-0 week, averaging 33.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 2.3 steals. James set a franchise record for points in a quarter, tallying 24 in the fourth on Jan. 6 at Toronto in Cleveland’s 93-90 win. James finished the game with 39 points, his second 30-plus point effort of the week. James posted two double-doubles on the week and recorded five steals in Cleveland’s 97-93 win over the Kings on Jan. 4. For the season, James owns averages of 29.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists.

Iverson also led his team to a 3-0 week, as the Nuggets defeated the Spurs, Timberwolves and 76ers. Averaging 33.3 points over that stretch, Iverson shot .531 from the field, .471 from distance and .923 from the foul line, while logging 43.6 minutes per game. The signature performance for the Denver guard came in a Jan. 6 win against his former team, as Iverson tallied 38 points and eight assists in a 109-96 win over the 76ers at Pepsi Center.

Here is a closer look at the week for James and Iverson:

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jan. 2 vs. Atlanta: Tallied 36 points, five rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block in Cleveland’s 98-94 win over the Hawks.
Jan. 4 vs. Sacramento: Posted a double-double with 24 points and 10 assists and added eight rebounds, five steals and one block as the Cavaliers bested the Kings 97-93.
Jan. 6 @ Toronto: Poured in 39 points while adding 11 rebounds and eight assists in Cleveland’s 93-90 win in Toronto.

Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets
Jan. 3 vs. San Antonio: Scored 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting and added three assists in Denver’s 80-77 win over the Spurs.
Jan. 4 at Minnesota: Tallied 33 points, three rebounds and four assists as the Nuggets posted a 118-107 win over the Timberwolves.
Jan. 6 vs. Philadelphia: Poured in 38 points and dished out eight assists in a 109-96 win over the 76ers.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Paul Pierce, Chicago’s Ben Gordon, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, Detroit’s Richard Hamilton, Memphis’ Pau Gasol and Mike Miller, New Jersey’s Jason Kidd, New Orleans’ Chris Paul, Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge and Washington’s Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison.

Parker Named European Player Of The Year

ROME (AFP) — Frenchman Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs was Friday named European Player of the Year for 2007.

The award is given by Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, which named Parker as its 29th winner, succeeding Germany's Dirk Nowitzki, winner for the previous five years.

Point guard Parker finished with 128 points to 111 for Dallas Mavericks forward Nowitzki with Russia's Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz third on 85 points.

The jury is made up of 100 writers, coaches and players from 28 different countries.

In the women's category Latvia's Aneta Jekabsone beat Belgium's Ann Wauters to the title with last year's winner Maria Stepanova of Russia in third.