Basketball News

Injury will sideline Suns' Bell in playoffs

May 25, 2006, 21:28 GMT

Los Angeles - The Phoenix Suns will be feeling the strain of playing without Raja Bell, after learning on Thursday that their starting guard and best defender will be out five to seven days, according to the Arizona Republic. Bell suffered a mild to moderate tear of his left calf muscle midway through the fourth quarter in Wednesday night's thrilling 121-118 opening road game victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals. Bell's health will be evaluated daily, but he is not likely to play until Game 5 at the earliest, should there be one in the best-of-seven series. Game two is set for Friday in Dallas before shifting to Phoenix. 'We'll just have to watch it and see how it goes,' the Suns team physician Dr Craig Phelps said after the game Wednesday. The freak injury occurred with 5:48 to go in the game, when Bell changed directions in pursuit of a rebound, and immediately hit the deck writhing in pain as play continued. Minutes later, when play was stopped, he was helped to the locker room for treatment. 'Actually, I thought a fan had thrown something at me and hit me in the calf,' Bell recalled. 'I heard a pop, but I didn't know it was my calf until I tried to move again and it started burning. From there I tried to get up, but it wouldn't let me.' © 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur