Despite his latest injury, Jordan isn't slowing down

WASHINGTON -- Playing 50 minutes on a swollen leg would seem to spell trouble for a 40-year-old NBA player with a recent history of knee problems.

Michael Jordan should be able to carry on. This injury isn't quite the same as the one that doomed his season a year ago.

Jordan missed practice Friday for another lengthy spell in the Washington Wizards treatment room after scoring 35 points, including 10 in overtime, the previous night in a 100-98 victory over the Houston Rockets. Jordan played the game wearing a long black compression stocking on his right leg to control the swelling from a knee-to-lower thigh hit he took from Reggie Miller on Tuesday at Indiana.

Like old times

The episode is reminiscent of a year ago, when Jordan was jarred by a knee-to-knee hit in a game against Sacramento just before the All-Star break. He kept playing for another week or so, but the swelling and soreness eventually forced him to have surgery and miss most of the second half of the season.

The key difference this time is that Miller's knee caught Jordan on the lower quadriceps muscle, just above the knee. It was a very close call -- Jordan has a deep bruise, and the trainers are taking precautions to make sure the swelling doesn't penetrate the knee.

"This is not the same thing; this is a muscle," coach Doug Collins said Friday. "It was not a bone, so he'll be fine with that. I wouldn't expect him to be any worse today. I don't think it's the kind of injury that would worsen. It's not like it's in a joint where you're going to get a lot of irritation or whatever."

Still, Jordan acknowledged that it was "more or less just gut" that got him through fourth quarter and overtime. He realizes it would be best if could sit out a week, but the Wizards -- already injury-depleted -- can't afford to lose him for a single game as they fight for a playoff spot. He'll plan to be on the floor again Saturday when the Wizards host his old team, the Chicago Bulls.

Playoff-bound?

"I think we are going to make the playoffs," Jordan said. "I am not ready to settle -- because we have not accomplished anything with three wins in four games. It is how we take this and continue to build upon it."

Jordan averages 30.6 points in four games since turning 40, and the Wizards have needed nearly all of those points. Jerry Stackhouse has been inconsistent since returning from a groin injury. Larry Hughes and Etan Thomas are out.

And now there's a new addition to the training table brigade. Tyronn Lue was placed on the injured list Friday after separating his shoulder in the fourth quarter against the Rockets.

The Wizards are looking to sign a point guard because they only have Jordan, Stackhouse and rookie Juan Dixon left to play there.

A logical addition might have been former Wizards point guard Chris Whitney, but he signed with Orlando on Friday.

"We have to decide if we want to sign somebody for the rest of the year, if we want to sign somebody on a 10-day," Collins said. "A lot of it is trying to get a feel on how long Larry and T-Lue are going to be out. It's hard right now because if T-Lue can be back by Tuesday then you're only talking about two games. If Larry Hughes can get back maybe next week sometime, then we're going to have to decide what we want to do."

To make room for Lue on the injured list, the Wizards released seldom-used forward Brian Cardinal.