Iguodala playing it safe on tendon strain

Normally it would be quicker to walk up a flight of stairs to a team meeting on the second floor, rather than wait for an elevator to arrive. But 76ers swingman Andre Iguodala thought it was worth it to wait.

Iguodala did not practice Monday at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine because of a strained right Achilles tendon, which caused him to sit out Sunday's game in New York. He spoke to reporters but provided little indication as to when he would resume on-court activity.

"The one thing we don't want to have a problem with is coming back too fast and overcompensating, [with] something else happening," said Iguodala, who had the second most consecutive starts among active NBA players (252 games) until Sunday. "We're just being cautious and hoping it doesn't lead to something else."

Coach Doug Collins was optimistic that Iguodala would return soon, saying, "I would think unless he had a dramatic setback . . . he would probably be able" to play Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

However, Iguodala said the strain felt "a little stiff." He was noncommittal when asked whether he would play Wednesday in the second game of a five-game trip.

"I haven't practiced," he said. "I talked about that with our trainer as well - not practicing and then just getting thrown back into the flame too fast, coming from just walking around to all-out sprinting, NBA action. So we'll see how tomorrow looks."

Iguodala said he thought he might have been hurt last Tuesday in Washington, though the sprain was more obvious Wednesday when the Sixers hosted Indiana.

"I thought it was a bruise," Iguodala explained, "and [thought,] 'Just play through it and it'll go away.' "

Yet the pain persisted.

On Friday, he played 18 minutes in the first half against Cleveland. When the teams went back onto the court for the second half, Iguodala remained in the locker room.

"When it initially happened, I just played through it," he said. "I didn't think it was a big deal. So I kind of ignored it. I didn't tell the trainer until 11/2 games. And at halftime [Friday,] I told the trainer, 'Something's bothering me, [but] I could still play.' And he checked it out and said, 'No, it's not something you want to play with.' "

Iguodala has missed only seven games during his seven-year NBA career. (The first six came in his second season.) So he will use this time to rest other nicks and bruises, particularly his sprained right wrist.

Iguodala has played with the injury this season, as he did over the summer with USA Basketball.

"It's really not going to heal at all," he said. "So I'll just play through it this year. But it'll be a good time to get some rest, doing some exercises and just strengthening everything around my Achilles so I don't overcompensate."

Tap-ins. Jason Kapono was excused from practice Monday for personal reasons. . . . Veterans Tony Battie, Elton Brand and Andres Nocioni sat out a four-on-four session for about the last 15 minutes of practice. . . . After Oklahoma City, the 2-5 Sixers visit Dallas, San Antonio and Cleveland.