Hawks' Sefolosha: Police hurt me
Atlantas Thabo Sefolosha said he is in great pain after suffering injury he alleges was inflicted by New York police.
ATLANTA PLAYER Thabo Sefolosha said yesterday he is in "great pain" and blamed New York City police for causing a "significant injury" that knocked him out for the season.
The backup forward sustained a fractured right lower leg and ligament damage while being arrested with teammate Pero Antic outside a Manhattan nightclub while the Hawks were in the city to face the Brooklyn Nets last week.
Sefolosha won't return until next season, costing the top-seeded Hawks a strong perimeter defender heading into the playoffs.
"On advice of counsel, I hope you can appreciate that I cannot discuss the facts of the case. Those questions will be answered by my attorney in a court of law," Sefolosha said after practice, reading from a statement in his first public comments since the incident. "I will simply say that I am in great pain, have experienced a significant injury, and that the injury was caused by the police."
Antic and Sefolosha were at the scene early last Wednesday when Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland was stabbed outside the nightclub. The Hawks players were charged with obstructing authorities and disorderly conduct, though Antic said they weren't with Copeland when the stabbing occurred.
Copeland, his girlfriend and another woman were stabbed. Copeland underwent surgery and a 22-year-old suspect was taken into custody.
When asked about a video that surfaced online allegedly showing the police striking him in the leg with a baton, he said, "I don't want to go into details on anything but I think the video speaks for itself."
Sefolosha said he will undergo surgery in the next few days and had a better timetable on his return for next season.
Noteworthy
* New Orleans Pelicans coach Monty Williams said guard Jrue Holiday "should be ready to play" in tonight's high-stakes regular-season finale against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Pelicans would clinch their first playoff berth since 2011 with a victory. A loss would likely end New Orleans' season unless Oklahoma City is upset by league-worst Minnesota that same night.
Holiday has played in two games - about 15 minutes in each - since returning last Friday from a lower right leg injury that sidelined him for 41 straight games.
* Guard Jeremy Lin said he hasn't ruled out a return to the Los Angeles Lakers next season despite his up-and-down first season with the club.
Lin will be an unrestricted free agent after making nearly $15 million this season with the Lakers. He bounced in and out of coach Byron Scott's starting lineup, but averaged 11.2 points and 4.6 assists per game.
* The Boston Celtics will play the Sacramento Kings in Mexico City on Dec. 3, the NBA's third regular-season game in Mexico.
The NBA is also planning two preseason games in China between the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers. More international games will be announced, the league said.
Noteworthy games
* At Indianapolis, C.J. Miles scored 25 points as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Washington Wizards, 99-95, in double-overtime to eliminate the idle Miami Heat from playoff contention.
* At Boston, Jae Crowder hit an off-balance fall-away from deep on the right wing with 0.8 seconds left, lifting the Celtics to a 95-93 win over the Toronto Raptors that secured the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference for the Celtics.
Boston will face No. 2 seed Cleveland in the playoffs.