76ers lose Webber to shoulder sprain
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-01 09:32

Philadelphia 76ers forward Chris Webber ignored the advice of doctors and will miss the next week to 10 days of the National Basketball Association season as a result.

Webber will be sidelined with a sprained left shoulder during a key stretch as the 76ers fight for a playoff spot in the final three weeks of the season.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Chris Webber, pictured here 27 March 2005 with teammate Marc Jackson (R), ignored the advice of doctors and will miss the next week to 10 days of the National Basketball Association season as a result. [AFP]

Webber was examined Thursday and began rehabilitation with hopes he might be back before missing five games in 10 days.

That worst-case scenario would get him back for an April 12 home game against Boston, which leads the 76ers by three games in the Atlantic Division.

Webber, obtained in february from Sacramento, hurt his surgically repaired left knee in the first half of a 116-87 loss Wednesday at Phoenix and was advised by physicians from both the 76ers and Suns not to return.

Instead, Webber went back into the game and hurt his shoulder in a third-quarter collision with Suns center Jake Voskuhl.

"It popped out just a little bit, not a lot," Webber said. "You should always listen to the doctor. He told me at halftime not to go back out there."

Webber, a five-time NBA All-Star, is averaging 19.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in 62 games this season, his 12th in the NBA.

But since the trade to the 76ers, Webber is averaging only 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting under 39 percent from the field in 16 games.

The 76ers, only 9-7 since obtaining Webber, are 35-36 and one game ahead of Orlando for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth. But if they can win the division over Boston, they would be the third seed in the East playoffs.

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