Doctor Advises Cooper to Skip Next 2 Games
Michael Cooper is not supposed to play tonight when the Lakers take on the New York Knicks. Doctor’s orders. Coach’s orders, too. But knowing Cooper, that doesn’t mean he won’t play.
The Laker guard missed last Friday’s 106-105 win over the Portland Trail Blazers because of back spasms before the game. After 2 days of tests, Cooper’s problem was diagnosed as a strained muscle, and doctors advised him to pass up the Knick game as well as Wednesday night’s game against the Miami Heat.
That seems to make him a definite scratch tonight, but Cooper has been known to ignore medical advice.
The Knicks, meanwhile, are enjoying a transformation. A relentless, pressing defensive team that had trouble putting the ball into the basket is now a scoring machine. They are averaging 121.6 points a game, second to the Denver Nuggets, and they tied an NBA record with 10 3-pointers last Friday night. They have made 24 3-pointers in the last 3 games.
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