NBA : O’Neal May Be Sidelined a Month

Shaquille O’Neal could be out at least a month after sustaining possible ligament damage in his right thumb during Tuesday night’s exhibition between the Magic and Miami Heat in Orlando.

O’Neal left the game, and his thumb was put in a soft splint. He will be evaluated further today, a team spokesman said.

An angry O’Neal said he was injured when he got tangled under the basket with Miami’s Matt Geiger on a play and he was called for traveling. The All-Star center walked away flexing his hand but played the next 1:27 before leaving for the locker room.

“[Geiger] chopped me, hit me like all those guys do,” O’Neal said. “Now the doctors tell me I’ve got to sit out four or five weeks. I’m mad about this. It shouldn’t take someone getting hurt for people to stop chopping me.”

Geiger called the play “a normal foul.”

Earlier, O’Neal took a hard foul from Miami’s Stacey King and fell to the floor late in the first quarter but didn’t appear to be hurt.

King was called for a flagrant foul on the play. O’Neal made both free throws and left the game 10 seconds later. He returned less than two minutes later and played the last 2:13 of the opening quarter and first 2:43 of the second.

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Washington Bullet forward Chris Webber has decided to begin physical rehabilitation immediately on his injured shoulder instead of undergoing surgery.

Webber, who last month signed a six-year, $59-million contract, will sit out at least four weeks.

The Bullets’ leading scorer and rebounder last season, Webber dislocated his left shoulder in an exhibition game Saturday. He dislocated the same shoulder last season and sat out 19 games.

Webber was examined by Dr. Richard Caspari, an independent shoulder specialist.

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The cause of forward Roy Tarpley’s illness is unknown and it’s unlikely he’ll play for the Dallas Mavericks in the immediate future.

With the season beginning Nov. 3, Tarpley continues to suffer from stomach cramping and pancreatitis.

“Losing a $4-million power forward on a 12-man roster with a $23-million salary cap has a crippling effect,” Coach Dick Motta told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

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Anthony Peeler will make his first appearance as a pro in his hometown tonight when the Lakers, starting a three-game exhibition trip, play the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kansas City, Mo.

The Lakers (3-2) play Houston at New Orleans on Friday, then conclude the exhibition schedule Saturday at Dallas.

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The Clippers play the Phoenix Suns in their final home exhibition tonight at 7:30 at The Pond of Anaheim.

With guard Pooh Richardson sidelined because of a stress fracture in his left foot, Terry Dehere probably will start at point guard, with rookie Brent Barry the backup.

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Felton Spencer has returned to practice with the Utah Jazz for the first time since the center ruptured an Achilles’ tendon nine months ago at Boston Garden against the Celtics. . . . The Charlotte Hornets waived Negele Knight, leaving them with four point guards in camp in addition to probable starter Muggsy Bogues, who is recovering from off-season knee surgery and is not expected back before the regular-season opener.