Coleman Is Cleared, but He Won’t Play Yet

Derrick Coleman, sidelined since Nov. 21 because of an irregular heartbeat, has been cleared to play. But he isn’t expected to be in the Philadelphia 76er lineup tonight against Minnesota.

Coleman practiced with the 76ers on Tuesday at their facility in suburban Philadelphia, one day after a follow-up visit to team cardiologist Dr. Fred Bove.

“At present, his electrocardiogram indicates his heart rhythm is normal,” Bove said in a release issued by the team. “His medication seems to be holding his heart rhythm stable and his cardiac status is now adequate for him to return to play.”

Coleman left practice without comment, but General Manager Billy King said it was unlikely Coleman would play against the Timberwolves.

Coleman successfully underwent a procedure to shock his heart back into normal rhythm, but doctors didn’t want to let him practice or play until a blood-thinning medication was out of his system.

It’s the second time that Coleman has been sidelined because of an irregular heartbeat. He sat out most of the 1995-96 season when doctors with the New Jersey Nets, his team at the time, first discovered the condition.

Meanwhile, Allen Iverson won’t say why he missed practice Sunday, although he is sorry. And that’s good enough for Philadelphia Coach Larry Brown.

“I made a mistake and I’m sorry and I apologized for it,” Iverson said Tuesday.

Iverson skipped the practice in New York and was suspended for Monday night’s game against Boston. Iverson said Brown’s decision was fair, and the coach wants to put the matter to rest.

“He would be a senior in college,” Brown said of the 22-year-old player. “He’s a young kid. I haven’t been around anybody that hasn’t made a mistake.”

Brown and King dismissed a report out of New York that the 76ers were considering trading Iverson to the Toronto Raptors for point guard Damon Stoudamire.

“Think of the rationale behind that. You trade Allen for a guy in the last year of his contract who plays the same position?” Brown said. “I don’t think we’re going to do that.”

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After being sidelined for 65 games because of a broken leg, Reggie Williams was released by the Nets.

Williams, traded to New Jersey a year ago from Indiana, averaged 6.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11 games last season.