Manning and Strickland Probably Lost for Season

Wednesday was not a good day for the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards.

The Suns said forward Danny Manning is likely to miss the rest of the season after injuring his right knee Tuesday night and the Wizards, suffering a serious blow to their playoff hopes, declared point guard Rod Strickland out for at least the rest of the regular season after he tore a quadriceps muscle in his right thigh Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls.

Sun General Manager Bryan Colangelo said doctors hadn’t yet determined the extent of the damage to Manning’s right knee, which was surgically rebuilt after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in January 1989. Manning also tore his left ACL in February 1995.

In the dressing room after Phoenix’s victory Tuesday in Sacramento, Manning said he was sure it was another ligament injury. He is averaging 13.7 points and 5.6 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Strickland will miss 3-4 weeks, meaning the struggling Wizards would have to make at least the second round of the playoffs to get him back this season.

Strickland, averaging 17.8 points, 10.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds, will be replaced by Chris Whitney and God Shammgod.

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Police have yet to question Wizard forwards Chris Webber and Juwan Howard in a sexual assault investigation in Washington.

Howard’s attorney, Billy Martin, who would accompany his client for any questioning, was trying a case in court Wednesday. Webber’s attorney, Marcell Solomon, did not return calls.

Police would not say when the two players would be questioned.

Howard and Webber were named in complaint filed by a woman who told police she was sexually assaulted at a party at Howard’s house early Monday. Neither player has been charged, and police say the case might be turned over to a grand jury after the investigation.

“These are still allegations at this point,” police spokesman George Ludington said. “It’s a fine line.”

Documents on the case have been sealed because no charges have been filed, and Ludington said the only thing that has been ruled out is rape.

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The 15-month-old daughter of Orlando Magic guard Derek Harper was taken off a respirator after nearly drowning Tuesday in the family’s swimming pool.

Daria Harper’s condition was upgraded to fair from critical but she will remain in intensive care, doctors said.

The youngest of the Harper’s four children apparently slipped out of a rear door of her parents’ home and fell in the pool.