A partially dislocated left shoulder will sideline Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay for at least four weeks as the team chases an NBA playoff spot, the Grizzlies said on Wednesday.

Gay, who is averaging 19.8 points and 6.0 rebounds a game, suffered the injury in the second quarter of a 102-91 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday and had the diagnosis and timeframe made after an MRI exam on Wednesday.

The five-year NBA veteran, who inked a five-year deal worth $82 million before the season, will start rehabilitation next week and be re-evaluated by physicians in four weeks.

At 31-26, the Grizzlies are only one loss behind Denver and Utah for the last playoff spots in the Western Conference.

AFP

(China Daily 02/18/2011 page22)