THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Shaq is ready to come back.
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said he'll know Friday if Shaquille O'Neal will return from his shoulder injury to play the Charlotte Bobcats.
O'Neal doesn't sound like he needs to wait that long.
"I'm playing," he said Wednesday night after the Cavs beat Detroit without him.
O'Neal has missed six straight games since getting hurt Nov. 12 against Miami, trying to block a dunk.
The Cavs have been cautious with O'Neal after acquiring him from Phoenix in an off-season trade in the hopes of keeping the 37-year-old centre healthy for the second half of the season and playoffs.
He hoped to play against the Pistons after practising Monday.
O'Neal has averaged 11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1 1/2 blocks in nine games.
The Central Division-leading Cavs are 6-3 with O'Neal in the lineup and 5-1 without him.
-
Recent Headlines
- Injuries plagging unimpressive Chandler
- Cablevision Systems Corp splits in two
- Suns surging amid Stoudemire speculation
- NBA's CBA issues could stall all-star party
- FBI investigated letters sent to Pistons' Daly
- Jones: Hedo doesn't want to be a masked man
- Bryant misses game against Blazers
- Blazers' Roy will miss ASG with hamstring injury
- Marbury signs deal with club in China
- List of competitors for three-point contest
- West a step closer to returning to Cavaliers
- Bulls sign former Florida star Richard
- Banged-up Hornets add a little Hart
- Dunleavy done as coach, remains GM
-
My Headlines
Stories from your favourite teamsedit [?]
- Leaf fans, this is your future
- Strong Leafs effort falls short vs. Sharks
- Top draft pick lives out Leaf dream
- Miss you too, Vesa
- Vesa can't wait to wash away 'blue and white'
- In first Leafs start, Kadri solid against fearsome Sharks
- Rookies help spark revita-Leaf effort
- Giguere's expertise on San Jose could help Leafs
- Stalberg called up, Burke funeral details released
- Crashing back to earth
- What a difference a win makes for Leafs
