PHILADELPHIA — Lou Williams will miss eight weeks after having surgery on his jaw Thursday morning.
The 76ers point guard broke his jaw in Tuesday night’s loss to the Wizards. His averages of 17.4 points and 5.1 assists are second-highest on the team behind Andre Iguodala.
Rookie Jrue Holiday started in place of Williams against Boston Wednesday.
Shaq ready to return
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said he’ll know today whether Shaquille O’Neal will return from his shoulder injury to play tonight against the Bobcats.
O’Neal doesn’t sound like he needs to wait that long.
“I’m playing,” the Cavaliers center said.
O’Neal has missed six straight games since getting hurt Nov. 12 against Miami, trying to block a dunk.
The Cavaliers have been cautious with O’Neal after acquiring him from Phoenix in an offseason trade in the hopes of keeping the 37-year-old center healthy for the second half of the season and playoffs.
O’Neal has averaged 11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in nine games.
Footnotes.
Pistons guard Ben Gordon is out indefinitely because of a sprained left ankle.
• The Thunder signed veteran guard Mike Wilks after a spate of injuries to the team’s other guards. Wilks has career averages of 2.5 points and 1.2 assists per game.
• Suns center Robin Lopez, who has missed all of Phoenix’s 15 games this season because of a broken bone in his left foot, is expected to play tonight against the Timberwolves. The Associated Press
