INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal is getting closer to returning from a thumb injury.
O’Neal took part in some of practice Thursday, although coach Mike Brown isn’t counting on him being back before the playoffs.
O’Neal has been sidelined since tearing a ligament in his right thumb Feb. 25. He had surgery and was expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
Also, forward Anderson Varejao worked out after missing two games because of a sore left hamstring. He’s a game-time decision for tonight’s game against Atlanta.
• Former NBA guard Kirk Snyder was convicted of breaking into a neighbor’s home in the middle of the night and beating him up in his bedroom.
A Warren (Ohio) County jury found the 26-year-old former University of Nevada star guilty of aggravated burglary, felonious assault and assault. Snyder, the 16th player taken in the 2004 NBA draft, broke into the home of dentists Brad and Eugenia Roberts in Deerfield Township, north of Cincinnati, on March 30, 2009.
He smashed their rear French doors with a landscape rock and charged through the house to the master bedroom, shoving Eugenia Roberts aside before pummeling Brad Roberts with his fists and then with an alarm clock, prosecutors said. He could receive up to 18 years in prison at his sentencing next month.
• Sacramento Kings center Spencer Hawes will miss the rest of the season with an injured left knee.
Tubby working on extension
INDIANAPOLIS — Tubby Smith is working on a contract extension at Minnesota — not looking for a new job. Rumors this week suggested Oregon would make a big-dollar offer to make Smith the successor to the recently fired Ernie Kent.
Smith said there was “nothing to talk about” in regards to Oregon, adding he’s working on a contract extension with the Gophers.
• James Dickey was hired as Houston’s basketball coach, replacing Tom Penders, who resigned less than two weeks ago after leading the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1992.
• Wake Forest forward Al-Farouq Aminu, who averaged 15.8 points and 10.7 rebounds this season, declared for the NBA draft and announced he will hire an agent.
• Utah women’s basketball coach Elaine Elliott will take a year-long leave of absence while she considers retiring from coaching. Elliott has coached at Utah for 31 years — the last 27 as head coach.
Ching injured in Houston’s win
HOUSTON — U.S. national team forward Brian Ching left the Houston Dynamo’s home opener — a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake — because of a strained left hamstring, an injury that could hamper his preparations for the World Cup. Ching and Rapids star Conor Casey have been competing to make the U.S. roster as forwards.
• Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will miss the rest of the Premier League season because of a broken right leg, an injury that jeopardizes his chance of playing for Spain in the World Cup.
