http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/ sfl-hornetsside25apr25,0,1982592.story?coll=sfla-sports-heat Battered Baron plays with pain By Ed Cassiere Special correspondent Posted April 25 2004 NEW ORLEANS‧Baron Davis has restful plans for the early part of his offseason. "When this season's over," says the Hornets' All-Star point guard, "I'm going to lay in my bed for three weeks. And I'm never going to get up. I mean, my elbow, my knee, my ankle, my back." All of the aforementioned parts are hurting Davis. His left ankle has been his most publicized injury, forcing him to miss 15 games in the second half of the regular season, including nine of the last 11. And the bum ankle did him no favors when the Heat's Dwyane Wade drove past him for the winning basket in the opening game of this Eastern Conference first-round series. But Davis delayed his vacation Saturday when he led the Hornets to a 77-71 victory that trimmed the Heat's series lead to 2-1. Davis scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half and collected game highs of five assists and four steals in 37 minutes. "He looked like he was hobbling the whole game," said guard David Wesley, who scored 18 points and was the recipient on two of Davis' assists. "Changing shoes and changing ankle braces and tape, and [his] arm all beat up. I couldn't tell if he was going to play or sit out the rest of the game. He kept coming back." Davis said he injured his elbow and knee, and reinjured his ankle in the second half. He played four minutes in the third quarter but started and played the entire fourth quarter as the Hornets withstood a Miami rally. "I taped my ankle and wear a brace," Davis said. "Any time there's a lot of contact, [the ankle] gives out. It's just one of those things you have to play through." A Hornets employee joked that Davis, because of his injuries, would enter the postgame interview room riding piggyback on another Hornets employee. But because the Hornets career of injured forward Jamal Mashburn appears finished -- the former All-Star was left off the playoff roster, then was told Tuesday to go home after complaining publicly that the team mishandled his medical care -- the Hornets are riding the back of Davis, who finished sixth in the NBA in scoring this season and led the league in steals. "We expect him to play, no matter what," Hornets center Jamaal Magloire said. "He's our floor general, getting us in the offense. That's his job." Davis made a critical pass in the final minute when he found Stacey Augmon open on the right baseline with the Hornets nursing a 73-71 lead. Although Augmon missed his layup, Magloire trailed the play, grabbed the rebound and drew a foul. Magloire then made two free throws for a 75-71 lead with 55 seconds remaining. After receiving postgame treatment for his injuries and talking to the media, Davis said he expected to receive more treatment. "It's just something that you have to deal with," Davis said. "I probably won't practice [today], but I will practice Monday to get ready for Tuesday. I've just got to stay off my ankle and ice it as much as possible." The Hornets' primary goal Tuesday likely will be the same as the first three games -- stopping the Heat's fast break. The Hornets succeeded Saturday, limiting Miami to eight fast-break points after surrendering 18 in each of the first two games. "We had guys busting their butts to get back on defense," Davis said. "[Miami] did outrebound us and we did shoot 35 percent, but they're not fast breaking and getting a lot of looks in their transition offense. We forced them to make a lot of plays in the half court. That's where we're going to be most effective." Copyright c 2004, South Florida Sun-Sentinel --

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