Monday, February 18, 2013
Larry Sanders nearing return?
By Nick Borges
UPDATE: Larry Sanders may be back in the lineup for the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday after missing the last four games with a sore back.
Milwaukee's PR department tweeted an encouraging update on the team's shot-blocking big man this morning. "Bucks returned to the practice court this afternoon. Sanders participated in the full practice and will be a game-time decision tomorrow."
The Bucks went 1-3 in their recent stretch without Sanders, losing to Detroit, Washington and Utah, and clearly needs him in the lineup if they intend to improve upon their current standing in the playoff picture (No. 8 seed).
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Larry Sanders has missed three games due to a sore back and according to Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times, the Bucks' center visited with a second doctor and the tests came back negative for any structural damage. That's good news for the player and the team as he might be able to play sometime soon after the All-Star break.
The Bucks play the Nets in Brooklyn on Tuesday and he's likely be listed as a game-time decision by the training staff.
Samuel Dalembert has started the games Sanders has missed and he'll stay in that spot until the league leader in block shots returns to the Bucks active roster. Dalembert has done a good job, however the team suffers on defense without Sanders in the lineup, so hopefully he can play next week.
