DUNCAN OUT WITH ANKLE INJURY
San Antonio star Tim Duncan crumpled to the floor with a sprained right ankle in the opening minutes against the Detroit Pistons. The Spurs said X-rays were negative and Duncan is day to day, but Coach Gregg Popovich indicated he doesn't expect Duncan to return soon. Duncan missed two games earlier this month with a sprained right ankle. "It's the same ankle that he sprained a couple weeks ago, but this was much worse," Popovich said after Detroit's 110-101 victory Sunday. "It's going to be a while." Duncan's ankle turned after he scored and landed on Rasheed Wallace's foot under the basket. While the Spurs traveled to New York for a game tonight against the Knicks, Duncan flew back to San Antonio on a plane provided by Detroit.
NUGGETS ACTIVATE NENE
The Denver Nuggets activated F Nene before their game Sunday night against Milwaukee and placed Mark Pope on the injured list because of a strained left hamstring. Nene has missed the last 13 games because of a sprained left knee. He is averaging 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds.
KNICKS SIGN JACKSON FOR SEASON
The New York Knicks signed G Jermaine Jackson for the rest of the season. Jackson was originally signed to the first of two 10-day contracts on Feb. 28. He's averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in four games this season.