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Iverson out for Celtics game Friday

Sixers guard Allen Iverson will not play in Friday’s game against Boston after an MRI today revealed he had arthritis in his left knee. He also has a left shoulder contusion, the team announced. Iverson will not make the trip to Boston and is expected to be ready for Saturday night’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Iverson scored 16 points in 34 minutes of Wednesday's 108-101 loss at home to Cleveland. Guard Lou Williams practiced today but will not play Friday.

Sixers guard Allen Iverson will not play in Friday's game against Boston after an MRI today revealed he had arthritis in his left knee. He also has a left shoulder contusion, the team announced.

Iverson will not make the trip to Boston and is expected to be ready for Saturday night's home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Iverson scored 16 points in 34 minutes of Wednesday's 108-101 loss at home to Cleveland. Guard Lou Williams practiced today but will not play Friday.

Here's an update from Inquirer contributor Pat Leonard from practice today:

Meanwhile, point guard Lou Williams practiced with the team at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, one day after having wires removed from a broken jaw that has caused him to miss three weeks.

Coach Eddie Jordan said there is a "slight chance" Williams could return Saturday at home against the Clippers, though he will sit out tonight's game along with Iverson, who may return Saturday, too.

"My jaw's healed," said Williams, who is wearing braces on his gums to complete his healing for about one more week. "Now it's a matter of me getting in shape, being basketball ready … I think we just want to do the same thing with Allen. He was a little concerned about his conditioning."


The results of Iverson's MRI exam, conducted by team physician Jack McPhilemy, were announced at  1:30 p.m.
To round out the injury merry-go-round for a Sixers team that has lost 13 of its last 14 games, center Marreese Speights practiced yesterday but left early for treatment after Jordan said he banged knees with a teammate.
"He was setting a screen. I was overemphasizing setting screens, and someone runs into his knee," Jordan said. "So hopefully it's OK. It wasn't like a real traumatic sort of hit or fall or twist."


Speights played 22 minutes against Cleveland Wednesday night in his first game back from a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee that he suffered Nov. 14 against Chicago. He was expected to miss six to eight weeks but returned in less than five.


Jordan and team officials did not seem worried Speights would miss the game against Boston, though they were awaiting word from Speights and trainers as practice ended.


"We don't think it's serious," Jordan said. "He was going for a precautionary evaluation and we'll see after we get on the plane, before the game. Tomorrow we'll know about more."