Vin Baker's comeback from alcoholism hit a detour when he was suspended by the Boston Celtics for three games after the team was told he didn't comply with his treatment program.
The forward got off to a strong start this season after missing most of the last one, but was scoreless in his last two games, the only times he hasn't started this season. He said Monday, before the Celtics lost to Detroit, that his aftercare program was going "great."
PHOTO: REUTERS
But the Celtics said Tuesday they were notified of Baker's noncompliance by a doctor jointly chosen by the player and the team to oversee the program. That results in an automatic fine of an undisclosed amount and a three-game suspension, effective immediately.
The aftercare program agreement prohibits the Celtics from revealing details or identifying the doctor involved, team spokesman Bill Bonsiewicz said. Baker did not return a phone message Tuesday seeking comment.
Baker will miss home games Wednesday against Orlando and Friday against Cleveland and a road game Sunday against Houston.
The four-time All-Star joined the Celtics before last season in a trade with Seattle. But he played poorly, and last February accepted a suspension from the Celtics and checked himself into rehab for alcoholism while his teammates were advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
At the time, it was widely speculated that he might never play again for the Celtics; the only question was whether the team would make him sit at the end of the bench for three years to collect the US$44 million left on his contract.
Instead, he lost weight, got in better shape and had an outstanding season opener in which he had 15 points against Miami. In the second game, he scored 24 against Memphis. The Celtics won both.
He started the first 33 games but his performance declined. In his first 25 games, he scored in double figures 18 times. In the next 10, he reached that level three times.
He began this season with career averages of 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds but averaged 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 52 games last season and 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds this season.
"It could be the legs. I'm 32," Baker said before Monday's 78-68 loss. "I practiced so hard at the beginning of the season and during the summer that it could be the legs, but that just means that I've got to get them back."
Coach Jim' O'Brien said Monday he had seen a decline in Baker's mobility and speed.
"I'm hoping he can get it back to where he gets back in the starting lineup and gets 25-30 minutes," O'Brien said.
Baker played a season-low seven minutes against the Pistons.
"What I've been through is the reason that I know I can get through my struggles on the court," he said before Monday's game.
He also said he had been tested "quite a lot" for alcohol and has a busy day after practice.
"I come home, get tested, and then I go meet with my therapist," Baker said. "That's a full day. So, for me, this is not just a basketball issue. There's a lot of things going on in my life right now."
The day after his opening game against Miami, Baker was excited.
"It was like a dream come true," he said after practice on Oct. 30. "Last night was the best night I've had as a pro."
Timberwolves 106, Lakers 90
Latrell Sprewell scored 30 points while keeping Kobe Bryant in check, and the Minnesota Timberwolves sent the struggling and injury-plagued Los Angeles Lakers to a 106-90 loss Tuesday night.
Shaquille O'Neal sat out his second straight game with a strained right calf, and the Lakers have been missing Karl Malone for more than two weeks because of a sprained right knee.
"That's their problem," said Sam Cassell, who had 19 of his 26 points in the first half for the Wolves. "I've got my own problems in this locker room. We're not healthy either."
Los Angeles lost for the seventh time in 10 games, and Bryant had only six of his 20 points in the second half.
"I don't care who is playing," Sprewell said. "You have to go out and win regardless. We have injuries as well. That's just part of the game.
"It does make a difference, obviously, without Shaq and Karl in the game. But we'll take it. They still play hard."
Minnesota's two other stars gave Sprewell plenty of support. Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 18 rebounds.
Cavaliers 107, Knicks 96
In Clevelend, Stephon Marbury didn't do much for the new-look Knicks after being cleared to play just 30 minutes before tipoff, and LeBron James' 10 assists and Zydrunas Ilgauskas' 24 points led the Cavaliers over New York.
Marbury, traded from Phoenix to New York along with Penny Hardaway a day earlier, had eight points and eight assists in the Knicks' third straight loss.
James had 14 points on a poor shooting night, but his assists tied his career high. Eric Williams hit baskets at several key points and finished with 22.
For much of the game, New York resembled a team that hadn't practiced together. Hardaway shot just 3-for-9 for six points. Keith Van Horn led New York with 20 points and Allan Houston had 18.
Nets 92, Clippers 75
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Jason Kidd had his second straight 30-plus point game and Nets held Los Angeles to a season-low 28 first-half points.
Kenyon Martin and Corey Maggette were ejected after exchanging punches in the third quarter, and both face automatic suspensions. The players fought after Martin committed a hard foul on Maggette on a drive to the basket. Maggette shoved Martin to the court, and Martin got up and went after Maggette.
No one else was involved in the fracas, which detracted from a 32-point night by Kidd as he shot 13-of-20 from the field. The Nets gave an outstanding defensive effort in their 13th win in 16 games and fourth straight.
Pacers 114, Magic 107
In Indianapolis, Jermaine O'Neal had 25 points, nine rebounds and four blocks to help Indiana overcome a 43-point performance by Tracy McGrady.
McGrady made eight 3-pointers and shot 14-of-27, but he didn't have the support O'Neal had for Indiana. O'Neal was one of six Pacers in double figures as they won their sixth in a row.
The 114 points were a season high for the Eastern Conference-leading Pacers, who also got a little payback for an embarrassing home loss to the Magic on Dec. 17, 2003.
The Magic got as close as seven in the final period on Rod Strickland's layup with 7:38 to play. Ron Artest, who scored 23 points, helped hold them off with seven points down the stretch, including a fast-break dunk that made it 114-103 with less than a minute to play.
Spurs 94, Wizards 72
In San Antonio, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker grabbed 16 points each as San Antonio outshot an opponent from the free throw line for the first time in 13 games to beat Washington.
The win was the Spurs' 15th in the past 16 games, while the Wizards lost for the 13th time in their past 16.
San Antonio went 12-for-15 on foul shots, its best percentage at the line since early November. The Wizards were 17-of-31 (54.8 percent) from the line.
Ron Mercer matched his season high with 14 points for the Spurs. Gilbert Arenas, with 17 points, was the only member of the Wizards to reach double-digits.
Kings 105, Hawks 89
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Mike Bibby had 19 points and six assists for the Kings, who improved the NBA's best record to 24-8 with their 26th consecutive home win over Eastern Conference teams. Sacramento increased its Pacific Division lead over the Lakers to a season-high 2 1/2.
Doug Christie had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists as the Kings struggled to put away the Hawks despite a superior statistical game. Sacramento had 33 assists and just nine turnovers while improving to an NBA-best 18-2 at home, but the Kings' starters were forced back into the game in the final minutes after Atlanta cut a 24-point deficit to 11.
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