USA - Wade and Paul join walking wounded

CHICAGO (NBA) - Team USA stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul have been added to the all-star cast of injured players missing from the NBA.

Wade suffered a sprained right wrist in as the Miami Heat lost to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

The injury occurred with six minutes remaining in the first quarter. X-rays were negative, but he did not return for precautionary reasons.

The reigning NBA Finals MVP, Wade is averaging 28.6 points and 8.2 assists per game in 25 games this season. He is listed as day-to-day.

Chicago won Wednesday's game 109-103.

Miami are already without All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal, who is still sidelined due to torn knee cartilage.

The New Orleans Hornets will be without Paul, the reigning Rookie of the Season, for at least two games.

Paul sprained his right ankle when he landed on Seattle center Johan Petro's left foot with 1:18 remaining in the first quarter of the Hornets' 102-94 loss on Tuesday night.

"We're going to wait for the swelling to go down," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "For sure, he's out at Portland (on Wednesday) and he'll probably be out of the Denver game (on Friday)."

Jannere Pargo replaced Paul at point guard and scored a season-high 23 points.

But Seattle's Luke Ridnour was able to drive past Pargo at will, scoring 27 points on 11 of 17 shooting.

Pargo had been starting at shooting guard. Scott indicated after Tuesday's loss that Devin Brown would start at shooting guard on Wednesday.

Scott has had to deal with numerous injuries. The Hornets are already without three other starters - Serbia forward Peja Stojakovic (back) and David West (right elbow) and guard Bobby Jackson (cracked left rib).

Perhaps the league's quickest guard, Paul is averaging 18.4 points and 9.0 assists this season. He had six points and seven assists before suffering the injury in the loss at Seattle.

Selected fourth overall in 2005, Paul averaged 16.1 points, 7.8 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 78 games during his rookie campaign. The 6ft guard also led the league with 175 steals.

PA Sport