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PACERS INJURIES

West (leg) misses Pacers practice, expects to play

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Pacers forward David West is expected to play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Miami, despite an injured right leg.

Team doctors held West out of Monday's practice with what coach Frank Vogel described as a calf strain or lower leg strain. He did shoot around with his teammates after practice ended. Vogel said doctors thought it would be best to give West a day off.

Pacers center Roy Hibbert had his right thumb taped after getting hit in practice. He finished the workout and it is not expected to keep him out of the Miami game on Wednesday night.

Backup forward Jeff Pendergraph did not attend Monday's workout to attend the birth of his daughter.

Indiana is making its first conference finals appearance since 2004.

PACERS-HEAT

Bosh aiming to be impactful against Pacers

MIAMI (AP) - Chris Bosh would have happily played against anybody for a chance to return to the NBA Finals.

But he's particularly thrilled that the opponent is the Indiana Pacers.

Bosh went down in Game 1 of the Miami Heat second-round series against the Pacers a year ago, after getting hurt on a dunk just before halftime. Miami eventually won the series in six games, though it was far from easy.

Bosh says it seems fitting that the Heat will play the Pacers again now, since it was the series that was essentially taken away from him a year ago.

The Heat and Pacers will meet again in the East finals starting Wednesday. And Bosh's matchup against Indiana's 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert is going to likely be a big key to this series.

FEVER-PHILLIPS

Fever lose guard Erin Phillips with knee injury

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The defending WNBA champion Indiana Fever have lost guard Erin Phillips for four to six weeks with a torn meniscus in her right knee.

The 5-foot-8 guard started 9 of Indiana's 10 postseason games including each game in the Finals, averaging 10.1 points in the playoffs. She averaged 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists during the regular season.

It's the third key injury for the Fever.

The team had already announced guard Jeanette Pohlen won't be ready for Friday's season opener at San Antonio. Pohlen is still recovering from a torn ACL.

Center Jessica Davenport has a stress fracture in her left leg and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

DIGGINS-MERCEDES

Jay-Z's sports agency buys Diggins a new Benz

(AP) - Looks like Skylar Diggins will have a new ride when she goes to Tulsa to join the Shock.

The former Notre Dame star tweeted her thanks to sports agency Roc Nation, backed by rap superstar Jay-Z, along with photos of a new white Mercedes she said the agency surprised her with.

"I got 99 problems but a BENZ ain't one," a tweet on Diggins' account said, riffing off a Jay-Z hit.

The All-America guard, who graduated this weekend, was chosen No. 3 overall in the WNBA draft by the Shock. She is the third athlete to sign with the agency started in part by Jay-Z, whose given name is Shawn Carter. New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano also recently switched representation to Roc Nation, which is partnered with Creative Artists Agency.

PROTECTING TE'O

Te'o off-limits to media but not Maxim party

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The San Diego Chargers are keeping Manti Te'o off-limits to the media - for now.

The star linebacker was barred from speaking with reporters at the Chargers' second open session of organized team activities.

That doesn't mean Te'o isn't out and about.

Maxim confirmed Monday that Te'o attended a party last week in Hollywood after the magazine included his fake girlfriend on its list of the world's hottest women. Rookie coach Mike McCoy says he didn't know Te'o went to the party.

Te'o was part of a girlfriend hoax that drew national headlines. He also had a poor performance in Notre Dame's blowout loss to Alabama in the national championship game.

INDYCAR-INDY 500-GOING FOR FOUR

Castroneves, Franchitti chase 4th Indy 500 win

NEW YORK (AP) - Helio Castroneves hopes a new generation of fans gets to see a 4-time winner of the Indianapolis 500.

It's been 22 years since the last driver won his fourth Indy 500 title. Now Castroneves and Dario Franchitti are trying to join the exclusive club at Sunday's race.

Rick Mears, who won his fourth in 1991, A.J. Foyt and Al Unser are the only three drivers with four victories.

Franchitti won his third last year, and this will be the first time since 1987 that two 3-time winners will start the Indy 500. Scotland's Franchitti or Brazil's Castroneves would be the first foreign-born 4-time winner.

Castroneves said Monday this is an "incredible opportunity for the fans to have not only one but two guys trying to make history."

This Hour: Latest Indiana sports - WDRB 41 Louisville - News, Weather, Sports Community

This Hour: Latest Indiana sports