LOS ANGELES, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- For the first time in his career, Karl Malone is headed for the injured list.
The future Hall of Fame forward, a 19-year veteran, suffered a sprained right knee on Dec. 21 when Phoenix forward Scott Williams fell on it as the two went for a loose ball. It is a strange feeling for Malone, who misses just four games in 18 years with the Utah Jazz because of injury.
"I've had that feeling the last four or five days," Malone told the Los Angeles Times. "I've never been on the injured list. I looked at Cal Ripken, and he was never on the injured list ... but it looks like I'm headed there unless I have some unbelievable recovery in the next few days. It's a downer."
If Malone, who has missed the last three games, is placed on IL by Friday, he will miss a minimum of five more games - road games at Seattle, the L.A. Clippers, Minnesota, and Denver, and a home game against Atlanta.
