Timberwolves’ Brewer out for season with torn ACL

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rodney Carney watched Minnesota Timberwolves teammate Corey Brewer crash to the floor Saturday against Denver, but thought nothing of it.

“He always falls like that in practice and gets up,” Carney said. “He walked off. I thought it was an ankle. He came back, but his knee buckled again. I knew it was something bad, but not that bad.”

The Timberwolves found out just how bad on Monday, when an MRI revealed Brewer tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He will miss the rest of the season.

Brewer will undergo surgery soon, although a date had not been set. His injury leaves the struggling Timberwolves without their top defender, who had worked throughout the offseason to improve his shooting following a subpar rookie year.

The 22-year-old Brewer was the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft after winning consecutive national championships at Florida. The 6-foot-9 swingman averaged only 5.8 points per game and shot 37 percent as a rookie. His numbers were up only modestly this season — 6.2 points and 3.3 rebounds on 41 percent shooting — but McHale said he thought Brewer was getting more comfortable with the NBA game.

Knicks tell Marbury to stay away

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Stephon Marbury did not get the divorce he wants, but he and the New York Knicks agreed to a separation.

Marbury was ordered Monday to stay away from the Knicks while the team looks for a solution to its $21 million problem — one that has lingered since the preseason and exploded last week when the team suspended him for refusing to play and he retaliated with a series of inflammatory remarks about coach Mike D’Antoni.

Marbury’s future was “not resolved” during a meeting with team president Donnie Walsh at the Knicks’ practice facility, according to the players’ association attorney representing him. The sides will continue to talk, but Marbury won’t be around in the meantime.

“After meeting with Stephon and his representative this afternoon, we have directed Stephon not to participate in practice or attend games until further notice,” Walsh said in a statement. “We want to continue to meet with him to discuss a long-term resolution.”

Marbury will earn about $21 million this season in the final year of his contract and is adamant that he won’t give much of it up in a buyout. However, that salary makes him nearly impossible to trade, and the Knicks are reluctant to give him all his money to leave.

McGrady to miss time

HOUSTON — Rockets star Tracy McGrady is expected to be out at least a week and his playing time will be restricted when he returns while he struggles with soreness in his left knee stemming from offseason surgery. McGrady, who has missed the past three games, was evaluated by Dr. James Andrews on Monday. McGrady will continue a rehabilitation program to help alleviate the soreness in his knee.

Celtics 107, Magic 88

BOSTON — Paul Pierce scored 17 of his 24 points in the third quarter to lead Boston to its ninth straight win. Ray Allen added 21 points, Rajon Rondo had 16 points with 12 assists and Kevin Garnett scored 15 points for the Celtics (17-2) in a matchup of Eastern Conference division leaders.

Bobcats 100, Timberwolves 90

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jason Richardson scored 25 points in another strong performance following arthroscopic knee surgery, and Charlotte beat Minnesota. It was the third straight game of at least 21 points for Richardson since his return after sitting out seven contests following exploratory surgery on his right knee. He led an efficient offense that included a season-high 24 points from Emeka Okafor, while Raymond Felton added 14 assists with only one turnover.

Heat 130, Warriors 129 (OT)

OAKLAND, Calif. — Chris Quinn hit a tying 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left in overtime, Michael Beasley stole the ensuing inbounds pass and made the decisive free throw, and Miami pulled off a comeback win over Golden State. Udonis Haslem scored on a putback for Miami at the buzzer to force the extra session.