NBA ROUNDUP | News and notes

Knicks: Coach Isiah Thomas sent struggling guard Steve Francis to the bench for Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves and replaced him in the starting lineup by Jamal Crawford. Thomas and Francis met after New York's loss to Houston on Monday, and they spoke again at the morning shootaround. Francis agreed with the decision, according to Thomas, who denied that Francis might be unhappy with the Knicks and desiring a trade. "I totally get the sense from him that he's thought this through," Thomas said, adding: "He definitely sees himself fitting in in the way he thinks he can help us." Stephon Marbury has been underperforming, too, and Thomas is focused on getting both players back on track. The two combined for only 10 points and six turnovers against the Rockets, and they played sparingly in the second half. Thomas was hesitant to put a timetable on the Francis experiment, preferring to wait until injured swingman Jared Jeffries (broken wrist) returns in a few weeks and gives him a full complement of players to evaluate. Though New York took a 4-8 record into the game at Minnesota, Thomas insisted that his team was "not that far away" from finding a groove. "Maybe this is the thing that kind of puts us over the hump," he said.
76ers-Bucks: Philadelphia starters Allen Iverson and Chris Webber did not travel with the 76ers for their game in Milwaukee Wednesday night, while the Bucks were without starting point guard Mo Williams. Iverson also sat out the 76ers' 97-87 loss to Detroit on Tuesday after undergoing surgery to remove an abscessed wisdom tooth. Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks said Wednesday night he spoke to Iverson just before the procedure and the only timetable for the guard's return is when he feels better.
Associated Press
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