NBA | Suns' Amare Stoudemire has eye injury

Center-forward Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns cannot exercise for another five to 10 days because he has a torn iris.

Stoudemire, 25, might not be able to practice for another two weeks, azcentral.com reported Friday.

"I can't get my heart rate up because my blood pressure rises and it goes to my eye," he told azcentral.com. "I don't want that or the eye will bleed."

Stoudemire, who has averaged 21 points per game as a pro, was poked in the right eye by Boris Diaw during a scrimmage Wednesday night.

Stoudemire said he probably will wear protective goggles for the rest of his career.

"I don't want that to happen again," he said of the injury.

Meanwhile, Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah, 23, is likely to miss about five days after being poked in the left eye during practice Wednesday.

Heat signs Livingston

The Miami Heat signed point guard Shaun Livingston to a two-year contract.

The 6-foot-7 Livingston tore multiple ligaments in his left knee and dislocated his kneecap in a tumble in a Feb. 27, 2007, game against Charlotte. He hasn't played since and said he has yet to view the video.

"I've followed him for a few years, and it's really unfortunate what happened," first-year Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But you normally would never get a player of that talent at this time. He really does have the ability to make other people better. He has the size and the vision."

Livingston, 23, said he believes he is "within days, within weeks" of being able to contribute, but added it would take longer for the Heat to experience his complete game.

"Explosion is the last part of this process," he said. "Mentally, I mean, I feel good, I trust it.

"There's going to be certain limitations that I'm going to have when I first start."

Note

• Indiana Pacers officials declined to comment on a report that point guard Jamaal Tinsley would be traded to Denver for Steven Hunter and Chucky Atkins.

Pacers president Larry Bird downplayed the report, which appeared in Friday's New York Post, saying the team wouldn't comment on "trade rumors" involving any of its players.

The Pacers have made no secret of their desire to trade Tinsley, 30, who has three years and $21 million left on his contract.