NBA notebook | Iverson gets OK to leave the Grizzlies

LOS ANGELES — Disgruntled Memphis guard Allen Iverson returned to his home in Atlanta after receiving permission to leave the team to attend to personal business.

Team owner Michael Heisley gave the four-time NBA scoring leader permission to skip the Grizzlies' game Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers following a 114-98 loss to the Lakers the night before.

Iverson has played in three games since returning from a hamstring injury, averaging 12.3 points, 3.7 assists and 22.3 minutes. Coach Lionel Hollins spoke to him briefly before he left, but would not elaborate on the conversation.

"It's a personal issue that they asked for permission to go attend to," Hollins said. "It was granted, and it's indefinite. I have no other information."

Iverson played 21 minutes against the Lakers, making 2 of 5 shots and finishing with eight points and three assists. In the postgame dressing room, the 10-time All-Star reiterated his displeasure about coming off the bench for the first time in his 14-year career.

"It's something that I never did in my life, so obviously it's a big adjustment," he said. "I'm so tired of discussing that, talking about that, every single day. It's just not something that I want to discuss. That's something you've got to ask the coach. He makes all the decisions around here. Obviously, they signed me for a reason. They've been watching me play this game for 13 years, and they know what I do on the basketball court."

Asked Saturday if he had any timetable as to when Iverson might start for the Grizzlies, Hollins said: "I have no comment about that."

Douglas-Roberts has swine flu

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Chris Douglas-Roberts has tested positive for swine flu, another blow to a New Jersey team that is losing players as quickly as games.

Douglas-Roberts had started every game for the winless Nets until missing a loss at Philadelphia on Friday with flu-like symptoms. Nets president Rod Thorn confirmed on Saturday that Douglas-Roberts tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

Nets coach Lawrence Frank said he had spoken Saturday to Douglas-Roberts, saying, "He doesn't sound very good." Frank said he believed Douglas-Roberts was no longer contagious, but doesn't know when he will return.

The diagnosis is the latest blow to a team that has been hit by a wave of injuries. Guard Courtney Lee also was sidelined Saturday with a strained left groin, leaving New Jersey with only eight players in uniform, the minimum allowed, for its game against Boston.

Notes

• Detroit says F Tayshaun Prince will be out of the lineup indefinitely due to a small rupture of a disk in his lower back.

• Dallas swingman Josh Howard was in the starting lineup against Toronto in his season debut Saturday night. Howard missed all of the preseason and the first five games while recovering from surgery on his left ankle and left wrist on May 22.