NBA Notebook | Injury shelves Bogut

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut, the first player drafted last year, will likely miss the beginning of the season because of a leg injury that is expected to sideline him from six to eight weeks.

Bogut has a lower-left-leg sprain. He was helped off the court during a scrimmage Saturday after his leg struck guard Steve Blake's knee. Bogut did not return to the scrimmage.

Bucks general manager Larry Harris said injuries such as Bogut's happen often in practice, but usually don't turn out to be serious.

"Obviously, he's disappointed he's not going to be playing," Harris said of Bogut, who averaged 9.4 points as a rookie. "It's just an unfortunate situation."

Notes

• Retired Indiana standout Reggie Miller said he doesn't understand why Stephen Jackson's teammates are standing by the Pacers' guard after an incident outside an Indianapolis strip club last week. Police said Jackson fired a gun in the air after he was slugged in the mouth and struck by a car that sent him tumbling onto the hood.

Miller spoke out about the incident on Dan Patrick's ESPN Radio show, saying, "That's ridiculous. That is a black cloud. That is a punch in the gut for [team CEO/president] Donnie Walsh and [president of basketball operations] Larry Bird."

• Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal is likely to miss the exhibition opener against New Jersey on Wednesday because of a lawsuit stemming from a brawl with Detroit Pistons fans during a game two years ago in Auburn Hills, Mich.

O'Neal could testify today or Wednesday in Detroit, leaving him doubtful for the game.

• Portland removed the interim tag from general manager Steve Patterson's title. He has been the team president since 2003. Previous GM John Nash was fired in May.

• Italian Andrea Bargnani, the first player drafted this year, made his exhibition debut with eight points and four rebounds in 13-½ minutes to help visiting Toronto beat the Washington Wizards 93-88.

All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas scored 29 points for Washington.