Snow Delay

The best season of Eric Snow`s career just became one of his worst.

Snow, the point guard of the Philadelphia 76ers, will be out for six to eight weeks after he was diagnosed Wednesday with a stress fracture in his right ankle.

The defensive-minded Snow had started every game this season, including Tuesday night`s 96-85 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He is second on the team in scoring average with a career-high 12.2 points and leads the 76ers with 6.6 assists per game.

Snow underwent a CT scan Wednesday at the HealthSouth Kerlan-Jobe Medical Center and was examined by lakers team physician Dr. Stephen Lombardo. He is expected to be sidelined until early February.

The 76ers drafted Hofstra`s Speedy Claxton with the 20th pick in the first round to add depth to the point guard position, but Claxton was injured in the preseason and is out for the year.

During last season`s playoffs, Snow missed five games with a chip fracture in his right ankle.

The 76ers share the NBA`s best record at 14-4 and the 6-3 Snow was a big reason behind that success. In addition to his usual tough defense, he had added a reliable jump shot to his offense.

With Snow out, the 76ers likely will insert Aaron McKie in the starting lineup and give more minutes to fellow reserve guard Vernon Maxwell. Philadelphia visits Portland on Friday night.

Last season, Snow, 27, won the NBA Sportsmanship Award, given to the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. He was one of just two Sixers to play all 82 games, averaging 7.9 points and 7.6 assists.

A 1995 second-round pick of Seattle, Snow was acquired for a second-round pick on January 18, 1998. The native of Canton, Ohio is the brother of former NFL linebacker Percy Snow.

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Author: AP