Wizards’ Butler has cast removed

Washington – Washington Wizards forward Caron Butler had the cast removed from his broken right hand Monday and was told to avoid contact for a week to 10 days.

Even before Butler’s cast was replaced by a splint, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan ruled out having the All-Star back for the team’s first-round playoff series against Cleveland.

“He is not in our plans, right now – not as a player,” Jordan said after practice Monday. “If we get deeper in the playoffs, possibly, but not in the first round.”

Asked whether there’s any chance Butler could face the Cavaliers, Jordan said: “To me? No. Not to me.”

Butler was injured when he hit his hand on the backboard while trying to block a shot during a game on April 1; his recovery was supposed to take six weeks. Two games later, All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas injured his left knee and had season-ending surgery.

Butler was averaging career highs in points (19.1), rebounds (7.4) and assists (3.7), and the Wizards would love to have him in the lineup against the Cavaliers, who lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 heading into Wednesday’s Game 2 at Cleveland.

Hinrich fined $25K for throwing mouthpiece

Chicago – Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Monday for throwing his mouthpiece into the stands during a playoff victory over the Miami Heat.

Hinrich fired his mouthpiece into the stands after picking up his fourth foul early in the third quarter and got a technical. The guard finished with two points and five fouls in the Bulls’ 96-91 win at United Center on Saturday.

Hinrich, a captain, averaged 16.6 points during the season.

A phone message left with the Bulls was not immediately returned.

James says sore ankle won’t stall playoff effort

Cleveland – LeBron James says his sprained left ankle – swollen, sore and stiff – won’t keep him out of the playoffs.

He spent most of Monday getting treatment after twisting his ankle Sunday during the third quarter of Cleveland’s 97-82 win over Washington in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series.

James inadvertently stepped on the right foot of Wizards forward Etan Thomas, who was defending him on a drive. James, despite extreme initial pain, stayed in the game and finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

The 22-year-old star said there’s no doubt he’ll be ready Wednesday for Game 2 of the best-of-seven series.

“It’s OK,” James said. “It’s what I expected, soreness and stiffness. If we had a game today (Monday), I’d definitely be able to play, so I’m headed in the right direction.”

Suns guard Barbosa wins Sixth Man Award

New York – Leandro Barbosa won the NBA’s Sixth Man Award on Monday after a season in which he averaged 18.0 points and helped lead the Phoenix Suns to the second-best record in the league.

The fourth-year guard from Brazil received 101 of a possible 127 first-place votes and 578 points from a media panel. San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili was second with 269 points and Dallas guard Jerry Stackhouse was third with 210.

The vote was announced a day after Barbosa scored 15 straight points in the second half to spark the Suns’ comeback in their playoff opener. Barbosa finished with 26 points, matching his career playoff high, in the 95-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Paul has foot surgery, likely out for summer

Oklahoma City – New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul had a screw inserted in his left foot Monday and likely will be unable to train with the U.S. basketball team this summer.

Paul’s agent, Lance Young, said the former Rookie of the Year was to have a follow-up visit with doctors today after having the screw inserted in his fifth metatarsal.

Paul had been playing through a stress reaction for the final month of the season and had the procedure done five days after the end of the regular season.

Hornets spokesman Scott Hall said there were no complications with the procedure.

Young said Paul would be on crutches for a couple weeks and then wear a boot on the foot. The injury is expected to sideline Paul for six to eight weeks.

Young expected Paul to travel to Las Vegas in July to be with his U.S. teammates as they train for the FIBA Americas tournament in August. However, Paul isn’t expected to play.