Grant Hill, who has been experiencing soreness and swelling in his left ankle, said a magnetic resonance imaging exam at Duke University Medical Center showed no damage to the area. He was expected to play Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he sat out his third consecutive game as a precaution.

Hill, who has had five surgeries on the left ankle since 2000, said he would play Sunday against the New Jersey Nets at home.

"I had a good checkup," Hill said. "There is concern it is in the vicinity [of the original fracture]. I got kicked above the plate on my leg and the concern was that the irritation was the result of the plate [moving]. I do remember getting kicked, that's why you have to rule that out.

". . . Sometimes the plate moves."