Jerry Stackhouse's right knee is improving, and he could return to practice Wednesday.

But a different sort of healing process was at work Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

Stackhouse took exception last season to what he thought were some cheap shots on the court by Utah's Kirk Snyder. After the game, Stackhouse confronted Snyder in the loading dock at American Airlines Center and they came to blows, with Stackhouse getting the best of Snyder.

Stackhouse paid the price by getting suspended for a game.

But Saturday, Snyder, who plays for New Orleans, told Stackhouse he deserved the lesson.

"He came up to me and said he appreciated it," Stackhouse said. "He said he learned you can't do certain things on the court just to show the coach something. I thought that was big of him."