Manning to Sit Out at Least Five Games

Forward Danny Manning, the Clippers’ leading scorer, was placed on the injured list Monday because of a cracked left ring finger suffered in Thursday’s 111-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Manning, who averaged a team-high 25.5 points in the Clippers’ first four games, must sit out a minimum of five games and will be eligible to return Nov. 27, when the Clippers will play the Houston Rockets at the Sports Arena.

The Clippers activated forward Henry James, placed on the injured list at the start of the season because of tendinitis in his left knee. The second leading scorer in the CBA last season, James was signed as a free agent in July.

Manning, who said Saturday that Stephen J. Lombardo, his personal orthopedic surgeon, and Norman Zemel, a hand specialist, had advised him to sit out for two weeks after finding two cracks in his finger, wouldn’t comment Monday after being examined by Tony Daly, the team physician.

Manning’s agent, Ron Grinker, said last weekend that Lombardo had that him that Manning would be sidelined from one to six weeks. However, Clipper spokesman Joe Safety said it’s inappropriate for Grinker to comment on how long Manning, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, will be sidelined.

“Ron Grinker doesn’t run this club, he only runs his mouth,” Safety said.

Clipper Notes

Clipper guard Ron Harper, who can become an unrestricted free agent after the season, believes that he is headed elsewhere next season. “There ain’t going to be no deal,” Harper said. “Seventy-seven more games I’m playing here, and that’s that. There ain’t no ifs, ands or buts about it. I’ll play as hard as I can and when the season ends I’ll go from there. I’ll talk to (the Clippers) only when the season ends.” Clipper spokesman Joe Safety said the team is talking with Harper’s agent, Mark Termini. “Seventy-seven more games until the playoffs start,” Safety said. “That’s what I mean and that’s what (Harper) ought to mean.”