Mourning's career may be over after knee surgery

MIAMI -- The notion of not seeing Alonzo Mourning play basketball again is a difficult one for the Miami Heat to accept.

Mourning had surgery Thursday to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee and a quadriceps tear in the same leg. The injury, which he suffered Wednesday night in Miami's overtime loss at the Atlanta Hawks, will almost certainly keep Mourning sidelined for the remainder of the season.

And since Mourning insists this season is his last, that would mean his career is likely finished as well.

"I lost a brother," Heat center Shaquille O'Neal said Thursday night before Miami hosted the New Jersey Nets. "I lost a partner. I've lost a bodyguard."

The 37-year-old Mourning is Miami's franchise leader in several categories, including games played, points scored, rebounds, blocked shots and minutes played.

"Zo defies the odds," Miami Heat coach Riley said. "We're very concerned about it. This man has a spirit that can never flatline. It just can't. It's always erupting. We're going to miss that, big-time."

-- AP