Notebook: Lorenzen Wright's 11-month-old daughter dies

DALLAS — Sierra Wright, the 11-month-old daughter of Memphis Grizzlies center Lorenzen Wright, died yesterday morning at the family's home in Memphis, Tenn.

According to the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Wright's wife, Sherra, checked on the child in her crib at about 10:30 a.m. and discovered that the baby wasn't breathing.

She then took Sierra, the youngest of the couple's five children, to the hospital. Doctors could not revive her and she was pronounced dead.

Wright, the Grizzlies' starting center, had flown with the team from Memphis following Friday night's 126-116 victory over Miami for last night's game at Dallas.

Wright's family attended the Miami game and the children had been in the locker room after the game. Wright, 27, flew back to Memphis after learning of his daughter's death.

"We're deeply sadden by the death of Lorenzen's infant daughter," Grizzlies' spokesman Kirk Clayborn said. "Our primary concern is to offer our support to a friend and teammate."

Memphis players wore armbands with Wright's No. 42 for last night's game as a show of support.

The Grizzlies were in the game early in the third quarter, leading by as many as seven, but the Mavericks took control for a 114-87 victory.

"It was difficult to focus," said Stromile Swift, who started in place of Wright. "It's hard to play when something tragic like this happens. Our prayers go out to him. He has our support."

Notes

• The Dallas Mavericks activated guard Adrian Griffin and placed guard Antoine Rigaudeau on the injured list with back spasms.

Griffin, placed on the injured list Feb. 20 with right knee tendinitis, has averaged 4.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in 50 games.

Rigaudeau has played in 11 games, averaging 1.5 points in 8.3 minutes.

Griffin had 17 points in 21 minutes in the Mavericks' 114-87 victory over Memphis last night. He also had four rebounds and four assists.

• Anthony Goldwire signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards, who have lost two point guards to injuries.

Goldwire, who saw three minutes of action in the Wizards' 101-93 victory over Chicago last night, has played in parts of four NBA seasons with Denver, Charlotte and San Antonio. He was released by the Spurs in December, and has been with the CBA's Yakima Sun Kings since.

The Wizards put Tyronn Lue on the injured list Friday with a separated left shoulder, while Larry Hughes is out with a sprained ankle.