NBA -- Richardson Could Be Out Rest Of Season -- Shoulder Shelves Pacer Guard

INDIANAPOLIS - Pooh Richardson may be out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, the Indiana Pacers said yesterday.

Richardson, who separated his right shoulder when he was fouled by Boston's Xavier McDaniel on Wednesday, was not immediately placed on the injured list while the Pacers decide how to fill the guard's spot on the roster.

The shoulder was examined by team physician Dr. Sanford Kunkel before Friday night's game in Miami.

"It's a pretty significant injury," Kunkel said. "There's a lot of swelling and a lot of pain."

Kunkel said that in addition to the shoulder separation, Richardson also had ligament damage.

"Our goal is to have him back for the playoffs," President Donnie Walsh said. "That seems to be doable."

However, Kunkel said it might be a mistake for Richardson to return too quickly because the shoulder could easily be aggravated.

The injury is the third of the season for Richardson, who missed his 34th game out of 71 this season when the Pacers played Orlando last night.

Richardson never missed a game in four seasons at UCLA and had played 264 consecutive NBA games until he missed his first one Dec. 11, 1992.

"I'm not done," said Richardson, who lost his starting job to Haywoode Workman seven games ago. "I'm going to do the best I can to come back."

Richardson is averaging 10 points per game and is third on the team in assists with 237.

Shaq vs. the world

Last week the media walked into an Orlando Magic shootaround and found the players rolling on the ground, scuffling with one another.

But before even the quickest scribe could pull out a pen, the players, who had faked the whole thing, sat up and laughed.

"I consider that a good sign," said basketball operations head John Gabriel.

That's because the Magic had engaged in a real scuffle on a recent road trip, a fact that finally became public Thursday.

According to eyewitnesses, the trouble started when Larry Krystkowiak and Shaquille O'Neal became entangled. The two got into a shoving match before O'Neal gestured to the veteran power forward and said, "Come on, let's go."

But Krystkowiak waved off the center and walked away. At that point, teammates said, O'Neal announced there was no one in the league tough enough to take him on.

Oh yeah? Scott Skiles, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound point guard, took exception, charged across the floor and tackled the 7-1, 305-pound O'Neal. Amazingly, no one was hurt, but the incident was symptomatic of a team feeling the pressure as the postseason approaches with high expectations.