Watson Still Playing in Pain
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Coach Steve Lavin is looking for an opportunity to reduce guard Earl Watson’s minutes. Watson has been playing with a bruised bone in his right foot for about three weeks but does not want to sit out.
“It bothers me a lot,” said Watson, who still is expected to start tonight when UCLA plays at Oregon State. “It takes a while for it to warm up, or at least for me to mentally block out the pain; about 10 minutes.”
Said teammate Baron Davis: “I can really tell he’s out there hurting. I can see the look in his eyes. You can tell he’s out there fighting the pain.”
Lavin has seen it too. He hopes to give Watson a rest to help the healing process.
“If not hold him out,” Lavin said, “I’d love to taper his minutes sometime.”
TONIGHT
at Oregon State, 7
Fox Sports West 2
* Site--Gill Coliseum.
* Radio--KXTA (1150).
* Records--Bruins 10-2, 2-0; Beavers 6-5, 0-2.
* Update--UCLA is playing outside of Southern California for the first time since Nov. 28. The Bruins’ previous games outside Pauley Pavilion : three at the Puerto Rico Shootout and one at the Arrowhead Pond for the Wooden Classic.
