Memphis Grizzlies waived center John Thomas on Tuesday, cutting their roster to 14 players.

Thomas signed with Memphis on Oct. 3 and averaged 1.3 points and 0.3 assists in three games. The 6-9, 265-pounder played with Minnesota last season, averaging 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds.

Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello stopped by Lorenzen Wright's locker before tip-off to check on his starting center.

Only Wright wasn't starting. Nor was he active for their game against the Phoenix Suns Wednesday night at America West Arena.

A strained right hamstring forced Wright to sit out for the first time this season. He said the leg muscle tightened overnight.

"I think it's from compensating for the ankle," Wright said, referring to his sprained and swollen right ankle. "(The trainer) said if I make a wrong move I could pull it or tear it. So I want to be smart."

Wright said he decided to rest because the Griz won't play again until Saturday at Utah. The team will remain in Phoenix to practice today and Friday.

"I want to be smart about it," Wright said. "What's the point of risking a serious injury and having to sit out weeks when I can use my head and get ready for the weekend?"

Memphis Grizzlies guard Damon Stoudamire was held out of Saturday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks with an ankle injury.

Stoudamire turned his left ankle during Memphis' loss at Cleveland on Friday night, but was able to continue playing. The injury was not believed to be serious, and he was not listed on the pregame injury report. Stoudamire had more discomfort before the game, prompting the late lineup change.

Bobby Jackson made his first start of the season replacing Stoudamire.

The injury prevented Stoudamire from playing against his cousin, Hawks rookie backup gaurd Salim Stoudamire, who also went to Arizona, for the first time.

For the second time in a row in Boston, Ricky Davis hit the game-winning shot in the closing seconds to beat Memphis.
Davis made a jumper as time expired, and Paul Pierce scored 29 points as the Celtics overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 99-98 Wednesday night.

After Eddie Jones' jumper gave the Grizzlies a one-point lead with 13 seconds remaining, Pierce was double-teamed as he drove baseline and passed to Davis, who was wide open at the foul line.

"It was going to be Pierce or Davis," Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello said. "It's not like we didn't talk about both of them. We lost the game here last year with Davis taking the last shot."

The Grizzlies and numerous other teams are ardently pursuing New Orleans? P.J. Brown, to no avail.

Hornets coach Byron Scott is against making any more trades, at least for the time being. So in the near future, should Scott issue a denial that one of his players is about to be moved, he may honestly be telling the truth.