Tom Enlund of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Bucks injury troubles just got worse. They announced that Ray Allen was placed on the injured list with a sprained ankle. They didn?t activate anyone off of the list and chose to go with 11 players instead.

Normally a player would have to sit out 5 games if placed on the injured list. Since the Bucks didn?t activate another player to replace Allen, he can be activated at any time. This allows the Bucks the luxury of being cautious with the injury. If

"Most people think he'll be out over 10 days, but we want to give our doctors the ability to look at him," said Bucks coach George Karl. "If our doctors think he is ready to play (before that), we can reactivate him. And if it is 10 days, the clock starts today."

Allen injured his ankle when he made a jump shot and came down on Shaquille O'Neal's foot. It was Allen's only basket of the game as he had missed his previous seven shots. Allen played 16 minutes in the 111-99 loss to the Lakers.

As Charles Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal reports, Caron Butler last showed his stuff for a Wisconsin crowd four years ago, when he was a junior at Racine Park High School.

On Tuesday night, the 6-foot-7 rookie NBA forward reappeared for the home folks, but this time on a much grander stage.

The 22-year-old Racine native was equal to the big moment, scoring a season-high 20 points and adding seven rebounds and five assists in the Miami Heat's 97-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center.

With his mother, Mattie Paden, and a throng of 40 family members and friends in the stands, Butler enjoyed a happy homecoming.

"It was real fun to be out there," Butler said. "I just tried to keep a calm state of mind throughout this whole home trip. There were a lot of emotions, highs and lows.

"So I just said before the game, 'I'm going to try to X out the crowd.' That was my key thing, because if I knew I was looking in the crowd, I'd see my mother, and I'd get all emotional out there. I didn't look up there until the end of the game."

Butler, who survived troubled teenage years in Racine to become a collegiate star for two years at Connecticut, is not simply playing a bit part for the Heat.

The 10th overall choice in the 2002 National Basketball Association draft has made an instant impact in Miami, averaging 35.4 minutes per game to lead all league rookies. He also is scoring 13.1 points per game (third among rookies), handing out 3.5 assists (second) and grabbing 5.3 rebounds (fifth).

"I came down to Miami so early, right after the draft, that I hit the ground running," Butler said. "I got hooked up with the veteran players, and that's why I feel so comfortable around these guys. We're a big family."

The Heat has struggled to a 2-7 record to open the season, and veteran coach Pat Riley has responded by rewarding his rookie with plenty of playing time.

Butler played 40 minutes against the Bucks. Even though he bruised his right knee in a collision with Tim Thomas early in the final quarter, Butler quickly was reinserted in the lineup after the Bucks cut Miami's lead to five points, and he stayed on the floor for the final 7 minutes.

"The only time he doesn't keep it (composure) is when I scream at him," Riley said. "And that's, like, frequently. But he deals with that real well, too.

"He's learning, and his biggest problem is his lack of awareness of NBA situations on defense. He just finds himself sleeping on the weak side a little bit, but he's been real good for us."

When Butler started against Orlando in the Heat's season opener, he became the first rookie to start on opening night for Riley in his eight seasons with the Heat.

"He's not started a lot of rookies and not given a lot of rookies playing time," Butler said. "I look at it like, 'Wow.' Sometimes I can't believe I'm out there playing. I look to the sideline and see him (Riley) over there, and I think, 'This is a dream come true.' "

Butler showed his all-around abilities while being matched against Thomas and his fellow former Connecticut star, Ray Allen. Butler soared on a strong drive in the lane, he hit the baseline jumper and he even went high for an offensive rebound and put-back as Miami built a 12-point lead after three quarters.

"He was aggressive, and he got off to a good start," Riley said. "He's a strong player, and he's got to use his body. He's got to get there down and bang with 'em, get offensive rebounds and loose balls. That's what he did today."

It has been a long basketball journey for Butler, who was expelled from Racine Case High School in 1994 after being arrested for possession of cocaine and a firearm. He served a sentence at Ethan Allen School for Boys in Wales before enrolling at Racine Park in 1997.

Given a second chance to escape the streets of Racine, Butler made the most of it. He eventually went to Maine Central Prep Institute before heading to Connecticut, where he scored in double figures in 62 of 63 games and led the Big East team in scoring (20.3 points per game) last season.

He averaged more than 26 points in four NCAA tournament games last season, and finished with 32 in his final collegiate game, a loss to Maryland in the Elite Eight.

"I wish I still could be there," Butler said, "but it was a decision I had to make. I had to leave; it was best for me and my family. I took a piece with me when I left Connecticut."

His transition to the NBA has been smoother than expected. He made his rookie debut with a 16-point, seven-rebound performance against Orlando