Partizan's Maric to miss one month

The Euroleague's top-rated player so far this season, rookie center Aleks Maric of Partizan Belgrade, will miss a month of action due to knee ligament damage, the club announced Monday. Maric (25, 211) was hurt early in Partizan's home victory over Lietuvos Rytas last week, which clinched the team's place in the Top 16. Maric is now expected to miss not only the last regular season game but at least one Top 16 game. Maric was defending the post when his left knee gave out and he had to leave the game. Subsequent medical examinations have concluded that the ligaments are intact, but doctors recommend that Maric observe a month inaction and therapy. Through nine games, Maric is the Euroleague's fourth-best scorer and second-best rebounder, averaging 16.9 points and 9.1 rebounds. He was named Euroleague MVP for December, one of the few rookies ever to take the monthly award.