Ross out, Thomas to play

Tim Thomas sat out the second half of the Indiana game on Friday with a sore lower back, but he was on the court before the game tonight and appears to be ready to give it a shot. That's figuratively, not literally, as far as we know. Thomas said he got some treatment on the back and was moving around fairly well. Meanwhile, Quinton Ross, also suffering from a low-back problem, will not play. Erick Dampier and Josh Howard remain out. Shawn Marion will start. --Eddie Sefko