Bob Sura still hasn't participated in a full practice, but he repeated his desire to return to the hardwood this season following Tuesday's workout.

The Rockets point guard, who is recovering from a knee injury that sidelined through all of the 2005-06 season, was on the court shooting jumpers with the team after practice for the first time since training camp opened earlier this month.

Sura is hoping to return next month.

"I'm trying to get myself back into playing shape so I can play in a few weeks," Sura said. "I shouldn't say a few weeks. Five or six weeks is probably more like it."

The NBA and the Orlando Magic today announced that a fan who directed a racial slur at Dikembe Mutombo at the October 26 Rockets/Magic game at TD Waterhouse Centre has been banned by the NBA and the Magic from attending any games at the TD Waterhouse Centre this season and his season tickets have been rescinded. The NBA also announced that the fan will be banned from attending NBA games at any other arena for the 2006-07 season.

The NBA's Fan Code of Conduct requires fans to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner and not to make statements or engage in conduct that would reasonably be considered offensive to game participants or other fans.

The Rockets reduced their roster to the maximum of 15 players Friday by waiving forward Ryan Bowen and guard Casey Jacobsen, moves that point to their hope Bob Sura can make it back from microfracture knee surgery and his surprising declaration this week that he believes he can.

Bowen was released though he had one more guaranteed season, worth roughly $1 million, on his contract. Bowen had been out through the preseason while coming back from hip surgery to repair the torn labrum that hampered him last season.

Luther Head and Kirk Snyder will both be wearing a Rockets uniform through the 2007-08 season.

Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson revealed Friday that the team has picked up the option on the rookie contracts of Head and Snyder.

"Luther and Kirk are two young players who both have a lot of upside and we are pleased to be able to secure them through the end of next season," Dawson said.  "Luther showed a great deal of poise as a rookie last season and has matured into a solid young veteran.  Kirk has shown a lot of promise early in camp and we look forward to seeing his continued development this season."

The Houston Rockets on Friday waived veterans Ryan Bowen and Casey Jacobsen, which means rookie forward Steve Novak has made the team.

With the release of Bowen and Jacobsen, the Rockets reduced their roster to 15 players.

Novak was a second round selection for the Rockets.

Jacobsen played in Europe last season and signed with the Rockets in September.

Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo got into it with a fan who allegedly yelled racist slurs at him in the third quarter of the Rockets' preseason loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

Mutombo yelled at the man and gestured back. The fan was ejected. No action was taken against Mutombo.

"I am not going to take that. He was insulting my race, my family, my integrity. For him to call me a monkey ... that should not happen today," Mutombo said.

"If I get fined, I will go straight into the stands the next time."

Rockets center Yao Ming left a preseason game Thursday night against the Magic with a sprained right ankle.

The All-Star said the injury was minor, and he sat only as a precaution.

"It's not a big problem," Yao said. "If we had practice tomorrow I could do it."

Bonzi Wells returned to the practice court Tuesday after missing the past four days for unspecified personal reasons.

"It wouldn't be personal if I told you, would it?" Wells joked. "I'm not worried about yesterday. I'm just looking forward. I'm back and ready to play. That's it."

The Rockets moved another step closer to finalizing its roster on Tuesday by releasing guard Kelenna Azubuike.

The Rockets now have 17 players and have to release at least two more names before the season opener on Nov. 1.

Houston has two players in Scott Padgett and Casey Jacobsen who were training camp invitees and two more players -- Ryan Bowen (hip) and Bob Sura (knee) -- that haven't played this preseason because of injuries.

"Whatever we do won't be enjoyable," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "There are a lot of different scenarios, and all of them stink. I'd always like to be at 13 or 14 players (on the roster). But there are many cases to be made for 15."

Nobody knows when Bonzi Wells' absence for "personal reasons" will end.  He has practiced very little with the Rockets so far this preseason.

"He's not gonna be active right away," said head coach Jeff Van Gundy. "I think that's expecting way too much.

"When something like (this) happens, it's just like an injury situation. As a coach, you don't concern yourself with that.

"You just coach who you have, try to get them ready to play and believe that you have more than enough to win with, which I believe we do. I don't think we're held hostage by anybody's situation, like an injury to one person or issues that come up. We'll be fine."