Russell released from hospital after scare

Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Russell was released from a Seattle hospital Saturday after an overnight stay for an unknown condition.

Russell confirmed on Twitter that he went to the hospital late Friday. He didn’t say why.

Russell said in the light-hearted message, “As my wife likes to remind me, I don’t drink enough.”

He thanked fans for their concern and appeared to dismiss reports that the hospital visit was due to heart troubles.

Russell said in the message that his friends “know I don’t have a heart to give me trouble.”

The hospitalization was initially reported by TMZ, which said it was for dehydration.

The 84-year-old basketball great was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. He was an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and won five NBA MVP awards.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens was relieved to hear that Russell was OK.

MLB

TWINS LOSE MAUER » The Minnesota Twins lost a key member of their batting order Saturday as first baseman Joe Mauer was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a cervical strain and concussion-like symptoms.

The former American League MVP was pulled from Friday’s game in the fifth inning with what the team called “neck stiffness” stemming from a dive for a foul ball on May 11.

Twins manager Paul Molitor revealed Saturday that Mauer was also experiencing balance issues and sensitivity to light the night prior, which contributed to his removal.

“We ran through the protocol last night,” said Molitor, “and there was no definitive answer there as far as what exactly is ongoing, but given his history ... it looks to me like it’s gonna be at least a few days.”