National Basketball Association

Elevator traps Battier before practice

Published May. 6, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Call it the ultimate man defense. Grizzlies forward Shane Battier says he was literally boxed in when stuck in an elevator between floors for 25 minutes on his way to practice.

Battier said Friday after practice the elevator at his apartment building stopped between floors Friday morning. He had just enough of a view of a floor that he thought about how he might contort his body to escape, if necessary. He says he was stuck with only a cup of coffee and his phone as he waited for help.

While he waited, Battier tweeted about being stuck and the blessings of working elevators.

Authorities freed him in time for practice.

The Grizzlies host Oklahoma City in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal Saturday.