PHOENIX, Arizona, : Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire has a torn iris after he was poked in the eye by teammate Boris Diaw during practice, the Arizona Republic reported.

The newspaper said Friday Stoudemire missed practice for a second straight day, and will wear protective goggles when he resumes practice and perhaps for the entire National Basketball Association season.

"He actually had some damage to his iris, which is not serious, fortunately," Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr said.

Stoudemire will be out at least until Sunday night's open practice at US Airways Center, the report said.

Stoudemire, 25, averaged 25.2 points and 9.1 rebounds in 79 games last season.

"It's going to be important that he gets back and try to get up his conditioning," Suns coach Terry Porter told the newspaper. "As soon as you take a couple steps forward, you've got to take a couple steps backward for him, unfortunately."

- AFP/vm