HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich has a superficial bladder tumor that will be treated without surgery, the team said Tuesday.

	The Rockets will have to hold off the Suns for the West's final playoff berth without Rudy Tomjanovich coaching them.

Team physician Dr. James Muntz said the diagnosis was a "transition cell cancer of the bladder'' that was found on the outside tissue of the organ.

Tomjanovich will begin "medical treatments once a week, beginning in two weeks,'' but did not specify the nature of the treatments.

Tomjanovich, 54, checked into Methodist Hospital Monday to undergo tests as his team headed to Seattle for Tuesday night's game against the Sonics, which he will miss. He hoped to rejoin the team during its current five-game West Coast road swing.

"Rudy's treatment options are optimistic,'' Muntz said following a biopsy of the bladder lining Monday by Dr. Richard Goldfarb.

Tomjanovich was released from the hospital and was resting at home, the team said.

After recovering from a bladder infection about a month ago, Tomjanovich said he went in for routine follow-up tests, the second of which turned up abnormal cells. He broke the news to his team after an 85-75 victory over Phoenix Sunday that clinched a playoff tiebreaker with the Suns, who are vying with the Rockets for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

Tomjanovich, who spent his entire 11-year playing career in Houston, never had missed a game in his 11-plus seasons as coach. Assistant Larry Smith will lead the team in Tomjanovich's absence.

Smith said before Tuesday night's game with the Seattle Sonics that the news of Tomjanovich's illness was devastating for the team, but said the players responded well.

"There were a lot of sad faces this morning, but the guys know the coach is a fighter, and the most important thing for us to remember is that he is going to get better,'' Smith said.

"We know he's going to get better and that's the most important thing,'' Smith said. "All we want is for him to get well. All things take care of itself.''

Smith said he spoke to Tomjanovich Tuesday morning as the coach rested at home.

"I don't know if he's ever missed a game before, but we're going to miss him on the bench tonight,'' said James Posey.

"He's doing what he needs to do right now. He'll be back with us as soon as he can. We're looking forward to that.''