News from January 4.

The NBA fined Dallas owner Mark Cuban $250,000 for outbursts and actions
concerning the refs after Wednesday's Det-Dal game.  Cuban had a freeze 
frame of a missed goaltending call that would have tied the game with 12 
seconds left placed on the JumboTron at the end of the game.  It was an 
NBA record fine for an individual.

Don Nelson (Dal coach) underwent successful prostate cancer surgery.  He
will be out 6 to 8 weeks.  The doctors said that it appeared that the
cancer had not spread.

Utah suspended John Starks for 2 games for violating team rules.  Starks
reportedly missed the team bus following Wednesday's Uta-LAL game.

Miami activated Anthony Carter and placed Don MacLean on IR with
tendinitis in his left quad.


Chi 98, Was 96 - at Chi
Fred Hoiberg (Chi) had 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Elton Brand (Chi) had 30 points including 12-17 FG and the game-winning
18-footer at the buzzer, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 blocks.
Ron Mercer (Chi) had 18 points and 6 rebounds.
Juwan Howard (Was) had 22 points, 14 rebounds including 7 offensive, and 5
assists.
Chris Whitney (Was) had 27 points including 10-17 FG, 11 assists, and 6
steals.
Richard Hamilton (Was) had 20 points.
Brad Miller (Chi, right pectoral strain), Jahidi White (Was, mild left
knee strain), and Rod Strickland (Was, sore hamstrings) did not play.

Min 105, Sea 92 - at Min
Wally Szczerbiak (Min) had 17 points on 8-10 FG and 11 rebounds.
Anthony Peeler (Min) had 22 points.
Terrell Brandon (Min) had 21 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals.
Gary Payton (Sea) had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Vin Baker (Sea) had 17 points and 5 rebounds.

Hou 107, Det 97 - at Hou
Maurice Taylor (Hou) had 16 points including 7-10 FG and 9 rebounds.
Steve Francis (Hou) had 26 points including 10-11 FT, 7 rebounds, and 6
assists.
Shandon Anderson (Hou) had 21 points including 9-14 FG and 10 rebounds.
Cuttino Mobley (Hou) had 21 points and 3 steals.
Jerry Stackhouse (Det) had 46 points including 13-14 FT and 3 steals.
Dana Barros (Det) had 13 points.
Hakeem Olajuwon (Hou, swollen right knee) did not play.

NY 95, Orl 92 OT - at NY
Latrell Sprewell (NY) had 20 points and 3 steals.
Marcus Camby (NY) had 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Allan Houston (NY) had 24 points including 3-4 3-pointers and 7 assists.
Tracy McGrady (Orl) had 36 points.
Darrell Armstrong (Orl) had 15 points and 7 assists.
Glen Rice (NY, plantar fascitis) did not play.

Mia 81, NJ 78 - at Mia
Anthony Mason (Mia) had 18 points including 8-10 FT and 13 rebounds.
Brian Grant (Mia) had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Tim Hardaway (Mia) had 17 points including 4-8 3-pointers and 8 assists.
Stephon Marbury (NJ) had 27 points.
Sherman Douglas (NJ) had 15 points including 6-9 FG.
Jim McIlvaine (NJ, strained lower back) did not play.