News from April 3. The NBA named Gregg Popovich (SA) as Coach of the Month. San Antonio went 14-3 in March. The NBA named Mike Miller (Orl) and Kenyon Martin (NJ) as Rookies of the Month. Miller averaged 16.6 points and 4.6 rebounds as Orlando went 9-7. Martin averaged 18.2 points and 8.5 rebounds. The NBA fined Charles Oakley (Tor) $10,000 and suspended him for 1 game for throwing a ball at Tyrone Hill after Tuesday's morning shoot around. The NBA suspended Rod Strickland (Por) for his conviction for DUI. Denver suspended Nick Van Exel for 1 game for missing 2 workouts. Portland suspended Rasheed Wallace for 1 game for inappropriate game conduct. [Portland was extremely upset with Wallace's latest ejection. Wallace has a league record 40 technicals.] Miami activated Todd Fuller and placed Duane Causwell on IR with a sprained left ankle. Steven Hunter (sophomore, DePaul, center) and Eddie Griffin (freshman, Seton Hall, forward) declared themselves eligible for the NBA draft. Underclassmen have until May 13 to declared themselves eligible for the draft. Dal 109, Hou 97 - at Hou Juwan Howard (Dal) had 23 points and 6 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 20 points including 9-16 FG and 9 rebounds. Michael Finley (Dal) had 27 points and 6 rebounds. Steve Nash (Dal) had 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. Maurice Taylor (Hou) had 16 points. Hakeem Olajuwon (Hou) had 15 points and 8 rebounds. Cuttino Mobley (Hou) had 28 points and 8 rebounds. Dal shot 51.2% (44-86) FG and Hou shot 39.5% (26-39) FG. Dal shot 16-19 FT and Hou shot 26-39 FT. Dan Langhi (Hou, stomach flu) and Kenny Thomas (Hou, stomach flu) did not play. For the first time in 11 seasons, Dallas has clinched a playoff berth. YES! Bos 82, Mia 77 - at Mia Paul Pierce (Bos) had 33 points including 10-19 FT and 9 rebounds. Antoine Walker (Bos) had 20 points and 5 assists. Anthony Mason (Mia) had 16 points including 8-12 FT. Brian Grant (Mia) had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 turnovers. NY 94, Orl 82 - at NY Latrell Sprewell (NY) had 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Marcus Camby (NY) had 23 points including 9-16 FG and 20 rebounds. Kurt Thomas (NY) had 15 points including 6-7 FG and 6 rebounds. Bo Outlaw (Orl) had 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 steals. Mike Miller (Orl) had 27 points including 10-16 FG and 6-10 3-pointers. Tor 100, Phi 85 - at Tor Antonio Davis (Tor) had 10 points and 9 rebounds. Vince Carter (Tor) had 26 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, and 3 steals. Alvin Williams (Tor) had 14 points and 13 assists. Dikembe Mutombo (Phi) had 10 points and 16 rebounds including 7 offensive. Allen Iverson (Phi) had 18 points. Tor shot 48.4% (44-91) FG and Phi shot 37.5% (33-88) FG. Tor shot 6-10 FT and Phi shot 17-20 FT. Dell Curry (Tor, sore left hamstring), Charles Oakley (Tor, suspended), and Aaron McKie (Phi, right knee sprain) did not play. LAL 96, Uta 88 - at Uta Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 31 points including 5-11 FT, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Derek Fisher (LAL) had 17 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Robert Horry (LAL) had 20 points including 4-6 3-pointers, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Karl Malone (Uta) had 31 points including 13-16 FT, 14 rebounds, 3 steals, and 6 turnovers. John Stockton (Uta) had 19 points on 9-11 FG and 7 assists. Kobe Bryant (LAL, sore left foot) did not play. Det 110, Chi 83 - at Chi Ben Wallace (Det) had 4 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Jerry Stackhouse (Det) had 57 points on 21-36 FG, 4-11 3-pointers, and 11-13 FT and 5 assists. Chucky Atkins (Det) had 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Fred Hoiberg (Chi) had 12 points including 3-13 FG, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Jamal Crawford (Chi) had 17 points including 4-6 3-pointers and 3 steals. Det shot 49.4% (41-83) FG and Chi shot 34.9% (29-83) FG. Ron Mercer (Chi, right ankle tendinitis) did not play. Ind 85, Pho 81 - at Ind Reggie Miller (Ind) had 16 points including 4-12 FG and 5 assists. Jalen Rose (Ind) had 18 points and 5 rebounds. Travis Best (Ind) had 18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Shawn Marion (Pho) had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Jason Kidd (Pho) had 17 points including 7-20 FG, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. Rodney Rogers (Pho) had 18 points on 4-18 FG and 10-12 FT and 5 rebounds. Mil 107, Sac 101 - at Sac Glenn Robinson (Mil) had 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Ray Allen (Mil) had 20 points and 6 rebounds. Sam Cassell (Mil) had 33 points including 10-11 FT. Predrag Stojakovic (Sac) had 28 points and 11 rebounds. Doug Christie (Sac) had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. Den 94, Por 92 - at Den Kevin Willis (Den) had 19 points including 8-25 FG and 18 rebounds including 10 offensive. Robert Pack (Den) had 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. George McCloud (Den) had 20 points including 4-7 3-pointers. Damon Stoudamire (Por) had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Steve Smith (Por) had 17 points. Terry Davis (Den, strained left calf), Antonio McDyess (Den, dislocated left knee cap), Nick Van Exel (Den, suspended), Rod Strickland (Por, suspended), and Rasheed Wallace (Por, suspended) did not play. Cha 103, NJ 88 - at NJ Jamal Mashburn (Cha) had 31 points including 13-18 FG, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. P.J. Brown (Cha) had 19 points including 9-11 FT and 12 rebounds. Baron Davis (Cha) had 17 points including 7-11 FT, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Johnny Newman (NJ) had 26 points including 9-10 FT. Keith Van Horn (NJ) had 25 points and 8 rebounds. Stephon Marbury (NJ, ruptured tendon left pinky) did not play. SA 107, Sea 89 - at SA Danny Ferry (SA) had 10 points and 6 rebounds. Tim Duncan (SA) had 30 points including 11-17 FG, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Derek Anderson (SA) had 16 points and 8 assists. Rashard Lewis (Sea) had 23 points including 9-15 FG. Gary Payton (Sea) had 23 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals. SA shot 56.2% (41-73) FG and Sea shot 44.3% (35-79) FG. Patrick Ewing (Sea, strained lower back) did not play.