News from January 22. The NBA named Kobe Bryant (LAL) and Allen Iverson (Phi) as Players of the Week. Bryant averaged 37.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists as the Lakers went 2-1. Iverson averaged 41.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists as Philadelphia went 3-0. The NBA fined Kenny Thomas (Hou) $15,000 and suspended him for 3 games and fined Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Atl) $15,000 and suspended him for 3 games for their fight in Monday's Hou-Atl game. Jason Terry (Atl) was also fined $7,500 and suspended for 1 game for throwing a punch during the altercation. The NBA reached a new TV broadcasting agreement with ABC, ESPN, and TNT. The 6 year contract, starting next season, is reportedly worth $4.6 billion and has ABC and ESPN (both owned by Disney) paying $2.4 billion and TNT paying up to $385 million per season. ABC will broadcast 15 regular season games on Sunday afternoon, the NBA Finals, and 5 playoff games. ESPN and ESPN2 will broadcast 75 regular season games, at least 23 playoff games, and the NBA draft on the Thursday following the end of the playoffs [was Wednesday]. TNT will broadcast 52 regular season games, playoff games, and the All-Star game. A new AOL-Time Warner and NBA station (yet to be formed) will broadcast 96 regular season games and selected playoff games. Per the new TV deal, the league is also looking to expand the 1st round of the playoffs to a 7 game series instead of a 5 game series - such expansion must first be approved by the Players Association. Atlanta signed Ira Newble to a 10-day contract and placed Emanual Davis on IR. Davis is scheduled to undergo season ending surgery on a broken bone in his left wrist. Orlando activated Jeryl Sasser. Dal 113, Hou 107 - at Hou Juwan Howard (Dal) had 19 points and 13 rebounds including 8 offensive. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 24 points including 3-4 3-pointers, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Steve Nash (Dal) had 31 points and 10 assists. Eddie Griffin (Hou) had 19 points and 3 blocks. Steve Francis (Hou) had 25 points including 7-10 FT and 5 assists. Cuttino Mobley (Hou) had 35 points including 13-19 FG and 6 rebounds. Greg Buckner (Dal, strained left calf) and Kenny Thomas (Hou, suspended) did not play. Den 107, LAL 91 - at LAL Zendon Hamilton (Den) had 17 points and 8 rebounds. James Posey (Den) had 23 points including 4-6 3-pointers and 8 rebounds. Nick Van Exel (Den) had 17 points and 12 assists. Voshon Lenard (Den) had 29 points on 9-11 FG, 3-3 3-pointers, and 8-11 FT in 26 minutes. Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 40 points including 17-22 FG and 11 rebounds. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 15 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. Den shot 56.5% (39-69) FG and LAL shot 45.1% (37-82) FG. George McCloud (Den, strained left calf) and Scott Williams (Den, sore lower back) did not play. NJ 92, SA 86 - at SA Keith Van Horn (NJ) had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals. Jason Kidd (NJ) had 28 points including 1-7 3-pointers, 11 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Lucious Harris (NJ) had 12 points and 6 rebounds. Tim Duncan (SA) had 32 points on 10-17 FG and 12-14 FT, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals, and 5 turnovers. Antonio Daniels (SA) had 18 points and 5 rebounds. Phi 91, Was 84 - at Was Allen Iverson (Phi) had 34 points, 5 assists, and 6 turnovers. Eric Snow (Phi) had 19 points including 7-11 FG, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Aaron McKie (Phi) had 18 points including 4-6 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Michael Jordan (Was) had 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Tyronn Lue (Was) had 19 points. Derrick Coleman (Phi, left foot inflammation) and Christian Laettner (Was, right thigh injury) did not play. Mia 92, Chi 79 - at Mia Alonzo Mourning (Mia) had 17 points including 6-7 FG, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Rod Strickland (Mia) had 20 points including 8-10 FG, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Eddie Jones (Mia) had 20 points and 6 rebounds. Ron Artest (Chi) had 24 points including 3-4 3-pointers and 5-12 FT and 6 steals. Brad Miller (Chi) had 19 points and 7 rebounds. Greg Anthony (Chi, partial tear right Achilles) did not play. Pho 92, Mil 81 - at Mil Shawn Marion (Pho) had 24 points and 17 rebounds. Anfernee Hardaway (Pho) had 14 points including 5-14 FG and 7 assists. Tony Delk (Pho) had 11 points. Sam Cassell (Mil) had 24 points. Michael Reed (Mil) had 16 points and 6 rebounds. Glenn Robinson (Mil, left thigh bruise) did not play. Orl 100, Atl 86 - at Orl Pat Garrity (Orl) had 23 points including 9-13 FG. Darrell Armstrong (Orl) had 15 points on 6-8 FG. Don Reid (Orl) had 15 points including 7-8 FG. Hanna Mottola (Atl) had 14 points on 7-9 FG. Jacque Vaughn (Atl) had 14 points and 8 assists. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Atl, suspended), Jason Terry (Atl, suspended), and Theo Ratliff (Atl, right bursa sac injury) did not play. Por 116, Sac 110 OT - at Por Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 33 points including 6-9 3-pointers and 15 rebounds. Dale Davis (Por) had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Bonzi Wells (Por) had 34 points including 15-25 FG and 12 rebounds. Damon Stoudamire (Por) had 16 points and 8 assists. Predrag Stojakovic (Sac) had 21 points. Chris Webber (Sac) had 34 points including 16-24 FG, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 7 turnovers. Mike Bibby (Sac) had 27 points including 11-18 FG and 6 assists. Mateen Cleaves (Sac, bilateral plantar fasciaitis) and Brent Price (Sac, strained right knee) did not play.