News from December 26. Dan Issel resigned as coach and president of Denver. Mike Evans was named as interim coach. Washington activated Courtney Alexander and placed Richard Hamilton on IR with a pulled right groin. Dal 126, SA 123 OT - at SA Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 steals in 51 minutes. Steve Nash (Dal) had 27 points including the game winning 3-pointer with .6 seconds left and 5 assists. Michael Finley (Dal) had 28 points including 11-16 FG, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 turnovers in 51 minutes. Tim Duncan (SA) had 53 points on 19-28 FG and 15-15 FT, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 6 turnovers in 50 minutes. Malik Rose (SA) had 12 points including 2-7 FG and 9 rebounds. Dal shot 56% (47-84) FG and SA shot 45.9% (39-85) FG. Adrian Griffin (Dal, back spasms) and Shawn Bradley (Dal, sprained ankle) did not play. Sac 89, Por 74 - at Sac Predrag Stojakovic (Sac) had 19 points and 7 rebounds. Chris Webber (Sac) had 16 points including 6-20 FG, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals. Bobby Jackson (Sac) had 17 points on 7-8 FG and 3-3 3-pointers in 18 minutes. Ruben Patterson (Por) had 15 points and 8 rebounds. Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 25 points including 11-18 FG and 13 rebounds. Lawrence Funderburke (Sac, personal reasons) did not play. Mil 107, Atl 97 - at Mil Glenn Robinson (Mil) had 32 points including 4-9 3-pointers and 3 blocks. Michael Redd (Mil) had 17 points and 11 rebounds. Tim Thomas (Mil) had 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Atl) had 28 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 turnovers. Jason Terry (Atl) had 24 points and 6 assists. Ray Allen (Mil, left knee tendinitis), Emanual Davis (Atl, post concussion syndrome), and Toni Kukoc (Atl, back spasms) did not play. Phi 100, LAC 86 - at LAC Derrick Coleman (Phi) had 17 points and 13 rebounds including 7 offensive. Dikembe Mutombo (Phi) had 15 points including 6-8 FG and 7 rebounds. Allen Iverson (Phi) had 23 points including 9-28 FG, 10 assists, and 3 steals. Elton Brand (LAC) had 26 points including 11-15 FG and 13 rebounds including 8 offensive. Michael Olowkandi (LAC) had 16 points and 9 rebounds. Eric Piatkowski (LAC, strained right hip flexor) did not play. Uta 99, Bos 86 - at Uta Donyell Marshall (Uta) had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Karl Malone (Uta) had 17 points and 6 rebounds. Bryon Russell (Uta) had 19 points and 6 rebounds. Paul Pierce (Bos) had 28 points and 6 rebounds. Antoine Walker (Bos) had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Uta shot 50.7% (37-73) FG and Bos shot 39.5% (32-81) FG. Uta shot 20-27 FT and Bos shot 9-11 FT. Ind 89, Orl 82 - at Orl Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) had 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Jamal Tinsley (Ind) had 11 points including 5-16 FG, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. Al Harrington (Ind) had 23 points including 9-15 FG and 7 rebounds. Tracy McGrady (Orl) had 31 points including 11-19 FG. Pat Garrity (Orl) had 10 points. NJ 91, Cle 89 - at Cle Richard Jefferson (NJ) had 16 points and 9 rebounds. Todd MacCulloch (NJ) had 11 points and 7 rebounds. Jason Kidd (NJ) had 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. Chris Mihm (Cle) had 19 points and 9 rebounds. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cle) had 15 points, 12 rebounds including 7 offensive, and 4 blocks. Andre Miller (Cle) had 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 13 assists. Brandon Armstrong (NJ, lower back strain), Kenyon Martin (NJ, suspended), and Lamond Murray (Cle, lower back strain) did not play. Pho 97, Hou 91 - at Hou Shawn Marion (Pho) had 12 points. Stephon Marbury (Pho) had 33 points including 13-14 FT and 5 assists. Bo Outlaw (Pho) had 11 points and 6 rebounds including 5 offensive. Eddie Griffin (Hou) had 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Cuttino Mobley (Hou) had 33 points and 5 rebounds. Walt Williams (Hou, flu like symptoms) did not play. GS 101, LAL 90 - at GS Danny Fortson (GS) had 15 points and 20 rebounds. Antawn Jamison (GS) had 28 points including 8-10 FT and 8 rebounds. Jason Richardson (GS) had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 5 turnovers. Stanislav Medvedenko (LAL) had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 39 points including 17-28 FG and 5 assists. GS shot 27-36 FT and LAL shot 11-14 FT. GS out-rebounded LAL 57-36. Erick Dampier (GS, hyperextended left knee) did not play. Mem 107, Chi 85 - at Mem Pau Gasol (Mem) had 27 points including 11-15 FT, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Stromile Swift (Mem) had 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Jason Williams (Mem) had 21 points and 14 assists. Shane Battier (Mem) had 21 points including 9-10 FT and 7 rebounds. Ron Artest (Chi) had 14 points including 6-8 FG. Ron Mercer (Chi) had 22 points and 5 rebounds. Charles Oakley (Chi, right elbow tendinitis) did not play. Cha 99, Was 93 - at Cha Lee Nailon (Cha) had 12 points on 6-7 FG, 5 rebounds, and 6 turnovers. Elden Campbell (Cha) had 17 points including 7-8 FG and 13 rebounds. Baron Davis (Cha) had 15 points, 5 rebounds, 15 assists, and 5 turnovers. Michael Jordan (Was) had 28 points and 7 assists. Tyronn Lue (Was) had 15 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Cha shot 59.7% (40-67) FG and Was shot 44.9% (35-78) FG. Cha out-rebounded Was 44-22 including 8-4 offensive. Min 94, Den 91 - at Den Kevin Garnett (Min) had 23 points including 10-17 FG, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks. Chauncey Billups (Min) had 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. Wally Szczerbiak (Min) had 16 points and 3 steals. James Posey (Den) had 18 points including 6-19 FG, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. Raef LaFrentz (Den) had 15 points including 5-15 FG, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Nick Van Exel (Den) had 27 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 turnovers.