News from March 3. The NBA named Kevin Garnett (Min) and Jamal Mashburn (NO) as Players of the Month for February. Garnett averaged 27.7 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists as Minnesota went 12-1. Mashburn averaged 25.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists as New Orleans went 9-4. The NBA named Flip Saunders (Min) and Larry Brown (Phi) as Coaches of the Month for February. Minnesota went 12-1. Philadelphia went 8-2. The NBA named Yao Ming (Hou) and Caron Butler (Mia) as Rookies of the Month for February. Yao averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds. Butler averaged 14.9 points. The NBA named Ray Allen (Sea) and Michael Jordan (Was) as Players of the Week. Allen averaged 28.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 7.5 assists as Seattle went 4-0. Jordan averaged 24.5 points and 8.3 rebounds as Washington went 3-1. The LA Clippers fired head coach Alvin Gentry. Assistant Dennis Johnson was named as interim coach. Cleveland signed Tierre Brown to a 10-day contract. Boston activated Bruno Sundov. Philadelphia signed Tyrone Hill and released Kenny Satterfield. Sacramento activated Scot Pollard and placed Damon Jones on IR with a sprained right ankle. Memphis activated Robert Archibald and placed Michael Dickerson on IR with a sports hernia. Eddie Jones (Mia) is expected to be out at least 2 weeks with a sprained right ankle. The Veterans committee announced their nominations for the Basketball Hall of Fame for the class of 2003. The nominees are: Forrest Anderson 25 years coaching in college and international Grady Lewis created the oxford canvas basketball shoe Earl Lloyd first black player to play in the NBA in 1950, played 9 seasons in the NBA A nominee needs at least 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee to be inducted. The announcement for the new inductees will occur April 7. Orl 104, Chi 89 at Chi Gordan Giricek (Orl) had 18 points and 7 rebounds. Tracy McGrady (Orl) had 26 points on 6-19 FG and 13-14 FT, 9 rebounds, 13 assists, and 3 steals. Pat Garrity (Orl) had 21 points including 7-21 FG and 5-11 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Jalen Rose (Chi) had 24 points and 5 assists. Donyell Marshall (Chi) had 15 points including 3-4 3-pointers and 11 rebounds. Eddie Robinson (Chi, pulled right hamstring) did not play. Bos 111, Mem 110 at Mem Antoine Walker (Bos) had 17 points on 8-24 FG, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists. Paul Pierce (Bos) had 31 points including 12-19 FG and 13 rebounds. J.R. Bremer (Bos) had 23 points including 8-11 FG and 5-6 3-pointers. Shane Battier (Mem) had 21 points including 5-7 3-pointers and 6 rebounds. Pau Gasol (Mem) had 23 points and 17 rebounds including 9 offensive. Bos shot 13-24 FT and Mem shot 6-11 FT. Mike Miller (Mem, back sprain) and Lorenzen Wright (Mem, death of daughter) did not play. Sac 107, Phi 99 at Sac Chris Webber (Sac) had 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Vlade Divac (Sac) had 17 points including 6-9 FG, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. Bobby Jackson (Sac) had 18 points. Keith Van Horn (Phi) had 17 points and 7 rebounds. Allen Iverson (Phi) had 35 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals. Monty Williams (Phi, left knee pain) did not play. NO 111, LAC 108 at LAC Jamal Mashburn (NO) had 35 points including 13-21 FG and 4-9 3-pointers and 10 assists. David Wesley (NO) had 23 points. P.J. Brown (NO) had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Quentin Richardson (LAC) had 22 points including 5-9 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Andre Miller (LAC) had 21 points and 9 assists. Corey Maggette (LAC) had 24 points including 13-13 FT and 5 assists. Elton Brand (LAC, stress fracture left leg) and Lamar Odom (LAC, sprained right ankle) did not play.