News from January 4.

The NBA named Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade (Mia) as Players of the Month 
for December.  Nowitzki averaged 27.2 points and 9 rebounds as Dallas went 
9-4 in December .  Wade averaged 23 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 7.7 assists as
Miami went 14-1 in December.

The NBA named Mike D'Antoni (Pho) and Stan Van Gundy (Mia) as Coaches of
the Month for December.  Phoenix went 13-2 in December.  Miami went 14-1 in 
December.

Detroit released Smush Parker.

Golden State activated Andris Biedrins and Luis Flores and placed Dale Davis
on IR with back soreness.

Utah released Aleksandar Radojevic.


Pho 122, Min 115  at Min
Shawn Marion (Pho) had 28 points including 11-17 FG and 4-7 3-pointers and 8
rebounds.
Amare Stoudemire (Pho) had 34 points including 15-19 FG and 8 rebounds.
Steve Nash (Pho) had 20 points and 16 assists.
Wally Szczerbiak (Min) had 20 points including 7-10 FG and 6 assists.
Kevin Garnett (Min) had 47 points on 19-28 FG and 9-11 FT and 17 rebounds.
Sam Cassell (Min) had 24 points including 11-15 FG and 9 assists.
Leandro Barbosa (Pho, chicken pox) did not play.

SA 100, LAL 83  at SA
Bruce Bowen (SA) had 24 points including 5-11 3-pointers.
Tim Duncan (SA) had 12 points, 15 rebounds including 6 offensive, and 3
blocks.
Brent Barry (SA) had 14 points including 4-7 3-pointers, 5 assists, and 3
steals.
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 17 points including 5-16 FG and 5 rebounds.
Stanislav Medvedenko (LAL) had 16 points on 8-10 FG.
SA shot 5-7 FT and LAL shot 19-23 FT.
SA shot 15-30 3-pointers and LAL shot 2-14 3-pointers.

Sac 105, NY 98  at NY
Peja Stojakovic (Sac) had 21 points.
Chris Webber (Sac) had 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Mike Bibby (Sac) had 19 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals.
Nazr Mohammed (NY) had 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Allan Houston (NY) had 21 points.
Stephon Marbury (NY) had 26 points including 4-8 3-pointers, 7 assists, and
5 turnovers.
Bobby Jackson (Sac, ligament tear left wrist) did not play.

Ind 116, Mil 99  at Ind
Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) had 55 points on 18-28 FG and 19-25 FT and 11
rebounds.
Jeff Foster (Ind) had 10 points including 8-10 FT and 10 rebounds including
6 offensive.
Jamaal Tinsley (Ind) had 14 points including 3-12 FG, 7 rebounds, 5 assists,
and 3 steals.
Desmond Mason (Mil) had 21 points and 5 rebounds.
Michael Redd (Mil) had 19 points including 6-18 FG.
Ind shot 41-52 FT and Mil shot 27-32 FT.

Was 112, NJ 88  at Was
Larry Hughes (Was) had 33 points, 7 assists, and 5 steals.
Gilbert Arenas (Was) had 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Jarvis Hayes (Was) had 19 points including 3-4 3-pointers and 3 steals.
Vince Carter (NJ) had 31 points on 15-23 FG and 7 rebounds.
Jason Kidd (NJ) had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Was shot 18-27 FT and NJ shot 10-13 FT.
Kwame Brown (Was, strained tendon right ankle) and Brian Scalabrine (NJ, 
strained left hamstring) did not play.