News from January 5. Blake Griffin (LAC), Serge Ibaka (OKC), Brandon Jennings (Mil), and JaVale McGee (Was) were named as contestants for the Slam Dunk contest to take place February 19 in Los Angeles. DeSagana Diop (Cha) underwent surgery to repair his torn right Achilles tendon. He is expected to be out 9 to 12 months. The LA Clippers signed Jarron Collins to a 10-day contract. Atlanta released Damien Wilkins. Dallas released Steve Novak. Milwaukee released Brian Skinner. San Antonio released Ime Udoka. Toronto released Ronald Dupree. Washington released Lester Hudson. Memphis recalled DeMarre Carroll from the NBADL. Tom Abdenour resigned as trainer for Golden State. Atlanta activated Jordan Crawford. Denver activated Al Harrington and placed Renaldo Balkman on IL. Houston activated Ish Smith and placed Aaron Brooks (sore left ankle) on IL. Golden State activated David Lee and Andris Biedrins and placed Charlie Bell on IL. Washington activated Josh Howard and Kirk Hinrich and placed Cartier Martin on IL. Milwaukee activated Brandon Jennings. Cleveland activated Daniel Gibson and Anderson Varejao and placed Anthony Parker (sore back) and Jamario Moon on IL. Bos 105, SA 103 at Bos Paul Pierce (Bos) had 18 points including 7-10 FG and 7 rebounds. Glen Davis (Bos) had 23 points. Rajon Rondo (Bos) had 12 points, 10 rebounds, 22 assists, 6 steals, and 5 turnovers. Ray Allen (Bos) had 31 points including 13-16 FG and 6 assists. Tim Duncan (SA) had 18 points and 5 rebounds. Tony Parker (SA) had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Manu Ginobili (SA) had 24 points and 8 rebounds. Bos shot 61.3% (46-75) FG and SA shot 45.3% (39-86) FG. LAL 99, Pho 95 at Pho Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Andrew Bynum (LAL) had 14 points and 7 rebounds. Lamar Odom (LAL) had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Steve Nash (Pho) had 11 points and 10 assists. Goran Dragic (Pho) had 21 points including 8-11 FG and 3-4 3-pointers and 6 rebounds. LAC 106, Den 93 at LAC Blake Griffin (LAC) had 22 points, 18 rebounds including 5 offensive, and 7 assists. Eric Gordon (LAC) had 28 points including 4-8 3-pointers. DeAndre Jordan (LAC) had 14 points including 5-7 FG, 20 rebounds including 9 offensive, and 6 blocks. Carmelo Anthony (Den) had 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Chauncey Billups (Den) had 25 points on 5-14 FG, 5-8 3-pointers, and 10-11 FT. NJ 96, Chi 94 at NJ Brook Lopez (NJ) had 14 points. Devin Harris (NJ) had 18 points and 11 assists. Kris Humphries (NJ) had 20 points on 10-15 FG and 11 rebounds including 5 offensive. Luol Deng (Chi) had 17 points and 8 rebounds. Derrick Rose (Chi) had 21 points and 5 turnovers. Orl 97, Mil 87 at Orl Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) had 13 points. Dwight Howard (Orl) had 28 points on 9-16 FG and 10-15 FT and 13 rebounds. Jameer Nelson (Orl) had 10 points including 3-9 FG, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. Corey Maggette (Mil) had 21 points including 7-9 FG and 7 rebounds. Larry Sanders (Mil) had 15 points including 7-10 FG and 8 rebounds including 5 offensive. Brandon Jennings (Mil, left foot surgery) and Drew Gooden (plantar fasciitis left foot) did not play. Atl 110, Uta 87 at Uta Al Horford (Atl) had 18 points on 9-16 FG and 8 rebounds including 5 offensive. Joe Johnson (Atl) had 28 points including 10-17 FG and 5-7 3-pointers. Jamal Crawford (Atl) had 26 points and 6 rebounds. Andrei Kirilenko (Uta) had 19 points including 3-3 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Deron Williams (Uta) had 19 points including 5-15 FG, 9 assists, and 5 turnovers. Paul Millsap (Uta, bruised right hip) did not play. Por 103, Hou 100 at Hou LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) had 27 points including 11-18 FG and 13 rebounds including 5 offensive. Rudy Fernandez (Por) had 12 points including 3-11 FG and 5 assists. Patrick Mills (Por) had 14 points including 4-7 3-pointers. Shane Battier (Hou) had 13 points. Kevin Martin (Hou) had 45 points on 13-18 FG, 6-8 3-pointers, and 13-15 FT. Tor 120, Cle 105 at Cle Andrea Bargnani (Tor) had 25 points and 8 rebounds. Jose Calderon (Tor) had 20 points including 8-10 FG and 3-3 3-pointers and 17 assists. Leandro Barbosa (Tor) had 22 points and 3 steals. Antawn Jamison (Cle) had 32 points including 5-7 3-pointers. Ramon Sessions (Cle) had 16 points including 12-12 FT, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Tor shot 11-16 FT and Cle shot 27-33 FT. Sonny Weems (Tor, back spasms) did not play. Cha 108, Min 105 OT at Min Boris Diaw (Cha) had 16 points including 7-20 FG and 7 assists. D.J. Augustin (Cha) had 16 points including 4-17 FG, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists. Tyrus Thomas (Cha) had 21 points and 11 rebounds. Michael Beasley (Min) had 28 points and 12 rebounds. Kevin Love (Min) had 35 points on 11-16 FG and 10-11 FT, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists. Stephen Jackson (Cha, hyperextended left knee) did not play. GS 110, NO 103 at NO Dorell Wright (GS) had 13 points. Stephen Curry (GS) had 21 points. Monta Ellis (GS) had 29 points and 5 rebounds. David West (NO) had 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Chris Paul (NO) had 24 points including 10-14 FT, 6 rebounds, and 13 assists. Phi 109, Was 97 at Phi Elton Brand (Phi) had 17 points and 6 rebounds. Jrue Holiday (Phi) had 26 points including 10-14 FG and 9 assists. Louis Williams (Phi) had 26 points on 7-10 FG and 10-11 FT. John Wall (Was) had 18 points and 14 assists. Nick Young (Was) had 21 points. Phi shot 29-38 FT and Was shot 12-18 FT. Schedule for Thursday, January 6 (All times Central) Oklahoma City @ Dallas 7:00 pm TNT Denver @ Sacramento 9:30 pm TNT Schedule for Friday, January 7 (All times Central) San Antonio @ Indiana 6:00 pm Chicago @ Philadelphia 6:00 pm New Jersey @ Washington 6:00 pm Toronto @ Boston 6:30 pm Houston @ Orlando 7:00 pm ESPN Utah @ Memphis 7:00 pm Portland @ Minnesota 7:00 pm Miami @ Milwaukee 7:30 pm New York @ Phoenix 9:30 pm Cleveland @ Golden State 9:30 pm ESPN New Orleans @ LA Lakers 9:30 pm ---- Patricia Bender pbender@eskimo.com For Trianglons puzzles: http://www.trianglons.com For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html For Mavs stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs.html