News from February 20. The NBA named Kevin Durant (OKC) and LeBron James (Mia) as Players of the Week. Durant averaged 32 points and 8 rebounds as Oklahoma City went 3-1. James averaged 27.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists as Miami went 4-0. The NBA suspended Rajon Rondo (Bos) for 2 games for throwing a ball at a ref during Sunday's Bos-Det game. Stephen Curry (GS), Tony Parker (SA), Kyrie Irving (Cle), John Wall (Was), Russell Westbrook (OKC), and Deron Williams (NJ) were named as contestants for the Skills Challenge for All-Star Saturday on February 25 in Orlando. Derrick Favors (Uta) was named to replaced Tiago Splitter (SA, strained right calf) in the Rookie-Sophomore game. Atlanta signed Erick Dampier to a 2nd 10-day contract. New Orleans signed Donald Sloan to a 2nd 10-day contract. San Antonio signed Eric Dawson to a 10-day contract. Cleveland elected not to sign Ben Uzoh to a 2nd 10-day contract after he completed his 1st 10-day contract. Greg Oden (Por) underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee and remains out indefinitely. Houston activated Marcus Morris and placed Hasheem Thabeet on IL. Morris was recalled from the NBADL. Minnesota activated Anthony Randolph and placed Darko Milicic on IL. New York activated Baron Davis and placed Iman Shumpert on IL. Orlando activated DeAndre Liggins and placed Jason Richardson (chest pain) on IL. San Antonio placed Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter (strained right calf) on IL. Ginobili is expected to be out 2 weeks with a strained left oblique muscle. Utah activated DeMarre Carroll and placed Raja Bell on IL. Dal 89, Bos 73 at Dal Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 26 points and 16 rebounds. Jason Kidd (Dal) had 6 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Kidd surpassed Michael Jordan (2,514) for 2nd place on the NBA All-Time steals list (John Stockton is first on the list with 3,265 steals). Jason Terry (Dal) had 16 points including 4-7 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Paul Pierce (Bos) had 20 points, 4 steals, and 5 turnovers. Ray Allen (Bos) had 15 points and 5 rebounds. Rodrigue Beaubois (Dal, death of father) and Rajon Rondo (Bos, suspended) did not play. Chi 90, Atl 79 at Chi Carlos Boozer (Chi) had 16 points and 5 rebounds. Joakim Noah (Chi) had 5 points and 16 rebounds including 5 offensive. Derrick Rose (Chi) had 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Josh Smith (Atl) had 17 points including 7-21 FG, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Jannero Pargo (Atl) had 19 points including 5-8 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Marvin Williams (Atl, death in family) did not play. NJ 100, NY 92 at NY Kris Humphries (NJ) had 14 points including 5-14 FG and 14 rebounds. Deron Williams (NJ) had 38 points including 8-14 3-pointers and 10-12 FT and 6 assists. Marshon Brooks (NJ) had 18 points. Amare Stoudemire (NY) had 17 points. Jeremy Lin (NY) had 21 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals. Jordan Farmar (NJ, strained right groin) and Bill Walker (NY, sore left elbow) did not play. OKC 101, NO 93 at OKC Kevin Durant (OKC) had 31 points and 8 rebounds. Serge Ibaka (OKC) had 9 points, 13 rebounds including 6 offensive, and 3 blocks. Russell Westbrook (OKC) had 31 points including 9-10 FT. Jarrett Jack (NO) had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Al-Farouq Aminu (NO) had 14 points and 6 rebounds. Nick Collison (OKC, left quad contusion), James Harden (OKC, sprained left ankle), Lazar Hayward (OKC, orbital floor fracture), Emeka Okafor (NO, sore left knee), and Jason Smith (NO, concussion) did not play. Hou 97, Mem 93 at Hou Luis Scola (Hou) had 10 points. Kyle Lowry (Hou) had 24 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals. Kevin Martin (Hou) had 22 points. Rudy Gay (Mem) had 23 points and 7 rebounds. Mike Conley (Mem) had 16 points. SA 106, Uta 102 at Uta Tim Duncan (SA) had 20 points and 7 rebounds. Tony Parker (SA) had 23 points including 9-10 FT, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals. Matt Bonner (SA) had 20 points including 5-6 3-pointers. Paul Millsap (Uta) had 16 points including 6-17 FG and 11 rebounds. Al Jefferson (Uta) had 20 points and 11 rebounds. Orl 93, Mil 90 at Mil Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) had 13 points including 3-4 3-pointers. Dwight Howard (Orl) had 28 points including 10-14 FT, 16 rebounds including 6 offensive, 3 steals, and 7 turnovers. Jameer Nelson (Orl) had 15 points and 5 assists. Brandon Jennings (Mil) had 22 points. Mike Dunleavy (Mil) had 18 points and 6 rebounds. Drew Gooden (Mil, sprained right wrist) and Tobias Harris (Mil, right shoulder contusion) did not play. GS 104, LAC 97 at GS David Lee (GS) had 24 points and 13 rebounds. Ekpe Udoh (GS) had 19 points including 9-14 FG and 8 rebounds. Monta Ellis (GS) had 32 points including 4-4 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Blake Griffin (LAC) had 21 points on 7-10 FG and 7-10 FT and 9 rebounds. Chris Paul (LAC) had 24 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. Maurice Williams (LAC) had 22 points including 6-8 3-pointers. Andris Bierdins (GS, flu like symptoms) did not play. LAL 103, Por 92 at LAL Pau Gasol (LAL) had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Andrew Bynum (LAL) had 14 points and 19 rebounds including 5 offensive. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 28 points and 4 steals. LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) had 18 points including 6-19 FG and 8 rebounds. Nicolas Batum (Por) had 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, and 5 turnovers. Den 103, Min 101 OT at Den Corey Brewer (Den) had 12 points including 4-15 FG and 8 rebounds. Arron Afflalo (Den) had 20 points on 6-18 FG and 8-10 FT and 5 rebounds. Al Harringon (Den) had 31 points and 9 rebounds. Kevin Love (Min) had 22 points including 7-22 FG and 13 rebounds including 5 offensive. Michael Beasley (Min) had 17 points and 7 rebounds. Danilo Gallinari (Den, sprained left ankle) and Rudy Fernandez (Den, lower back strain) did not play. Pho 104, Was 88 at Pho Channing Frye (Pho) had 19 points including 4-7 3-pointers and 11 rebounds. Marcin Gortat (Pho) had 20 points including 9-14 FG and 7 rebounds. Steve Nash (Pho) had 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. Trevor Booker (Was) had 16 points and 8 rebounds. Jordan Crawford (Was) had 20 points including 7-10 FG. Schedule for Tuesday, February 21 (All times Central) Detroit at Cleveland 6:00 pm New Orleans at Indiana 6:00 pm Sacramento at Miami 6:30 pm Philadelphia at Memphis 7:00 pm San Antonio at Portland 9:00 pm Schedule for Wednesday, February 22 (All times Central) Detroit at Toronto 6:00 pm Sacramento at Washington 6:00 pm Indiana at Charlotte 6:00 pm New Orleans at Cleveland 6:00 pm Boston at Oklahoma City 6:00 pm ESPN Orlando at New Jersey 6:30 pm Atlanta at New York 6:30 pm Milwaukee at Chicago 7:00 pm Philadelphia at Houston 7:00 pm Utah at Minnesota 7:00 pm Golden State at Phoenix 8:00 pm LA Lakers at Dallas 8:30 pm ESPN Denver at LA Clippers 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