News from April 2. The NBA named Chris Paul (LAC) and Paul Pierce (Bos) as Players of the Week. Paul averaged 21.5 points and 11.3 assists as the Clippers went 4-0. Pierce averaged 25 points and 8 rebounds as Boston went 4-0. The NBA named Gregg Popovich (SA) and Tom Thibodeau (Chi) as Coaches of the Month for March. San Antonio went 12-3 and Chicago went 13-3. The NBA named Isaiah Thomas (Sac) and Kyrie Irving (Cle) as Rookies of the Month for March. Thomas averaged 13.6 points and 4.9 assists as Sacramento went 6-12. Irving averaged 19.9 points and 6.7 assists as Cleveland went 4-13. Jeremy Lin (NY) underwent surgery on his left knee to repair a small tear in his meniscus. He is expected to be out 6 weeks. Daniel Gibson (Cle) underwent surgery on his left foot and ankle to repair a torn tendon. Chicago activated Richard Hamilton. Dallas activated Dominique Jones and placed Jason Kidd on IL. Kidd is expected to be out at least 4 games with a strained right groin. Oklahoma City activated Daequan Cook and placed Reggie Jackson on IL. The Basketball Hall of Fame announced the inductees for the class of 2012. The inductees are: Players Katrina McClain won USA Olympic Gold Medals 1988 and 1996, USA Female Athlete of the Year in 1988 and 1992, 1987 WBCA National Player of the Year at Georgia Reggie Miller Played 17 years with Indiana, scored 25,279 points, won 1996 Olympic Gold Medal Ralph Sampson acclaimed college player for Virginia, 1984 NBA Rookie of the Year, played 9 seasons in NBA Jamaal Wilkes won NCAA Championships in 1972 and 1973, played 12 seasons in NBA including 8 with the Lakers, won NBA Championships in 1975, 1980, 1982, and 1985 Coaches Don Nelson 31 years coaching in NBA with Milwaukee, Golden State, New York, and Dallas, over 1,300 coaching wins - 2nd most in NBA history, 3 time NBA Coach of Year Teams All American Red Heads first women's professional basketball team, played 1936 to 1986 Referee Hank Nichols officiated 6 NCAA national championship games and in 10 Final Four games, officiated 2 Olympic games, national coordinator for officials for the NCAA 1986-2008 Those 7 join pervious selected Mel Daniels (ABA Committee), Don Barksdale (Early African-American Pioneers of the Game Committee, Lidia Alexeeva (International Committee), Chet Walker (Veterans Committee, and Phil Knight (Contributors Direct Election Committee) as the class 2012. The enshrinement ceremonies will take place September 7. J'Covan Brown (junior, Texas, guard) declared himself eligible for the NBA draft. LAC 94, Dal 75 at Dal Caron Butler (LAC) had 13 points. Blake Griffin (LAC) had 15 points including 7-11 FG and 16 rebounds. Randy Foye (LAC) had 28 points including 8-15 3-pointers. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 19 points. Jason Terry (Dal) had 15 points. Mem 94, OKC 88 at OKC Marc Gasol (Mem) had 13 points and 8 rebounds. Tony Allen (Mem) had 15 points and 8 rebounds. O.J. Mayo (Mem) had 22 points. Kevin Durant (OKC) had 21 points and 8 rebounds. Russell Westbrook (OKC) had 19 points on 5-16 FG and 9-10 FT, 3 steals, and 5 turnovers. Mike Conley (Mem, sore right ankle) and Dante Cunningham (Mem, sprained left ankle) did not play. Hou 99, Chi 93 at Chi Luis Scola (Hou) had 18 points, 12 rebounds including 5 offensive, and 6 assists. Marcus Camby (Hou) had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Goran Dragic (Hou) had 21 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Luol Deng (Chi) had 24 points including 9-14 FG and 7 rebounds. Carlos Boozer (Chi) had 16 points, 13 rebounds including 5 offensive, and 7 assists. Kevin Martin (Hou, strained right shoulder) and Derrick Rose (Chi, groin) did not play. Mil 112, Was 98 at Was Ersan Ilaysova (Mil) had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Brandon Jennings (Mil) had 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Monta Ellis (Mil) had 17 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. John Wall (Was) had 14 points including 4-13 FG, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. Jordan Crawford (Was) had 23 points including 3-4 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Trevor Booker (Was, plantar fasiciitis left foot), Nene (Was, plantar fasiciitis left foot), and Beno Udrih (Mil, left hand injury) did not play. Sac 116, Min 108 at Sac Tyreke Evans (Sac) had 24 points including 8-11 FT, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) had 20 points and 9 rebounds. Jimmer Fredette (Sac) had 19 points. Kevin Love (Min) had 23 points and 7 rebounds. Nikola Pekovic (Min) had 17 points including 7-8 FG. J.J. Barea (Min, bruised right quad) and Darko Milicic (Min, strained right hamstring) did not play. Uta 102, Por 97 at Por Paul Millsap (Uta) had 31 points including 14-20 FG and 11 rebounds. Al Jefferson (Uta) had 13 points including 6-17 FG and 10 rebounds. Gordon Hayward (Uta) had 20 points. LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) had 27 points and 7 rebounds. Wesley Matthews (Por) had 33 points on 10-12 FG, 5-6 3-pointers, and 8-10 FT. Jamal Crawford (Por, injured right knee) did not play. Schedule for Tuesday, April 3 (All times Central) Charlotte at Toronto 6:00 pm San Antonio at Cleveland 6:00 pm New York at Indiana 6:00 pm Philadelphia at Miami 6:30 pm NBATV Orlando at Detroit 6:30 pm Golden State at Memphis 7:00 pm Phoenix at Sacramento 9:00 pm New Jersey at LA Lakers 9:30 pm NBATV Schedule for Wednesday, April 4 (All times Central) Toronto at Philadelphia 6:00 pm Indiana at Washington 6:00 pm San Antonio at Boston 6:30 pm Charlotte at Atlanta 6:30 pm Oklahoma City at Miami 7:00 pm ESPN Cleveland at Milwaukee 7:00 pm Denver at New Orleans 7:00 pm Golden State at Minnesota 7:00 pm Memphis at Dallas 7:30 pm Phoenix at Utah 8:00 pm New Jersey at Portland 9:00 pm LA Lakers at LA Clippers 9:30 pm ESPN ---- 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