News from February 7.

Jeremy Evans (Uta), Eric Bledsoe (LAC), Kenneth Faried (Den), Gerald Green
(Ind), Terrence Ross (Tor), and James White (NY) were named as contestants
for the Slam Dunk contest to take place February 16 in Houston.

Tony Parker (SA), Brandon Knight (Det), Damian Lillard (Por), Jeremy Lin
(Hou), and Jeff Teague (Atl) were named as contestants for the Skills
Challenge for All-Star Saturday to take place February 16 in Houston.

The NBA announced the contestants for the 3-Point Shooting contest to take
place February 16 in Houston.  The contestants are:
  Ryan Anderson (NO)           Paul George (Ind)
  Matt Bonner (SA)             Kyrie Irving (Cle)
  Stephen Curry (GS)           Steve Novak (NY)

The NBA announced the contestants for the Shooting Stars competition to
take placed February 16 in Houston  The teams consist of a NBA player, a
former NBA player, and a WNBA player [the official announcement simply
listed the contestants by West and East and did not list 4 specific
teams].  It's a timed shooting contest.
The teams are:
  West: James Harden (Hou), Russell Westbrook (OKC)
        Sam Cassell, Robert Horry
        Maya Moore, Tina Thompson
  East: Chris Bosh (Mia), Brook Lopez (Bro)
        Muggsy Bogues, Dominique Wilkins
        Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings

Louis Williams (Atl) underwent reconstructive surgery on his right knee.

The LA Lakers placed Pau Gasol (torn right plantar fascia) on IL.


Bos 116, LAL 95  at Bos
Paul Pierce (Bos) had 24 points including 10-17 FG, 7 rebounds, and 6
assists.
Kevin Garnett (Bos) had 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Jeff Green (Bos) had 19 points.
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 27 points including 9-15 FG and 7 rebounds.
Jodie Meeks (LAL) had 13 points.
Bos shot 52.9% (46-87) FG and LAL shot 41.4% (36-87) FG.

Den 128, Chi 96  at Den
Kenneth Faried (Den) had 21 points including 9-10 FG and 12 rebounds.
Ty Lawson (Den) had 16 points and 12 assists.
Wilson Chandler (Den) had 24 points including 8-9 FG and 5-5 3-pointers.
Carlos Boozer (Chi) had 18 point on 9-15 FG.
Daequan Cook (Chi) had 19 points including 4-12 3-pointers.
Den shot 58.1% (50-86) FG and Chi shot 41.8% (38-91) FG.
Marco Belinelli (Chi, injured right ankle) and Kirk Hinrich (Chi, injured
right elbow) did not play.


Schedule for Friday, February 8  (All times Central)
  Brooklyn @ Washington          6:00 pm
  LA Lakers @ Charlotte          6:00 pm
  Toronto @ Indiana              6:00 pm
  New Orleans @ Atlanta          6:30 pm
  San Antonio @ Detroit          6:30 pm
  Orlando @ Cleveland            6:30 pm
  LA Clippers @ Miami            7:00 pm  ESPN
  Golden State @ Memphis         7:00 pm
  Portland @ Houston             7:00 pm
  Phoenix @ Oklahoma City        7:00 pm
  New York @ Minnesota           7:00 pm
  Chicago @ Utah                 9:30 pm  ESPN

Schedule for Saturday, February 9  (All times Central)
  Denver @ Cleveland             6:30 pm
  Charlotte @ Philadelphia       7:00 pm
  Detroit @ Milwaukee            7:30 pm
  Golden State @ Dallas          7:30 pm
  Utah @ Sacramento              9:00 pm  NBATV


----
  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