News from December 21. The Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 2018 nominees. The 2018 inductees will be selected from the nominees. The Women's and North American finalists will be announced February 17 and the full list of inductees will be announced April 2. The induction ceremony will be held September 8. The first time nominees include Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Grant Hill, Ray Allen, Chauncey Billups, and Richard Hamilton. You can see the full list of nominees at http://www.hoophall.com/news/naismith-memorial-basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-eligible-candidates-for-the-class-of-2018/ Utah signed Erik McCree to a 2-way contract and released Eric Griffin. Boston activated Kadeem Allen and placed Shane Larkin on IL. Memphis activated Chandler Parsons and Brandon Wright and placed Vince Hunter on IL. New York activated Kristaps Porzingis and placed Joakim Noah on IL. Philadelphia placed J.J. Redick (right hamstring tightness) on IL. San Antonio activated Kawhi Leonard and placed Marc Gasol (right groin tightness) on IL. Toronto placed Alfonzo McKinnie on IL. Utah placed Erik McCree on IL. Cle 112, Chi 112 at Cle LeBron James (Cle) had 34 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Kevin Love (Cle) had 27 points including 9-15 FG and 4-8 3-pointers and 7 rebounds. Kyle Korver (Cle) had 15 points including 5-7 FG and 4-6 3-pointers. Lauri Markkanen (Chi) had 25 points including 11-17 FG. Denzel Valentine (Chi) had 18 points on 7-10 FG and 4-7 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Cle shot 19-22 FT and Chi shot 6-8 FT. J.R. Smith (Cle, sore left knee) did not play. Tor 114, Phi 109 at Phi DeMar DeRozan (Tor) had 45 points on 13-21 FG, 6-9 3-pointers, and 13-15 FT and 5 rebounds. Kyle Lowry (Tor) had 23 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 7 turnovers. Serge Ibaka (Tor) had 12 points including 4-13 FG and 8 rebounds. Ben Simmons (Phi) had 20 points including 9-14 FG, 6 rebounds, and 7 turnovers. Robert Covington (Phi) had 19 points including 5-12 3-pointers, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals. Dario Saric (Phi) had 18 points including 7-10 FG, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Tor shot 41.2% (35-85) FG and Phi shot 52.3% (45-86) FG. Tor shot 32-35 FT and Phi shot 10-14 FT. NY 102, Bos 93 at NY Enes Kanter (NY) had 14 points and 10 rebounds including 5 offensive. Jarrett Jack (NY) had 12 points and 5 rebounds. Kyle O'Quinn (NY) had 32 points including 13-20 FG, 12 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Kyrie Irving (Bos) had 32 points including 6-15 FG. Jayson Tatum (Bos) had 17 points. Jaylen Brown (Bos, sore left Achilles) did not play. Pho 97, Mem 95 at Pho T.J. Warren (Pho) had 27 points on 9-15 FG and 8-10 FT and 5 rebounds. Greg Monroe (Pho) had 8 points, 12 rebounds including 5 offensive, and 7 assists. Troy Daniels (Pho) had 14 points including the game winning 3-pointers with 17.6 seconds left. Tyreke Evans (Mem) had 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Marc Gasol (Mem) had 13 points on 6-19 FG and 1-7 3-pointers, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Uta 100, SA 89 at Uta Rodney Hood (Uta) had 29 points including 3-10 3-pointers. Ricky Rubio (Uta) had 11 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 6 turnovers. Derrick Favors (Uta) had 14 points and 9 rebounds. Bryn Forbes (SA) had 12 points including 3-4 3-pointers. LaMarcus Aldridge (SA) had 11 points including 4-11 3-pointers and 6 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell (Uta, right big toe contusion), Manu Giobili (SA, rest), and Danny Green (SA, left groin tightness) did not play. Schedule for Friday, December 22 (All times Central) New York at Detroit 6:00 pm New Orleans at Orlando 6:00 pm Washington at Brooklyn 6:30 pm Dallas at Miami 7:00 pm LA Clippers at Houston 7:00 pm ESPN Charlotte at Milwaukee 7:00 pm Atlanta at Oklahoma City 7:00 pm Denver at Portland 9:00 pm LA Lakers at Golden State 9:30 pm ESPN Schedule for Saturday, December 23 (All times Central) Philadelphia at Toronto 4:00 pm Milwaukee at Charlotte 6:00 pm Brooklyn at Indiana 6:00 pm Orlando at Washington 6:00 pm Dallas at Atlanta 6:30 pm Chicago at Boston 6:30 pm New Orleans at Miami 7:00 pm LA Clippers at Memphis 7:00 pm Oklahoma City at Utah 7:00 pm Denver at Golden State 7:30 pm Minnesota at Phoenix 8:00 pm Portland at LA Lakers 8:30 pm San Antonio at Sacramento 9:00 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