News from March 2. The NBA named Jerry Sloan (Uta) as Coach of the Month for February. Utah went 11-2 in February. The NBA named Paul Pierce (Bos) as Rookie of the Month for February. Pierce averaged 20.4 points and 7.1 rebounds as Boston went 6-5. The NBA fined Anfernee Hardaway (Orl) $7,500 for criticizing the refs following Sunday's Orl-Mia game. Houston activated Rodrick Rhodes and placed Antoine Carr on IR with a strained right knee. The LA Clippers activated Charles Smith and placed Stojko Vrankovic on IR with lower back spasms. Phoenix activated Gerald Brown and Toby Bailey, placed Marko Milic on IR with tendinitis in his right knee, and released Shawn Respert. San Antonio activated Will Purdue and placed Gerard King on IR with cervical spasms on the left side. Utah activated Thurl Bailey and released Chris King. Dal 112, LAC 99 - at Dal Michael Finley (Dal) had 20 points on 5-14 FG and 9-11 FT, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. A.C. Green (Dal) had 19 points including 8-10 FG and 12 rebounds including 7 offensive. Hubert Davis (Dal) had 18 points and 6 rebounds. Maurice Taylor (LAC) had 18 points including 5-17 FG and 14 rebounds including 9 offensive. Rodney Rogers (LAC) had 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. Mia 85, NY 84 OT - at Mia P.J. Brown (Mia) had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Alonzo Mourning (Mia) had 28 points on 9-25 FG and 10-13 FT, 11 rebounds, and 7 blocks. Tim Hardaway (Mia) had 17 points including 6-20 FG and 4-9 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Larry Johnson (NY) had 19 points. Patrick Ewing 9NY) had 31 points including 11-14 FT, 16 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Por 102, Uta 100 2OT - at Por Brian Grant (Por) had 13 points including 4-12 FG, 12 rebounds including 9 offensive, and 6 assists. Isaiah Rider (Por) had 18 points and 5 turnovers. Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 22 points including 10-12 FT and 6 rebounds. Karl Malone (Uta) had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, and 7 turnovers. Jeff Hornacek (Uta) had 23 points including 10-13 FG, 8 assists, and 3 steals. John Stockton (Uta) had 15 points including 6-8 FG, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 8 steals. Cle 116, Bos 99 - at Cle Shawn Kemp (Cle) had 22 points including 12-15 FT and 10 rebounds. Bob Sura (Cle) had 19 points including 7-11 FG and 7 assists. Derek Anderson (Cle) had 16 points including 10-12 FT and 9 assists. Wesley Person (Cle) had 17 points including 6-9 FG and 4-6 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Antoine Walker (Bos) had 17 points and 5 rebounds. Ron Mercer (Bos) had 22 points. Cle shot 58.1% (36-62) FG and Bos shot 41.7% (35-84) FG. Brevin Knight (Cle, sprained right index finger) did not play. Ind 88, Den 81 - at Ind Chris Mullin (Ind) had 18 points including 6-8 FG and 5-5 3-pointers. Rik Smits (Ind) had 14 points including 4-15 FG and 6 rebounds. Reggie Miller (Ind) had 21 points. Antonio McDyess (Den) had 16 points including 5-15 FG, 8 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Nick Van Exel (Den) had 28 points and 7 assists. Bryant Stith (Den, sprained left ankle) and Chauncey Billups (Den, sprained left ankle) did not play. Mil 94, NJ 86 - at NJ Glenn Robinson (Mil) had 18 points including 6-18 FG and 6 rebounds. Ray Allen (Mil) had 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Ervin Johnson (Mil) had 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Keith Van Horn (NJ) had 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 turnovers. Kerry Kittles (NJ) had 12 points on 5-16 FG, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Terrell Brandon (Mil, bruised ribs) and Sam Cassell (NJ, sprained right ankle) did not play. Was 97, Atl 77 - at Atl Juwan Howard (Was) had 20 points on 10-16 FG and 8 rebounds. Rod Strickland (Was) had 18 points, 11 assists, and 6 turnovers. Mitch Richmond (Was) had 28 points including 12-19 FG. Grant Long (Atl) had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Johnson (Atl) had 14 points and 5 assists. Was shot 59.2% (42-71) FG and Atl shot 40.8% (31-76) FG. Chris Crawford (Atl, lacerated right thumb), Alan Henderson (Atl, back spasms), and Roshown McLeod (Atl, flu) did not play. SA 99, Hou 82 - at Hou Tim Duncan (SA) had 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks. David Robinson (SA) had 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals. Avery Johnson (SA) had 18 points and 13 assists. Scottie Pippen (Hou) had 21 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 turnovers. Charles Barkley (Hou) had 16 points and 6 rebounds. Sac 111, Van 101 - at Van Corliss Williamson (Sac) had 15 points. Chris Webber (Sac) had 36 points including 17-21 FG, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Vlade Divac (Sac) had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Van) had 29 points and 12 rebounds. Mike Bibby (Van) had 19 points including 9-11 FG, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. Det 108, Chi 78 - at Chi Grant Hill (Det) had 17 points including 8-11 FG, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists. Joe Dumars (Det) had 16 points including 4-8 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Jerome Williams (Det) had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Randy Brown (Chi) had 14 points. Corey Benjamin (Chi) had 15 points. Det shot 54.8% (46-84) FG and Chi shot 37.8% (31-82) FG. Mark Bryant (Chi, sore ribs) did not play. Min 89, GS 78 - at Min Kevin Garnett (Min) had 27 points including 11-18 FT, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks. Joe Smith (Min) had 14 points and 8 rebounds. Stephon Marbury (Min) had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. Chris Mills (GS) had 21 points and 7 rebounds. John Starks (GS) had 15 points including 5-18 FG, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Min shot 30-39 FT and GS shot 12-17 FT.