News from January 4. The NBA named Alonzo Mourning (Mia) as Player of the Month for December. Mourning averaged 23.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 5.3 blocks as Miami went 8-6. The NBA named Phil Jackson (LAL) as Coach of the Month for December. The Lakers went 14-1 in December. The NBA named Steve Francis (Hou) as Rookie of the Month for December. Francis averaged 16.6 points and 6.9 assists. Mark Cuban signed a letter of intent to purchase a majority share of the Dallas Mavericks for a reported $280 million. The deal still has to be finalized and approved by the league. Chicago released Dedric Willoughby and Khalid Reeves. Minnesota released Eric Riley. Tom Gugliotta (Pho) returned to action for the first time since suffering a seizure December 17. Den 98, Dal 96 - at Den Antonio McDyess (Den) had 27 points on 10-16 FG and 7-14 FT, 13 rebounds including 7 offensive, and 3 blocks. Nick Van Exel (Den) had 17 points including 1-7 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 13 assists. George McCloud (Den) had 19 points including 5-9 3-pointers and the game winning 3-pointer with 8.8 seconds left. Michael Finley (Dal) had 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists. Gary Trent (Dal) had 20 points on 10-16 FG and 6 rebounds. Steve Nash (Dal, sprained right ankle) did not play. Mil 116, Atl 113 - at Mil Glenn Robinson (Mil) had 36 points including 17-23 FG and 6 rebounds. Ray Allen (Mil) had 25 points including 11-19 FG, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Sam Cassell (Mil) had 10 points including 3-14 FG and 18 assists. Jim Jackson (Atl) had 30 points including 4-8 3-pointers and 5 assists. Alan Henderson (Atl) had 17 points including 7-9 FG and 9 rebounds. Bimbo Coles (Atl) had 25 points including 11-14 FG and 7 assists. Mil shot 55.7% (49-88) FG and Atl shot 56.8% (46-81) FG. Van 91, Mia 87 - at Mia Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Van) had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Othella Harrington (Van) had 16 points on 3-12 FG and 10-12 FT and 13 rebounds. Mike Bibby (Van) had 22 points and 5 rebounds. Jamal Mashburn (Mia) had 21 points. P.J. Brown (Mia) had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Van shot 28-37 FT and Mia shot 9-15 FT. Cherokee Parks (Van, pulled right groin) and Dennis Scott (Van, strained left calf) did not play. NY 96, Bos 88 - at NY Larry Johnson (NY) had 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Latrell Sprewell (NY) had 16 points. Allan Houston (NY) had 37 points on 12-18 FG, 3-4 3-pointers, and 10-13 FT. Kenny Anderson (Bos) had 22 points. Paul Pierce (Bos) had 23 points on 6-17 FG and 11-13 FT. NY shot 55% (33-60) FG and Bos shot 39.5% (32-81) FG. Dana Barros (Bos, flu) did not play. Por 114, Tor 90 - at Tor Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 17 points including 7-11 FT and 7 rebounds. Steve Smith (Por) had 19 points including 7-11 FG and 3-4 3-pointers, and 6 rebounds. Damon Stoudamire (Por) had 22 points including 7-11 FG and 5 assists. Tracy McGrady (Tor) had 18 points on 9-13 FG and 3 blocks. Kevin Willis (Tor) had 17 points and 8 rebounds. Por shot 54.5% (42-77) FG and Tor shot 41.2% (35-85) FG. Dee Brown (Tor, knee injury) did not play. Sac 111, Cle 107 - at Cle Corliss Williamson (Sac) had 12 points on 5-7 FG and 2-5 FT and 5 rebounds. Chris Webber (Sac) had 37 points including 14-22 FG and 10 rebounds. Jason Williams (Sac) had 18 points including 5-17 FG and 4-13 3-pointers, 18 assists, and 5 turnovers. Shawn Kemp (Cle) had 21 points and 11 rebounds. Bob Sura (Cle) had 26 points including 4-7 3-pointers and 7 assists. Sac shot 29-41 FT and Cle shot 16-24 FT. Min 91, SA 88 - at Min Kevin Garnett (Min) had 21 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 turnovers. Malik Sealy (Min) had 22 points including 9-11 FG and 7 rebounds. Terrell Brandon (Min) had 18 points, 13 assists, 4 blocks, and 3 steals. Tim Duncan (SA) had 27 points including 10-17 FG, 19 rebounds, and 5 assists. Avery Johnson (SA) had 17 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Ind 116, NJ 111 - at Ind Jalen Rose (Ind) had 19 points and 7 rebounds. Rik Smits (Ind) had 22 points and 9 rebounds. Reggie Miller (Ind) had 24 points including 10-14 FT. Kerry Kittles (NJ) had 33 points including 13-15 FT and 5 steals. Stephon Marbury (NJ) had 26 points including 10-14 FG and 10 assists. Kendall Gill (NJ, sore neck) did not play. Sea 103, Hou 96 - at Hou Vin Baker (Sea) had 19 points and 18 rebounds. Horace Grant (Sea) had 18 points including 8-11 FG and 7 rebounds. Gary Payton (Sea) had 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists. Matt Bullard (Hou) had 20 points. Steve Francis (Hou) had 27 points including 9-14 FG, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Kelvin Cato (Hou, sprained right wrist) did not play. Pho 86, Cha 80 - at Pho Clifford Robinson (Pho) had 30 points on 12-19 FG, 4-7 3-pointers, and 2-5 FT, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Jason Kidd (Pho) had 11 points including 4-12 FG, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 blocks. Todd Day (Pho) had 13 points and 7 rebounds. Derrick Coleman (Cha) had 14 points including 4-14 FG and 19 rebounds. Elden Campbell (Cha) had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks. David Wesley (Cha) had 18 points including 6-19 FG and 5-10 3-pointers and 5 assists. LAL 122, LAC 98 - at LAC Glenn Rice (LAL) had 19 points. Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 38 points on 17-26 FG and 4-9 FT, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 29 points and 9 rebounds. Lamar Odom (LAC) had 22 points and 12 rebounds. Tyrone Nesby (LAC) had 22 points and 6 rebounds. [Subliminal note: vote for Michael Finley for the All-Star game at http://allstar.nba.com/Ballot]