News from December 28.
 
Frank Layden announced his retirement as president of the Utah Jazz.
 
New Jersey activated Evan Eschmeyer and placed Sherman Douglas on IR with
a sore left ankle.


Mia 89, Min 78 - at Mia
P.J. Brown (Mia) had 10 points on 5-7 FG and 10 rebounds.
Alozno Mourning (Mia) had 30 points including 10-12 FT, 13 rebounds, 5
blocks, and 5 turnovers.
Otis Thorpe (Mia) had 12 points on 6-7 FG and 10 rebounds.
Kevin Garnett (Min) had 16 points including 7-23 FG, 9 rebounds, and 4
blocks.
Malik Sealy (Min) had 14 points and 6 rebounds.
Mia out-rebounded Min 60-40.
Jamal Mashburn (Mia, sprained left ankle) did not play.

NJ 89, NY 83 - at NJ
Kendall Gill (NJ) had 23 points and 7 rebounds.
Kerry Kittles (NJ) had 21 points and 6 rebounds.
Stephon Marbury (NJ) had 16 points including 5-17 FG, 13 assists, 4
steals, and 6 turnovers.
Jamie Feick (NJ) had 5 points including 1-6 FG and 17 rebounds.
Patrick Ewing (NY) had 9 points including 3-12 FG and 16 rebounds.
Allan Houston (NY) had 19 points including 6-18 FG.
John Wallace (NY) had 20 points including 8-11 FG.
Keith Van Horn (NJ, flu), Marcus Camby (NY, sprained left ankle), Kurt
Thomas (NY, suspended), and Charlie Ward (NY, flu) did not play.

Den 128, LAC 105 - at Den
Antonio McDyess (Den) had 22 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Raef LaFrentz (Den) had 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Ron Mercer (Den) had 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Keon Clark (Den) had 19 points including 9-10 FG, 7 rebounds, and 3
blocks.
Maurice Taylor (LAC) had 30 points including 13-22 FG, 6 rebounds, and 3
blocks.
Tyrone Nesby (LAC) had 16 points.
Den shot 28-36 FT and LAC shot 13-18 FT.
Derek Anderson (LAC, sprained left ankle) and Eric Murdock (LAC, sprained
left ankle) did not play.

Tor 100, Hou 99 - at Hou
Vince Carter (Tor) had 35 points including 13-17 FT and 12 rebounds.
Antonio Davis (Tor) had 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Alvin Williams (Tor) had 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. 
Carlos Rogers (Hou) had 19 points and 8 rebounds.
Cuttino Mobley (Hou) had 21 points and 5 turnovers.

Sac 114, Bos 101 - at Sac
Chris Webber (Sac) had 23 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks.
Vlade Divac (Sac) had 13 points including 3-4 FG, 7 rebounds, 6 assists,
and 4 blocks.
Predrag Stojakovic (Sac) had 19 points including 7-11 FG.
Antoine Walker (Bos) had 23 points including 7-12 FT and 8 rebounds.
Kenny Anderson (Bos) had 17 points and 9 rebounds.

Por 94, Sea 89 - at Por
Scottie Pippen (Por) had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 24 points and 8 rebounds.
Steve Smith (Por) had 17 points.
Vin Baker (Sea) had 16 points and 7 rebounds.
Gary Payton (Sea) had 24 points including 5-11 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, and
13 assists.
Por shot 50% (39-78) FG and Sea shot 40% (34-85) FG.


[Subliminal note: vote for Michael Finley as an All-Star starter at
http://allstar.nba.com/Ballot.  Finley is averaging 22.7 points, 7.6
rebounds, and 5.4 assists, yet Jason Williams, Anfernee Hardaway, John
Stockton, Damon Stoudamire, Steve Smith, and Steve Francis currently have
more All-Star votes than Fin.]