News from January 31. The NBA selected Jason Kidd (NJ), Stephon Marbury (Pho), Tony Parker (SA), and Gary Payton (Sea) to participate in the Skills Challenge for All-Star Saturday night, February 8 in Atlanta. The Skills Challenge is a new competition that features dribbling, passing, and shooting. Chicago activated Jay Williams and placed Lonny Baxter on IR with left knee tendinitis. The LA Clippers activated Cherokee Parks and placed Michael Olowokandi on IR with a sprained left knee. Portland placed Chris Dudley on IR. LAL 124, Sac 113 at Sac Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 36 points including 12-13 FT, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 38 points and 5 rebounds. Rick Fox (LAL) had 15 points including 5-7 FG and 4-6 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. Predrag Stojakovic (Sac) had 36 points including 5-7 3-pointers 5 rebounds. Mike Bibby (Sac) had 21 points. Chris Webber (Sac, sprained left ankle) and Scot Pollard (Sac, broken right hand) did not play. Pho 98, LAC 92 at LAC Stephon Marbury (Pho) had 19 points including 9-10 FT, 15 rebounds, and 5 steals. Casey Jacobsen (Pho) had 17 points. Amare Stoudemire (Pho) had 17 points including 9-11 FT and 7 rebounds. Sean Rooks (LAC) had 16 points and 5 rebounds. Elton Brand (LAC) had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Anfernee Hardaway (Pho, right thumb surgery) did not play. Phi 104, Mia 99 at Phi Keith Van Horn (Phi) had 33 points including 11-19 FG and 4-7 3-pointers and 7 rebounds. Eric Snow (Phi) had 21 points on 4-11 FG and 13-14 FT, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Allen Iverson (Phi) had 25 points including 8-22 FG and 9-15 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 5 turnovers. Caron Butler (Mia) had 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Eddie Jones (Mia) had 22 points on 6-18 FG and 7-10 FT and 7 rebounds. Kenny Thomas (Phi, right thigh bruise) and Greg Buckner (Phi, left groin/hip flexor) did not play. Tor 102, Ind 90 at Tor Jerome Williams (Tor) had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Antonio Davis (Tor) had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Voshon Lenard (Tor) had 17 points including 7-11 FG and 7 rebounds. Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) had 17 points including 6-17 FG, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Brad Miller (Ind) had 20 points and 4 steals. Tor shot 49.4% (38-77) FG and Ind shot 37.2% (32-86) FG. Lindsey Hunter (Tor, sore lower back), Mamadou N'diaye (Tor, right heel injury), Chris Jefferies (Tor, lower back injury), and Ron Artest (Ind, suspended) did not play. NY 108, Mem 102 at Mem Kurt Thomas (NY) had 17 points. Howard Eisley (NY) had 30 points on 12-15 FG and 6-9 3-pointers and 8 assists. Allan Houston (NY) had 18 points. Pau Gasol (Mem) had 32 points including 13-19 FG, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Jason Williams (Mem) had 21 points and 13 assists. NJ 89, NO 72 at NJ Kenyon Martin (NJ) had 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. Kerry Kittles (NJ) had 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Lucious Harris (NJ) had 13 points. Jamal Mashburn (NO) had 17 points including 6-17 FG and 6 rebounds. David Wesley (NO) had 12 points and 6 rebounds. Jason Kidd (NJ, strained right groin), Richard Jefferson (NJ, stomach virus), and Elden Campbell (NO, strained neck) did not play. Atl 96, Cle 91 at Atl Glenn Robinson (Atl) had 20 points and 5 assists. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Atl) had 14 points and 8 rebounds. Jason Terry (Atl) had 17 points and 7 assists. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cle) had 21 points including 9-12 FT. Jumaine Jones (Cle) had 15 points and 8 rebounds. Det 118, Bos 66 at Bos Chauncey Billups (Det) had 24 points including 4-8 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Richard Hamilton (Det) had 29 points on 10-17 FG and 9-11 FT. Corliss Williamson (Det) had 13 points and 5 rebounds. J.R. Bremer (Bos) had 10 points. Paul Pierce (Bos) had 23 points and 9 rebounds. Det shot 51.9% (41-79) FG and Bos shot 29.9% (23-77) FG. The 52 point loss was the worst in Bos' 56 year history. SA 109, Orl 108 at Orl Tim Duncan (SA) had 23 points including the game winning putback with 4 seconds left, 17 rebounds including 9 offensive, 6 assists, and 3 blocks. David Robinson (SA) had 20 points and 11 rebounds. Tony Parker (SA) had 20 points including 8-11 FG, 6 rebounds, and 13 assists. Mike Miller (Orl) had 15 points and 6 rebounds. Tracy McGrady (Orl) had 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Steve Smith (SA, personal reasons) did not play. Hou 121, Min 101 at Hou Yao Ming (Hou) had 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Steve Francis (Hou) had 27 points including 12-15 FG, 8 assists, and 6 turnovers. Cuttino Mobley (Hou) had 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Troy Hudson (Min) had 23 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals, and 5 turnovers. Wally Szczerbiak (Min) had 20 points including 9-16 FG and 6 rebounds. Hou shot 58.1% (50-86) FG and Min shot 44.3% (35-79) FG. Rod Strickland (Min, left groin strain) did not play. Por 107, Chi 94 at Por Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 28 points including 5-9 3-pointers and 7 rebounds. Dale Davis (Por) had 17 points including 6-7 FG and 13 rebounds including 7 offensive. Derek Anderson (Por) had 14 points and 6 assists. Jalen Rose (Chi) had 16 points. Marcus Fizer (Chi) had 17 points. Antonio Daniels (Por, sprained right ankle) did not play. Uta 102, GS 94 at Uta Matt Harpring (Uta) had 16 points including 7-10 FG. Karl Malone (Uta) had 26 points including 10-17 FG, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. Calbert Cheaney (Uta) had 16 points on 8-9 FG and 3 steals. Troy Murphy (GS) had 18 points including 8-11 FG and 11 rebounds. Jason Richardson (GS) had 15 points and 7 rebounds. Uta shot 55.1% (43-78) FG and GS shot 42.7% (35-82) FG.