News from November 17.

The NBA named Quentin Richardson (LAC) and Allen Iverson (Phi) as Players of
the Week.  Richardson averaged 27.3 points and 10.7 rebounds as the Clippers
went 3-0.  Iverson averaged 31.7 points, 7.7 assists, and 3.7 steals as
Philadelphia went 2-1.

The NBA Board of Governors approved the new divisions for next season.  Next
season there will be 3 divisions in each conference.  The winner of each
division will automatically receive one of the top 3 playoff berths - order
of which will be determined by record and tiebreakers.  As always, seeding
has no influence on home court advantage - home court goes to the team with
the better record, even if the other team has a higher seeding.  Divisional
opponents will play each other 4 teams each, play others in the conference 3
or 4 times each, and play teams in the other conference twice.  The new
divisions are:
Western Conference
  Southwest Division      Northwest Division         Pacific Division
  Dallas Mavericks        Denver Nuggets             Golden State Warriors
  Houston Rockets         Minnesota Timberwolves     LA Clippers
  Memphis Grizzlies       Portland Trailblazers      LA Lakers
  New Orleans Hornets     Seattle Sonics             Phoenix Suns
  San Antonio Spurs       Utah Jazz                  Sacramento Kings

Eastern Conference
  Atlantic Division       Central Division           Southeast Division
  Boston Celtics          Chicago Bulls              Atlanta Hawks
  New Jersey Nets         Cleveland Cavaliers        Charlotte Bobcats
  New York Knicks         Detroit Pistons            Miami Heat
  Philadelphia 76ers      Indiana Pacers             Orlando Magic
  Toronto Raptors         Milwaukee Bucks            Washington Wizards

The NBA reduced Maurice Taylor's suspension from 10 games to 6 games.

Orlando fired head coach Doc Rivers and named assistant Johnny Davis as the
new coach.

San Antonio signed Sean Marks and released Shane Heal.

Orlando activated Gordan Giricek and placed Shammond Williams (sprained left
knee) and Pat Garrity (right knee rehabilitation) on IR.

Orlando signed Derrick Dial and released Britton Johnsen.


Dal 105, Por 98  at Dal
Michael Finley (Dal) had 25 points and 7 rebounds.
Steve Nash (Dal) had 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists.
Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks.
Antawn Jamison (Dal) had 20 points including 8-11 FG.
Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 31 points and 8 rebounds.
Zach Randolph (Por) had 25 points on 9-12 FG and 7-11 FT, 19 rebounds
including 10 offensive, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers.
Shawn Bradley (Dal, sprained left knee) and Tony Delk (Dal, strained left
hamstring) did not play.

NY 89, Bos 86  at NY
Kurt Thomas (NY) had 12 points, 17 rebounds including 10 offensive, and 3
blocks.
Keith Van Horn (NY) had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 turnovers.
Allen Houston (NY) had 26 points including 4-6 3-pointers.
Vin Baker (Bos) had 20 points and 8 rebounds.
Paul Pierce (Bos) had 17 points including 6-20 FG, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Eric Williams (Bos) had 17 points and 5 rebounds.

Hou 74, Phi 66  at Phi
Yao Ming (Hou) had 12 points including 5-15 FG, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Cuttino Mobley (Hou) had 19 points including 4-10 3-pointers.
Steve Francis (Hou) had 11 points including 3-17 FG, 10 rebounds, 6 assists,
and 6 turnovers.
Marc Jackson (Phi) had 12 points and 5 rebounds.
Allen Iverson (Phi) had 15 points including 4-19 FG, 7 rebounds, 6 assists,
and 5 turnovers.
Hou shot 32.5% (26-80) FG and Phi shot 31.5% (23-73) FG.
Glenn Robinson (Phi, sprained left ankle) and Derrick Coleman (Phi, strained
left knee) did not play.

Was 106, Atl 97  at Atl
Gilbert Arenas (Was) had 23 points on 5-15 FG and 12-15 FT and 7 assists.
Larry Hughes (Was) had 26 points including 8-11 FT, 9 rebounds, and 5
steals.
Etan Thomas (Was) had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Atl) had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 turnovers.
Jason Terry (Atl) had 25 points including 12-13 FT and 5 assists.
Christian Laettner (Was, bask spasms) did not play.

Uta 90, Orl 88  at Uta
Matt Harpring (Uta) had 14 points including 3-14 FG and 19 rebounds.
Andrei Kirlenko (Uta) had 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Carlos Arroyo (Uta) had 16 points and 5 assists.
Tracy McGrady (Orl) had 29 points including 10-14 FT.
Juwan Howard (Orl) had 21 points including 7-9 FG and 6 rebounds.
Uta out-rebounded Orl 52-31 including 23-5 offensive.