News from December 29. Charlotte activated Jahidi White and placed Jamal Sampson on IR with a sprained left ankle. New Orleans suspended Jim Jackson indefinitely for failing to report to the team following his trade from Houston. Charlie Ward (Hou) is expected to be out at least 6 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. NY 100, Min 87 at NY Kurt Thomas (NY) had 14 points on 7-10 FG and 6 rebounds. Nazr Mohammed (NY) had 19 points and 9 rebounds. Stephon Marbury (NY) had 32 points including 12-19 FG, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. Kevin Garnett (Min) had 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. Sam Cassell (Min) had 20 points and 6 assists. Latrell Sprewell (Min) had 22 points and 7 rebounds. NY shot 54.2% (39-72) FG and Min shot 40.2% (35-87) FG. Det 107, Was 105 at Was Rasheed Wallace (Det) had 23 points and 9 rebounds. Richard Hamilton (Det) had 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Chauncey Billups (Det) had 32 points including 11-16 FG and 6-8 3-pointers and the game winning 14-footer with .7 seconds left and 6 assists. Larry Hughes (Was) had 30 points, 7 assists, and 6 steals. Gilbert Arenas (Was) had 34 points including 12-19 FG and 5-9 3-pointers. Ind 74, Cha 71 at Cha Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) had 24 points including 9-24 FG and 17 rebounds. Jamaal Tinsley (Ind) had 14 points and 7 assists. Emeka Okafor (Cha) had 16 points and 15 rebounds including 9 offensive. Melvin Ely (Cha) had 14 points, 11 rebounds including 7 offensive, and 3 blocks. Brevin Knight (Cha, flu like symptoms) and Primoz Brezec (Cha, flu like symptoms) did not play. GS 111, Tor 105 at GS Troy Murphy (GS) had 17 points and 11 rebounds. Mike Dunleavy (GS) had 29 points including 10-15 FG and 4-4 3-pointers. Jason Richardson (GS) had 35 points on 12-19 FG and 9-12 FT and 8 rebounds. Derek Fisher (GS) had 17 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals, and 7 turnovers. Rafer Alston (Tor) had 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. Jalen Rose (Tor) had 23 points including 9-15 FG and 5 turnovers. Speedy Claxton (GS, strained left groin) did not play. Pho 107, NO 96 at NO Quentin Richardson (Pho) had 31 points including 9-16 3-pointers and 11 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire (Pho) had 15 points and 5 rebounds. Steve Nash (Pho) had 22 points including 8-11 FG and 9 assists. J.R. Smith (NO) had 23 points on 10-15 FG. Baron Davis )NO) had 18 points including 6-17 FG and 4-12 3-pointers, 7 assists, and 5 turnovers. Pho shot 15-20 FT and NO shot 9-10 FT. George Lynch (NO, left foot) did not play. LAC 101, Uta 90 at LAC Bobby Simmons (LAC) had 22 points and 8 rebounds. Elton Brand (LAC) had 23 points including 9-15 FG and 10 rebounds. Corey Maggette (LAC) had 22 points including 10-11 FT and 6 rebounds. Matt Harpring (Uta) had 10 points including 4-12 FG and 8 rebounds including 5 offensive. Carlos Boozer (Uta) had 23 points including 9-15 FG, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Raja Bell (Uta, right knee inflammation) and Marko Jaric (LAC, sprained right foot) did not play. Mil 111, Orl 105 at Orl Desmond Mason (Mil) had 21 points and 4 steals. Dan Gadzuric (Mil) had 15 points including 6-9 FG and 14 rebounds including 5 offensive. Michael Redd (Mil) had 29 points including 12-19 FG and 3 steals. Grant Hill (Orl) had 26 points including 12-20 FG, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 6 turnovers. Steve Francis (Orl) had 24 points including 10-12 FT, 12 rebounds including 6 offensive, 9 assists, and 5 turnovers. Joe Smith (Mil, left groin strain) did not play. Mem 117, Bos 109 at Mem Pau Gasol (Mem) had 24 points including 12-13 FT, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Mike Miller (Mem) had 12 points. Bonzi Wells (Mem) had 18 points and 4 steals. Raef LaFrentz (Bos) had 28 points including 10-15 FG and 8 rebounds. Paul Pierce (Bos) had 18 points, 7 assists, and 5 turnovers. Hou 96, Cle 87 at Cle Tracy McGrady (Hou) had 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Juwan Howard (Hou) had 17 points including 7-9 FG. Yao Ming (Hou) had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Drew Gooden (Cle) had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cle) had 17 points and 11 rebounds.