News from February 1. The NBA named Kobe Bryant (LAL) and Chauncey Billups (Det) as Players of the Month for January. Bryant averaged 43.4 points as the Lakers went 9-6 in January. Billups averaged 20.5 points and 8.7 assists as Detroit went 13-2 in January. The NBA named Avery Johnson (Dal) and Flip Saunders (Det) as Coaches of the Month for January. Dallas went 13-2 and Detroit went 13-2 in January. The NBA named Chris Paul (NO) and Andrew Bogut (Mil) as Rookies of the Month for January. Paul averaged 16.4 points and 7.5 assists as New Orleans went 10-5 in January. Bogut averaged 10.4 points and 8.8 rebounds as Milwaukee went 7-10 in January. TRADE: Philadelphia traded Steven Hunter to New Orleans for 2nd round draft picks in 2006 and 2007. The NBA announced the contestants for the Rookie-Sophomore game to take place February 17 in Houston. Rookie Team Sophomore Team Andrew Bogut (Mil) Luol Deng (Chi) Channing Frye (NY) T.J. Ford (Mil) Danny Granger (Ind) Ben Gordon (Chi) Luther Head (Hou) Devin Harris (Dal) Sarunas Jasikevicius (Ind) Dwight Howard (Orl) Chris Paul (NO) Andre Iguodala (Phi) Nate Robinson (NY) Nenad Krstic (NJ) Charlie Villanueva (Tor) Jameer Nelson (Orl) Deron Williams (Uta) Andres Nocioni (Chi) Emeka Okafor (Cha) [injured] Coach: Sidney Lowe (Det) Coach: Del Harris (Dal) Assistant: Elvin Hayes Assistant: Moses Malone Philadelphia signed Zendon Hamilton to a 10-day contract. Cleveland activated Martynas Andriuskevicius and placed Ira Newble on IL with a facial abscess. Andriuskevicius was recalled from the NBADL. Orlando activated Grant Hill and placed Jameer Nelson on IL with a sprained foot. Toronto activated Loren Woods. New Orleans placed Steven Hunter and Brandon Bass on IL. Houston activated Jon Barry and placed Stromile Swift on IL as he was late to shoot around. Denver activated Julius Hodge and placed Marcus Camby on IL with a strained muscle in his left shoulder. Golden State activated Calbert Cheaney and placed Chris Taft on IL. San Antonio activated Robert Horry and placed Melvin Sanders on IL. Dal 81, Mem 80 at Mem Josh Howard (Dal) had 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 18 points including the game winning free throws with 7.2 seconds left and 12 rebounds. Jason Terry (Dal) had 15 points. Pau Gasol (Mem) had 26 points and 10 rebounds. Chucky Atkins (Mem) had 18 points. SA 86, Por 82 at Por Tim Duncan (SA) had 14 points including 4-13 FG, 17 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Manu Ginobili (SA) had 22 points including 11-12 FT. Tony Parker (SA) had 20 points including 9-14 FG. Zach Randolph (Por) had 25 points including 9-26 FG and 9 rebounds. Ruben Patterson (Por) had 14 points including 6-8 FG. Robert Horry (SA, abdominal strain) did not play. Hou 86, Mil 84 at Hou Tracy McGrady (Hou) had 22 points on 6-19 FG and 9-12 FT and 7 rebounds. Yao Ming (Hou) had 21 points and 13 rebounds. Bobby Simmons (Mil) had 26 points including 5-9 3-pointers. Jamaal Magloire (Mil) had 13 points and 15 rebounds. Jon Barry (Hou, strained right calf) and Michael Redd (Mil, back spasms) did not play. Det 90, Min 74 at Det Tayshaun Prince (Det) had 20 points including 7-11 FG. Ben Wallace (Det) had 0 points on 0-4 FG and 0-2 FT, 17 rebounds including 8 offensive, 3 blocks, and 4 steals. Richard Hamilton (Det) had 21 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. Trenton Hassell (Min) had 14 points and 6 rebounds. Kevin Garnett (Min) had 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists. Ind 105, LAL 79 at Ind Peja Stojakovic (Ind) had 26 points including 5-11 3-pointers and 13 rebounds. Jeff Foster (Ind) had 15 points and 13 rebounds including 6 offensive. Danny Granger (Ind) had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 26 points including 8-24 FG, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Brian Cook (LAL) had 12 points. Ind shot 46.3% (38-82) FG and LAL shot 30.6% (26-65) FG. Jamaal Tinsley (Ind, sore right elbow) and Austin Croshere (Ind, concussion) did not play. NO 100, Chi 95 at NO David West (NO) had 13 points and 6 rebounds. Chris Paul (NO) had 25 points on 8-11 FG and 9-11 FT, 13 assists, and 3 steals. Kirk Snyder (NO) had 15 points. Kirk Hinrich (Chi) had 20 points including 4-7 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Darius Songaila (Chi) had 18 points and 6 rebounds. Pho 102, Bos 94 at Bos Shawn Marion (Pho) had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Steve Nash (Pho) had 13 points and 8 assists. Raja Bell (Pho) had 18 points including 5-9 3-pointers, 3 blocks, and 6 steals. Paul Pierce (Bos) had 40 points including 4-8 3-pointers and 8-12 FT and 3 steals. Al Jefferson (Bos) had 17 points and 7 rebounds. Sea 111, GS 107 at Sea Rashard Lewis (Sea) had 26 points and 6 rebounds. Ray Allen (Sea) had 32 points including 12-20 FG and 4-10 3-pointers. Luke Ridnour (Sea) had 17 points and 6 assists. Troy Murphy (GS) had 18 points including 5-14 FG, 15 rebounds including 5 offensive, and 3 steals. Baron Davis (GS) had 35 points including 4-14 3-pointers and 9-13 FT, 9 assists, and 5 turnovers. Jason Richardson (GS, sore back) did not play. Uta 103, Den 90 at Uta Andrei Kirilenko (Uta) had 21 points including 7-11 FG, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks. Mehmet Okur (Uta) had 28 points including 9-15 FG and 11 rebounds. Keith McLeod (Uta) had 18 points and 6 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony (Den) had 20 points including 8-22 FG. Kenyon Martin (Den) had 18 points on 9-14 FG and 6 rebounds. Gordan Giricek (Uta, left Achilles tendinitis) did not play. LAC 106, Orl 94 at Orl Elton Brand (LAC) had 35 points on 12-22 FG and 11-12 FT, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals. Cuttino Mobley (LAC) had 16 points. Sam Cassell (LAC) had 26 points including 10-18 FG, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Dwight Howard (Orl) had 15 points and 15 rebounds. Steve Francis (Orl) had 21 points including 11-13 FT and 6 rebounds. Grant Hill (Orl, hernia) did not play. Tor 117, Was 112 at Tor Chris Bosh (Tor) had 33 points including 14-19 FG and 13 rebounds. Mike James (Tor) had 29 points including 11-16 FG and 5-7 3-pointers. Charlie Villanueva (Tor) had 18 points including 4-6 3-pointers, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Antawn Jamison (Was) had 22 points including 4-5 3-pointers and 7 rebounds. Gilbert Arenas (Was) had 35 points inclduing 5-10 3-pointers and 8-11 FT. Atl 102, Cha 92 at Cha Al Harrington (Atl) had 19 points and 6 rebounds. Zaza Pachulia (Atl) had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. Joe Johnson (Atl) had 15 points including 5-16 FG, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Brevin Knight (Cha) had 19 points including 6-17 FG, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals. Raymond Felton (Cha) had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 turnovers. Atl shot 34-41 FT and Cha shot 13-17 FT. Marvin Williams (Atl, sore left Achilles) and Gerald Wallace (Cha, medial tibia bone bruise) did not play. Cle 91, NJ 85 at Cle LeBron James (Cle) had 26 points on 8-21 FG and 10-12 FT, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Drew Gooden (Cle) had 18 points including 7-8 FG and 6 rebounds. Sasha Pavlovic (Cle) had 14 points and 7 rebounds. Richard Jefferson (NJ) had 19 points, 6 assists, and 6 turnovers. Vince Carter (NJ) had 29 points including 10-12 FT, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.