News from December 11. Indiana suspended Stephen Jackson for 1 game for conduct detrimental to the team. Jackson got in an argument with coach Rick Carlisle during Monday's Ind-Chi game, after which Carlisle kicked Jackson off the bench. The NBA named Steve Nash (Pho) and Gilbert Arenas (Was) as Players of the Week. Nash averaged 20.4 points and 11.6 assists as Phoenix went 4-0. Arenas averaged 37.3 points and 5.5 assists as Washington went 3-1. After much player complaints, the NBA has decided to go back to the old leather ball starting January 1. The main issue that reportedly prompted the change is the fact that the new microfiber composite ball is causing small cuts (similar to paper cuts) on some players' hands. Jerry Sloan (Uta) achieved his 1,000 career coaching win, joining Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, and Larry Brown as the only coaches to win 1,000 games. Lawrence Roberts (Mem) underwent surgery on his knee and is expected to be out 4 to 6 weeks. Chicago assigned Martynas Andriuskevicius to the NBADL. Orlando activated J.J. Redick and placed Keith Bogans on IL with a sprained ankle. Portland activated Raef LaFrentz and placed Stephen Graham on IL. Toronto activated Darrick Martin and placed Uros Slokar on IL. Miami activated Jason Williams and placed Gary Payton on IL. New York activated Jared Jeffries and placed Steve Francis on IL with right knee tendinitis. Indiana activated Shawne Williams and Josh Powell and placed Al Harrington (illness) and Stephen Jackson (suspended) on IL. San Antonio activated Jackie Butler and placed Robert Horry on IL. The LA Clippers activated Yaroslav Korolev and placed Chris Kaman on IL with a stomach virus. Uta 101, Dal 79 at Uta Carlos Boozer (Uta) had 31 points and 11 rebounds. Deron Williams (Uta) had 18 points including 7-11 FG, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Matt Harpring (Uta) had 15 points and 8 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 26 points including 7-10 FT, 10 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Anthony Johnson (Dal) had 10 points including 3-4 FG. Uta shot 48.1% (38-79) FG and Dal shot 37.7% (26-69) FG. Gordan Giricek (Uta) did not play. SA 103, LAC 81 at LAC Tim Duncan (SA) had 17 points including 7-10 FG, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Manu Ginobili (SA) had 18 points. Tony Parker (SA) had 21 points including 9-16 FG. Brent Barry (SA) had 24 points including 8-10 FG and 5-6 3-pointers. Elton Brand (LAC) had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Paul Davis (LAC) had 15 points including 7-10 FG and 6 rebounds. Corey Maggette (LAC, bruised left knee) did not play. Chi 106, Ind 91 at Chi Andres Nocioni (Chi) had 19 points and 7 rebounds. Luol Deng (Chi) had 22 points on 8-11 FG and 6-10 FT. Ben Gordon (Chi) had 23 points. Danny Granger (Ind) had 21 points including 4-6 3-pointers. Jamaal Tinsley (Ind) had 21 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Chi shot 26-31 FT and Ind shot 8-13 FT. Marquis Daniels (Ind, stomach illness) did not play. Pho 103, Orl 89 at Orl Shawn Marion (Pho) had 19 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 4 steals. Amare Stoudemire (Pho) had 30 points including 12-14 FT and 8 rebounds including 5 offensive. Steve Nash (Pho) had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 15 assists. Grant Hill (Orl) had 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 turnovers. Trevor Ariza (Orl) had 19 points including 9-14 FG and 7 rebounds. NO 95, Cle 89 at Oklahoma City Desmond Mason (NO) had 12 points and 5 assists. Chris Paul (NO) had 30 points including 11-16 FG, 5 rebounds, and 11 assists. Jannero Pargo (NO) had 15 points and 7 rebounds. Anderson Varejao (Cle) had 17 points including 7-10 FG and 8 rebounds. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cle) had 15 points and 12 rebounds including 6 offensive. NO shot 54.8% (40-73) FG and Cle shot 42.9% (36-84) FG. Bobby Jackson (NO, cracked rib) did not play. Bos 97, NY 90 at NY Paul Pierce (Bos) had 31 points and 7 rebounds. Al Jefferson (Bos) had 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks. David Lee (NY) had 14 points including 6-8 FG and 13 rebounds. Eddy Curry (NY) had 30 points including 8-15 FT and 12 rebounds including 6 offensive. NJ 105, Mem 92 at NJ Richard Jefferson (NJ) had 16 points on 7-9 FG. Vince Carter (NJ) had 37 points including 9-20 3-pointers, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Jason Kidd (NJ) had 12 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists, and 3 steals. Damon Stoudamire (Mem) had 14 points including 3-4 3-pointers. Chucky Atkins (Mem) had 26 points including 4-6 3-pointers and 7 assists. Mia 99, Tor 77 at Mia Alonzo Mourning (Mia) had 12 points and 6 rebounds. Dwyane Wade (Mia) had 37 points on 13-21 FG and 11-13 FT, 5 assists, and 5 turnovers. James Posey (Mia) had 12 points and 7 rebounds. Anthony Parker (Tor) had 18 points. T.J. Ford (Tor) had 10 points, 12 assists, and 7 turnovers. Mia shot 20-27 FT and Tor shot 3-5 FT. Por 81, Phi 79 at Phi Ime Udoka (Por) had 12 points and 5 rebounds. Zach Randolph (Por) had 18 points including the game winning layup with 2.4 seconds left and 10 rebounds. Juan Dixon (Por) had 17 points and 4 steals. Andre Iguodala (Phi) had 27 points including 11-13 FT and 7 rebounds. Kyle Korver (Phi) had 10 points and 5 assists.