News from January 31.

The NBA announced the reserves for the All-Star game.  The reserves were
selected by coaches in each conference who were asked to select 2 guards, 2
forwards, 1 center, and 2 from any position (and could not vote for
players on their own team).  The All-Star game takes place February 17 in 
New Orleans.  The reserves are:
  Western Conference                   Eastern Conference
  Carlos Boozer (Uta)                  Chauncey Billups (Det)
  Steve Nash (Pho)                     Chris Bosh (Tor)
  Dirk Nowitzki (Dal)                  Caron Butler (Was)
  Chris Paul (NO)                      Richard Hamilton (Det)
  Brandon Roy (Por)                    Antawn Jamison (Was)
  Amare Stoudemire (Pho)               Joe Johnson (Atl)
  David West (NO)                      Paul Pierce (Bos)

Byron Scott (NO) will coach the Western Conference team in the All-Star
game with New Orleans having clinched having the best record in the 
conference by February 3.

Charlotte signed Earl Boykins for the rest of the season.

The LA Lakers signed DJ Mbenga to a 2nd 10-day contract.

Cleveland activated Shannon Brown and placed LeBron James on IL with a
sprained right ankle.


Bos 96, Dal 90  at Bos
Paul Pierce (Bos) had 26 points including 9-10 FT and 6 rebounds.
Ray Allen (Bos) had 26 points.
Rajon Rondo (Bos) had 14 points including 5-14 FG and 12 rebounds
including 6 offensive.
Josh Howard (Dal) had 19 points including 1-6 3-pointers and 6 rebounds.
Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 31 points including 10-10 FT, 11 rebounds, 6
assists, and 3 blocks.

Det 90, LAL 89  at Det
Tayshaun Prince (Det) had 22 points including the game winning 3-pointer
with 4.5 seconds left.
Chauncey Billups (Det) had 16 points and 7 assists.
Richard Hamilton (Det) had 14 points and 4 steals.
Derek Fisher (LAL) had 15 points.
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 39 points including 13-15 FT, 10 rebounds, 5
assists, and 11 turnovers.
Det shot 12-16 FT and LAL shot 24-35 FT.
Luke Walton (LAL, hip pointer) did not play.

Sea 101, Cle 95  at Sea
Chris Wilcox (Sea) had 18 points and 13 rebounds including 5 offensive.
Kurt Thomas (Sea) had 16 points on 8-10 FG, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Kevin Durant (Sea) had 24 points including 10-16 FG and 5 turnovers.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cle) had 17 points on 3-13 FG and 11-11 FT, 9
rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks.
Larry Hughes (Cle) had 28 points including 4-8 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, 5
assists, and 3 steals.
Sea shot 56.4% (44-78) FG and Cle shot 38.5% (30-78) FG.
Sea shot 10-14 FT and Cle shot 23-27 FT.
Wally Szczerbiak (Sea) did not play.

SA 84, Pho 81  at Pho
Tim Duncan (SA) had 16 points, 17 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 turnovers.
Manu Ginobili (SA) had 19 points on 3-14 FG and 12-12 FT, 7 rebounds, 3
steals, and 6 turnovers.
Jacque Vaughn (SA) had 17 points and 3 steals.
Shawn Marion (Pho) had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals.
Steve Nash (Pho) had 17 points including 6-18 FG and 8 assists.
Robert Horry (SA) did not play.