News from December 4.

Charlotte signed restricted free agent Anderson Varejao to a 3 year, $17
million offer sheet.  Cleveland had 7 days to match the offer sheet and
retain Varejao (which they did so today, Wednesday).

Minnesota coach Randy Wittman is scheduled to under go back surgery and
will be out indefinitely.  Assistant coach Jerry Sichting will fill in as
head coach while Wittman is out.

Philadelphia fired GM and president Billy King and named Ed Stefanski as
GM.  Stefanski had been GM for New Jersey.

Indiana released Courtney Sims.

Kevin Martin (Sac) suffered a torn groin muscle during Tuesday's Sac-Uta
game and is expected to be out 4 to 6 weeks.

Atlanta activated Solomon Jones and placed Tyronn Lue on IL with a
strained right calf.


Sac 117, Uta 107  at Sac
Ron Artest (Sac) had 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Kevin Martin (Sac) had 25 points including 9-13 FT.
John Salmons (Sac) had 21 points including 9-11 FT and 6 rebounds.
Carlos Boozer (Uta) had 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Deron Williams (Uta) had 30 points and 7 assists.
Ronnie Brewer (Uta) had 18 points including 7-9 FG and 6 rebounds.
Sac shot 36-47 FT and Uta shot 18-22 FT.

Mil 87, LAC 78  at LAC
Andrew Bogut (Mil) had 19 points including 8-10 FG and 12 rebounds.
Maurice Williams (Mil) had 8 points including 3-14 FG, 7 rebounds, and 9
assists.
Michael Redd (Mil) had 25 points and 8 rebounds.
Corey Maggette (LAC) had 20 points and 6 rebounds.
Chris Kaman (LAC) had 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks.
Mil out-rebounded LAC 46-28 including 11-4 offensive.

LAL 116, Min 95  at Min
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 20 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Sasha Vujacic (LAL) had 16 points including 3-3 3-pointers.
Trevor Ariza (LAL) had 15 points including 5-5 FG, 5 rebounds, and 4
steals.
Al Jefferson (Min) had 12 points including 5-14 FG and 12 rebounds
including 5 offensive.
Sebastian Telfair (Min) had 16 points.
Andrew Bynum (LAL, stomach illness) and Ronny Turiaf (concussion) did not
play.

Pho 121, Ind 117  at Ind
Grant Hill (Pho) had 16 points including 7-9 FG, 5 rebounds, and 6
assists.
Shawn Marion (Pho) had 14 points including 5-15 FG and 12 rebounds.
Amare Stoudemire (Pho) had 42 points on 15-24 FG and 12-13 FT and 13
rebounds.
Steve Nash (Pho) had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 17 assists.
Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) had 30 points including 14-20 FG, 11 rebounds, and 6
turnovers.
Jamaal Tinsley (Ind) had 19 points and 12 assists.
Mike Dunleavy (Ind) had 22 points and 7 rebounds.

Det 106, Atl 95  at Atl
Tayshaun Prince (Det) had 23 points including 9-12 FG.
Richard Hamilton (Det) had 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Jarvis Hayes (Det) had 17 points including 7-11 FG.
Josh Smith (Atl) had 13 points.
Josh Childress (Atl) had 18 points.
Zaza Pachulia (Atl, concussion) did not play.

NJ 100, Cle 79  at Cle
Richard Jefferson (NJ) had 36 points on 11-18 FG and 13-15 FT.
Malik Allen (NJ) had 10 points and 9 rebounds.
Vince Carter (NJ) had 19 points and 7 assists.
Shannon Brown (Cle) had 20 points.
Daniel Gibson (Cle) had 17 points and 6 rebounds.
NJ shot 51.5% (34-66) FG and Cle shot 34.6% (28-81) FG.
Nenad Krstic (NJ, knee rehabilitation), Antoine Wright (NJ, sore left
shoulder), and LeBron James (Cle, sprained left index finger) did not 
play.