News from December 7. Chicago released Thomas Gardner and claimed Demetris Nichols off of the waiver wire. Nichols had been released by Cleveland on Wednesday. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Sac) underwent surgery on his right knee to remove bone spurs and joint lining. He is expected to miss the rest of the season. David Noel (Mil) underwent surgery on his right wrist and is expected to be out 4 to 6 weeks. Golden State activated Mickael Pietrus and placed Brandan Wright on IL. Memphis activated Darko Milicic and placed Stromile Swift on IL. Houston activated Carl Landry and placed Luther Head on IL. New York activated Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury and placed Wilson Chandler and Randolph Morris on IL. Philadelphia activated Shavlik Randolph and placed Louis Amundson on IL. Indiana activated Stephen Graham and placed Travis Diener on IL. Orlando activated Carlos Arroyo and placed Pat Garrity on IL. SA 104, Uta 98 at SA Tony Parker (SA) had 16 points in 5-14 FG and 6-10 FT, 7 assists, and 5 turnovers. Michael Finley (SA) had 15 points including 4-7 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Manu Ginobili (SA) had 37 points including 17-19 FT, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Carlos Boozer (Uta) had 28 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 turnovers. Deron Williams (Uta) had 28 points on 9-15 FG and 9-12 FT and 10 assists. Tim Duncan (SA, sprained right ankle) did not play. LAC 97, Sac 87 at Sac Corey Maggette (LAC) had 18 points on 4-13 FG and 10-14 FT and 9 rebounds. Tim Thomas (LAC) had 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Chris Kaman (LAC) had 26 points on 9-12 FG and 8-10 FT, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Ron Artest (Sac) had 21 points including 8-22 FG. John Salmons (Sac) had 10 points including 4-13 FG, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Kevin Martin (Sac, strained right groin) did not play. NO 118, Mem 116 OT at NO David West (NO) had 27 points and 9 rebounds. Tyson Chandler (NO) had 13 points and 19 rebounds including 7 offensive. Chris Paul (NO) had 43 points including 5-7 3-pointers and the game winning layup with 1.8 seconds left, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals. Rudy Gay (Mem) had 31 points including 12-21 FG. Pau Gasol (Mem) had 26 points including 11-17 FG, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 6 turnovers. Damon Stoudamire (Mem, stomach virus) did not play. Bos 112, Tor 84 at Bos Paul Pierce (Bos) had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Kevin Garnett (Bos) had 23 points including 9-13 FG and 6 rebounds. James Posey (Bos) had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Joey Graham (Tor) had 12 points including 4-11 FG and 6 rebounds. Anthony Parker (Tor) had 13 points and 5 rebounds. Bos shot 25-30 FT and Tor shot 10-12 FT. Hou 96, NJ 89 at NJ Shane Battier (Hou) had 12 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Yao Ming (Hou) had 25 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Tracy McGrady (Hou) had 24 points including 3-4 3-pointers and 6 assists. Richard Jefferson (NJ) had 29 points. Vince Carter (NJ) had 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Chi 98, Det 91 at Det Luol Deng (Chi) had 17 points and 9 rebounds. Ben Wallace (Chi) had 10 points, 13 rebounds including 7 offensive, and 4 blocks. Andres Nocioni (Chi) had 22 points and 5 assists. Rasheed Wallace (Chi) had 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Chauncey Billups (Det) had 27 points including 11-13 FT and 7 assists. Richard Hamilton (Det) had 24 points. Pho 122, Was 107 at Was Grant Hill (Pho) had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists. Amare Stoudemire (Pho) had 27 points including 12-14 FG and 8 rebounds. Steve Nash (Pho) had 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 19 assists. Raja Bell (Pho) had 22 points including 6-11 3-pointers and 5 assists. Leandro Barbosa (Pho) had 20 points and 7 assists. Antawn Jamison (Was) had 16 points including 7-21 FG and 11 rebounds. Andray Blatche (Was) had 19 points and 10 rebounds including 7 offensive. Gilbert Arenas (Was, knee surgery) and Oleksiy Pecherov (Was, fractured right ankle) did not play. Ind 115, Orl 109 at Orl Danny Granger (Ind) had 27 points including 6-7 3-pointers and 4 steals. Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) had 15 points including 6-18 FG and 6 rebounds. Jamaal Tinsley (Ind) had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists. Rashard Lewis (Orl) had 24 points including 5-11 3-pointers. Dwight Howard (Orl) had 30 points on 9-13 FG and 12-16 FT, 15 rebounds including 5 offensive, 4 steals, and 6 turnovers. Phi 101, NY 90 at Phi Reggie Evans (Phi) had 11 points and 12 rebounds including 5 offensive. Samuel Dalembert (Phi) had 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Louis Williams (Phi) had 15 points and 6 assists. Jamal Crawford (NY) had 28 points and 8 assists. David Lee (NY) had 16 points including 7-10 FG, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals. GS 120, Mia 113 at GS Stephen Jackson (GS) had 28 points including 4-11 3-pointers. Baron Davis (GS) had 25 points including 4-8 3-pointers, 7 assists, and 4 steals. Monta Ellis (GS) had 21 points and 5 rebounds. Dorell Wright (Mia) had 19 points and 17 rebounds including 5 offensive. Dwyane Wade (Mia) had 33 points including 11-12 FT, 10 assists, and 7 turnovers. Ricky Davis (Mia) had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Sea 104, Mil 98 at Sea Kevin Durant (Sea) had 35 points including 15-16 FT, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Chris Wilcox (Sea) had 14 points and 13 rebounds. Earl Watson (Sea) had 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. Michael Redd (Mil) had 41 points including 4-8 3-pointers and 13-14 FT. Andrew Bogut (Mil) had 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Delonte West (Sea, plantar fasciitis right foot) and Bobby Simmons (Mil, personal reasons) did not play.