News from November 17.

The NBA named Chauncey Billups (Den) and LeBron James (Cle) as Players of
the Week.  Billups averaged 21.5 points and 5.8 assists as Denver went
3-1.  James averaged 33.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists as Cleveland 
went 3-0.

The NBA suspended Kevin Garnett (Bos) for 1 game for striking Andrew Bogut
(Mil) in the face during Saturday's Bos-Mil game.  Bogut's foul on Garnett
that proceeded the incident was upgraded to a Flagrant Foul level 1.

The NBA fined Shaquille O'Neal (Pho) $25,000 for verbally abusing a ref
and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection
from Sunday's Pho-Det game.

Chicago released Demetris Nichols.

Golden State signed Stephen Jackson to a 3-year contract extension.

Pete Newell died at age 93.  Newell coached 14 years in college before
starting his famous Big Man camps, where he provided training and
instruction to various NBA players.

The LA Clippers activated Steve Novak and placed DeAndre Jordan on IL.

Utah activated Andrei Kirilenko and placed Morris Almond on IL.

Oklahoma City activated Chris Wilcox and placed Desmond Mason on IL.
Mason is expected to be out about 10 days with a sprained right elbow.


Uta 109, Pho 97  at Uta
C.J. Miles (Uta) had 21 points including 9-13 FG.
Carlos Boozer (Uta) had 21 points including 7-11 FT and 15 rebounds
including 7 offensive.
Andrei Kirilenko (Uta) had 19 points and 7 rebounds.
Matt Barnes (Pho) had 19 points and 5 rebounds.
Amare Stoudemire (Pho) had 30 points on 10-17 FG and 10-14 FT and 8
rebounds.

SA 86, LAC 83  at LAC
Michael Finley (SA) had 19 points.
Tim Duncan (SA) had 20 points including 9-14 FG, 15 rebounds, and 6
blocks.
Roger Mason (SA) had 21 points on 9-16 FG and the game winning 3-pointer
with 8 seconds left.
Chris Kaman (LAC) had 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
Cuttino Mobley (LAC) had 18 points.

Hou 100, OKC 89  at OKC
Ron Artest (Hou) had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Luis Scola (Hou) had 23 points and 9 rebounds.
Yao Ming (Hou) had 19 points including 7-8 FG, 12 rebounds including 5
offensive, and 3 blocks.
Jeff Green (OKC) had 16 points including 5-14 FG and 5 rebounds.
Kevin Durant (OKC) had 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Hou shot 50.6% (42-83) FG and OKC shot 40.5% (34-84) FG.
Chris Wilcox (OKC, sprained right knee) did not play.


Schedule for Tuesday, November 18  (All times Central)
  Dallas @ Charlotte            6:00 pm
  Atlanta @ Indiana             6:00 pm
  Toronto @ Orlando             6:00 pm
  Miami @ Washington            6:00 pm
  New York @ Boston             6:30 pm
  Cleveland @ New Jersey        6:30 pm
  Sacramento @ Memphis          7:00 pm
  Milwaukee @ Denver            8:00 pm
  Portland @ Golden State       9:30 pm
  Chicago @ LA Lakers           9:30 pm


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  Patricia Bender                       pbender@eskimo.com
  For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html
  For Mavs stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs.html