News from December 22. The NBA named Chris Paul (NO) and Jameer Nelson (Orl) as Players of the Week. Paul averaged 23.7 points, 10 assists, and 5.3 steals as New Orleans went 3-0. Nelson averaged 27.7 points and 5.3 assists as Orlando went 3-0. Oklahoma City signed restricted free agent Nenad Krstic to a 3 year, $15.8 million offer sheet. New Jersey has 7 days to match the offer. San Antonio signed Malik Hairston and placed him on IL. Jordan Farmar (LAL) has a torn lateral meniscus and will need to undergo surgery. He is expected to be out 8 weeks. Carmelo Anthony (Den) is expected to miss 3 games with a sore right elbow. Orlando activated Adonal Foyle and placed Brian Cook on IL. Houston activated Brent Barry and placed Steve Francis on IL. Den 97, Por 89 at Den J.R. Smith (Den) had 15 points and 7 rebounds. Nene (Den) had 19 points including 7-11 FG and 11 rebounds including 5 offensive. Chauncey Billups (Den) had 19 points and 10 assists. LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) had 20 points. Travis Outlaw (Por) had 15 points. Den shot 28-39 FT and Por shot 15-19 FT. Carmelo Anthony (Den, right elbow contusion) did not play. LAL 105, Mem 96 at Mem Pau Gasol (LAL) had 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 36 points and 5 turnovers. Lamar Odom (LAL) had 12 points including 4-12 FG and 6 rebounds. Rudy Gay (Mem) had 23 points and 7 rebounds. O.J. Mayo (Mem) had 22 points including 5-9 3-pointers and 6 assists. Darius Miles (Mem, suspended) did not play. SA 101, Sac 85 at SA Roger Mason (SA) had 11 points. Tony Parker (SA) had 18 points, 6 assists, and 6 turnovers. Manu Ginobili (SA) had 10 points and 5 rebounds. John Salmons (Sac) had 22 points. Beno Udrih (Sac) had 13 points and 6 steals. SA shot 52.1% (37-71) FG and Sac shot 39.7% (31-78) FG. Quincy Douby (Sac, stomach virus) and Francisco Elson (Sac) did not play. Orl 113, GS 81 at Orl Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) had 12 points including 3-10 FG, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Rashard Lewis (Orl) had 21 points including 4-6 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Jameer Nelson (Orl) had 22 points on a perfect 9-9 FG and 4-4 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Jamal Crawford (GS) had 18 points including 7-21 FG. Anthony Randolph (GS) had 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Orl shot 48.2% (41-85) FG and GS shot 31.9% (29-91) FG. Hou 114, NJ 91 at NJ Yao Ming (Hou) had 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Tracy McGrady (Hou) had 12 points and 6 rebounds. Aaron Brooks (Hou) had 22 points including 4-7 3-pointers and 6 assists. Yi Jianlian (NJ) had 10 points including 4-13 FG and 7 rebounds. Keyon Dooling (NJ) had 17 points and 5 assists. Hou shot 58.1% (43-74) FG and NJ shot 41.4% (36-87) FG. Tor 97, LAC 75 at LAC Jermaine O'Neal (Tor) had 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Chris Bosh (Tor) had 31 points on 9-15 FG and 11-15 FT and 7 rebounds. Anthony Parker (Tor) had 12 points on 5-7 FG and 7 rebounds. Zach Randolph (LAC) had 19 points. Eric Gordon (LAC) had 19 points including 3-4 3-pointers. Schedule for Tuesday, December 23 (All times Central) Oklahoma City @ Atlanta 6:00 pm Washington @ Charlotte 6:00 pm Houston @ Cleveland 6:00 pm New Jersey @ Indiana 6:00 pm Philadelphia @ Boston 6:30 pm Golden State @ Miami 6:30 pm Chicago @ Detroit 7:00 pm Utah @ Milwaukee 7:00 pm LA Lakers @ New Orleans 7:00 pm Memphis @ Dallas 7:30 pm Minnesota @ San Antonio 7:30 pm Denver @ Portland 9:00 pm ---- 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