News from December 19. Houston activated Aaron Brooks and Terrence Williams and placed Ish Smith and Jared Jeffries on IL. Sacramento activated Jermaine Taylor and placed Jason Thompson on IL. Thompson is expected to be out 3 games after receiving 7 stitches in his right ring finger. The LA Lakers activated Devin Ebanks and placed Derrick Caracter on IL. Indiana activated A.J. Price and placed Josh McRoberts on IL. Pho 113, OKC 110 at OKC Grant Hill (Pho) had 30 points including 12-14 FT and 11 rebounds. Robin Lopez (Pho) had 19 points including 9-10 FG. Steve Nash (Pho) had 20 points including 7-9 FG, 10 assists, and 5 turnovers. Kevin Durant (OKC) had 28 points including 11-14 FT and 3 steals. Jeff Green (OKC) had 19 points and 5 rebounds. Russell Westbrook (OKC) had 19 points on 5-17 FG and 9-11 FT and 9 assists. Nick Collison (OKC) had 19 points including 8-10 FG and 8 rebounds. Pho shot 57.5% (42-73) FG and OKC shot 42.9% (33-77) FG. [None of Phoenix's 3 recently acquired players were available to play.] Bos 99, Ind 88 at Bos Paul Pierce (Bos) had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists, and 4 steals. Nate Robinson (Bos) had 18 points. Ray Allen (Bos) had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Glen Davis (Bos) had 18 points and 6 rebounds. Danny Granger (Ind) had 19 points including 5-20 FG, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Roy Hibbert (Ind) had 17 points including 8-23 FG and 14 rebounds including 5 offensive. Bos shot 53.9% (41-76) FG and Ind shot 35.4% (34-96) FG. Rajon Rondo (Bos, sprained left ankle) did not play. LAL 120, Tor 110 at Tor Pau Gasol (LAL) had 19 points including 9-15 FG and 8 rebounds. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 20 points. Andrew Bynum (LAL) had 16 points including 8-10 FT and 7 rebounds including 5 offensive. Linas Kleiza (Tor) had 26 points including 4-10 3-pointers and 10 rebounds. Jose Calderon (Tor) had 20 points and 12 assists. DeMar DeRozan (Tor) had 23 points including 11-11 FT and 3 steals. Andrea Bargnani (Tor, sore right ankle) and Sonny Weems (Tor, back spasms) did not play. NJ 89, Atl 82 at NJ Brook Lopez (NJ) had 16 points including 5-15 FG, 6 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Devin Harris (NJ) had 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. Sasha Vujacic (NJ) had 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Al Horford (Atl) had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Mike Bibby (Atl) had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 turnovers. Quinton Ross (NJ, bruised lower back) did not play. Det 111, NO 108 OT at Det Tayshaun Prince (Det) had 28 points including 12-16 FG, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 blocks. Ben Gordon (Det) had 25 points including 4-9 3-pointers and 7 rebounds. Will Bynum (Det) had 21 points including 8-10 FG and 9 assists. David West (NO) had 32 points including 12-21 FG and 9 rebounds. Chris Paul (NO) had 23 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals. Richard Hamilton (Det, upset stomach) and Rodney Stuckey (Det, sore big left toe) did not play. Hou 102, Sac 93 at Sac Luis Scola (Hou) had 17 points and 9 rebounds. Kyle Lowry (Hou) had 13 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 turnovers. Kevin Martin (Hou) had 22 points. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Tyreke Evans (Sac) had 14 points on 6-21 FG and 6 rebounds. Schedule for Monday, December 20 (All times Central) Orlando @ Atlanta 6:00 pm Utah @ Cleveland 6:00 pm New Orleans @ Indiana 6:00 pm Charlotte @ Washington 6:00 pm Dallas @ Miami 6:30 pm NBATV Phoenix @ San Antonio 7:30 pm Milwaukee @ Portland 9:00 pm Houston @ Golden State 9:30 pm Minnesota @ LA Clippers 9:30 pm Schedule for Tuesday, December 21 (All times Central) Oklahoma City @ Charlotte 6:00 pm Dallas @ Orlando 6:00 pm Philadelphia @ Chicago 7:00 pm New Jersey @ Memphis 7:00 pm Golden State @ Sacramento 9:00 pm Milwaukee @ LA Lakers 9:30 pm ---- Patricia Bender pbender@eskimo.com For Trianglons puzzles: http://www.trianglons.com For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html For Mavs stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs.html