News from December 20. The NBA named Tony Parker (SA) and Paul Pierce (Bos) as Players of the Week. Parker averaged 25.7 points and 8.7 assists as San Antonio went 3-0. Pierce averaged 21.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists as Boston went 3-0. The NBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the New Orleans Hornets to the NBA. Washington signed Lester Hudson and released Alonzo Gee. Milwaukee activated Carlos Delfino and Brian Skinner and placed Corey Maggette (concussion) and Brandon Jennings on IL. Jennings is expected to be out 4 to 6 weeks with a broken bone in his left foot. Minnesota activated Darko Milicic and placed Sundiata Gaines on IL. Indiana activated Josh McRoberts and placed Dahntay Jones on IL. New Orleans activated Aaron Gray and placed Willie Green (death in family) on IL. Utah activated Gordon Hayward and placed Mehmet Okur (sprained right ankle) on IL. Miami activated Mike Miller and placed Jamaal Magloire on IL. Dal 98, Mia 96 at Mia Caron Butler (Dal) had 13 points. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 26 points including 10-10 FT and 9 rebounds. Jason Terry (Dal) had 19 points (all in the 4th quarter). LeBron James (Mia) had 19 points including 6-17 FG, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 turnovers. Chris Bosh (Mia) had 19 points and 8 rebounds. Dwyane Wade (Mia) had 22 points and 7 assists. SA 118, Pho 110 at SA Tim Duncan (SA) had 20 points on 10-17 FG, 15 rebounds including 5 offensive, 6 assists, and 3 blocks. Tony Parker (SA) had 19 points. Gary Neal (SA) had 22 points. Grant Hill (Pho) had 19 points. Steve Nash (Pho) had 17 points including 7-11 FG and 10 assists. Jared Dudley (Pho) had 27 points including 10-16 FG and 5 rebounds. George Hill (SA, sprained right big toe), Vince Carter (Pho, trade), Marcin Gortat (Pho, trade), and Mickael Pietrus (Pho, trade) did not play. Uta 101, Cle 90 at Cle Paul Millsap (Uta) had 19 points including 9-13 FG and 7 rebounds. Deron Williams (Uta) had 17 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 turnovers. Raja Bell (Uta) had 19 points including 5-6 3-pointers. C.J. Miles (Uta) had 22 points including 4-10 3-pointers and 5 assists. Maurice Williams (Cle) had 16 points including 5-15 FG, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. Daniel Gibson (Cle) had 29 points including 7-8 3-pointers. Atl 91, Orl 81 at Atl Josh Smith (Atl) had 12 points including 3-14 FG, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Al Horford (Atl) had 24 points including 10-15 FG and 11 rebounds. Joe Johnson (Atl) had 17 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. Dwight Howard (Orl) had 19 points including 7-12 FT, 20 rebounds including 5 offensive, and 6 turnovers. Jameer Nelson (Orl) had 18 points. Ind 94, NO 93 at Ind Danny Granger (Ind) had 27 points including 8-22 FG and 4-8 3-pointers and 6 rebounds. Darren Collison (Ind) had 18 points including 8-11 FG, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. James Posey (Ind) had 15 points on 5-7 3-pointers (the only shots he attempted). David West (NO) had 18 points. Emeka Okafor (NO) had 19 points including 7-8 FG, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Por 106, Mil 80 at Por LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) had 29 points including 12-18 FG and 19 rebounds including 6 offensive. Wesley Matthews (Por) had 22 points and 6 rebounds. Rudy Fernandez (Por) had 17 points and 7 assists. Keyon Dooling (Mil) had 12 points including 4-12 FG and 5 assists. John Salmons (Mil) had 23 points. Por shot 50% (39-78) FG and Mil shot 38% (30-79) FG. Brandon Roy (Por, sore left knee), Marcus Camby (Por, strained shoulder), and Carlos Delfino (Mil, concussion) did not play. Was 108, Cha 75 at Was Andray Blatche (Was) had 19 points and 5 rebounds. Kirk Hinrich (Was) had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 11 assists. Nick Young (Was) had 21 points and 5 turnovers. Stephen Jackson (Cha) had 13 points and 6 turnovers. Kwame Brown (Cha) had 10 points including 8-11 FT and 5 rebounds. Rashard Lewis (Was, trade) did not play. LAC 113, Min 90 at LAC Ryan Gomes (LAC) had 22 points on 7-11 FG and 7-10 FT and 10 rebounds. Blake Griffin (LAC) had 22 points including 9-12 FG, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. Eric Gordon (LAC) had 36 points including 5-7 3-pointers, 6 assists, and 5 steals. Michael Beasley (Min) had 20 points including 6-19 FG. Martell Webster (Min) had 18 points and 5 rebounds. LAC shot 51.8% (43-83) FG and Min shot 40% (32-80) FG. LAC out-rebounded Min 56-33 including 14-7 offensive. Hou 121, GS 112 at GS Luis Scola (Hou) had 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. Kevin Martin (Hou) had 30 points including 3-4 3-pointers and 13-13 FT and 5 rebounds. Shane Battier (Hou) had 14 points including 4-6 3-pointers and 5 assists. Monta Ellis (GS) had 44 points on 15-20 FG, 3-4 3-pointers, and 11-14 FT, 7 assists, and 3 steals. David Lee (GS) had 19 points including 8-11 FG and 6 rebounds. Dan Gadzuric (GS, strained left groin) did not play. 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 Schedule for Wednesday, December 22 (All times Central) Cleveland @ Atlanta 6:00 pm Detroit @ Toronto 6:00 pm Chicago @ Washington 6:00 pm NBATV Philadelphia @ Boston 6:30 pm Oklahoma City @ New York 6:30 pm Utah @ Minnesota 7:00 pm New Jersey @ New Orleans 7:00 pm Denver @ San Antonio 7:30 pm Houston @ LA Clippers 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