News from February 1. The NBA named as Monty Williams (NO) and Tom Thibodeau (Chi) Coaches of the Month. New Orleans went 12-4 and Chicago went 12-4. The NBA named as Blake Griffin (LAC) and John Wall (Was) as Rookies of the Month. Griffin averaged 26 points and 13.4 rebounds as the Clippers went 9-5. Wall averaged 13.9 points and 10.5 assists as Washington went 5-11. Doc Rivers (Bos) will coach the East team for the All-Star Game to take placed February 20 in LA. Boston has clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference through February 6, the date for determining who coaches the All-Star teams. New Jersey signed Orien Greene to a 10-day contract. Washington elected not to signed Mustafa Shakur to a 2nd 10-day contract. New Orleans activated Aaron Gray and placed Emeka Okafor on IL. Okafor is expected to be out 1 to 3 weeks with a strained left oblique muscle. Houston activated Jared Jeffries and placed Ish Smith on IL. Smith was assigned to the NBADL. LAL 114, Hou 106 OT at LAL Lamar Odom (LAL) had 20 points and 20 rebounds including 8 offensive. Pau Gasol (LAL) had 26 points, 16 rebounds including 6 offensive, and 4 blocks. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 32 points, 6 rebounds, and 11 assists. Luis Scola (Hou) had 24 points on 12-20 FG and 15 rebounds including 5 offensive. Kevin Martin (Hou) had 30 points including 4-8 3-pointers and 10-11 FT. LAL shot 20-24 FT and Hou shot 10-11 FT. Andrew Bynum (LAL, bone bruise left knee) did not play. Por 99, SA 86 at Por LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) had 40 points including 16-23 FG, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals. Wesley Matthews (Por) had 21 points. Andre Miller (Por) had 18 points and 9 assists. DeJuan Blair (SA) had 14 points and 12 rebounds including 6 offensive. Manu Ginobili (SA) had 17 points including 6-18 FG. Bos 95, Sac 90 at Sac Ray Allen (Bos) had 22 points on 9-15 FG and 4-7 3-pointers and 6 rebounds. Rajon Rondo (Bos) had 17 points, 10 assists, and 4 steals. Paul Pierce (Bos) had 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) had 20 points and 6 rebounds. Tyreke Evans (Sac) had 20 points. Jason Thompson (Sac, sprained right ankle) did not play. NO 97, Was 89 at NO Jason Smith (NO) had 20 points including 9-11 FG and 5 rebounds. Trevor Ariza (NO) had 16 points. Chris Paul (NO) had 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. Nick Young (Was) had 30 points including 9-12 FT. Andray Blatche (Was) had 21 points including 10-17 FG and 9 rebounds. Schedule for Wednesday, February 2 (All times Central) Toronto @ Atlanta 6:00 pm Indiana @ Cleveland 6:00 pm Philadelphia @ New Jersey 6:00 pm Charlotte @ Detroit 6:30 pm Dallas @ New York 6:30 pm Memphis @ Minnesota 7:00 pm New Orleans @ Oklahoma City 7:00 pm NBATV Portland @ Denver 8:00 pm Milwaukee @ Phoenix 8:00 pm Houston @ Utah 8:00 pm Chicago @ LA Clippers 9:30 pm NBATV Schedule for Thursday, February 3 (All times Central) Miami @ Orlando 7:00 pm TNT Milwaukee @ Golden State 9:30 pm San Antonio @ LA Lakers 9:30 pm TNT ---- 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