News from December 25. TRADE: Memphis traded Greivis Vasquez to New Orleans for Quincy Pondexter. Boston signed Mickael Pietrus. Charlotte signed Cory Higgins. Houston released Marcus Cousin and Jeremy Lin. Miami released Bonzi Wells. New Orleans released Jerome Dyson. New York released Chris Hunter. Oklahoma City reached a buyout agreement with Nate Robinson and released him. San Antonio released Frank Hassell and Luke Zeller. Iman Shumpert (NY) suffered a sprained right MCL during Sunday's NY-Bos game and is expected to be out 2 to 4 weeks. Boston placed Paul Pierce (bone bruise right heel), Mickael Pietrus, and Jeff Green (heart condition, out for season) on IL. Dallas placed Sean Williams on IL. The LA Clippers placed Chris Wright on IL. The LA Lakers placed Derrick Caracter and Darius Morris on IL. Miami placed Mike Miller (hernia surgery) and Eddy Curry (hip flexor) on IL. New York placed Baron Davis (back injury) on IL. Oklahoma City placed Lazar Hayward and Ryan Reid on IL. Orlando placed DeAndre Liggins and Daniel Orton on IL . Note: in a change from the past, teams now have 13 players on their active roster. The 2011-12 regular season has begun! Mia 105, Dal 94 at Dal LeBron James (Mia) had 37 points on 11-19 FG and 15-19 FT, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Dwyane Wade (Mia) had 26 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. Udonis Haslem (Mia) had 9 points and 14 rebounds including 6 offensive. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 21 points including 9-10 FT and 5 rebounds. Jason Terry (Dal) had 23 points including 4-10 3-pointers. Mia shot 48.7% (38-78) FG and Dal shot 37.8% (31-82) FG. Mia out-rebounded Dal 51-31 including 15-8 offensive. Chi 88, LAL 87 at LAL Luol Deng (Chi) had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals. Carlos Boozer (Chi) had 15 points and 6 rebounds. Derrick Rose (Chi) had 22 points on 9-13 FG and 4-6 3-pointers and the game winning jumper with 4.8 seconds left, 5 assists, and 5 turnovers. Pau Gasol (LAL) had 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 28 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 8 turnovers. Andrew Bynum (LAL, suspended) did not play. NY 106, Bos 104 at NY Carmelo Anthony (NY) had 37 points on 10-17 FG, 4-7 3-pointers, and 13-15 FT and the game winning free throws with 16 seconds left, 8 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Amare Stoudemire (NY) had 21 points including 8-11 FG and 6 rebounds. Toney Douglas (NY) had 19 points and 3 steals. Rajon Rondo (Bos) had 31 points on 11-19 FG and 9-12 FT, 5 rebounds, 13 assists, and 5 steals. Ray Allen (Bos) had 20 points. Brandon Bass (Bos) had 20 points including 9-13 FG and 11 rebounds including 5 offensive. OKC 97, Orl 89 at OKC Kevin Durant (OKC) had 30 points on 11-19 FG and 6-11 FT, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Russell Westbrook (OKC) had 14 points including 6-17 FG, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 7 turnovers. James Harden (OKC) had 19 points on 4-11 FG and 10-12 FT and 6 rebounds. Dwight Howard (Orl) had 11 points including 4-12 FG and 15 rebounds. Jameer Nelson (Orl) had 18 points and 6 assists. Ryan Anderson (Orl) had 25 points including 6-12 3-pointers and 10 rebounds. OKC shot 47.2% (34-72) FG and Orl shot 37% (30-81) FG. LAC 105, GS 86 at GS Blake Griffin (LAC) had 22 points and 7 rebounds including 5 offensive. Chauncey Billups (LAC) had 21 points including 9-16 FG and 3-10 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Chris Paul (LAC) had 20 points and 9 assists. David Lee (GS) had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Monta Ellis (GS) had 15 points including 6-19 FG and 0-5 3-pointers and 8 assists. Eric Bledsoe (LAC, torn right lateral meniscus) and Reggie Evans (LAC, sprained right foot) did not play. Schedule for Monday, December 26 (All times Central) New Jersey at Washington 6:00 pm Milwaukee at Charlotte 6:00 pm Houston at Orlando 6:00 pm NBATV Toronto at Cleveland 6:00 pm Detroit at Indiana 6:00 pm Oklahoma City at Minnesota 7:00 pm Denver at Dallas 7:30 pm Memphis at San Antonio 7:30 pm New Orleans at Phoenix 8:00 pm LA Lakers at Sacramento 9:00 pm NBATV Philadelphia at Portland 9:00 pm Chicago at Golden State 9:30 pm Schedule for Tuesday, December 27 (All times Central) Atlanta at New Jersey 6:30 pm Boston at Miami 7:00 pm TNT Minnesota at Milwaukee 7:30 pm Sacramento at Portland 9:00 pm Utah at 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