News from October 23. The NBA Board of Governors approved the change of the NBA Finals format from 2-3-2 to 2-2-1-1-1 (2 home, 2 road, 1 home, 1 road, 1 home). The earlier rounds of the playoffs remain 2-2-1-1-1. Charlotte released Patrick O'Bryant. Cleveland exercised their 14-15 options for Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters, and Tyler Zeller. Sacramento assistant coach Brendan Malone resigned. Preseason games Dal 98, Atl 88 at Dal Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 17 points. Monta Ellis (Dal) had 15 points, 5 assists, and 6 turnovers. Shawn Marion (Dal) had 12 points and 7 rebounds. Mike Scott (Atl) had 19 points. Dennis Schroder (Atl) had 21 point and 7 turnovers. Tor 108, Mem 72 at Tor Rudy Gay (Tor) had 15 points and 5 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan (Tor) had 21 points and 3 steals. Austin Daye (Tor) had 14 points including 5-6 FG and 3-3 3-pointers. Ed David (Mem) had 11 points and 9 rebounds. Jon Leuer (Mem) had 11 points and 5 rebounds. Tor shot 45.7% (37-81) FG and Mem shot 35.4% (28-79) FG. Bos 101, Bro 97 at Bos Vitor Faverani (Bos) had 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Avery Bradley (Bos) had 16 points. Brandon Bass (Bos) had 16 points and 9 rebounds. Andray Blatche (Bro) had 14 points including 5-15 FG and 5 rebounds. Tyshawn Taylor (Bro) had 15 points. Min 125, Phi 102 at Phi Kevin Love (Min) had 19 points including 4-6 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Kevin Martin (Min) had 13 points. J.J. Barea (Min) had 22 points including 7-11 FG. James Anderson (Phi) had 23 points including 9-13 FG and 4-8 3-pointers and 6 rebounds. Michael Carter-Williams (Phi) had 15 points including 5-16 FG, 9 rebounds, and 5 steals. Was 101, Cle 82 at Cincinnati, Ohio Trevor Ariza (Was) had 19 points including 5-7 3-pointers, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Bradley Beal (Was) had 21 points. Al Harrington (Was) had 17 points and 7 rebounds. Tristan Thompson (Cle) had 17 points and 14 rebounds. Kyrie Irving (Cle) had 19 points including 4-7 3-pointers. Mil 105, NY 95 at Green Bay, Wisconsin Caron Butler (Mil) had 24 points including 9-13 FG. O.J. Mayo (Mil) had 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Luke Ridnour (Mil) had 18 points and 11 assists. Carmelo Anthony (NY) had 22 points including 8-23 FG, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. Tim Hardaway (NY) had 16 points. Mil shot 52.2% (35-67) FG and NY shot 39.8% (35-88) FG. Mia 108, NO 95 at NO LeBron James (Mia) had 27 points including 10-17 FG and 4 steals. Dwyane Wade (Mia) had 25 points including 10-17 FG, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Chris Bosh (Mia) had 14 points including 4-11 FG, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. Anthony Davis (NO) had 18 points including 8-11 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. Eric Gordon (NO) had 19 points. Mia out-scored NO 31-13 in the 4th quarter. Pho 98, Den 79 at Den Markieff Morris (Pho) had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Eric Bledsoe (Pho) had 21 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 turnovers. Gerald Green (Pho) had 19 points including 7-9 FG and 3-3 3-pointers. JaVale McGee (Den) had 13 points and 6 rebounds. Anthony Randolph (Den) had 15 points and 3 steals. Pho out-scored Den 38-14 in the 4th quarter. Pho shot 46.5% (40-86) FG and Den shot 34.1% (29-85) FG. Chi 104, OKC 95 at Wichita, Kansas Luol Deng (Chi) had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Carlos Boozer (Chi) had 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Derrick Rose (Chi) had 26 points including 4-8 3-pointers and 10-10 FT, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. Kevin Durant (OKC) had 22 points and 5 assists. Jeremy Lamb (OKC) had 22 points including 9-16 FG and 5 turnovers. Sac 91, GS 90 at Sac John Salmons (Sac) had 14 points. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) had 11 points and 9 rebounds. Isaiah Thomas (Sac) had 21 points including 9-10 FT and 6 rebounds. Stephen Curry (GS) had 24 points including 5-10 3-pointers, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Klay Thompson (GS) had 16 points including 5-16 FG and 4-9 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Sac out-scored GS 21-9 in the 4th quarter. LAC 103, Uta 99 at LAC Blake Griffin (LAC) had 15 points and 6 rebounds. Chris Paul (LAC) had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. Jamal Crawford (LAC) had 16 points. Derrick Favors (Uta) had 24 points including 10-17 FG and 17 rebounds. Gordon Hayward (Uta) had 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Preseason Schedule for Thursday, October 24 (All times Central) Cleveland at Charlotte 6:00 pm Minnesota at Detroit 6:30 pm Houston at San Antonio 7:00 pm TNT Portland at Golden State 9:30 pm Preseason Schedule for Friday, October 25 (All times Central) New Orleans at Orlando 6:00 pm Charlotte at New York 6:30 pm Brooklyn at Miami 6:30 pm NBATV Denver at Chicago 7:00 pm Houston at Memphis 7:00 pm Toronto at Milwaukee 7:30 pm Indiana at Dallas 7:30 pm Utah at LA Lakers 9:00 pm at Anaheim, California Sacramento at LA Clippers 9:30 pm NBATV ---- 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