News from December 21. J.R. Smith (Cle) is expected to undergo surgery to repair his fractured right thumb. Memphis activated Chandler Parsons and placed Deyonta Davis on IL. New Orleans activated Tyreke Evans and placed Reggie Williams on IL. Portland activated Al-Farouq Aminu and placed Evan Turner on IL. Dal 96, Por 95 at Por Harrison Barnes (Dal) had 28 points and 7 rebounds. Deron Williams (Dal) had 23 points including 10-17 FG, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Wesley Matthews (Dal) had 16 points including 1-7 3-pointers and 3 steals. Damian Lillard (Por) had 29 points and 6 turnovers. Allen Crabbe (Por) had 14 points including 4-6 3-pointers and 6 rebounds. Hou 125, Pho 111 at Pho James Harden (Hou) had 27 points including 5-11 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 14 assists. Patrick Beverley (Hou) had 18 points including 7-11 FG, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. Eric Gordon (Hou) had 24 points including 7-13 3-pointers. Devin Booker (Pho) had 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. T.J. Warren (Pho) had 19 points and 5 rebounds. Sac 94, Uta 93 at Uta DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) had 21 points on 5-8 FG and 10-13 FT and 8 rebounds. Garrett Temple (Sac) had 11 points. Ty Lawson (Sac) had 19 points including 7-11 FG and 5 rebounds. Gordon Hayward (Uta) had 28 points and 10 rebounds. Rudy Gobert (Uta) had 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Dante Exum (Uta, left knee tendinitis) and Rodney Hood (Uta, flu) did not play. OKC 121, NO 110 at NO Russell Westbrook (OKC) had 42 points including 16-18 FT, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. Enes Kanter (OKC) had 14 points and 14 rebounds including 5 offensive. Alex Abrines (OKC) had 18 points including 5-11 3-pointers. Anthony Davis (NO) had 34 points and 15 rebounds. Jrue Holiday (NO) had 23 points including 9-15 FG and 10 assists. Terrence Jones (NO) had 21 points. Was 107, Chi 97 at Chi John Wall (Was) had 23 points including 9-14 FG, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Bradley Beal (Was) had 21 points including 1-7 3-pointers and 5 assists. Marcin Gortat (Was) had 14 points on 7-9 FG and 11 rebounds. Dwyane Wade (Chi) had 19 points including 7-20 FG. Jimmy Butler (Chi) had 20 points including 6-20 FG, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Taj Gibson (Chi) had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Was shot 52.4% (43-82) FG and Chi shot 40% (38-95) FG. Mem 98, Det 86 at Det Marc Gasol (Mem) had 38 points including 14-17 FG and 8-11 FT and 5 rebounds. JaMychal Green (Mem) had 10 points including 3-10 FG and 9 rebounds. Andrew Harrison (Mem) had 9 points on a perfect 1-1 FG and 1-1 3-pointers, and 6-6 FT and 6 assists. Andre Drummond (Det) had 13 points including 7-10 FT and 19 rebounds including 7 offensive. Reggie Jackson (Det) had 18 points and 7 assists. Jon Leuer (Det) had 18 points and 6 rebounds. Min 92, Atl 84 at Atl Andrew Wiggins (Min) had 19 points and 7 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns (Min) had 17 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 turnovers. Zach LaVine (Min) had 18 points including 4-8 3-pointers. Dennis Schroder (Atl) had 21 points including 1-7 3-pointers and 7 assists. Paul Millsap (Atl) had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. Cle 113, Mil 102 at Cle LeBron James (Cle) had 29 points including 4-7 3-pointers, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. Kyrie Irving (Cle) had 31 points including 11-17 FG, 6 rebounds, and 13 assists. Tristan Thompson (Cle) had 5 points, 15 rebounds including 9 offensive, and 4 blocks. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil) had 28 points including 13-14 FT, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Jabari Parker (Mil) had 27 points including 11-20 FG and 4-5 3-pointers. Kevin Love (Cle, left knee contusion) and J.R. Smith (Cle, fractured right thumb) did not play. 7 of 8 road teams won. Schedule for Thursday, December 22 (All times Central) Golden State @ Brooklyn 6:30 pm Orlando @ New York 6:30 pm LA Lakers @ Miami 6:30 pm Boston @ Indiana 7:00 pm TNT San Antonio @ LA Clippers 9:30 pm TNT Schedule for Friday, December 23 (All times Central) Chicago @ Charlotte 6:00 pm LA Lakers @ Orlando 6:00 pm Brooklyn @ Cleveland 6:30 pm Oklahoma City @ Boston 6:30 pm NBATV Golden State @ Detroit 6:30 pm Washington @ Milwaukee 7:00 pm Houston @ Memphis 7:00 pm Miami @ New Orleans 7:00 pm Sacramento @ Minnesota 7:00 pm Atlanta @ Denver 8:00 pm Toronto @ Utah 8:00 pm Philadelphia @ Phoenix 8:00 pm San Antonio @ Portland 9:00 pm Dallas @ 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