News from February 18.

The NBA fined Kevin Willis (Tor) $5,000 for throwing a flagrant elbow at 
Charlie Ward (NY) during Tuesday's Tor-NY game.

The NBA fined Dan Issell (Den GM) $3,500 for verbally abusing the refs
following Saturday's Sea-Den game.

Rudy Tomjanovich (Hou) was named as the head coach for the 2000 Team USA
basketball team which will compete in this summer's Americas Olympic 
qualifying tournament.

Dallas released Khalid Reeves and placed Erick Strickland on IR with a
strained right groin.

Cleveland placed Zydrunas Ilgauskas on IR with a broken bone in his left
foot and activated Ryan Stack.

Detroit released Mark Macon and Mikki Moore and signed Corey Beck.

Orlando placed Miles Simon (left patella tendinitis) and Gerald Wilkins
(left Achilles tendinitis) on IR and activated Derek Strong.

Utah placed Thurl Bailey on IR with a strained hip flexor.

Vancouver released Jason Sasser and Dan Muller.

Teams must reduce their rosters to 12 active players with up to 3 players
on IR by 5 pm Central time today (Friday).


Hou 93, NJ 92 OT - at NJ
Scottie Pippen (Hou) had 26 points including 6-10 FT, 6 rebounds, 6
assists, 4 steals, and 7 turnovers.
Othella Harrington (Hou) had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Hakeem Olajuwon (Hou) had 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 turnovers.
Keith Van Horn (NJ) had 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 turnovers.
Kerry Kittles (NJ) had 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Kendall Gill (NJ) had 24 points and 6 steals.
Hou out-rebounded NJ 57-39 including 24-11 offensive.
Stanley Roberts (Hou, strained right hamstring), Sam Cassell (NJ, sprained
right ankle), and Lucious Harris (NJ, strained lower back) did not play.

Was 95, Tor 88 - at Tor
Juwan Howard (Was) had 14 points including 5-17 FG and 9 rebounds.
Mitch Richmond (Was) had 31 points on 11-18 FG and 8-13 FT and 5 steals.
Rod Strickland (Was) had 23 points on 4-12 FG and 15-16 FG, 14 assists, 6
rebounds, and 5 steals.
Kevin Willis (Tor) had 25 points and 14 rebounds.
Doug Christie (Tor) had 16 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5
turnovers.
Dee Brown (Tor, flu) did not play.

Cle 98, NY 74 - at Cle
Shawn Kemp (Cle) had 20 points including 10-10 FT and 9 rebounds.
Vitaly Potapenko (Cle) had 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
Wesley Person (Cle) had 14 points and 5 rebounds.
Patrick Ewing (NY) had 14 points and 6 rebounds.
Allan Houston (NY) had 12 points on 5-14 FG.
Cle shot 50.7% (35-69) FG and NY shot 36% (32-89) FG.
Cle shot 24-33 FT and NY shot 7-12 FT.

Ind 99, Phi 95 - at Ind
Chris Mullin (Ind) had 14 points.
Reggie Miller (Ind) had 15 points including 4-11 FG and 3 steals.
Antonio Davis (Ind) had 16 points and 8 rebounds.
Matt Geiger (Phi) had 22 points and 6 rebounds.
Allen Iverson (Phi) had 33 points including 11-15 FT and 6 assists.
Derrick McKey (Ind, sore back) did not play.

Uta 97, Den 86 - at Uta
Bryon Russell (Uta) had 21 points including 7-10 FT.
Karl Malone (Uta) had 14 points on 3-13 FG and 8-10 FT, 8 rebounds, and 7
assists.
Jeff Hornacek (Uta) had 19 points including 7-11 FG.
Nick Van Exel (Den) had 19 points including 7-19 FG and 8 assists.
Danny Fortson (Den) had 15 points and 9 rebounds.
Uta shot 48.6% (36-74) FG and Den shot 38.2% (29-76) FG.