News from December 23. The NBA announced that Ed Lacerte (Bos) and Tom Abdenour (GS) will be the trainers for the All-Star game. Chauncey Billups (Den) is scheduled to undergo season ending surgery on his dislocated left shoulder on Monday. Boston activated Danny Fortson and released Jamel Thomas. [Merry Christmas, Jamel.] Phoenix signed Ben Davis. Shawn Marion (Pho) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is out indefinitely. Seattle activated Lazaro Borrell and placed Jelani McCoy on IR with a sprained right ankle. Dal 111, Pho 110 - at Pho Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 24 points including 10-17 FG and 9 rebounds. Michael Finley (Dal) had 33 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists, 4 steals, and 7 turnovers in 48 minutes. Clifford Robinson (Pho) had 30 points including 4-9 3-pointers, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 5 turnovers. Jason Kidd (Pho) had 25 points on 11-19 FG, 6 rebounds, 15 assists, and 5 steals. Todd Day (Pho) had 18 points including 5-8 3-pointers and 3 blocks. Steve Nash (Dal, sprained right ankle) and Tom Gugliotta (Pho, medical tests) did not play. Orl 110, Cha 106 - at Cha Monty Williams (Orl) had 15 points. Ben Wallace (Orl) had 14 points including 5-7 FG, 15 rebounds, 6 blocks, 4 steals, and 5 turnovers. Darrell Armstrong (Orl) had 28 points including 9-14 FG and 6-7 3-pointers and 10 assists. Derrick Coleman (Cha) had 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Eddie Robinson (Cha) had 19 points including 9-16 FG. Min 109, Sea 102 - at Min Kevin Garnett (Min) had 23 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks. Terrell Brandon (Min) had 30 points including 13-21 FG, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. Joe Smith (Min) had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Vin Baker (Sea) had 14 points and 9 rebounds. Gary Payton (Sea) had 33 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. Bobby Jackson (Min, bruised right knee) did not play. NJ 99, Phi 94 - at NJ Keith Van Horn (NJ) had 25 points including 11-18 FG and 12 rebounds. Kerry Kittles (NJ) had 21 points and 8 rebounds. Stephon Marbury (NJ) had 21 points including 8-23 FG and 7 assists. Tyrone Hill (Phi) had 14 points including 3-9 FG, 13 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Allen Iverson (Phi) had 42 points including 17-20 FT. NJ shot 15-19 FT and Phi shot 37-43 FT. Sherman Douglas (NJ, sore left ankle) did not play. Mil 94, SA 91 - at SA Glenn Robinson (SA) had 25 points including 10-16 FG and 7 rebounds. Sam Cassell (Mil) had 27 points including 10-13 FT and 8 assists. Ray Allen (Mil) had 14 points including 5-14 FG. Tim Duncan (SA) had 18 points including 6-22 FG and 15 rebounds including 9 offensive. Avery Johnson (SA) had 16 points on 8-11 FG and 10 assists. Terry Porter (SA, torn right medial meniscus) did not play. Hou 105, Was 89 - at Hou Steve Francis (Hou) had 16 points including 6-18 FG and 11 assists. Kelvin Cato (Hou) had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Cuttino Mobley (Hou) had 20 points including 11-12 FT and 5 assists. Juwan Howard (Was) had 16 points. Mitch Richmond (Was) had 18 points and 5 rebounds. Atl 108, Cle 90 - at Atl Jim Jackson (Atl) had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Dikembe Mutombo (Atl) had 16 points on 4-5 FG and 8-8 FT, 21 rebounds, and 9 blocks. Isaiah Rider (Atl) had 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Shawn Kemp (Cle) had 17 points including 5-15 FG and 8 rebounds. Bob Sura (Cle) had 17 points and 5 rebounds. Van 93, Den 91 - at Van Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Van) had 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals. Michael Dickerson (Van) had 22 points. Mike Bibby (Van) had 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. Raef LaFrentz (Den) had 29 points including 13-20 FG and 10 rebounds. Ron Mercer (Den) had 18 points and 6 rebounds. Doug West (Van, fractured left wrist) did not play. Por 111, GS 91 - at Por Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 20 points. Steve Smith (Por) had 19 points. Damon Stoudamire (Por) had 12 points and 7 assists. John Starks (GS) had 18 points. Donyell Marshall (GS) had 18 points including 8-10 FG and 6 rebounds. Por shot 31-40 FT and GS shot 14-16 FT. LAC 97, Sac 91 - at LAC Troy Hudson (LAC) had 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. Maurice Taylor (LAC) had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Lamar Odom (LAC) had 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Chris Webber (Sac) had 33 points and 5 rebounds. Corliss Williamson (Sac) had 17 points and 11 rebounds. Derek Anderson (LAC, sprained left ankle) did not play. There are no games scheduled for today (Dec. 24), so I won't sending anything out tomorrow. For all who celebrate it, have a holly, jolly Christmas! [Subliminal note: Don't for get to vote for Michael Finley as an All-Star starter at http://allstar.nba.com/Ballot once a day.]