News from March 17. The NBA rescinded the $100,000 fines levied against Seattle and Toronto for their coaches refusing to wear microphones during Sunday's Sea-Tor game. The league reached a compromise with the coaches (many of whom had a problem with wearing microphones) where the coaches for selected games have a choice of wearing a microphone or having a boom microphone lowered into the huddles during timeouts. Atlanta released Isaiah Rider. The team was going to suspended Rider for 3 games for being late for Friday's Atl-Bos game (he had been warned that he would be suspended for 3 games if he was late again), but he refused to accept the suspension and Atlanta then released him. Charlotte activated Michael Hawkins and placed Dale Ellis on IR with tendinitis in his right knee. The LA Clippers activated Keith Closs and released Mario Bennett. Tom Gugliotta (Pho) underwent reconstructive surgery on his left knee and the doctors estimate it will take a year for him to recover. Gugliotta tore the ACL and MCL in his knee during the Uta-Pho game March 10. Indiana activated Al Harrington and placed Chris Mullin on IR with a torn right calf muscle. Phi 99, Uta 97 - at Phi Tyrone Hill (Phi) had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Theo Ratliff (Phi) had 12 points on a perfect 4-4 FG and 4-4 FT and 7 rebounds. Allen Iverson (Phi) had 24 points including 4-5 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Karl Malone (Uta) had 31 points on 11-17 FG and 9-15 FT, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. Jeff Hornacek (Uta) had 16 points including 3-3 3-pointers. Phi shot 11-12 FT and Uta shot 21-28 FT. Tor 95, Orl 91 - at Tor Vince Carter (Tor) had 30 points and 6 rebounds. Tracy McGrady (Tor) had 11 points including 3-12 FG and 13 rebounds. Doug Christie (Tor) had 22 points, 7 assists, and 5 steals. Ben Wallace (Orl) had 14 points including 6-8 FG, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Monty Williams (Orl) had 12 points on 6-9 FG and 7 rebounds. Tor shot 26-32 FT and Orl shot 7-13 FT. Antonio Davis (Tor, bruised right calf) did not play. Bos 114, Atl 90 - at Atl Paul Pierce (Bos) had 16 points and 5 steals. Antoine Walker (Bos) had 30 points including 12-18 FG and 4-5 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Vitaly Potapenko (Bos) had 16 points on 8-11 FG and 7 rebounds. Dikembe Mutombo (Atl) had 19 points including 6-8 FG and 6 rebounds. Jim Jackson (Atl) had 26 points on 7-20 FG and 10-11 FT and 6 rebounds. Bos shot 9-11 FT and Atl shot 26-34 FT. NY 118, Cha 99 - at Cha Latrell Sprewell (NY) had 23 points including 11-11 FT and 6 assists. Allan Houston (NY) had 27 points including 10-15 FG. Charlie Ward (NY) had 20 points on 8-10 FG and 4-4 3-pointers and 6 assists. Elden Campbell (Cha) had 20 points and 10 rebounds. David Wesley (Cha) had 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. GS 95, Chi 92 2OT - at Chi Donyell Marshall (GS) had 21 points and 8 rebounds. Mookie Blaylock (GS) had 23 points including 5-8 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Larry Hughes (GS) had 14 points including 5-14 FG and 8 rebounds. Elton Brand (Chi) had 26 points including 6-12 FT, 10 rebounds and 5 turnovers in 50 minutes. Fred Hoiberg (Chi) had 18 points including 6-18 FG and 4 steals. Erick Dampier (GS, sprained right wrist) did not play. Ind 111, Hou 102 - at Ind Jalen Rose (Ind) had 35 points and 6 rebounds. Austin Croshere (Ind) had 22 points and 13 rebounds. Rik Smits (Ind) had 21 points and 8 rebounds. Shandon Anderson (Hou) had 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Cuttino Mobley (Hou) had 25 points including 9-14 FG. Dale Davis (Ind, strained left hamstring) and Derrick McKey (Ind, strained right leg muscle) did not play. LAL 110, Det 82 - at Det Glen Rice (LAL) had 19 points and 5 rebounds. Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 35 points including 15-24 FG and 11 rebounds. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Christian Laettner (Det) had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jerry Stackhouse (Det) had 18 points on 4-16 FG and 9-10 FT. LAL shot 48.9% (45-92) FG and Det shot 35.3% (30-85) FG. Den 114, LAC 87 - at Den Antonio McDyess (Den) had 23 points and 15 rebounds. Raef LaFrentz (Den) had 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 blocks. James Posey (Den) had 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals. Maurice Taylor (LAC) had 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Michael Olowokandi (LAC) had 10 points on 5-14 FG and 9 rebounds. Den shot 47.1% (41-87) FG and LAC shot 35.6% (37-104) FG. Den shot 24-30 FT and LAC shot 10-11 FT. Tyrone Nesby (LAC, personal reasons) did not play. Pho 101, Van 86 - at Van Clifford Robinson (Pho) had 27 points including 10-16 FG and 6 rebounds. Jason Kidd (Pho) had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 15 assists. Rodney Rogers (Pho) had 26 points including 4-8 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Van) had 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Michael Dickerson (Van) had 14 points. Pho shot 11-12 FT and Van shot 24-31 FT.