News from March 21. Chicago released John Starks. Starks had petitioned the league to dissolve the rest of his contract (in last year) in a mutual agreement with Chicago and be allowed to join another team and participate in the playoffs with the new team. An arbitrator ruled that the contract could be dissolved, but that Starks could not play in the playoffs as the NBA rules clearly state that any player released after March 1 is ineligible for the playoffs. Immediately after the ruling came out, Chicago released Starks. Starks will still receive the rest of his salary. Golden State signed Bill Curley for the rest of the season. Sacramento activated Scot Pollard and placed Bill Wennington on IR with a strained right calf. Vancouver activated Milt Palacio and placed Brent Price on IR with a strained back. Dal 97, SA 96 - at Dal Michael Finley (Dal) had 24 points on 11-17 FG and 6 rebounds. Erick Strickland (Dal) had 14 points including the game winning putback at the buzzer. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 13 points including 3-10 FG and 7 rebounds. Tim Duncan (SA) had 26 points on 8-11 FG and 10-13 FT, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists. David Robinson (SA) had 30 points on 10-17 FG and 10-12 FT, 17 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Dal shot 13-14 FT and SA shot 28-34 FT. Atl 82, Mia 77 - at Atl Roshown McLeod (Atl) had 13 points and 5 rebounds. Alan Henderson (Atl) had 15 points including 6-19 FG and 7 rebounds. Jim Jackson (Atl) had 15 points including 5-15 FG and 5 rebounds. Jamal Mashburn (Mia) had 20 points. Alonzo Mourning (Mia) had 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 blocks. P.J. Brown (Mia, sprained left ankle) and Otis Thorpe (Mia, sprained right foot) did not play. Ind 95, NY 91 - at Ind Jalen Rose (Ind) had 28 points on 10-18 FG and 8-10 FT, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Rik Smits (Ind) had 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Reggie Miller (Ind) had 17 points and 3 steals. Latrell Sprewell (NY) had 17 points and 5 rebounds. Patrick Ewing (NY) had 23 points including 10-18 FG and 9 rebounds. Ind shot 24-28 FT and NY shot 8-10 FT. Derrick McKey (Ind, strained right leg muscle) did not play. NJ 100, Tor 93 - at Tor Kendall Gill (NJ) had 24 points and 5 assists. Keith Van Horn (NJ) had 17 points and 9 rebounds. Stephon Marbury (NJ) had 18 points and 7 assists. Vince Carter (Tor) had 23 points on 5-18 FG and 11-13 FT and 8 rebounds. Tracy McGrady (Tor) had 22 points and 12 rebounds. NJ shot 50.6% (42-83) FG and Tor shot 37.2% (32-86) FG. Min 111, Cle 107 OT - at Min Wally Szczerbiak (Min) had 16 points and 7 rebounds. Kevin Garnett (Min) had 29 points including 12-16 FG and 14 rebounds. Terrell Brandon (Min) had 24 points and 16 assists. Lamond Murray (Cle) had 16 points and 9 rebounds. Shawn Kemp (Cle) had 15 points and 8 rebounds. Uta 96, Den 83 - at Uta Bryon Russell (Uta) had 16 points and 3 steals. Karl Malone (Uta) had 28 points including 10-11 FT, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 5 turnovers. Howard Eisley (Uta) had 12 points and 7 assists. Antonio McDyess (Den) had 25 points including 10-17 FG and 12 rebounds. Keon Clark (Den) had 19 points and 6 rebounds. Uta shot 49.3% (37-75) FG and Den shot 39% (32-82) FG. Tariq Abdul-Wahad (Den, sprained wrist) did not play. Sac 98, Was 86 - at Sac Chris Webber (Sac) had 22 points and 11 rebounds. Vlade Divac (Sac) had 24 points on 5-13 FG and 14-18 FT and 12 rebounds. Tony Delk (Sac) had 12 points on 6-9 FG and 5 rebounds. Juwan Howard (Was) had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 turnovers. Mitch Richmond (Was) had 26 points including 11-29 FG. Sac shot 25-32 FT and Was shot 8-13 FT. Jon Barry (Sac, pinched nerve right shoulder) did not play. Det 100, Sea 90 - at Sea Grant Hill (Det) had 33 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 turnovers. Jerry Stackhouse (Det) had 21 points including 9-11 FT. Jerome Williams (Det) had 12 points and 14 rebounds. Vin Baker (Sea) had 18 points and 8 rebounds. Gary Payton (Sea) had 22 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists, 4 steals, and 5 turnovers. Rashard Lewis (Sea) had 18 points. Van 98, GS 82 - at Van Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Van) had 13 points including 3-11 FG, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Michael Dickerson (Van) had 25 points and 6 rebounds. Felipe Lopez (Van) had 14 points and 5 rebounds. Donyell Marshall (GS) had 16 points including 5-16 FG and 9 rebounds. Tony Farmer (GS) had 14 points on 3-3 FG and 8-11 FT. Doug West (Van, foot injury), Erick Dampier (GS, knee injury), and Billy Owens (GS, wrist injury) did not play.