Rasheed Wallace in lead role

For those who think leadership is overrated, a look at yesterday’s Celtics [team stats] practice would have been instructive.

Doc Rivers, with associate coach Tom Thibodeau running the practice in his stead, was off tending to a personal matter. Kevin Garnett, with his hyperextended left knee, stayed in the weight room. Paul Pierce [stats], recovering from two minor knee procedures to drain an infection, shot baskets off to the side. Rajon Rondo [stats], resting a strained left hamstring, bounced a ball along a baseline and watched.

Times like this were made to order for a veteran backup like Rasheed Wallace. As young players like J.R. Giddens and Lester Hudson suddenly receive meaningful minutes, and Tony Allen and Glen Davis attempt to play themselves into game shape, Wallace has taken on the role of mentor.

At least one Celtics player pointed out the need for Wallace to step up to the role following their recent 1-3 road trip.

“I went to him after the Phoenix game and told him we need him to be the leader right now,” Kendrick Perkins [stats] said yesterday. “Obviously he can do it. He showed it the last game. We just need him to do it every game - talking, getting guys under control when things are going bad for us. You have J.R. stepping in and Tony trying to run the point, and we just have to stick together.”

Wallace has taken to this latest role.

“I try to get them to play their regular game and not be nervous,” Wallace said. “The other night, J.R. might have been nervous, but he settled down and played some good defense. He wasn’t looking for his shot, and we were trying to get him looking for his shot and take it to the basket more, the same way he does in practice and in one-on-ones. But the young guys are stepping up to the plate.

“It’s less talk without Kevin out there, but we’re just trying to teach the young guys that on defense, when you talk, it’s like (an extra) step or two. It’s playing good ‘D’ and listening.”

Perkins, who has developed significant chemistry with Garnett the past two-plus seasons, also is getting there with Wallace.

“I’m still working it out, but I think we’re getting better at it,” he said. “The thing that’s going to help is me and Rasheed leaning to play with each other . . . You never know. Kevin could get into foul trouble or anything could happen, so this will help us in the long term.”

That’s where the Wallace insurance plan would kick in.

“I realized that earlier in the summer, when Boston was one of the teams I was thinking about,” he said. “I knew Kevin coming back wouldn’t be 100 percent. If he was on a roll, feeling good and playing I knew my minutes would be down. On the other hand I knew that if he did go down I would have to step in there with more.”

While Doc’s away

Rivers is expected to rejoin the team for today’s practice and flight to Miami for tomorrow night’s game against the Heat. All of those absences considered - and Pierce and Rondo still are questionable, at best, to play - practice was a bit more of a challenge than usual yesterday.

“Guys did a few things they wouldn’t have done if Doc was here, but we still had a good practice,” Perkins said.

As even Thibodeau admitted, the afternoon could have been more smooth.

“Practice was good and bad,” he said.

“Normally coming off a day off things can get a little sloppy, but the intensity was very good, and the intentions were good.”

Much of the noise came from those on the sideline, Rondo and Pierce in particular.

“He came out and he was coaching and involved,” Thibodeau said of Rondo. “He’s champing at the bit, so I assume he’s feeling better, but I don’t know if he’s ready yet. Paul was moving around and shooting, so he’s improving.” . . .

One Celtics [team stats] player has impressed teammates with his drive to come back from injury.

“I think Baby wants this,” Perkins said. “This preseason he was playing great, and unfortunately he had to go out with the injury he had. Now he’s coming back and proving to Doc that he’s ready.”

Dwyane Wade puts spark in Heat win

Dwyane Wade had 28 points and eight rebounds, Michael Beasley scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half as the Heat took control in the opening minutes on the way to beating the Atlanta Hawks, 92-75, last night in Miami.

Udonis Haslem scored 12 points and Quentin Richardson added 10 rebounds for Miami, which snapped a three-game losing streak and moved within 3 games of Atlanta for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Heat held Atlanta - which came in averaging 104.9 points - to a season low, plus finished with a 52-30 rebounding edge.

Hornets 91, Jazz 87 - Chris Paul stole the ball and drove for a layup with 27 seconds left to help New Orleans end a late threat by Utah in Salt Lake City. It was the Hornets’ first win in Utah in almost four years.

Paul scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and Devin Brown finished with a career-high 30 points as the Hornets overcame 19 turnovers and ended a six-game losing streak at Utah.

Thunder 98, Bulls 85 - Russell Westbrook scored 29 points, Kevin Durant added 25 and Oklahoma City dominated the third quarter in a victory over host Chicago.

Westbrook and Durant had eight points each during a 27-6 run in the third, when the Thunder shot 65 percent to take control of the game. It was Oklahoma City’s sixth victory in seven games.

Derrick Rose scored 19 points and Joakim Noah had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls.

Elsewhere in the NBA - Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas says he took unloaded guns from his locker in a “misguided effort to play a joke” on a teammate.

Arenas released a written statement after meeting with law enforcement officials. And Arenas’ lawyer says the player voluntarily met with prosecutors and detectives and answered every question during a two-hour interview.

In his statement, Arenas repeated his earlier assertion that he brought four guns to the Verizon Center to store in his locker in order to get them out of his house and away from his children. He said he mistakenly believed that recent changes in D.C. law made it legal for him to store unloaded guns there.

Arenas said he took the unloaded guns out of his locker on Dec. 21 “in a misguided effort to play a joke on a teammate.” He denied threatening or assaulting anyone. The New York Post has reported that Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other.

“Joke or not, I now recognize that what I did was a mistake and was wrong,” Arenas said. “I should not have brought the guns to D.C. in the first place, and I now realize that there’s no such thing as joking around when it comes to guns - even if unloaded.” . . .

Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol has a mild to moderate strained left hamstring and is doubtful for tonight’s game against Houston. However, forward Ron Artest could rejoin the Lakers as soon as tonight after missing five games following a fall at his home on Christmas night.

Javaris Crittenton’s agent says he did nothing wrong

WASHINGTON — Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas says he took unloaded guns from his locker in a "misguided effort to play a joke" on a teammate.

Arenas released a written statement Monday after meeting with law enforcement officials. And Arenas’ lawyer says the player voluntarily met with prosecutors and detectives and answered every question during a two-hour interview.

In his statement, Arenas repeated his earlier assertion that he brought four guns to the Verizon Center to store in his locker in order to get them out of his house and away from his children. He said he mistakenly believed that recent changes in D.C. law made it legal for him to store unloaded guns there.

Arenas said he took the unloaded guns out of his locker on Dec. 21 "in a misguided effort to play a joke on a teammate." He denied threatening or assaulting anyone. The New York Post has reported that Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other.

"Joke or not, I now recognize that what I did was a mistake and was wrong," Arenas said. "I should not have brought the guns to DC in the first place, and I now realize that there’s no such thing as joking around when it comes to guns — even if unloaded."

Two officials within the league who have been briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press on Saturday that the incident stemmed from a dispute over card-playing gambling debts and a heated discussion in the locker room.

The other player involved is Javaris Crittenton. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said earlier Monday that his client did nothing wrong.

It was unclear whether Crittenton also planned to meet with authorities about the incident. His lawyer, Peter White, is on vacation and said he would not be at any meetings Monday or Tuesday.

Arenas also apologized for his actions in the statement.

"I am very sorry for the effect that my serious lapse in judgment has had on my team, my teammates, the National Basketball Association and its fans," Arenas said. "I want to apologize to everybody for letting them down with my conduct, and I promise to do better in the future."

NBA commissioner David Stern likely will wait until the legal process is complete before handing down penalties, but he could rule on Arenas now since league rules were broken in that instance.

At the NBA’s request, the firearms language was bolstered during collective bargaining in 2005. Players are subject to discipline if they bring guns to the arena or practice facility, or even an offsite promotional appearance.

Nuggets' Billups to miss game vs. Warriors, but Anthony might play

Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups will miss at least one more game because of a strained left groin that has sidelined him for seven of the past eight games. Forward Carmelo Anthony (bruised right knee) hopes to be back tonight against Golden State.

In those eight games, the Nuggets are just 2-6. Billups' importance becomes clearer by the day because of how the team struggles when he's out.

Anthony, who is second in the NBA in scoring, averaging 30.0 points per game, is listed as day to day.

"I'm hopeful (for tonight's game)," Anthony said. "I think it was worse than everybody expected. The pain is little bit different; it was more of a deeper bruise than right there on the tip of the bone."

Anthony and Billups did some light work on the court Monday during their off day. Billups said with good practice sessions Wednesday and Thursday, it's possible he'll play in Friday's big matchup against Cleveland at the Pepsi Center. Rookie Ty Lawson will likely start at point guard tonight. Joey Graham has filled in for Anthony at small forward the past two games.

Birdman out.

Reserve center Chris Andersen (sprained left ankle) is out tonight, and quite possibly Friday and Saturday, coach George Karl said. Andersen suffered the injury during the second quarter of Sunday's home loss to Philadelphia. He is wearing a boot on his left foot. Andersen's backup is Malik Allen, who played nine minutes off the bench Sunday, scoring two points and committing three turnovers.

Tough to watch.

Whether it's getting through screens, shooting the ball or — no joke — even dribbling, J.R. Smith continues to struggle. In the 108-105 loss to Philadelphia, the reserve guard twice turned over the ball when he was called for palming. Defensively, it has been apparent Smith has difficulty fighting through screens. And on Sunday, he shot 4-for-12 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3-point range.

Since

Smith's big night Dec. 23, when he was 10-for-17 from 3-point range, he's 5-for-27 from beyond the arc.

Sign of hope.

Yes, the Nuggets have been hit hard recently by injuries. But consider this: When the Nuggets have Billups, Anthony, Kenyon Martin and Nene in the starting lineup, the team is 19-5. That's a .791 winning percentage. The only team in the NBA with a better overall winning percentage is the Lakers (.818).

Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post

Golden St. at Denver

7 p.m. tonight, ALT, KCKK 1510 AM

Spotlight on Stephen Curry: The Warriors' 6-foot-3 guard averages 11.7 points, fifth-best among rookies this season. He also averages 1.8 steals, first among first-year players, and 4.4 assists (third). But in the past three games, the Davidson product has totaled just four assists. He is the son of former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry.

Nuggets: With Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony out with injuries, Nene and Kenyon Martin have been given opportunities to thrive offensively. Nene has scored 20-plus points in each of the past three games — the first time in his career he has done so. And Martin had 17 points and nine rebounds Sunday, one board shy of a fifth straight double-double. . . . The Nuggets had 27 assists against Philadelphia, the first time they have had 25 or more assists and lost. They are 9-1 in such situations. . . . The Nuggets are on a two-game home losing streak for the first time since February 2007.

Warriors: Golden State is just 3-16 on the road this season, including a 135-107 loss Dec. 1 at the Pepsi Center. In that game, Anthony Morrow scored a game-high (and season-high) 27 points. . . . The Warriors have lost their past four games at the Pepsi Center. . . . Guard Monta Ellis is sixth in the NBA with 25.7 points and second with 2.3 steals. . . . For his career, center Andris Biedrins averages 8.1 rebounds per game, but this season, he's averaging 6.3.

Vince Carter participates in all of Monday’s practice in Indianapolis — will play Tuesday night vs. Indiana

Looks like Vince Carter’s sprained left ankle really was much ado about nothing.

The eight-time all-star participated in all of the Orlando Magic’s practice Monday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and should be in the starting lineup Tuesday night when the team plays the Indiana Pacers.

“I feel fine,” Carter said after practice ended. “We got after it a little bit and it felt good.”

The workout lasted about two and a half hours, and coach Stan Van Gundy reported that Carter looked good.

“He looked fine today,” Van Gundy said. “There wasn’t anything noticeable in terms of his inability to move or he was limping or anything like that. There was none of that.”

Carter injured the ankle as he drove to the basket in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s loss to the Chicago Bulls.

In other notes:

–All other 12 Magic players participated in the practice, Van Gundy said.

–Van Gundy wants to see his team play better early in games.

–The team worked out on a practice court at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Paul Pierce practices, should play

WALTHAM – Paul Pierce [stats], the movement in his left knee greatly improved, ran through most of today’s practice. Barring a flare-up in the knee, which has been drained twice and treated with antibiotics for an infection, the Celtics [team stats] captain expects to pay in tomorrow night’s game in Miami.

Doc Rivers, back from a day off to tend to personal business, said that though Rajon Rondo [stats] (hamstring) participated in today’s walk-through activities, the point guard is merely possible for the Miami game. Kendrick Perkins [stats] and Eddie House spent the morning in bed with the flu, though Perkins had improved enough by this afternoon that Rivers expected the center to make the flight to Miami.

House, with a more serious case, is considered doubtful for tomorrow night’s game.

“I got a good practice in today – felt pretty good, probably not 100 percent, but it’s getting better,” said Pierce. “I got a chance to run the last couple of days on the treadmill. I shot every day, rode the bike every day, so I’m as confident as I’m going to be. It’s just a matter of the swelling going down. I have a lot more flexibility than I’ve had in the last few days. I saw some flashes today.

“I went through the meat and potatoes of it,” said Pierce. “I talked to the doctors, and the side effect is if it swells again. So I’ll continue to get treatment, take pills and go from there.”

Pierce attempted to dispel any notion that due to the team’s short-handed situation, he is rushing himself back.

“Not at all,” he said. “I’m coming back because I feel good. You know Kevin’s going to be out, and maybe Rondo will play -- I don’t know for sure. But I don’t feel pressure at all to come back out here. I wouldn’t do that to myself. I wouldn’t do that to my body at this point in my career.

“I’m just a little stronger. I’ve tried to work on my quads, my calves, getting all of those things stronger. If you don’t get that flexibility, your muscles shut down. Strength in those areas takes pressure off.”

Gilbert Arenas meets with law enforcement officials, apologizes to Wizards teammates

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas met with law enforcement investigators for nearly two hours on Monday to explain the circumstances surrounding firearms he brought to Verizon Center last month. The three-time all-star later apologized to his teammates, the NBA and his fans for having a "serious lapse in judgment" during a dispute with teammate Javaris Crittenton in which the guns were displayed.

In a statement released with his attorney, Kenneth L. Wainstein, Arenas described his handling of the weapons as "a misguided effort to play a joke on a teammate. Contrary to some news accounts, I never threatened or assaulted anyone with the guns and never pointed them at anyone."

Arenas's story was consistent with a previously reported version of the incident that has been supported by multiple sources. According to a person on the team flight home from Phoenix on Dec. 19, Arenas and Crittenton got into a heated argument over a card game. Crittenton, who was annoyed about losing money in the game, threatened to shoot Arenas in his surgically repaired left knee.

When the players arrived for practice two days later, Arenas placed at least three unloaded guns on a chair near Crittenton's locker room stall with a note that read, "Pick one." Although Arenas was attempting to be funny, Crittenton became upset, angrily tossed the guns to floor and flung one across the room, claiming that he had his own gun.

"Joke or not, I now recognize that what I did was a mistake and was wrong," Arenas said in his statement. "I should not have brought the guns to D.C. in the first place, and I now realize that there's no such thing as joking around when it comes to guns -- even if unloaded.

"I am very sorry for the effect that my serious lapse in judgment has had on my team, my teammates, the National Basketball Association and its fans. I want to apologize to everybody for letting them down with my conduct, and I promise to do better in the future."

Arenas and Wainstein, a former U.S. attorney in New York and Washington and a Homeland Security adviser in the Bush administration, met with federal prosecutors at the U.S. attorney's office for the District as well as with detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department. Wainstein said Arenas set up the meeting to "make an immediate self-disclosure about the guns."

When the NBA and the Wizards announced an investigation on Dec. 24, Arenas said that he moved the guns from his home in Great Falls following the birth of his third child on Dec. 9. "I had kept the four unloaded handguns in my house in Virginia, but then moved them over to my locker at the Verizon Center to keep them away from my young kids," Arenas said in the statement. "I brought them without any ammunition into the District of Columbia, mistakenly believing that the recent change in the D.C. gun laws allowed a person to store unloaded guns in the District."

Prosecutors are still investigating whether charges should be filed. Sources within the office said the investigation is still in its "early stages" and it's not clear when or if the case would go to a grand jury since the grand jury meets every day at the U.S. attorney's offices.

However, Arenas could still be arrested by D.C. police, even without charges being filed by prosecutors or an indictment from a grand jury.

Arenas could face two possible charges -- a felony for carrying a pistol without a license, which carries a maximum $5,000 fine and five years in prison; or misdemeanor possession of an unregistered firearm, which has a 12-month maximum sentence. Law enforcement investigators are expected to interview witnesses over the next few weeks, but Crittenton's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said that nothing has been scheduled with his client.

The NBA is waiting until the legal process plays out before making a decision on Arenas, who violated the collective bargaining agreement by bringing guns to a league facility. He faces a fine of up to $50,000 and a suspension that is up to the discretion of NBA Commissioner David Stern, who usually takes a hard stance in situations that endanger players and fans.

The Wizards could also terminate the remainder of Arenas's six-year, $111 million contract -- an option that multiple league sources have said the team would consider -- under the "moral turpitude" provision, which teams can utilize if a player pleads guilty to a felony crime.

Such a move is rare but in terms of the Wizards' salary cap, it would clear out a considerable amount in the summer of 2010. Two league sources said that Arenas and the NBA players' union would fight any attempt to terminate his deal.

The Golden State Warriors voided the remaining three years and $23.7 million on Latrell Sprewell's contract in 1998 after Sprewell attempted to choke Coach P.J. Carlesimo during an argument in practice. Stern suspended Sprewell for a year, but an arbitrator reduced the penalty to the remainder of the calendar year and canceled the Warriors' attempts to terminate the contract. Sprewell was later traded to the Knicks, who were run at the time by current Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld.

Lakers' Gasol out at practice, Artest in

The medical news was decidedly mixed Monday for the Lakers.

Pau Gasol couldn't practice because of a mild-to-moderate strained left hamstring, but Ron Artest participated in a full-contact workout for the first time since suffering a concussion Dec.25.

Lamar Odom did not attend practice because of a stomach ailment, but Luke Walton (pinched back nerve) joined his teammates for some but not all of a light workout one day before they face the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

Gasol was listed as doubtful for tonight; Artest is awaiting medical clearance today; Odom's status is uncertain; and the Lakers expect Walton to be cleared Thursday for his first full-contact practice in about six weeks.

All of which means the league-leading Lakers could be seriously shorthanded while facing the Rockets, a team that handed them one of their six losses in 33 games. The Lakers will have only nine healthy bodies tonight if all four can't play.

Gasol's injury could be the most debilitating. He was forced from Sunday's game in the first quarter of a 35-point victory over the Dallas Mavericks, although Lakers coach Phil Jackson hinted it might not have happened during action.

"It happened before the game in a very unusual way and I'll let Pau explain it to you when you see him," Jackson said cryptically. "You have to ask him. He's got the story. He told me the story. You'll have to get it from him.

"He told the trainer (Gary Vitti) he felt a little bit of a twinge before the game."

Gasol was not available for immediate comment Monday.

He scored six points on 3-for-3 shooting before leaving Sunday's game after only 7 minutes, 12 seconds. He departed Staples Center without speaking to reporters. He walked gingerly from the arena, accompanied by a team official.

Gasol sat out the season's first 11 games after straining his right hamstring during training camp in October. He said the injury might have been brought on by his participation in the European Championships in September with his native Spain.

"I think he's very concerned about (a layoff) happening again," Jackson said.

Artest update

It remains to be seen whether Artest can play tonight. He has missed five games since suffering a concussion after a fall at home. He had four stitches removed from the back of his head and seven taken from his elbow Sunday.

"I felt good in practice," he said. "I can't wait to play. ... I felt a little fatigued because I haven't played (since the Lakers' loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day). I feel like I have to get back in shape. ... (But there's) nothing to complain about."

Artest said he didn't feel an added sense of urgency to return to the active roster because of Gasol's injury and Odom's illness.

"I always feel a sense of urgency," he said. "I just want to play hard all the time even when we have our whole lineup."

Of Gasol, he added, "He's got to get healthy. We've got a long season, so he's got to take care of himself. He plays through pain, I've seen him play through pain, so when he says he's hurt, he's really hurt."

Utah Jazz: Deron Williams passes 3,000-assist plateau

SALT LAKE CITY — When his pass set up an Andrei Kirilenko layup in the third quarter Monday, Deron Williams earned an entry into some extremely exclusive groups of players who've dished out 3,000 assists.

Scoot over John Stockton, Karl Malone and Rickey Green, there's a new assists-cranking machine in your club.

Unfortunately for the Jazz, though, they needed a few more assists — or at least some more baskets, whether Williams-assisted or not — to come up victorious on the historic night.

Williams finished with 11 assists, upping his career-total to 3,003 dimes, but the monumental milestone came in another monumental meltdown.

As one could expect, Williams wasn't exactly in a celebratory mood after the Jazz blew a double-digit lead and became only the third road victim of the New Orleans Hornets in a 91-87 loss at EnergySolutions Arena.

"It's a great accomplishment," said Williams, only the fourth Jazzman to hit the milestone. "But what's so special about 3,000?"

The fact that only a select few have reached the level so quickly, for one thing.

Williams became the ninth-quickest NBA player to reach the mark and just the 10th guy in league history to get there in 350 games or less.

It only took Williams 342 games to surpass 3,000. That, by the way, is one game more than it took Stockton, the NBA's all-time assists leader who didn't become a full-time starter until his fourth season.

For Williams, however, the night was more "frustrating" than festive.

Even so, his coach believes it is a rather special milestone.

"I'm happy for him," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "That's a sign of a very good player that's on his way to greatness if he continues to work at it."

Even after the disappointing loss, Sloan took time to positively reflect on the steady play Williams has produced in his five-year career.

And the passing and playmaking of the point guard he calls a "terrific young player" weren't the only skills Sloan complimented.

"He's helped change this franchise back around where it's been competitive," Sloan said. "I think he has a terrific game. He's a very good defender. He does a lot of things to help you win, and he can shoot the ball."

Williams also showed that Monday, hitting 6 of 11 shots to finish with 17 points for his 15th double-double of the season.

Even with all that, the stat Williams might remember most on this night was the stat that got away.

With the Jazz trailing by four in the final minute, Williams came up with a steal and led a fast break with Kirilenko.

A bucket and a 12th assist would've trimmed the Hornets' surprising lead to two and given the Jazz momentum for the final 45 seconds.

One thing, however, stood in the way of Williams, Kirilenko and the basket.

A mighty big 6-foot guard named Chris Paul.

Williams' buddy, who hit the 3,000-assist mark in 304 games, quickly swiped the Jazz point guard's pass and then scored a layup with 27 seconds remaining to all but clinch New Orleans' unlikely victory.

"He made a great anticipation," admitted Williams, whose head-to-head record against Paul dropped to 11-3. "I should've threw it up to Andrei high. He's a lot taller than Chris.

"That's the play he's more able to make than on the ground like that," Williams added. "It was a bad pass by me."

One of the rare ones in this two-turnover game for Williams, who hinted that 3,000 assists isn't nearly enough to satisfy him.

"Get some more (assists)," he added. "That's what I need."

Joining the 3,000 club

With his eighth assist Monday night, Deron Williams became only the fourth Utah Jazz player ever to reach the 3,000-assist mark. Only nine other NBA players have reached that milestone in 350 games or less as well.

Quickest to 3,000 assists

Name. . . . .Games

1. Oscar Robertson 291

2. Isiah Thomas 301

3. Chris Paul 304

4. Kevin Johnson 307

5. Tim Hardaway 310

5. Magic Johnson 310

7. Jason Kidd 332

8. John Stockton 341

9. Deron Williams 342

10. Johnny Moore 350

Jazz assists leaders

Name. . . . .Games

1. John Stockton 15,806*

2. Karl Malone 5,085

3. Rickey Green 4,159

4. Deron Williams 3,003

Heat center Jermaine O'Neal sidelined by groin-hip ailment

MIAMI - Miami Heat center Jermaine O'Neal missed his fourth game of the season Monday night, due to a balky right groin that is being classified as strain and hip flexor.

Joel Anthony started in place of O'Neal in Monday's game against the visiting Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena, with coach Erik Spoelstra hopeful of having O'Neal back for Wednesday's home game against the Boston Celtics.

Spoelstra said it was a lingering concern that the team decided was time to address.

"He's going to do therapy and hopefully, in the next 24 hours, we'll see it respond more," the second-year coach said. "It is getting better, but it got to the point where it would get better, then tweak it again, get better, tweak it.

"It's not severe, but we want to make sure we can get him as close to 100 percent as we can."

Spoelstra said the training staff could not isolate a specific event that triggered the ailment.

"About the last couple of weeks, he's been dealing with it," Spoelstra said. "But we came to a head, probably in the (Thursday) San Antonio game, in the second half. And it just wasn't getting significantly better.

"It wasn't enough to really sit out. So hopefully this will just be a one-game thing, but we'll have to see. We'll have to see how he responds to the therapy and the medicine and some rest."

The 31-year-old veteran played 40 minutes last Wednesday against the New Orleans Hornets, the night before playing just 16 against the San Antonio Spurs. He then played 26 in Saturday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats, at one point diving to the floor for a loose ball, an episode Spoelstra said did not exacerbate the ailment.

The Heat lost all three of those games, with O'Neal limited to 24 total points.

O'Neal previously missed two games due to a family funeral, as well as a game earlier in the season due to a hip contusion.

Monday marked Anthony's fourth start of the season, with Jamaal Magloire moved into the backup role at center.

Despite utilizing Magloire for just 57 minutes entering Monday, Spoelstra said he had faith in the brawny veteran.

"The way I view Jamaal, he's not a third center in this league," Spoelstra said. "The way this team is set up, he's been very patient and has kept good perspective and kept himself in phenomenal condition."

Monday marked the third time in four meetings with the Hawks that O'Neal has been sidelined. He missed the final two games of last season's first-round playoff series against Atlanta due to a concussion.

Utah Jazz: Team out-of-tune in loss to Hornets

From the sound of it, they couldn't do anything right.

It may not have been quite that terrible for the Jazz in a 91-87 loss to New Orleans on Monday night at sold-out EnergySolutions Arena, one in which ex-Jazz guard Devin Brown scored a career-high 30 points to help the 16-16 Hornets break a six game in-Utah losing streak.

But it sure seemed like it to some on an 18-16 Jazz club that's lost three straight and five of its last seven.

"We're not playing well together, as a team," said point guard Deron Williams, who sprained and bruised his right wrist in a hard fourth-quarter fall to the floor. "We don't have that same continuity, that same consistency, that we've had in the past. It just seems like we're not together right now.

"We're not taking the right shots. We're passing when we're not supposed to, not passing when we're supposed to," Williams added after a 17-point, 11-dish double-double that included his 3,000 career assist. "So, it's been frustrating."

How much so?

"The frustration level, I don't think you can really even gauge where it is right now. It's as high as it can be," swingman C.J. Miles said.

"We're confident in what we do," added Miles, who scored all eight of Utah's points — including two 3-pointers — in the final two minutes. "I think it's more the frustration that makes it hard to get any confidence. It's frustrating that some of the things we do well, we're not doing so well right now."

Utah's energy level — decidedly lacking in a 10-point loss to Denver on Saturday night — was higher.

But from dribbling too much at times to not making good cuts to the basket and failing to finish as well, not to mention an inability to withstand the Hornets' defensive pressure, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan wasn't particularly thrilled with what he saw.

Especially not after New Orleans used an 11-0 run shortly after halftime to take the third quarter 25-11 — only a buzzer-beating bank by Williams saved Utah from an eight-point period — and head into the fourth up seven at 69-62.

"They came with lot more ammunition in the second half than we had to stand up to them," Sloan said.

The Jazz did have the game tied at 79 with less than four-minutes to go.

But New Orleans never allowed Utah to take a lead in the final quarter, and most Jazz hopes were dashed when — with the Hornets up 86-82, and 45.9 seconds remaining — point Chris Paul claimed a Williams pass intended for Andrei Kirilenko.

"That was just a bad pass by me," Williams said.

Paul took advantage of a pick on Williams to drive for a layup with 27 seconds left that made it 88-82 New Orleans, leaving Sloan to bemoan just how much the speedy Hornets point — despite starting 0-for-7 from the field — hurt the Jazz.

"Our big people couldn't get up enough to give support to the point guard out there trying to guard him. =8A He cripples our big people whenever he gets past our point guard," the Jazz coach said.

And that left Sloan's team searching for ways to emerge from the paralyzing grip of its recent ineptitude.

"We've just got to regroup somehow," Williams said, with Memphis coming Wednesday to close a three-game homestand. "Get a win. It's as simple as that.

"We didn't expect be in this position this late in the season," he added. "I thought we'd be playing our best basketball come this time, not regressing."

Sloan, though, remains hopeful of a turnaround — "if we stay together."

"If we get in a situation where we don't stay together and start going at each other," he said, "then that becomes very difficult to overcome."

The Jazz, Sloan and others know, have been here before.

"We've had moments like that in previous years I've been here when we've had to circle the wagons and fight for each other," forward Carlos Boozer said after an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double. "Our fans are on our ass and sometimes we deserve it. But at the same time I think we can pull together.

"Whether it's us against the world, that's how it is. Whether we're in our own building or somewhere else, we've got to do a job of believing in each other, fighting for each other.

They don't know what we go through, they don't know our schedule, how hard we work. We've got to work harder just to get the win. I mean it's not easy to win in this league."

Butler the subject of trade rumors

Agent: Crittenton not scheduled to meet with U.S. Attorney's office

In the midst of increasing adversity both on and off the court for the Washington Wizards, small forward Caron Butler has been inspired, playing some of his best and most aggressive basketball of the season after getting called out last week by head coach Flip Saunders.

"In times right now, you need good, positive news coming out of here so that's what I'm trying to do, trying to do something special and extraordinary in every practice," said Butler, who continues to be the subject of trade rumors.

The Wizards (10-21) embark on a two-game road trip that will only physically get them away from the troubles that have sprouted up around Verizon Center.

"We are accustomed to dealing with it, and we always find a way to overcome it, and we just need to find a way to get through it," said forward Antawn Jamison.

He and Butler were the team's biggest stars while Gilbert Arenas missed most of the last two seasons due to injury, but they've become their biggest potential trade assets as the franchise becomes increasingly frustrated with the team's performance and deals with the fallout of the Arenas/Javaris Crittenton locker room gun incident.

With a grand jury convening to explore the episode, Saunders said Monday after practice that he had not received any subpoena nor had any of his players. While Arenas opened up to investigators on Monday, Crittenton took the back exit from the team's practice court at Verizon Center, avoiding the media for the second day in a row.

Crittenton's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said his client did not speak with the U.S. Attorney's office and is not scheduled to do so.

Reserve guard Mike James did take up the defense of Arenas in front of reporters, adding to a series of posts he made via Twitter on Sunday night.

"I'm in his corner until whatever happens," said James. "That's my teammate, that's my brother here."

Twitter was also used Sunday by JaVale McGee's mother, former WNBA star Pamela McGee, who called for a "Free McGee Campaign," though it was unclear whether it was a trade demand or a plea for more playing time for the second-year center.

Saunders expects to have his full roster -- except for Crittenton, who has been injured all season -- available by the end of the week, as Mike Miller appears ready to return after missing the last six weeks with a calf injury.

"There's no question he'll play Friday against Orlando," said Saunders. "But Cleveland [on Wednesday] could be a possibility as far as some short-term play."

Utah Jazz notebook: Team needs to add player to roster by end of day

It's deadline day for the Utah Jazz.

Two weeks have passed since the organization traded rookie Eric Maynor and injured veteran Matt Harpring to Oklahoma City, and the undermanned team has until the end of the day to bring its depleted roster up to the league minimum of 13 players.

Whether that acquisition will come through a free-agent pickup or a trade remains to be seen.

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor suggested both options are on the table when he described the situation to be "status quo" on Monday.

"There's a lot of things bouncing around," O'Connor said.

Since pulling the trigger on the salary-dumping move, the Jazz have expressed a desire to obtain a third point guard. One name high on the team's list is Dontell Jefferson, an athletic combo guard currently playing for its D-League affiliate, the Utah Flash.

Former Flash point Kevin Kruger is another possible addition.

Because today also marks the first day NBA teams can sign players to 10-day contracts, it's possible the Jazz could sign someone to a short deal while continuing to pursue a long-term solution.

STRONG BOND: While talking about his friendship with Chris Paul on Monday morning, Deron Williams said the two get along because they have a lot in common.

And he wasn't just talking about the link they share for being two of the NBA's premier point guards.

Along with common off-the-court interests, turns out Paul and Williams also have a similar on-the-court problem.

Consider this quote as proof:

"When you're at home, you're obviously more comfortable. You play a lot more games there. You know what to expect a little bit more. That's something I'm trying to change about our team. We're a really good home team right now, but we're terrible on the road."

The comment sounds like something Williams would say about the Jazz and their 6-10 road mark.

It was, however, made by Paul, whose Hornets seemed to improve from the terrible ranks while improving to 3-13 away from home with their 91-87 win in Utah.

ENERGY SYNERGY: Interesting that the Jazz pointed to a lack of energy as an excuse/reason for Saturday's rough home loss to shorthanded Denver.

The opposite, Paul claims, is why visitors usually struggle at EnergySolutions Arena.

"Man, the energy from the crowd is always something that gets you when you play here in Utah," Paul said. "But they've had that dominance here in Utah for such a long time. It's a great team, too."

So what's the, well, energy solution?

"I think that the way that you win here is you come out (and) you play with energy," he said Monday morning. "You've got to hit them first because if they get you down early, it's pretty much a wrap for you."

The Hornets didn't exactly follow that script, but they certainly played with more energy after a slow start to pull off the shocker.

CAMPING WITH AK & BOOZ: Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer are teaming up to put on a basketball camp for boys and girls, ages 6-17. Per the clinic's Web site, the Jazz players will help campers "learn the fundamentals of shooting, dribbling, defense, passing and sportsmanship."

The camp will take place at SLCC's Lifetime Activities Center from Feb. 3-5 between 4-8 p.m. Cost is $150, and includes games, giveaways and awards.

To register, call 1-800-725-6958 or visit cbfcamp.com.

Proceeds will benefit the Kirilenko's Kids Foundation and the Boozer's Buddies Foundation.

COMMON GOAL: Williams said he and his pal, Paul, both have high hopes for their respective clubs — neither of which look like contenders.

"We're just still trying to get over that hump," Williams said, "trying to get our teams to the elite level."

The hump seems all the bigger after Monday — for the Jazz, at least.

Nicolas Batum gets good news from doctor; return slated for late January

The Trail Blazers are targeting forward Nicolas Batum to return late this month - possibly a Jan. 25 home game against New Orleans -after Batum’s surgically-repaired right shoulder received a positive checkup on Monday.

Batum, who was estimated to be out 3-to-5 months when he underwent surgery on Oct. 30, was examined Monday morning in Los Angeles by the doctor who performed his surgery.

“He’s right on track,’’ general manager Kevin Pritchard said. “Everything looks really good. My guess is (his return) is still three weeks away.’’

Batum will accompany the team on its Jan. 18-Jan. 23 trip to Washington, Philadelphia, Boston and Detroit, but Pritchard said the plan is to have Batum use the trip as a way to get acclimated to shooting and playing with the team in practices and before games.

“I think (his return) will be after that trip,’’ Pritchard said. “It will be good to have him back.’’

Batum still hasn’t been cleared for contact in practices, but he continues to shoot and run drills more and more with each day.

A starter for 76 games last season at small forward, Batum is the team's best perimeter defender and an emerging offensive player. He injured his shoulder on March 11 last season in a game against Dallas, but played through the pain the rest of the season and into the summer while playing for the French National team.

He aggravated the injury during training camp, and after rebuffing the suggestion of surgery, he eventually agreed to fix his torn labrum the day before the regular season started.

Bucks push Jennings to get more aggressive

St. Francis — Brandon Jennings has kept his turnovers to a minimum, something greatly appreciated by Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles, a former point guard.

Jennings is averaging 2.84 turnovers while dishing out 6.0 assists per game, the best assist total among National Basketball Association rookies.

But Skiles also wants the 6-foot-1 Jennings to keep pushing the pace and attacking Bucks opponents.

"Especially for a rookie point guard, he's not a high turnover player," Skiles said after the Bucks' practice session Monday. "That's going to bode well for him as his career goes on.

"It's good he's risk averse, but we need him to stay aggressive. I want him to be aggressive on everything he's doing, make his decisions on the fly rather than pre-determining, 'I'm going to come off here and pass it back to a big man.'

"I don't think he does too much of that. You'd rather have that happening than a guy that's totally out of control out there that you're just trying to calm him down all the time."

Jennings is finding the right balance as he learns when to take the three-pointer or perimeter shot and when to come off a screen and boldly attack the rim.

"One thing Bogues (Andrew Bogut) told me, even when I do go in there and I miss it, he might get a tip or a rebound," Jennings said. "That's why a lot of times I go in there and I might just flip something up because I know Bogues is coming."

Jennings has been frustrated at not getting more fouls called when he drives to the basket, and at times he will dribble a bit too long on the perimeter while probing the defense.

"It isn't so much constantly going in there," Skiles said. "It's just even taking outlet passes in moments of the game, and are you really blowing the ball up the floor or kind of trotting it up? We see improvement, and he needs to continue to work and get better."

Jennings, who received his second consecutive Eastern Conference rookie of the month honor Monday, will face former University of Wisconsin star Devin Harris as the Bucks visit the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night.

It's an intriguing matchup of high-scoring point guards and will mark their first meeting on an NBA court. When the Bucks beat the Nets at the Bradley Center in November, Harris was sidelined with a groin injury.

The 6-3 Milwaukee native has played well on the Nets' current home stand, averaging 18.8 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds in the first six games.

"He has different ways to score, and you've got to be smart with him," Skiles said. "You've got to pressure him some but at the same time keep him in front of you. We're going to need help from our big guys and know where he is at all times."

Ukic released: Backup point guard Roko Ukic was released Monday, leaving the Bucks' roster at 14 players.

"Roko asked to be released from his contract to pursue other opportunities," Bucks general manager John Hammond said.

The 25-year-old Ukic had played sparingly behind Jennings and veteran Luke Ridnour. Ukic appeared in 13 games and averaged 3.1 points and 7.5 minutes.

He was inactive for nine games and did not play due to the coach's decision in nine others.

Ukic's top performance with the Bucks came when he scored 17 points against his former team, the Toronto Raptors, in a 117-95 Milwaukee victory on Dec. 9.

The Bucks are expected to save about $2 million in releasing Ukic, including $1.45 million in a player option that Ukic held for the 2010-'11 season.

Ukic was acquired along with forward Carlos Delfino in an Aug. 17 trade that sent Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems to Toronto.

The Bucks' roster is one below the league maximum of 15 players, and the team is not expected to fill the open position immediately.

Duncan returns to MVP level

Before the Spurs won their fourth straight road game on Saturday in Washington , coach Gregg Popovich spent a few moments marveling at the resurgence of his hottest player.

At age 33, Tim Duncan leads Popovich's team in scoring (20.0 points per game), rebounding (10.2) and blocked shots (1.8).

Admitting he'd had occasional off-season doubt about Duncan 's ability to return to the sort of nightly dominance that twice made him the Most Valuable Player, Popovich sounded relieved.

“I hoped I would (see him back at that level),” he said, “and I have.

“He's just been fantastic. He was really wise this summer and took care of himself and was careful with his workouts and didn't overdo it. He's reaping the benefits and has been our most consistent player and continues to be the foundation of what we do.”

Duncan chuckled at Popovich's doubts that he could get back to MVP level.

“I didn't know I left this level,” he said. “Did I?”

Truth be told, after a season that included a diagnosis of tendonosis in his right quadriceps tendon — a condition defined as chronic soreness — and a second straight season with a scoring average under 20 points per game, Duncan spent a few off-season days pondering what the future might hold.

“I had a really tough year with injuries and trying to play through all that,” he said of a season that ultimately required the use a right knee brace that he found uncomfortable and limiting.

“I definitely took a step back.”

Duncan spent a few summer weeks testing one knee brace after another, finally settling on one that works so well, he can play without realizing it is on his leg.

“I went through about four or five,” he said. “I just like the feel and the weight of this one I've been using, and I've stayed with it long enough, I don't even feel it anymore.”

A summer diet and relaxation had a rejuvenating effect.

“I lost some weight, started later in the summer and found the brace that worked,” he said. “I also went and saw some doctors who helped out. I just came back feeling good.”

The result?

“Now I'm just playing,” he said. “I don't know what's going on, really. I'm not trying to do any one thing. I'm not trying to push to be this, that or the other. I'm just playing, and whatever happens, happens.”

Duncan played 36 minutes and 11 seconds Saturday, then opened Sunday's game in Toronto on the bench.

“Pop asked me about it (pregame),” Duncan said, “and it sounded like a decent idea, just to make sure I had my legs down the stretch there, as many games as we'd played.

“It worked. I felt good in the fourth quarter. I just couldn't get anything to go in the hole.”

Popovich always has been mindful of the workload of key players, and the fact Sunday's game was the Spurs' sixth in nine nights played into the decision.

The Spurs coach knew he would get no pushback from his star big man.

“He's amazing,” Popovich said. “In 13 years, there has not been one moan, groan or gripe about playing time. Never. Not once. He's very coachable.”

In fact, Duncan appreciates Popovich's fretting about his health.

“I've got a lot of years and a lot of miles,” Duncan said, “but I've felt pretty healthy this year, and I continue to feel healthy.

“It's just about managing the season and trying to get through it the right way. We'll take opportunities to do some stuff like this to cut back my minutes and do some other things to try and stay as healthy as possible.”

Still, Duncan did some fretting of his own when Sunday's game got away from the Spurs as he watched from the bench.

“We're all competitors here, and we all want to win every game, and we all want to play every minute of every game,” he said. “That's just how it goes.”

Thunder's Russell Westbrook on a roll

CHICAGO — The light came on for Russell Westbrook during the national anthem.

At that moment, as the Thunder’s point guard stood alongside teammates during the bold, bass-filled rendition, he told himself Monday night’s game would be different.

Westbrook wanted to revert to his strength, better yet to what he does best — applying pressure with aggressive attacks to the rim.

"I wanted to start the game off that way,” Westbrook said. "In other games, I’ve been settling for jump shots, and there was no reason for me to do that.”

Welcome back, Mr. Westbrook.

Behind Westbrook’s game-high 29 points, the Thunder cruised to a 98-85 win over Chicago at United Center, snapping the Bulls’ four-game winning streak on a night in which the offense was far from flawless.

Kevin Durant’s franchise-record streak of 30-point games ended at seven, largely because he was battling an injured right ankle from the first quarter on and a bulldog duo of Bulls defenders in Luol Deng and John Salmons all night long. Durant scored 25 points in just 37 minutes, his fewest since Dec. 19. James Harden was the only other Thunder player in double-digit scoring with 13 points off the bench.

But Westbrook efficiently compensated for his team’s scoring shortage, hitting 13-of-24 shots while grabbing seven rebounds and six assists in 45 minutes. It was only the sixth time this season that someone other than Durant led the team in scoring.

And what’s become apparent is Westbrook has regained his killer instinct, showing the benefits he brings the Thunder when he transforms from set-up man to scorer. It’s a transformation we’ve rarely seen this year from Westbrook, who has spent much of this season playing at a slower pace, seemingly trying to prove he can be the floor general Oklahoma City fans fancy.

Entering Monday’s game, Westbrook had recorded four double-doubles in his past seven games. He tallied 10 assists three times and 13 assists twice over that same span. Westbrook has been productive, just in a different style, boasting 83 assists against 18 turnovers over his past 10 games before facing the Bulls.

But Westbrook’s average shot attempts have increased each month, from 11.5 in two October games, to 13.9 in November, to 14.9 in December to 20 in two January games.

"That’s a feel thing that he’s doing a great job of learning,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks of Westbrook’s balancing act.

Westbrook stole the show in a second-half that saw the Thunder buckle down defensively and outscore the Bulls 51-33. Westbrook took 11 shot attempts over the final 24 minutes. No other starter had more than five.

The shot that said it all, though, came with 2:32 remaining, when the Bulls had cut an 18-point deficit to 10. Westbrook had Chicago center Joakim Noah isolated at the top of the key. He gave him a little dance with his dribble then blew by the big man before rattling in a floater at the front of the rim.

Ballgame.

"All of us have to be a little more aggressive to give Kevin some space,” said Oklahoma City’s Thabo Sefolosha. "Right now, the defense is focusing mostly on him, and I think we’re doing a little bit too much giving him the ball and watching. So when Russ is aggressive like that, that gives him some space and that’s good.”

Grizzlies looking for deal if the price right

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Earning a postseason berth hasn't been one of the Grizzlies' stated goals for this season.

But privately, they have made appearing in the playoffs a mission.

To that end, the Grizzlies' effort to improve the team's depth is ongoing. Memphis has three first-round picks in the 2010 NBA draft and is peddling its two late-round selections in an attempt to add scoring off the bench.

The Griz will not take a player whose deal extends beyond this season if they indeed consummate a deal. Although they are willing to trade draft picks because of the team's youth, the Griz are not offering their own 2010 selection.

Memphis' first-round picks that are owed from Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers are in play.

The process began earlier this season when the Grizzlies approached tonight's opponent, the Portland Trail Blazers, about a potential trade involving forward Travis Outlaw.

According to league sources, the Blazers weren't interested in swapping Outlaw merely for draft picks so the deal quickly fizzled. It was the second time since last season that the Griz expressed interest in Outlaw, who is out another two months while recovering from a broken bone in his left foot.

Outlaw is one of several injured players expected to sit out the Grizzlies' final road game against the Blazers. Centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla are done for the season. Forwards Nicolas Batum and Rudy Fernandez aren't expected back until late January while LaMarcus Aldridge will sit out this week with an ankle sprain.

The Grizzlies are healthy but fear that an injury can derail what has become a promising season partly because of their lack of depth.

Since their failed bid to acquire Outlaw, the Griz whiffed at signing free-agent guard Von Wafer. The former Houston Rocket reached a buyout with a Greek team last month but then failed his physical with the Grizzlies.

That development led Memphis to negotiations with the New York Knicks about maligned guard Nate Robinson. Team insiders confirmed a recent New York Newsday report that the Griz and Knicks agreed in principle to exchange Robinson for guard Marcus Williams and a draft pick.

The deal died because of Robinson's veto. Robinson is in the last year of a qualifying offer with the Knicks therefore he has to approve any trade, according to league rules.

Griz general manager Chris Wallace wouldn't confirm or deny any trade discussions. Wallace would only say that the Griz are active and will remain so until the league's February trade deadline.

"We would like to add to our offensive firepower off the bench but we want to do so on our terms," Wallace said. "We don't want to complicate our long-term team salary obligations and potentially detract from our ability to sign Rudy Gay."

Gay turned down a multi-year contract extension starting at $10 million. He will be a restricted free agent this summer. The Griz are also planning for free agency involving Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph in 2011, and future contract extensions for Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo.

Tip-in: A 9-4 record in the month of December was strong enough to make Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins the NBA's Western Conference coach of the month.

The award is the first for Hollins and fifth time a Grizzlies coach has received the honor. Hubie Brown and Mike Fratello each won the monthly award twice while coaching the Grizzlies.

Said Hollins: "I say congratulations to the coaching staff and to the players. It's a team effort. Without the team doing what they're doing there's no award. It's a testament to how we're growing and becoming a team."

Only the Los Angeles Lakers at 12-3 had a better December than did the Grizzlies, whose 9-4 mark was the sixth-best monthly record in team history. Three of the victories came over division leaders (Dallas, Cleveland and Denver).

Two former Memphis Tigers point guards were also honored Monday. Chicago's Derrick Rose was named Eastern Conference player of the week. Tyreke Evans of Sacramento was named Western Conference rookie of the month.

Bargnani flourishing in Bosh's shadow

San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan is defended by Raptors' Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh. (Jack Boland/Sun Media)

It was Chris Bosh’s night, no question. He made the big basket when his team needed it most, helping the Raptors ward off a potentially crippling San Antonio comeback.

More impressively, he eclipsed Vince Carter as the highest scorer in team history and then, as expected, dominated the post-game locker room. All of it was richly deserved.

But there was another of the Raptor bigs who had a pretty big Sunday night himself, the kind of night that speaks to what could be if he could just bottle it and bring it out on a consistent basis.

Andrea Bargnani’s night didn’t make headlines like Bosh’s, but it was a headline-worthy night just the same.

The fourth-year Raptor has had headline-worthy nights before but this one was different.

This time, it wasn’t just his offensive numbers that jumped off the post-game scoresheet, although those weren’t inconsequential either — 15 points on a night when scoring was hard to come by.

The number that jumped off the page Sunday night was the five blocks Bargnani had.

Combine that with the fact that much of the night he was defending perennial all-star Tim Duncan and you have to wonder if Bargnani has reached a turning point in his career.

The five blocks mark only the fourth time in his career he has reached those heights, but that wasn’t the only reason for optimism.

Raptors head coach Jay Triano appears to have decided it is time to put a little more on Bargnani’s plate as well, another sign that the big Italian is progressing.

Big minutes

Triano has had him on the floor for more than 40 minutes in four consecutive games. In those games, Bargnani has averaged 20 points and 5.5 rebounds.

Even better, the once seen-but-rarely-heard Bargnani seems to have turned over a new leaf.

Suddenly he has become a very vocal presence on the floor, particularly at the defensive end.

And this has been going on for a while. Numerous times over the past couple of weeks, Bargnani could be heard barking out coming screens and picks for guards in front of him while keeping his own opposite as far away from the basket as possible.

And when those screens and picks have impeded his guards, Bargnani has flashed out from beside the pick to force the quicker and more agile opposing guards to take a longer path to the basket, allowing his own guards time to recover and switch back on to their own man.

Previously, all the talk on the defensive end was being done by the trio of Bosh, Jarrett Jack and Antoine Wright, but lately Bargnani’s voice has been just as dominant.

When Bargnani’s newfound habit was mentioned to Triano about a week ago, the Raptors head coach shook his head and muttered something that sounded an awful lot like “Finally.”

Clearly the team has been on him to step up and Bargnani appears to be doing just that.

Bargnani and the rest of the Raptors were up early for a flight to Florida and they’ll be back to work today preparing for the ultimate test in opposing big men in the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard.

Between the two of them, Bosh and Bargnani will have their hands full.

Sixers gain steam on West Coast

Philadelphia won three of four games on its recent road trip to move within 4 1/2 games of the eighth seed.

Sunday night's 108-105 victory over the Nuggets gave the Sixers three wins in four games to close out their annual holiday road trip.

With a favorable upcoming schedule that features five of their next six games at the Wachovia Center, starting tonight against the Wizards, and each of the next seven opponents with losing records, the Sixers believe they still have a chance to salvage something from this disappointing season.

"We're just beginning to go uptown," said Sixers coach Eddie Jordan after improving to 10-23. "You never know where this can take us. We hope it gets us going."

Although they're 13 games below .500 and tied for second-to-last in the 15-team Eastern Conference, the Sixers are only 4 1/2 games out of the eighth and final playoff position.

They used strong second halves to down the Trail Blazers and Kings by double digits last week before a 16-point New Year's Eve drubbing against the Clippers.

The Sixers bounced back three nights later to build a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter vs. Denver, which was without injured stars Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, then stumbled down the stretch and had to hang on. The Sixers missed three free throws in the final 15.6 seconds and were outscored 18-8 to close out the evening.

"We just stuck with it and buckled down," Jordan said. "The will to win was at an all-time high."

The Sixers, who are 4-10 at home this season, will need to get continued production from their bench. The reserves accounted for 53 points vs. Denver two games after scoring 42 in outlasting Sacramento.

Different backups are getting it done for the Sixers.

Sub Rodney Carney scored a season-high14 points and went 4-for-5 from 3-point land against the Kings after accounting for a total of 11 points on 0-for-12 shooting beyond the arc in the previous 11 games.

Jason Smith chipped in seven points in eight second-half minutes vs. the Nuggets after going scoreless in his seven prior outings.

"You just have to be ready at any time," Smith said Sunday. "I just gave energy and played as hard as I could."

Reserves Jrue Holiday (plus-17), Willie Green (plus-13) and Smith (plus-10) had the Sixers' highest plus-minus totals in the game.

Meanwhile, Elton Brand has settled into his sixth-man role and is giving the Sixers consistent scoring. He's averaging 18.5 points and shooting 31-for-55 (56.4 percent) from the field over the past four games.

■

Jordan said on Sunday that he expects the Sixers to keep Allen Iverson for the remainder of the season. They could choose to waive Iverson, whose contract isn't guaranteed until later this week, and avoid having to pay him for the final three months of 2009-10, though that seems unlikely.

"That's safe to assume (Iverson will be back)," Jordan said. "He's added a lot to us, on the floor and off the floor. He's helping our young guys."

The 34-year-old Iverson is averaging 15.7 points, 4.7 assists and 33.2 minutes in nine games with the Sixers. They are 4-5 with Iverson and 6-18 without him.

Deeper Bulls should be ready for quick turnaround

The Bulls' healthier lineup will be put to the test tonight in Charlotte. They've been absolutely miserable in the second leg of back-to-back games this season, going 0-6 with the average margin of defeat at a whopping 23.5 points.

Twice the Bulls lost by more than 30 points and their only single-digit defeat of the six was 88-81 at New York on Dec. 23.

Most of those losses happened while Tyrus Thomas was out with a broken arm and some of them when Kirk Hinrich was out with a thumb injury.

"I think we're playing with a little more depth right now," center Joakim Noah said. "I think it's definitely going to help us using our bench a little bit more. I think we're ready for the challenge, especially with what happened (against Oklahoma City)."

Charlotte (14-18) beat Cleveland and Miami on the road in its last two games and the Bobcats are 11-4 at home this season, so the Bulls face a difficult assignment.

"We're confident," Derrick Rose said. "We want to go out there and just play hard, that's our biggest thing. Some way, some how, we've just got to find a way to score and put pressure on the defense."

Thabo returns: Thabo Sefolosha played his first game at the United Center in an opposing uniform on Monday. Acquired in a draft night deal in 2006, Sefolosha never earned consistent playing time with the Bulls.

The Switzerland native was traded to Oklahoma City last Feb. 19 for a late first-round draft pick. The Bulls used the selection on Taj Gibson, who has been invaluable this season.

"I was happy going to a team that wanted me," Sefolosha said before the game. "They welcomed me with open arms. Coach (Scott Brooks) was giving me some minutes to show what I can do out there and it worked out pretty well."

The 6-foot-7 Sefolosha is starting at two guard for the Thunder in a lineup loaded with scorers. That's allowed him to play to his strength, which is doing a little of everything.

Sefolosha's mother is an artist and his father a jazz musician. So how is the Oklahoma City culture treating him? The Green Mill isn't quite the same as Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill.

"(The art museums are) not great, but they've got a little something," Sefolosha said with a laugh. "Not much jazz and blues, but it's fine."

Bull horns: The Bulls shot 35.4 percent from the field against the Thunder, their second-lowest of the season. They connected on 32.6 percent in a home loss to Boston on Dec. 12. - Kevin Durant scored 25 points Monday, but ended a streak of posting at least 30 in seven consecutive games.

Adamek: Give David Lee an All-Star spot

David Lee is listed as a forward on the NBA's All-Star ballot, even though he's been the Knicks' starting center all of this season and 34 games last season.

Not that it would make much of a difference to fans who so far have voted to see Tracy McGrady (who's averaged nine minutes in six games this season) and Allen Iverson (12 games this season) start.

We usually defer to the fans' sentiments because it's their game, but geez. What year is this, 2001?

Actually, that was the year the Knicks last sent someone to the All-Star game for anything other than the freak-show events (i.e. slam-dunk, three-point), when both Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell made it.

Which tells you something about the franchise's just-ended decade.

Anyhow, if Lee's seen as a center, here are the top 12 vote-getters at that spot so far: Dwight Howard, Shaquille O'Neal, Al Horford, Andrea Bargnani, Brook Lopez, Andrew Bogut, Jermaine O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace, Kendrick Perkins, Samuel Dalembert, Tyson Chandler and Brad Miller.

Howard, of course, deserves to go, and perhaps Shaq gets a "lifetime achievement" spot — if only to lead the pregame introduction dancing.

But among those 12 centers, only Lopez has scored as much as Lee (both are averaging 18.8) and only Howard (13.3) has averaged more rebounds than Lee's 11.0. Shot-blocks, well, Lee's next to last.

So it's a no-brainer. Lee deserves to go.

The coaches (who pick the reserves) have plenty of leeway to choose him. They have to vote for at least one more center and two more forwards — although for the latter, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce and possibly Josh Smith stand in Lee's way.

They also choose two other reserves regardless of position.

So that's basically three to five spots to put Lee, assuming he doesn't fall on his face between now and the Jan. 28 announcement of the reserves.

Lame as the Leastern Conference playoff race may be, he plays for one of its bottom-end contenders and leads them in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage (.573).

He belongs.

Knicks, Nets set for summertime showdown

New York and New Jersey will compete for many of the same free agents come this summer.

They play eight miles from each other, separated by a river, but an ocean might as well stand between the Knicks and Nets. They're that far apart, in every which way: history, reputation, following, you name it.

Come this summer, though, they'll stand on common ground and share a common goal. Both want the same big name free agents and will have the money, more than most teams, to buy one if not two.

This could become a turf war for basketball supremacy in New York City, given that the move to Brooklyn within three years is looking more likely for the Nets. Of course, that's what gives the Knicks an early edge. Any free agent who considers the Nets must deal with spending most likely his entire initial contract living in transition and limbo on the other side of the Hudson River. You can see the Nets' recruiting pitch now: Sign with us, rent in East Rutherford. Or Newark.

There are other teams in other places with money next July, too. The big city and all the trappings are quite intoxicating for a lot of players, though. If you win in New York, the reward is tremendous. Ask Derek Jeter. That's enough to make a star roll the dice and possibly deal with the flip side: losing in the big city. Ask the Mets.

Here's the tale of the tape between the Knicks and Nets in the free agent game next summer:

Local support. This isn't a fair fight. Madison Square Garden draws big crowds even when the Knicks are lousy because, if nothing else, fans want to at least show up to boo. The Garden, after all, is "The World's Greatest Arena" located in "The World's Greatest City" and home to "The World's Smartest Basketball Fans" who pay thousands of dollars to watch Eddy Curry. The glitter doesn't get any brighter than on celebrity row, where star-struck stars see their heroes up close and personal. In terms of importance to the city and coverage from the local media, the Knicks are No. 2, after the Yankees, if they're winning. If they're losing, the Knicks will still command attention, although not the type they actually want.

The Nets, meanwhile, play on the side of the Jersey Turnpike next to the swamps. They rarely sold out when Jason Kidd was throwing no-look passes and leading the franchise to back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals. They pled guilty once to piping manufactured cheers through the loudspeakers in an effort to liven up the joint. Jay-Z, who owns a small piece of the team, often shows up but everyone suspects he's a closet Knicks fan. Every now and then, the Nets will attract a big-name celebrity like Joe Piscopo. The team would be better off temporarily in Newark until moving to the new Brooklyn arena. If/when they move, they'll quickly discover Brooklyn is home to Knicks fans.

Advantage, Knicks.

Supporting cast. The Knicks will have Curry, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries under contract for next season, with a shot to retain David Lee and Nate Robinson. Meaning, the roster isn't exactly stocked with championship-ready material. Other than Lee and Robinson, is there a starter in the bunch? There's no pass-first point guard, or a shot-blocker, or a proven small forward, but the big issue is at center. A reliable big man would make the Knicks a much easier sell.

The Nets counter with a good young developing center and a former All-Star point guard, perhaps the two hardest-to-fill positions on the floor. Brook Lopez is good for double-doubles most nights while Devin Harris is just entering his prime. Add Chris Douglas-Roberts and Courtney Lee, two guards with futures, and it's a wonder why the Nets are having so much trouble winning games. Maybe they're saving it for the savior.

Advantage, Nets.

Stability. Say what you will about the Knicks, especially over the last decade, when losing combined with controversy made for a lethal mix, but this is one of the healthier franchises in basketball. Jim Dolan has more resources at his disposal than most if not every team in the league. Other teams are allergic to the luxury tax; the Knicks will gladly pay it if it makes sense to them. The Garden is also undergoing a massive makeover that will only generate more cash in the future. Get this: The Knicks lose games but don't lose money. That only happens in New York, home to many wealthy people with large disposable incomes. Any free agent who signs with the Knicks will never hurt for money, either now or in the future.

The financial outlook of the Nets is at the mercy of a Russian with plenty of money but no proven track record of being willing to spend it. Whether Mikhail Prokhorov becomes the Mark Cuban or the Donald Sterling of the East Coast or something in between remains to be seen. Very likely, he'll want to make an opening statement by spending whatever it takes to get his investment off the ground. But if the Nets begin to hemorrhage money in their new building, we'll find out if the basketball fan inside Prokhorov is more intense than the businessman.

Advantage, Knicks.

Summary: The Knicks identify with the New York experience far more than the Nets, and that's true whether the Nets stay in Jersey or move to Brooklyn. There's just something about playing in the Garden, and the prospect of bringing a long-awaited championship to the Knicks carries more commercial and personal appeal.

Overall advantage, Knicks.

Rookie Flynn taking Wolves' many challenges head-on

From a new offense to Ricky Rubio's future, Jonny Flynn has faced plenty of obstacles this season.

If Jonny Flynn's rookie season were going to be any more challenging, he'd notice that the hardwoods of the NBA were at a 30-degree angle. So that, when he tried to push the ball upcourt, he'd really be pushing the ball upcourt.

Otherwise, the learning curve has been steep enough on its own, thank you.

The challenges began for Flynn before he even shook commissioner David Stern's hand and tugged on his Minnesota Timberwolves cap on the podium in New York. Although he was chosen sixth overall after two electric seasons at Syracuse, Flynn already was behind another rookie point guard on the Wolves' depth chart; their newly hired team president, David Kahn, had wrangled the fifth pick and selected Spain's Ricky Rubio, whose potential and international allure were too good to pass up. Which meant when the Wolves selected Flynn right on top of Rubio, the overriding reaction was: Huh?

Rubio, though, opted to stay in Europe for two or three more years. But the prospect of Rubio is always there, even if Flynn leaves it to others to seek out Rubio's FC Barcelona highlights on YouTube.

There's more: Flynn's size, an issue he got over long ago, is still relevant as long as sportswriters can think about posting him up. There is Minnesota's roster -- in a league of Westminster show dogs, the Wolves still are mostly mutts. There is the task at hand, somehow helping a team that's into serial rebuilding. Seventeen of Minnesota's 28 losses have been by 10 points or more, including a spanking at Indiana Saturday in which they gave up 73 points in the first half.

There is newness compounded by newness, with Flynn playing for a first-year coach who is proselytizing an exotic offensive system (the triangle) that few pros ever have run. A system that, in the two rare if impressively successful circumstances in which it thrived (Phil Jackson's Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers), minimized the need for a traditional point guard.

On top of all that, there is a question getting asked more and more in the balmy January climes of Minneapolis-St. Paul: If the Timberwolves get the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft this June and Kentucky's dynamic point guard John Wall is the no-brain consensus choice, will they take him?

Flynn met the question head-on.

"In the NBA, you always have to look at that. There's 60 guys coming in every year who could take your spot," he said. "Whatever a franchise can do to get better, they're going to do it. No matter if they drafted you last year. I just try to take care of the things I can take care of, and that's here at practice every day."

By NBA edict, the Wolves' braintrust cannot talk about Wall, an underclassmen. Chances are, they don't yet know what they would do if faced with the above scenario. For Flynn, he could wonder if he really fits in Minnesota. After all, it's not that different from what it was like for him last summer through all the will-he-or-won't-he Rubio agonizing.

"Sure, it was a very sensitive situation," Kahn said. "But I think Jonny handled it magnificently. Every quote or comment I saw from him was always positive or welcoming. That showed me a lot about him."

Some might say that Flynn is playing this season on the clock in a now-or-never opportunity to prove his worth. Beyond Rubio and potentially Wall, there's Ramon Sessions, a point guard who had big moments with Milwaukee last season before signing as a free agent.

Others might say that it's good that someone in the organization feels a little urgency. Kahn has been urging patience since Day 1, reminding fans who already have endured five consecutive lottery finishes that this latest makeover could take two or three more years. Coach Kurt Rambis has a deep-horizon, four-year contract. The Wolves are the youngest team in the NBA.

So the fact that Flynn isn't biding his time, and is putting a little pressure on himself, is refreshing.

"It's definitely challenging, especially coming into a system like this that's difficult to learn, especially for the type of point guard that I am," he said. "But I like to base my progress on wins, and we're now getting wins. So right now, the season for me is going all right."

That's a tough standard, though, for a guy drafted onto a loser.

"I think that's the only way you can judge things. When you look at people when their careers are over, you ask if they were a winner or not," Flynn said. "There are a lot of people who were great scorers or whatever, but they're not remembered because they didn't win a championship. I want to be known as a winner. Right now, it's tough but I'm going to get there."

Flynn has had his moments. He ranks third among NBA rookies in scoring (14.4 points), trailing fellow points Tyreke Evans (20.1) of Sacramento and Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings (19.3). The Wolves' newbie is fourth is assists (four per game), though his assists-to-turnovers ratio is a middling 1.5, and third in steals (1.14). Last month, he had his best scoring game, 28 points, while locked in a duel with Utah star Deron Williams and hit the game-winning layup. It was Flynn's second straight strong performance against Williams and the Jazz.

"He's a stud, man," Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said. "I didn't know how good he was until we played them ... He wasn't afraid of D-Will. You know, we have an all-world point guard and he wasn't afraid of him at all."

Flynn's winning basket that night in Salt Lake City came on a pick-and-roll with teammate Kevin Love out of the triangle offense. The triangle is a dramatic departure from what he's done his whole basketball life. "The biggest difference for me is, you don't have the ball in your hands a lot," he said. "You bring it up, you pass, you cut, you go to the corner. Then you might cut and come to the top, and you still might not get the ball. There might be five possessions where you might not touch the ball. That's definitely tough, me being a point guard who came into college dominating the ball.

"You're not in a position to make [traditional] decisions. A lot of things in this offense are dictated by reads, people slipping to get open, people coming off screens. There's not a lot that's dictated by the point guard knowing who to say yes or no to."

Flynn knows too that the Bulls and the Lakers ran things without a classic point guard.

"I definitely looked at that [once Rambis was hired]," he said. "I did my research. I was hoping that I could be the first real point guard who could be effective in this system."

Rambis seems fine with Flynn's progress, which still is spotty defensively and even in finding his wings on fast breaks. "I think he's having fun. But it's tough on him," Rambis said. "That's been my mantra with you guys all season long: Every situation, every environment, every arena is all new to him.

"It was funny to me that, when we were playing the Lakers, he tried to make a pass through Ron Artest, and Ron Artest just stuck his hand out and grabbed the basketball. Jonny Flynn came back laughing, saying, 'There was no way I thought he was going to get his hand on that ball,' and he not only got a hand on the ball, he caught the ball. That's the type of thing he has to learn in this league, what he can and can't do against the tremendous athletes."

Flynn has months before Kahn goes back into overhaul mode, with no one -- beyond Al Jefferson and Love, probably -- in a secure position. The point guard's best option: Look at this as a head start over the next guy ... whoever that might be.

"That will help me," Flynn said, regarding rivals known and unknown. "I'm just really now getting the hang of it, getting to know where my spots [are] at, where I can get scoring opportunities, where I can them for others. It's about 30 games in, and I'm just really starting to figure it out."