Stephen Jackson returns to Oakland, scores 30 points

OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Jackson scored 30 points in his return to Oracle Arena, and Gerald Wallace had 30 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte, as the Bobcats defeated the Warriors 121-110.

Jackson, who was acquired from the Warriors in a Nov. 16 trade after a falling out with Golden State management in the offseason, was booed throughout the night but responded with his fifth game of 30 points or more since landing in Charlotte.

Corey Maggette had 25 points, while Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry had 22 points apiece for the Warriors, who have lost five of six.

Hawks 100, Celtics [team stats] 91

ATLANTA — Joe Johnson scored 16 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Atlanta Hawks beat Boston 100-91 on Friday night to complete their first season sweep of the Celtics in 11 years.

Jamal Crawford had 28 points as the Hawks recovered after Boston cut a 14-point deficit to one in the third quarter.

The Hawks (30-15) completed the four-game sweep of the regular-season series to move one-half game ahead of Boston (29-15) for second place in the Eastern Conference.

Paul Pierce [stats] led Boston with a season-high 35 points. Kevin Garnett had 15 as Boston’s only other scorer in double figures.

Cavaliers 94, Pacers 73

INDIANAPOLIS — LeBron James finished with 22 points, a season-high 13 assists and nine rebounds, the third time in six games that he missed a triple-double by a single rebound.

Shaquille O’Neal tied a season high with 22 points for the Cavaliers (37-11), who won their seventh straight and maintained the league’s best record.

Danny Granger led the Pacers with 13 points, but he shot 6 for 23 from the field.

Thunder 101, Nuggets 84

OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant scored 30 points and Oklahoma City snapped Denver’s nine-game winning streak by limiting the Nuggets to their lowest scoring output of the season.

Jeff Green added 15 points, Russell Westbrook and James Harden each scored 12 and reserve Nick Collison contributed 10 points for the Thunder.

Chauncey Billups scored 19 points and reserve J.R. Smith added 18 for the Nuggets, who were without NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony for the third straight game due to injury.

Lakers 99, 76ers 91

PHILADELPHIA — Kobe Bryant scored all but two of his 24 points in the second half as Los Angeles won its third straight.

Pau Gasol had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Ron Artest scored 18 points and Lamar Odom added 13 for the Lakers.

Allen Iverson [stats] scored a season-high 23 points and Elton Brand added 19 for the Sixers.

Wizards 81, Nets 79

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Earl Boykins hit a jumper with less than a second to play and Washington won its first game since guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton were suspended.

Boykins finished with 15 points and Andray Blatche added 14 for the Wizards.

Courtney Lee had 19 points and Brook Lopez added 17 for the Nets (4-41), who failed to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

Jazz 101, Kings 94

SALT LAKE CITY — Paul Millsap tied his career high with 32 points in his first start of the season and added 14 rebounds and seven assists as Utah won its fifth straight.

Andrei Kirilenko scored 18 points, pulled down seven rebounds and blocked five shots — including one in the final minute as the Kings came up short in one final rally.

Kevin Martin led Sacramento with 33 points and Tyreke Evans had 25 points and six assists.

Bulls 108, Hornets 106, OT

NEW ORLEANS — Luol Deng scored 26 points, including a putback with 0.2 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

Derrick Rose added 18 points for the Bulls, including two free throws that put Chicago ahead for good in overtime. The Bulls finished a season-long, seven-game road trip with their fifth consecutive victory.

David West led New Orleans with 29 points. Chris Paul added 18 points and 12 assists.

Rockets 104, Trail Blazers 100

HOUSTON — Aaron Brooks scored 33 points, Carl Landry added 21 and Houston snapped a three-game losing streak at home.

Brooks reached 30 points for the fifth time this season, and Luis Scola and Trevor Ariza added 12 points apiece for the Rockets, who’ve won 12 of the last 13 regular-season meetings with the Blazers in Houston.

Rudy Fernandez scored 25 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 for the Blazers.

Spurs 104, Grizzlies 97

SAN ANTONIO — Tim Duncan scored 19 points, and Manu Ginobili and Roger Mason led a strong effort by San Antonio’s reserves.

Playing without injured guard Tony Parker, the Spurs’ depth was a huge factor. San Antonio had a 42-21 edge in points off the bench. Mason scored 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and Ginobili finished with 14 points and seven assists.

O.J. Mayo led Memphis with 28 points, and Zach Randolph added 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Heat 92, Pistons 65

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dwyane Wade scored 22 points and Udonis Haslem added 16 for Miami, which snapped a two-game losing streak.

Jermaine O’Neal added 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Dorell Wright scored 12 points for the Heat.

Charlie Villanueva led the Pistons with 15 points, and Tayshaun Prince added 10.

Timberwolves 111, Clippers 97

MINNEAPOLIS — Al Jefferson [stats] scored 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, and Minnesota led by as many as 23 points in only their 10th victory this season.

Two nights after losing to New Jersey — the worst team in the East — the Clippers lost to the team with the Western Conference’s worst record. The Wolves

Jefferson also had 16 rebounds and Ryan Hollins tied a career-high with 19 points.

Baron Davis scored 23 of his 28 points in the third quarter for Los Angeles.

Portland courting former Sonics fans

PORTLAND, Ore. — Sarah Mensah couldn’t help but notice one handmade sign that appeared recently among the sea of placards and posters that fans display at Portland Trail Blazers’ home games.

“Converted Sonics fans down from Seattle,” it said.

Its message was clear to Mensah, Portland’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. While the Blazers are “for Oregon and about Oregonians,” as she says, there is a potential fan base three hours up the road that the team would be foolish to overlook.

The once vibrant SuperSonics-Blazers rivalry that divided basketball loyalties in the Pacific Northwest disappeared when the Sonics moved before the 2008 season and became the Oklahoma City Thunder. The professional basketball vacuum left in Seattle has created a business opportunity the Portland franchise can’t ignore.

“When the Portland Trail Blazers have relevance beyond Portland and Oregon it’s something the entire community can share in from a pride factor,” Mensah said.

Problem is, nearly two years after the Sonics’ messy departure, Seattle fans are still bitter toward the NBA.

That has Trail Blazers management considering how to navigate a minefield laced with betrayal and distrust to reach into a metro area of more than 3 million people with a rich basketball history, possible business partnerships never before tapped by a Portland franchise and connections to players on the Blazers, as well as their coach.

“You just keep your ear to the track. It’s still pretty fresh in people’s minds and some residual disappointment and anger about what happened,” said Tod Leiweke, who sits on the Blazers’ board of directors while serving as CEO of the Seattle Seahawks. “If it was a clean slate, you’d come up and barnstorm.”

The lingering hurt is why all overtures into the Seattle market are measured and subtle. Portland also realizes that not long ago, their own fan base teetered on revolt when the team was nicknamed the “Jail Blazers” for their off-court transgressions.

“It was one of the healthiest and brand-strong franchises in professional sports and it had nearly disintegrated,” said Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon. “There is plenty for case study on how it all occurred. They’ve made enormous strides in the last few years. The fact there is local ownership as it relates to the Seattle market for a franchise in Portland, it stands to reason if done correctly you could get people (in Seattle) to care.”

The Blazers’ management believes the biggest part of making that connection is exposure.

The Blazers received NBA permission to take over broadcast rights that the Sonics previously held, stretching to the Canadian border and east into Montana and Idaho.

Portland games that are not on national television are shown in the Seattle market either on Comcast Sports Northwest or on a secondary channel in a deal with Seattle’s NBC affiliate. By next year the Blazers are optimistic they will have a radio affiliate in Seattle.

For now, that’s as overt as the Blazers plan on being with Seattle.

“I think the biggest thing is when you go, Seattle has to be willing to accept and (be) ready for it,” Blazers head coach Nate McMillan said. “And now, I personally don’t think you make that move.”

That’s why the Blazers scrapped plans for an exhibition game in Seattle before the start of this season. When word leaked, the backlash was harsh.

More than most, McMillan understands that sting left behind in Seattle and the unique dynamic the Blazers face. He is still considered “Mr. Sonic” after 12 years as a player and another five as head coach with Seattle before jumping south to Portland after the 2005 season.

McMillan has learned about the connection between the team that was once his most bitter rival and its city and state.

“It’s different here than it was in Seattle, where the fan base here is all about the Blazers. And I knew that when I was in Seattle. We would play Portland and they would have just as many fans as we do at games. It was almost like a cult,” McMillan said. “Rip City, that is the identity of who this team is.”

McMillan, All-Star guard Brandon Roy and budding young swingman Martell Webster add another layer to the Seattle-Portland dynamic. Roy was an All-American at Washington and Webster was a high school star at Seattle Prep before going straight to the NBA.

Webster is already seeing the Blazers make inroads in his hometown. He hears from friends wanting to make the three-hour drive for games — if tickets are available. Portland is nearing 100 straight sellouts.

“I think we’re an icon in the Northwest, a big-time icon,” Webster said. “People enjoy the way we play, people enjoy the way we carry ourselves off the court. What more can you ask for?”

Barring a deep run in the playoffs that could captivate the entire region, this will be a slow process. The Blazers’ groundwork is in its infancy. Some in Seattle still hope the NBA will return if a new arena is ever built, but it’s doubtful in the current political climate.

Until then, the Blazers will try to fill the void.

“When you say Seattle it doesn’t seem right that it doesn’t have a franchise, an NBA basketball team. ... It’s been there all this time and now there’s no NBA. That’s crazy,” Webster said. “We just want to bring this back there and put a smile on their face. But scars take time to heal.”

Gray: They never gave me a chance

NEW ORLEANS -- Four days after the Bulls traded center Aaron Gray to the Hornets in a straight-up deal for veteran Devin Brown, the teams met at New Orleans Arena, but neither player got back at his former team. Neither man even got off the bench.

Gray, though, believes he'll be better off in the long run playing with the Hornets.

''Definitely better,'' he said. ''I definitely feel like I'm gonna have an opportunity. I'm gonna have to work and earn those minutes, but I feel like I'm fighting for something here.

''Over there [with the Bulls], there was just no opportunity no matter what. They showed me that in the Houston game.''

Gray began the season on the inactive list after suffering a stress fracture in his lower left leg in camp. He played in only eight games with the Bulls, virtually all in garbage time.

When starting center Joakim Noah missed the game against the Rockets, Gray still was kept on the bench.

''I'm still battling with my conditioning and getting back to 100 percent,'' Gray said. ''But in the last few weeks I've actually felt great and, hopefully, now it'll benefit the Hornets and not the Bulls.''

Holding pattern

Brown started 37 of 39 games and averaged 9.7 points with the Hornets this season, but Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro hasn't inserted him yet. He wants Brown, who has participated in two shootarounds, to go through a practice before deciding how he fits.

''After [Friday's] game, we get home for a couple of days and we can get some practice under our belts,'' Del Negro said.

Rumor central

Despite the Bulls' winning ways -- they've won nine of their last 11 -- rumors are circulating about possible trades. Chicago has been mentioned as a possible destination for Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly are interested in Kirk Hinrich.

The NBA trading deadline is more than three weeks away.

O'Neal's wisdom has impact on LeBron

INDIANAPOLIS: Mike Brown calls him ''the big fella.''

But Shaquille O'Neal used to call himself ''the Big Aristotle.''

So when O'Neal dispenses wisdom it's smart to listen. Because it comes with impact, and import.

About 11 games ago, O'Neal pulled aside the league's reigning and soon-to-be-repeat MVP and offered some advice.

''I said,'' O'Neal recalled Friday, ''You know what? I heard somebody said that Kobe [Bryant] will never let his team lose. He has that will.

''I know you have that, but now it's time for you to show that you have that.''

O'Neal said that little message — ''I'm like that big brother that's been there'' — provided the impetus for an 11-game stretch of LeBron James excellence that has propelled the Cavaliers to the
league's best record and James to some very high highs.

How has James been in this stretch?

''Fabulous,'' O'Neal said.

To say the least.

And that fabulous streak of excellence continued Friday night in a 94-73 win over the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse, the Cavs' seventh in a row and ninth in 10 games.

James made the first basket of the game, then assisted on the Cavs' next three baskets — an O'Neal dunk off an out-of-bounds play and 3s by Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker.

By the end of the quarter, James had nine assists — one short of the team record of 10 held by Mark Price.

Price, of course, played point guard.

James plays forward. His line: 22 points, nine rebounds, 13 assists (a season high) and four blocked shots.

James assisted on nine of the Cavs' 13 baskets in the first quarter. He shot just 6-of-18 in the win — but he was so effective he was a team-best plus-21 for the game.

One of the assists came as he floated to his right toward the bench and in midair rifled a pass to O'Neal on the other side of the lane.

It was one of those moments when you realize James does at least one thing every night that makes you step back and ask: How'd that happen?

By quarter's end, the Cavs led 36-18.

When O'Neal hit Anderson Varejao for a basket early in the second, the Cavs as a team had 12 assists on their first 15 baskets.

At that point, O'Neal grabbed a rebound and dribbled the length of the court. His bounce pass to Jawad Williams was tipped away, but that didn't stop the Cavs bench from celebrating ''the big fella's'' moves.

As the quarter progressed, O'Neal got a lob and was surrounded by three Pacers. He faked, went under and laid the ball in while being fouled.

The bench went bonkers. And by game's end O'Neal had overpowered anything Indiana threw at him inside, matching his season-high with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

O'Neal has talked of accepting his role, realizing he is not the top man on the Cavs. He shrugs it off as dealing with reality.

''I really accept that at 38,'' he said. ''If I was 26, 28 I probably wouldn't have accepted it.''

The Cavs played sloppy at times, finishing with 23 turnovers. But they held the Pacers to 33.7 percent shooting, which meant that even though Indiana took 92 shots (92!), the Cavs had one more basket (32-to-31).

When the Pacers chipped the lead back to 10 in the third quarter James again took over.

He blocked a Troy Murphy drive at the rim and set up Williams for a 3. He then blocked A.J. Price's floater and late in the quarter had a steal and two-handed slam that brought a roar from the Indianapolis crowd.

O'Neal talked about being the Big Aristotle, because Aristotle said ''excellence is not an act, but a habit.''

With James, the habit becomes an act of excellence in itself.

''He's brilliant,'' Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. ''He's just an off-the-chart player. One of the greats of all time.''

And since O'Neal dropped the hint in his ear, James has averaged 31.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.6 steals.

O'Neal's ''fabulous'' might be an understatement.

• James on missing a triple-double by one rebound: ''It doesn't matter. It's all about wins for me. I probably have more career one-rebound or one-assist-away triple-doubles than anybody in NBA history.''

• The Cavs were dominant in the interior defensively. They blocked 11 shots, and the Pacers had several shots barely glance the rim. The free-throw disparity was telling: Cleveland took 44, Indiana five.

• James did not quibble with the league fining him $25,000 for kicking a water bottle during a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

James kicked the bottle near the bench, and some water sprayed the crowd.

''It's the rule,'' he said. ''Nothing can go in the crowd. That's a league rule — standard.

''Honestly, I tried to kick the bottle underneath the seat, but my football days got back into me.''

Hot Rod welcomed back

With a press room named in his honor and a banner raised to the EnergySolutions Arena rafters, the old announcer hit home Friday.

The Jazz honored "Hot" Rod Hundley as part of their game against Sacramento, celebrating a 35-year career as the Voice of the Jazz that came to an end with his retirement after last season's playoffs.

Hundley's banner features a microphone, the old music note logo and recognition of the 3,051 Jazz games he called over the years. He danced onto the court after it was unveiled and faked a hook shot to close the halftime ceremony.

The last remaining member of the original New Orleans Jazz staff before his retirement, Hundley said during the ceremony that he thought he was coming to a football state when the Jazz relocated in 1979.

"It's the NBA, Utah Jazz, that is No. 1 in this state," Hundley said. "You people have made my day, and I love every one of you."

Hundley, who had to call games from the top of the lower bowl of seats after returning to radio in his final four seasons, was back courtside Friday, sitting next to Gail Miller.

The Jazz transformed their press room into a museum of sorts to Hundley in barely four days. Hundley's basketball life is traced along one wall, starting from his days as a college All-American at West Virginia to his final call last year.

Included are memorabilia from Hundley's career, including a program from the 1961 NBA All-Star Game (in Syracuse, N.Y.), a press pass from the inaugural New Orleans Jazz season in 1974-75 and his Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame.

"I've had the complete ride, and it's been absolutely marvelous, I'm telling you," Hundley said.

Team president Randy Rigby choked up -- much as Larry Miller would have -- when thanking Hundley for all those thousands of games called. Rigby shared that he got letters from visually impaired fans thanking him for Hundley's illustrative broadcasts.

"He called the game like he played it, with excitement, color and flair," Rigby said. "He had a style and tone that was unique to Hot Rod Hundley, and it was unique in the NBA, it was unique in professional sports and it was unique in sports broadcasting."

Hundley shared the story of learning with a knock on his door in 1979 that the Jazz were moving to Utah. The man who delivered the news -- and was interested in buying his house -- asked Hundley: "You going with them?"

"Flying in here on a summer day was so beautiful," Hundley said. "The snow-covered mountains and the dry heat. You ever been to New Orleans? A lot of humidity. I said, 'Man, this is unbelievable.' "

Hundley joked that Matt Harpring was one of the best analysts he ever had -- "for one game" -- that Ron Boone couldn't get a word in during 16 years as his partner and about his "Horny for 3" call for Jeff Hornacek.

"A school teacher wrote me a letter and said, 'Can't you find another nickname for him?' " Hundley said.

Hundley is featured in four typographical portraits on the wall that were created with shadings of words -- both a list of the accomplishments in his career as well as his signature phrases, including "You Gotta Love It, Baby."

"What you're really impressed with is the fact that he had to enjoy his work and I think he showed that in his broadcasts," Boone said. "The way he brought the game into your living room. Only missing [14] games in 35 years? How special is that?"

Lakers' Andrew Bynum says he'll work harder

Reporting from Philadelphia - Back when Ron Artest was still introducing himself to his new teammates several months ago, Andrew Bynum declared a personal goal. He wanted to make the All-Star team this season.

It didn't happen, which disappointed the 22-year-old, but perhaps led to some resolve.

"I'm going to go out there and keep balling the way I am," Bynum said Friday. "It's just given me the same goal to strive for next year and something else to push for this summer when I'm working on my game."

Earlier this week, Bynum was worried there wouldn't be a true center on the Western Conference team, a possibility that became reality when the reserves were announced.

Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire was voted to start at center by the fans, and Pau Gasol and Tim Duncan are power forwards who probably will play some center at the Feb. 14 game.

"I pretty much knew what was going on," said Bynum, who earlier called the process of selecting reserves "political."

Each of the 30 NBA coaches voted for seven players in his own conference. Coaches could not vote for their own players.

Bynum was averaging 15.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a game before Friday's game against Philadelphia. He wasn't sharp against the 76ers, getting only six points and three rebounds in 25 minutes.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, an avowed detractor of All-Star weekend, didn't seem concerned that Bynum was not an All-Star.

"When I mentioned it to him and told him he'd avoided that rat race over there, he laughed and said, 'Well, maybe next year,' " Jackson said. "He would have liked to have been recognized and I understand that entirely. We're extremely pleased with how Andrew plays. We think he's got a lot of room for improvement, but he's come a long way."

Controversial Kobe advertisement

In the same week that two NBA players were suspended for the season for taking guns into the locker room, Kobe Bryant took some heat for a Nike advertisement in some national sports magazines.

Bryant appeared in a two-page ad with Cleveland forward LeBron James under the slogan "Prepare For Combat."

A quote was attributed to each player in an effort to demonstrate toughness. Bryant's quote: "I'll do whatever it takes to win games. I don't leave anything in the chamber."

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league had no advance knowledge of the advertisement and called it "inappropriate."

Bryant seemed to agree.

"That ad was done months ago, prior to anything that came out," he said. "Obviously, we're very sensitive toward that, considering the current time and everything that happened since then. It's definitely inappropriate and I advised my business partners of that."

Nike issued a statement to the Associated Press, saying the ad was intended to convey Bryant's "all-out play and commitment on the basketball court. It is a commonly used reference for shooting the basketball and no offense was intended."

Washington Wizards guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton were suspended by the league for the rest of the season for bringing guns into the locker room.

Life of Phil

Jackson has 532 victories with the Lakers and needs two more to pass Pat Riley for the most in franchise history.

Jackson has spent more time coaching the Lakers (this is his 10th season) than the Chicago Bulls (nine), but is he known more as the Lakers' coach or the Bulls' coach?

"I'm sure there's a whole generation of kids that see me only as a Laker coach," he said. "They're not familiar with the Bulls and Chicago at all."

What if he had been forced to wear a team jacket when inducted into the Hall of Fame a few years ago?

"I'd have made the jacket with both sides -- one side the Lakers, one side the Bulls," Jackson said, smiling.

Sore knee might idle Miami Heat's Michael Beasley

DETROIT -- The knee injury that knocked Michael Beasley out of Wednesday's loss at Toronto might sideline the Heat's power forward for the rest of the trip.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday the team's medical staff considered sending Beasley to Miami but decided to keep him along in hopes he might soon return.

Beasley hyperextended his right knee in the first quarter against the Raptors and is doubtful for Friday's game against the Pistons. He hopes to play Saturday against Milwaukee to close out the Heat's three-game trip.

Spoelstra said Beasley did not have an MRI test in Toronto or Detroit, but that one would be performed ``just to cover our bases'' when the team returns to Miami.

Until then, the plan is to proceed cautiously with Beasley, the second-year forward and No. 2 overall pick who must clear several hurdles to prove he's ready to play.

``The next step is to keep treating it, bringing the swelling down, getting his comfort level back,'' Spoelstra said. ``Thirdly, getting him jumping to where he's not thinking about it.

``When that happens? I don't know. At least it's not as severe as it looked at first.''

Beasley's knee buckled as he stepped on Hedo Turkoglu's foot at the 7:32 mark of the first quarter. Beasley was getting set to jump and catch a pass from Rafer Alston.

Beasley yelled as he crashed to the ground, immediately grabbed his right knee and rolled in pain. He eventually walked to the locker room under his own power.

Beasley briefly returned midway through the second quarter but sat out the second half.

``I didn't want to make it a bigger deal than it was,'' Beasley said of his attempt to play through pain. ``I really didn't want to go in the second half not 100 percent and not giving the team what it needs.''

Beasley had six points and six rebounds in eight minutes of the 111-103 loss.

Spoelstra said Beasley did not risk further damage to the knee by returning in the second quarter. The medical staffs of both teams did not find any structural damage to Beasley's knee. He also performed exercises to test his mobility before he returned.

There was slight swelling overnight after the team's flight from Toronto to Detroit, and the Heat's staff spent Thursday consulting with team physician Harlan Selesnick, who was in Miami. Beasley, 21, said it is the first knee injury he has ever had.

``He didn't do anything worse [by returning],'' Spoelstra said. ``The whole time back there, they were running and jumping. He was able to pass all of the tests.

``The thing about Mike is he's a tough kid. He'll play through pain.''

Beasley is averaging 16 points and 6.7 rebounds in his first season since replacing veteran Udonis Haslem as the starting power forward. Haslem could start if Beasley is held out this weekend.

The absence of Beasley, Miami's second-leading scorer behind Dwyane Wade, placed a strain on the rotation. Spoelstra searched Thursday to replace his production. It could lead to more time for reserves Dorell Wright, James Jones and Yakhouba Diawara. Another option is to play center Jermaine O'Neal and shot-blocker Joel Anthony in spurts together.

``Michael is a phenomenal scorer, so it takes away a little bit,'' Wade said of Beasley.

Wade also spent significant time in treatment a day after he played 43 minutes, including the entire second half. He emerged with a large ice pack on his right arm.

But with the Heat (23-22) having dropped to sixth place in the conference, and only a half-game ahead of Chicago and Charlotte for the final two playoff spots, Wade is expected to push through.

``Dwyane had an assortment of minor injuries we're treating [Thursday],'' Spoelstra said. ``Guys are banged up. But it's nothing serious.''

CB4 in no rush to leave T.O.

There is one person pretty sure Chris Bosh won't be playing for any team other than the Toronto Raptors after the Feb. 18 NBA trade deadline: Chris Bosh.

The Raptors had the day off yesterday after their 106-104 win over the New York Knicks last Thursday, the team's fourth in a row. They have a chance to extend that streak to five Sunday at the Air Canada Centre against the Indiana Pacers.

But the NBA rumour mill never stops. Before Bosh left for New York, the Raptors' all-star forward was asked if he expected to be traded. He said simply: “I doubt it.”

Asked if he wanted to be dealt, the pending free agent was more emphatic. “No, no, no, no,” he said.

Told of Bosh's comments, team president Bryan Colangelo said he wasn't surprised, adding his position regarding his team's most valuable player hasn't varied. “I have no intention to move him and have absolutely every intention to keep him long term,” he said.

Colangelo added he expects Raptors owner Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment Ltd. is prepared to become a tax team if it's required to maintain a competitive position in the NBA's Eastern Conference.

“They want to win and they're committed,” Colangelo said. “I'll leave it at that.”

The Raptors have a payroll of $67.8-million (U.S.) this season. Teams that go over $69.2-million have to pay tax to the league on a dollar-for-dollar basis. They also forgo the opportunity to receive a refund of sorts from the tax gathered, typically about $5-million.

Next season, the league has projected the luxury tax threshold will come down considerably, as it's based on overall basketball-related revenue, which is expected to shrink in the wake of the economic downturn.

On that basis, it's almost certain the Raptors will have to pay some luxury tax as they project to have $63.5-million committed to just nine players in 2010-11.

The question will be how much tax they're willing to pay. The Raptors have the advantage of being able to offer Bosh more money and more years on his next contract than another team.

If he re-signs with Toronto, he could earn $126-million over six years, compared with $96-million over five seasons elsewhere.

Colangelo has said if Bosh was determined to leave, the general manager would be willing to organize a sign-and-trade where the Raptors would sign Bosh and then trade his rights to another team. Colangelo is confident his relationship with Bosh is such that if he does want to leave, it will enable the club to get something in return for its best player.

But as of now, it seems, Bosh is in no rush to get out of town.

Sixers' Iverson, Lakers' Bryant still an intriguing matchup

These are the moments Kobe Bryant relishes.

Philadelphia isn't just another stop on a long Los Angeles Lakers road trip. This includes the annual visit to Lower Merion High, then listening to the cheering and jeering from the Wachovia Center crowd. And this trip suddenly became a trip down memory lane, a battle with the 76ers' Allen Iverson.

Witness an almost mystical third quarter of what became a 99-91 Lakers victory. Iverson, 1-for-5 in the first half, went for 15 points, hitting six of seven shots from the floor. Bryant, 1-for-7 in the first half, dropped in five of seven and scored 14.

Bryant, 31, the No. 4 scorer in the NBA, finished with 24. Iverson, 34, who didn't join the Sixers until Dec. 2 as a free agent, had a season-high 23.

Like old times.

Asked about Iverson before last night's game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said: "Obviously, he's a great athlete and some of his skills have diminished, but at this point I don't think that there's that big a difference between the last 3 or 4 years. But 12-14 years ago, this guy could take off at the foul line and finish at the basket, that's how explosive he was."

This was just Iverson's 21st game in his second stint with the Sixers. He came in averaging a modest 14.5 points, spending more time distributing the ball, helping the younger players, keeping center Sam Dalembert involved. This was, in the natural order of things, supposedly less of an event than usual.

"It's the natural process of aging, and the way it goes," Jackson said. "Allen's moved a couple spots - Denver, Detroit [and Memphis]. Now he's back home again."

But just like that, it became an event.

"It was like back in the day," Bryant said. "It was exciting to see him get hot like that."

And when Iverson did heat up, Bryant asked to guard him.

"It was like 2001 all over again," Bryant said, recalling the Finals of that season.

Sixers assistant Aaron McKie said any time the teams meet, there will be heightened interest.

"The difference between then and now is, back then both teams were in the hunt and there was more to it," McKie said. "It became a measuring stick when they came East or we went West. We were playing for something, and they were playing for something. There were a lot of implications."

Still, McKie said it was important to understand that "Kobe and Allen have always been different players, getting it done different ways. In football, Allen would be a scatback, running around. Kobe is more cerebral, trying to find ways to pick guys apart."

He added: "Now, Allen has to do it more with a team effort. He has to rely on his teammates, on guys giving him help and not feeling as if he has to put a cape on and put everything on his shoulders."

In the midst of all of this, Bryant found something he had not anticipated.

"Tonight was the first time I ever got goosebumps when they said 'from Lower Merion High,' " he said. "I think because, as you get older, you get more and more nostalgic. You're older, you start reminiscing about where everything started. It kind of creeps into you a little bit."

For Suns’ Frye, a Big Improvement From Long Range

In his first four seasons, Channing Frye hit 20 career 3-pointers. This season, Frye has hit 114 and through Thursday was second in the league to the Knicks’ Danilo Gallinari (118) in 3-pointers made.

At one point, Frye, the Phoenix center, was leading the league, but has cooled a little bit of late. Because of his history of not making 3-pointers, teams were daring him to shoot for the first part of the season. After seeing that Frye could consistently hit from long range (he made six 3-pointers in a game in early January), teams adjusted and Frye went into a bit of a 3-point slump over the last few weeks. Frye was eventually demoted in favor of Robin Lopez.

Lately, however, it seems as if Frye is back in the groove. Last Monday and Tuesday, he hit nine 3-pointers in losses to Utah and Charlotte and had his highest-scoring nights in three weeks.

Big men have certainly improved at shooting 3-pointers. Orlando power forward Rashard Lewis led the league with 330 last season. Other big men like Larry Bird and Antoine Walker have led the league in 3-pointers made, but if Frye gets hot again down the stretch, he will be the first center to lead the N.B.A. in 3-pointers since the league allowed the shot in 1981. That is a pretty amazing turnaround for a guy who hit 11 3-pointers last season.

Beasley, Chalmers miss Heat game vs. Bucks

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley missed his second consecutive game with a hyperextended right knee and guard Mario Chalmers was out with a sprained left thumb.

Both took part in the pregame shootaround before Saturday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks, but the team decided to play it safe and made them inactive.

Beasley had played in 105 consecutive games, including starting the first 45 games of this season. He was hurt in the first quarter of Miami's loss at Toronto on Wednesday night and did not play against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

Chalmers sprained his left thumb when he caught it in a jersey Friday night. Chalmers' streak of 128 consecutive games played has ended. He is averaging 7.2 points.

Hornets' Paul out vs. Grizzlies with bruised knee

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- New Orleans point guard Chris Paul, the Hornets' leading scorer, missed Saturday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies because of a bruised left knee.

Paul averages 20.4 points and leads the NBA with 11.2 assists.

Paul hurt the knee at Golden State on Wednesday. Then, on the last play of regulation Friday night against the Chicago Bulls, Paul chased an errant pass when he went out of bounds striking a camera on the same spot he got injured two nights earlier.

"It was based on how he felt today, this morning and on the way to the arena," New Orleans coach Jeff Bower said.

Darren Collison started in place of Paul.

"It's just short term, day to day is the extent of it," Bower said.

Also, reserve forward James Posey was out because of a strained right Achilles'.

Sprained knee to sideline Rockets' Lowry a week

HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston Rockets point guard Kyle Lowry will be out at least a week with a sprained left knee.

The Rockets said Lowry had an MRI exam on Saturday that confirmed the injury he sustained in Friday's win over Portland.

The 6-foot Lowry came up limping after colliding with LaMarcus Aldridge on a drive in the second quarter. He played another four minutes, then went to the locker room and did not return.

Lowry is the Rockets' fifth-leading scorer (8.7 points per game) and ranks second in assists (4.7 per game) behind starting point guard Aaron Brooks.

Lakers in Boston to visit reeling Celtics

BOSTON (AP) -- Even when things are going well for the Celtics -- and they most certainly are not right now -- Paul Pierce looks forward to the Lakers' annual visit to Boston.

"It's always a big deal. It is for me," the Los Angeles native and longtime Celtics forward said. "We feel like it's a must-win. These are teams we're going to see in the playoffs so we're giving them psychological edge right now. That's not something that you're going to be able to turn on once the playoffs start. So we've got to turn it around right now."

And it won't be easy.

The Celtics are in a rut unlike any they've seen since assembling the New Big Three in the summer of 2007. They have lost five of their last seven and 10 of their last 16 since beating Orlando on Christmas Day, including back-to-back losses to the Magic and Atlanta Hawks.

That makes Sunday's matchup of the last two NBA champions Boston's third game in four days -- all of them against top teams in the league.

"Yeah, and the Lakers are the cherry on the top for us!" Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "It's still fun to play these games, because they're good teams and you enjoy playing them. There's no love lost, and all that stuff's good. It's good for our league. But more importantly, it's just fun in the middle of the season to have days like this."

The defending Eastern Conference champion Magic overcame a 16-point deficit to beat the Celtics on Thursday night. The Hawks beat Boston 100-91 on Friday night to complete a four-game season series sweep -- Atlanta's first over Boston in 11 years -- and move one game ahead of the Celtics in second place in the East.

One of the more puzzling aspects of Boston's slump is its home record. While their road mark is one of the best in the NBA -- even after the recent road swing that dropped them to 16-8 -- the Celtics have struggled at home, going 13-7; in their title-winning season of 2007-08, they lost only six home games all year.

"They're a tough team. They're a championship team. They still have that flavor to them," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "They're going to be physical and aggressive. You're going to have to play through that. That part's going to be good for the team."

When the Lakers won in Philadelphia on Friday for their third straight victory, guard Kobe Bryant was keeping one eye on the Celtics. Noting their struggles against Orlando and Atlanta, he predicted that they will have things turned around by the time their archrivals arrive.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how they answer that challenge," Bryant said. "Every time we go back to Boston, it's special, because that's where we lost the (2008) championship. All those memories come back."

Bryant has some personal motivation, too.

With 47 points Sunday -- a total he's hit 29 times in his career in the regular season, but never against Boston -- he would pass Jerry West as the Lakers' all-time leading scorer. Jackson noted that West averaged 39.2 points in the higher-scoring days of the NBA, making Bryant's accomplishment even more remarkable.

"That's almost unheard of now to have someone score 30 points a game as an average. The game has changed dramatically," Jackson said. "In that regard -- the scoring's not there -- Kobe's challenge for points, I think it's a remarkable thing. He's pursuing it, and he's aggressive as an offensive ballplayer and he's going to be scoring for a while."