Danny Ainge, Celtics upgrade captain’s condition

The Celtics [team stats] last night turned a fire hose on the flames of speculation that surrounded Paul Pierce [stats]’s left foot injury.

The team released a statement saying the captain had merely suffered a strained left mid-foot during the first quarter of Monday night’s win in Washington against the Wizards. Pierce is currently listed as “day-to-day.”

“Everything else was just speculation, and all of it was wrong,” general manager Danny Ainge said last night.

Ainge said Pierce’s X-ray taken yesterday didn’t provide all the answers, and an MRI was scheduled. Pierce met with team physician Dr. Brian McKeon last night.

“I was concerned right from the time he got hurt,” Ainge said. “It looked terrible when it happened. Then Paul’s foot was sore when he woke up (yesterday) morning. I didn’t stop being concerned until Paul met with Dr. McKeon and went over the test results.”

According to Ainge, Pierce’s return will be based on the level of discomfort in the foot.

“He can play when it feels good enough,” Ainge said.

Pierce left Monday night’s game with 2:01 left in the first quarter after suffering the injury. He returned with 7:53 to go in the second period and played the rest of the half.

Just before the break, Pierce collided again with the Wizards’ Caron Butler. The players knocked knees, and both needed awhile before they could get up and off the floor.

Pierce started the third and had one point and two rebounds in 10:24. He was replaced by Glen Davis and did not play again.

Coach Doc Rivers said later he regretted leaving Pierce in the game.

“I shouldn’t have even played him in the second half, in my opinion,” Rivers said. “I think I messed that one up. He wasn’t playing bad; I just don’t think he was moving well enough. And why take a chance? That’s the way I looked at it.”

The injury didn’t seem like a big deal following the victory. Pierce had ice wrapped on the foot, but was able to walk around the dressing room without any alteration in his stride.

Selfish trend top item on Celtics agenda

The Celtics [team stats] certainly have had their share of injuries this season, but some players are saying the problems aren’t all physical.

Cracks apparently are beginning to appear within a team that preaches togetherness before each game.

As the Celtics prepare to get back to work against Miami tonight, the subject of the team’s lapses in focus was raised. Doc Rivers constantly tells his players to avoid getting bored with the process, but it seems that has been the case.

Rajon Rondo [stats] concurred to a degree. Then he spoke of a deeper issue.

“We are getting bored with it some,” he said, “but I think it’s a little bit of different agendas maybe creeping in. It just all depends. You know, I think if we all had the right spirit as far as one goal, one thing in common, I think we’d be a lot better.”

Rondo had hinted at trouble after Friday’s game in Atlanta when asked about the current team encountering adversity it hasn’t faced since the acquisitions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

“It’s a different team this year,” Rondo said then. “That’s our problem. A couple of years ago, we didn’t have the same team. We had the same main guys, but it’s still a team effort, from the first guy to the 15th guy.”

He still wasn’t getting into specifics in this latest discussion, but his comments were far stronger.

“I can’t really elaborate on it too much, but I think we’ve just got to be a team with no agendas,” Rondo said. “We’ve got to play unselfish, you know? That’s on defense and offense. You’ve got to want the best for the next man out there regardless if you’re in the game playing well or you’re out of the game not playing well.”

Asked if he and the Celts had tried to clear the air on this, he said, “We haven’t really been talking about it, but you’ve just got to know.

“In the locker room, you can feel it,” Rondo added. “You don’t feel like it’s the same continuity and camaraderie in the locker room as it was the first year. The first year, it was a crazy spirit in the locker room. But now it doesn’t feel the same. It’s not the same right now. We’ve got to find a way to get that back somehow, some way.”

Kendrick Perkins [stats] spoke along similar lines.

“I think each person’s just got to take (himself) out of the equation,” he said. “You know, whatever you’ve got going on the personal side - whatever you’re trying to get done - just take it out and just think all about team.”

Paul Pierce [stats] acknowledged the Celts haven’t been paying attention to detail, and he, too, seemed frustrated by the lack of cohesiveness on the floor. The club is among the best shooting teams, but it has been giving the ball up too often and not working hard enough on the boards.

“We were talking about it,” Pierce said. “Earlier in the year we didn’t turn the ball over much and we won a lot of games. We score when we don’t give up the ball pretty much.

“It’s just the little things, man. That’s what we always talk about. Little things like rebounds and turnovers, stuff like that. If we can take care of those things, we’ll go back to winning games. We’ll be more consistent.”

Pierce then shook his head and added, “It’s like you have the answers to the test and you still fail. It’s just like that. We know the answers.”

The last statement was repeated to Rondo.

“That’s a great quote,” he said. “I can’t really describe it any better. He’s exactly right. We’re just not getting it done.”

Win’s all a setup by LeBron James

LeBron James tied a career high with 15 assists and Shaquille O’Neal ruled underneath, collecting 13 points and 13 rebounds in 21 minutes to help the Cavaliers beat the worn-down Memphis Grizzlies, 105-89, last night in Cleveland for their ninth straight victory.

James scored 22 but was more focused on setting up his teammates. It was the fifth time in six games he has had at least 10 assists, accepting the challenge of running Cleveland’s offense while the club waits for guards Mo Williams and Delonte West to return from injuries.

Rudy Gay scored 15 for Memphis, playing its fourth game in five nights. Zach Randolph finished with eight points, 13 below his average.

Magic 99, Bucks 82 - Vince Carter had 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead shorthanded Orlando to an easy victory against visiting Milwaukee.

The struggling shooting guard had by far his most efficient game in more than a month, giving Orlando its seventh win in its last eight games.

Charlie Bell and Luke Ridnour had 13 points apiece for the Bucks, who had their three-game winning streak end. Milwaukee fell to 0-3 against Orlando this season.

Thunder 106, Hawks 99 - Kevin Durant had 33 points and 11 rebounds, Jeff Green added 19 points and two key baskets down the stretch, and Oklahoma City recovered after letting a 13-point lead slip away to beat Atlanta.

Durant became the first player since Allen Iverson [stats] nine seasons ago to score at least 25 points in 22 consecutive games and came up big down the stretch.

Pacers 130, Raptors 115 - Danny Granger scored 23 points and Indiana snapped Toronto’s five-game winning streak with a victory in Indianapolis.

Troy Murphy had 20 points and 14 rebounds for Indiana, which ended a three-game skid. Roy Hibbert had 18 points and nine boards and Earl Watson added 15 points and a season-high 11 assists.

Pistons 97, Nets 93 - In East Rutherford, N.J., Tayshaun Prince slammed down a tiebreaking dunk on an inbounds play with 45.6 seconds left and Detroit snapped a five-game losing streak with a victory against New Jersey.

Richard Hamilton had 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, including three free throws in the final 21.3 seconds to play, as the Pistons won for only the fifth time in 24 games.

Clippers 90, Bulls 82 - Chris Kaman had 21 points and 11 rebounds in his return from injury and Eric Gordon scored 24 points as host Los Angeles snapped a four-game losing streak with a victory against Chicago.

Bulls guard Derrick Rose has been excused from the rookie challenge at All-Star weekend and will be replaced by Golden State’s Anthony Morrow.

Rockets 119, Warriors 97 - Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry scored 24 points apiece, and Houston salvaged the last game of its longest homestand of the season by beating Golden State.

The Rockets finished their six-game homestand with a disappointing 2-4 record.

Elsewhere in the NBA - Javaris Crittenton won’t contest his NBA suspension for bringing a gun into the Wizards locker room.

Scouting report: Heat at Celtics

TONIGHT - 8, TD Garden. TV - ESPN. Radio - WEEI-AM (850).

THE NUMBERS 2-0: Celtics [team stats] record against the Heat this season.

2-4: Celtics record in their last six home games.

WHO’S HURT For the Celtics, G Marquis Daniels (left thumb surgery) and F Paul Pierce [stats] (left foot) are out. The Heat did not disclose statuses for G Mario Chalmers (sprained left thumb) and F Jermaine O’Neal (back spasms).

WHO’S HOT For the Celtics, F Kevin Garnett made eight of his nine shots against Washington for a team-high 19 points in Monday’s victory.

WHO’S NOT Miami G Dwyane Wade is 1-for-11 on 3-pointers in the last two games.

BOTTOM LINE Miami is coming off two straight losses to the Bucks in which it averaged just 82.5 points. The Celtics will need to keep up the defensive pressure and make sure none of Wade’s friends get on a roll.

Karl Says Billups Should Be an All-Star

DENVER -- Perhaps Denver Nuggets coach George Karl will recommend to the NBA office some game film be watched.

No, not because he's complaining about officiating. But to tout Denver point guard Chauncey Billups to be a likely needed injury replacement for New Orleans guard Chris Paul for the Feb. 14 All-Star Game in Dallas.

"I think Sunday afternoon (at San Antonio) was probably good enough (for Billups to make it),'' Karl said when asked if needs to do any more campaigning to get Billups on the West squad after he was snubbed last week by the coaches in voting for reserves. "I'm sure there are some deserving people, but I'd like to see us have another representative (after starting forward Carmelo Anthony).''

NBA commissioner David Stern would name a replacement for Paul, all but certain to miss the All-Star Game due to a knee injury. A league official said Monday the NBA must hold off for the Hornets to confirm that Paul is officially out of the game.

Karl was asked if he could be sure Stern watched Sunday when Billups had 25 points and 11 assists in the 103-89 nationally televised win over the Spurs.

"I have not confirmed that,'' Karl said. "But I'm sure of his associates were (watching).''

Of course, Karl hopes Stern and associates weren't watching Billups on Monday. He shot just 6-of-25, although he did score 23 points in Denver's 112-109 overtime win over Sacramento.

Put it all together and Billups looks to be the obvious choice to replace Paul. He averaged 23.7 points in January, the most for any month in his 13-year career. He's averaging 19.4 points, on pace to be a career best, for the team with the NBA's third-best record (33-15).

"If it does happen, I'd be honored to do that,'' said Billups, in line for a fifth straight All-Star berth. "If it doesn't, I'll be honored to go to Cabo (San Lucas in Mexico). It's a no-lose situation. My wife (Piper) is probably rooting for Cabo. Either way is fine. ... Any award I've ever gotten is because the team has been so good and not just because I'm on fire playing so great. So it's a reflection on the team.''

Billups said he was hampered Monday by a twisted left ankle suffered late in the first quarter, although he doesn't believe it will pose any future problems. Otherwise, Billups has been on fire and his team has been playing great.

Karl, whose Nuggets have won 10 of their past 11, was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for going 12-3 in January. Last Thursday, he was assured of being the West's coach in the All-Star Game.

"(Billups) would be fun coaching,'' he said. "Then I can really relax. He knows my plays better than I do.''

Despite Denver's recent success, Karl remains in a stalemate whether he will sign a contract extension or become a free agent when his current deal runs out this summer. But Karl told FanHouse recent reports are incorrect that negotiations have ceased.

"Nothing has been cut off,'' said Karl, although he said he hasn't talked to his representatives in "five or six days.''

As first reported by FanHouse, Karl has been offered a three-year contract extension, worth just over $11 million but with the third year not guaranteed. However, sources have said Karl's camp has believed the deal should be for a few million more bucks and have a better situation for the third season.

Karl has said there needs to be a drop-dead date during the season when, if no deal is signed, negotiations are tabled until the summer. Karl, who has consistently said he wants to return to Denver but doesn't want contract negotiations to be a distraction as the playoffs approach, said Monday a drop-date has yet to be set.

For now, Karl is honing in on Denver's final five games before All-Star Weekend. They won't be easy, with Phoenix, the Lakers, Utah, Dallas and San Antonio on the docket.

And he's excited about watching Golden State games after his son, Coby Karl, joined the Warriors over the weekend on a 10-day contract. Coby Karl had six points and six rebounds while playing down the stretch in Golden State's 112-104 loss Sunday at Oklahoma City, even logging enough minutes (24) to foul out.

"I called (Warriors coach) Don Nelson to say the gift you gave me is something I've been waiting for a long time,'' Karl said of Coby Karl playing meaningful minutes late-game minutes for the first time in his two-year NBA career. "Not only did my son play well, but he finished the game (he actually fouled out with 21 seconds left). ... They ran like four plays for him. That's more than plays than I got run for me my whole career.''

Eventually, Karl, who plans to bring all his half dozen or so assistants to Dallas even though NBA rules call for just three on the bench, will turn to coaching in his fourth All-Star Game.

"It's going to intriguing to see David Stern, (Dallas Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones and (Dallas Mavericks) owner Mark Cuban, and what they can cook up for a weekend,'' Karl said of the All-Star Game, to be played before more than 85,000 at Cowboys Stadium. "I'm sure it's going to be really interesting.''

The Nuggets will find it even more interesting if Stern soon calls Billups' name.

"I hope so,'' said Anthony, who missed his fifth straight game Monday due to a sprained left ankle but is likely to return Wednesday against the Suns. "But I feel bad for Chris.''

Nets notes: Team has visit from motivational speaker

The Nets thought they had seen everything this season, but many of them couldn’t believe their eyes before the game.

Motivational speaker Joachim de Posada, a relative of Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, put a needle in his face to prove pain is mind over matter. De Posada was going to stick himself with more needles, but was stopped.

"The whole thing was about confidence," Chris Douglas-Roberts said. "He’s really into hypnosis. He strongly believes in hypnotizing people and stuff like that. He was an interesting guy."

Assistant coach Del Harris had worked with de Posada before and brought him in to speak to the Nets. Asked what he thought when de Posada put the needle in his face, Devin Harris said, "Ow."

It’s surprising the Nets allow anything sharp near the players after what they’ve been through this season.

"They’ve taken sharp objects away from me," Brook Lopez said in jest. "We have to use safety scissors and everything. We’re pretty close to getting helmets, too."

Let’s make a deal

Executives from the Nets and Devils met Friday and will talk again this week about a lease that could have them again sharing a building starting next season, sources said.

Presuming the two sides reach a lease agreement for Newark, it will be brought to Governor Chris Christie, who will decide whether to waive any monetary penalties the Nets incur for breaking their pact with the NJSEA at Izod Center.

Harris update

Harris couldn’t shoot beyond 10 feet Saturday because of his sprained right wrist, but said he extended his range to 18-20 feet Sunday without pain. Now he’s shooting to play Tuesday against the Pistons. If not, Harris, who missed his fourth straight game, said he would return during this week’s three-game trip.

Noah, Gibson doing all they can to stay on floor

When the Bulls were on the road last week, Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah paid a visit to the same San Antonio massage therapist who used to treat coach Vinny Del Negro's plantar fasciitis when he played for the Spurs.

To hear Gibson describe the experience, it had similarities to a prisoner-of-war interrogation.

"There was a lot of yelling," Gibson said with a laugh. "Especially when Jo went in there the first time. I thought mine was bad. He was like, 'What are you doing? What are you DOING?'

"I was in a lot of pain, but you just deal with it. It was real beneficial."

Foot injuries to the Bulls' starting big men might be the biggest threat to the team's five-game winning streak. Neither player practiced Sunday or Monday, though both are expect to suit up Tuesday when the Bulls return to the United Center for the first time in 18 days to take on the Los Angeles Clippers.

Asked about the massage experience in San Antonio, Noah kept quiet. No need to rehash bad memories.

"I think we're gutting it out," Noah said. "It's frustrating. You just want to get back to 100 percent. It's not fun when you're playing in pain."

During the 2006-07 season, Bulls forward Andres Nocioni had trouble with plantar fasciitis and ended up sitting out for two months.

Losing Noah, Gibson or both for that long isn't a pleasant thought for the Bulls, who have gone 13-5 since Dec. 25.

One positive sign is Gibson managed to get through the just-completed, seven-game road trip as though nothing was wrong. He averaged 9.4 rebounds and 8.0 points in 28.3 minutes.

Before the trip, Gibson described the agony of taking that first step in the morning on his left foot. If Gibson played like his usual self on the road, these foot injuries must be manageable somehow.

"You just grind it out," Gibson said Monday at the Berto Center. "The aftereffects of it are crazy, because you really have to ice it down. You have to stretch it for about an hour and then it's just painful.

"The doctor says it's better if you just tear the ligament off it. But that's even more painful, plus you'd be out a month."

To deal with the injury that has been bugging him since the summer league, Gibson has a specific regimen he goes through to be ready to play.

"You heat it up and you've just got to keep stretching it," Gibson said. "The calf muscles get real tight; you've got to keep stretching it. When you're on the bench, you've got to keep doing something to keep your foot ready."

Another positive sign is that the Bulls skipped three potential practice days during the ice-show road trip and came back with wins every time.

Maybe it's possible to give Noah and Gibson plenty of rest but not lose them for games. Veteran center Brad Miller also has sat out the last two practices because of a sore knee.

"We haven't had the quality of practices the last couple days that we'd like, just because of Joakim and Taj being out," Del Negro said. "That hasn't been good, but hopefully we'll heal up and have a good shootaround in the morning."

Noah had to sit out a game Jan. 23 at Houston but finished the road trip averaging 14.5 rebounds and 13 points in the wins over Oklahoma City and New Orleans.

Except for the all-star break, the Bulls' schedule is packed with games in February.

They play four in five nights this week and again after the All-Star Game. They also have six sets of back-to-back games this month, compared to 10 over the first three months.

Deal to have NJ Nets play two years at Prudential Center days away from governor's desk

The partnership sought by the Nets and Devils is days away from being presented to the governor.

The two sides met Friday in Newark to discuss a Prudential Center lease arrangement that would be sent to Gov. Chris Christie for his review after the Devils examine the term sheet the Nets presented to them Monday.

"Obviously they’re trying to get it done as soon as possible," said one person close to the negotiation, who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly. "But it’s not done yet. They’re hoping to get it done this week."

According to officials on both sides, the discussions to move the Nets to the Prudential Center for the next two seasons have been as amicable as could be expected, as Nets CEO Brett Yormark and Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek "clearly have the same goals," an official said.

The lingering issue, however, pertains to the $7.5 million penalty the Nets face for breaking their Izod Center lease.

Though his predecessor was willing to waive the fee, the sports and gaming committee of Christie’s transition team last week suggested the penalty should be upheld in a 20-page document it issued.

Since then, however, the Nets have been informed the governor won’t personally address the issue until the sides agree on a lease deal.

Both sides, of course, hope he relents, and comes to accept that it would help both buildings to maximize profits by turning Izod Center into the entertainment center of New Jersey.

Completing the lease agreement is expected to "accelerate the governor’s position," which thus far has been "close to the vest," another official said last week.

Much could be riding on it, especially if new owner Mikhail Prokhorov – who is expected to take over the team soon — is not amenable to a termination fee.

Yormark would not comment on the negotiation late Monday night, other than to confirm that he met with Vanderbeek on Friday.

The New York Daily News first reported the meeting early Monday night.

The Nets played two preseason games on Oct. 13 and 21 at "The Rock," and both were surprisingly successful, as roughly 28,000 tickets were sold with assistance from Mayor Cory Booker’s office.

The team was delighted, especially upon learning that 13 percent of its patrons used rail service to attend the games. In remarks about the Prudential Center weeks later, Yormark described the facility as "terrific," with "great new amenities. The fans seem to really enjoy it." And he was encouraged that there would be a "big concentration of fans from Essex, Middlesex and Union counties, which we don’t typically draw a lot from."

The Nets plan to move to Brooklyn in 2012.

Sixers sputter toward break

On Jan. 21, Sixers coach Eddie Jordan talked about the 11 games before the all-star break as a period in which they want to play "very focused, very intense basketball. Let's see if we can make some headway."

After losing to the Mavericks on Jan. 22, Jordan referred to the 10 games between then and the all-star break as "a 10-game playoff series."

By edging the woeful Nets, 83-79, on Sunday night, the Sixers improved to 2-3 in that time, losing to the Pacers, Bucks and Lakers, and beating the Pacers. They host the Bulls on Wednesday evening.

If the 16-31 Sixers plan on getting to the postseason for the third season in a row - they went into Monday eight games out of the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff position - they're going to have to play better than they did Sunday at the Izod Center.

"They (the 4-42 Nets) didn't play well at all for us to be able to win a game like that," said Allen Iverson.

The Sixers won despite shooting just 3-for-19 from the field in the fourth quarter, hitting 36.5 percent of their shots in the game (easily their worst in a victory), with no player surpassing Andre Iguodala's 14 points and while missing 11 free throws.

Jordan chose to emphasize the positives, such as the Sixers limiting the Nets to 7-for-20 shooting (35 percent) in the final period. They forced Jarvis Hayes to air-ball a contest 3-pointer that could've tied the score with 8.9 seconds remaining.

"We had pretty good defense," Jordan said. "We buckled down when we had to, especially at the end."

Samuel Dalembert had his 11th double-digit rebound game in a row. He's averaging 12.8 rebounds with six double-doubles (points-rebounds) during that stretch.

And while it was certainly a flawed performance, the Sixers won for just the fifth time in the last 25 games decided by eight or fewer points.

"We said at halftime, 'Look, this is not going to be pretty,' '' Jordan said. "It wasn't style points. At the end, it wasn't pretty, but we got it done."

As trade deadline approaches, big run on speculation and rumors

It's that time of year again, when speculation runs rampant, rumors are reported the moment they are heard and everyone scrambles. As I reported roughly three weeks ago, the Wizards have been in talks with the Houston Rockets about a possible swap of Caron Butler for Tracy McGrady's expiring contract. Of course, other pieces would have to be included, since McGrady is owed nearly $13 million more than Butler this season.

ESPN.com reported over the weekend that Brendan Haywood has also been mentioned in the deal. I wrote earlier that the Rockets aren't listening to any deal involving Mike James's expiring contract, but I don't see Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld surrendering two starters for salary cap space -- especially when Haywood is drawing interest from other teams. The McGrady rumor gained some legs on Saturday because he was at the Georgetown-Duke game. McGrady has been in the same location as the Wizards a few times, but it is really just a coincidence.

McGrady was in town over the weekend as part of a charity benefit for Darfur, with students from Georgetown and Duke raising money for refugees and helping kids with educational opportunities. When the team was in Chicago around the time that Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge, McGrady was staying in the same hotel. But McGrady, who has been granted an indefinite leave from the Rockets, has been living in that hotel while he's training with Tim Grover.

The Rockets definitely are interested in Butler, but something might not get done until closer to the all-star break, since Houston is also in discussions with New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. ESPN mentioned that the Wizards might be interested in Luis Scola, but Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported that the Wizards are targeting Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry or Chase Budinger in addition to McGrady.

Haywood's name has been linked with Portland in recent weeks, especially since the Trail Blazers have lost centers Greg Oden (fractured kneecap) and Joel Przybilla to injury. The Wizards were actually in talks with Portland before Przybilla ruptured his right patella tendon and dislocated his patella in late December. According to a league source, they had discussed a swap of Haywood for Przybilla, which obviously collapsed when Przybilla crumpled to the ground.

The Blazers remain interested in Haywood, since they've been relying on soon-to-be 37-year-old Juwan Howard at center in recent weeks. They reportedly declined a deal for Haywood that would've cost them Rudy Fernandez and Nicolas Batum. I wouldn't close the books on discussions about Haywood or Fernandez. Fernandez has been unhappy in Portland, according to a league source.

Warriors' Stephen Curry finds his stride

HOUSTON — The NBA announced Monday that Warriors guard Stephen Curry was the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January. In addition to the national recognition, Curry got something extra.

"Congratulate him for rookie of the month," Warriors center Ronny Turiaf said, breaking up Curry's interview after Monday's practice at the Toyota Center. "He has to carry my PlayStation 3 for all road trips from now on."

Coach Don Nelson calls Curry the perfect rookie. Not because Curry plays perfectly, but for his coachability and steady growth. January was the result of such development.

Over his first 15 games of 2010, Curry averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals. Those numbers illustrate his versatility during that stretch and his growth as a player.

Once a passive newbie who struggled enough to make fans a bit concerned, Curry is back in the Rookie of the Year conversation, of which Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans remains the clear front-runner.

"The adjustment that a lot of young players have to go through is the pace of the NBA — not only the basketball games," said Warriors assistant coach Keith Smart, who ran practice while Nelson got treatment on his back in Dallas.

"Then, finally, your body adjusts to the NBA and everything that goes along with that — practices, weight training, back-to-back games, the routine you have day in and day out. I think that finally settled in for him, and he was able to settle down."

The two most notable areas of growth have been in his shooting and his defense, aspects he'll need to display tonight in his matchup with Houston point guard Aaron Brooks.

Remember when Curry, the reputed shooter, couldn't make a 3-pointer if he put a magnet on the rock? He does.

"Preseason," Curry said, "I was terrible shooting 3s."

For January, he shot 48.6 percent from 3-point range and 48 percent overall. He said he got his stroke going by putting in extra work after practice and on days off. He practiced the kind of shots he would get in games and finally got adjusted to the NBA 3-point line.

But perhaps the main reason is that he no longer has to wear the black, curly wig his teammates made him wear earlier in the season.

"That started to itch," said Curry, who now is referred to as "Middle School" by his teammates.

Once upon a time, Curry looked like a middle-schooler on defense. Often undersized and defending a superior athlete, Curry found himself getting picked on by opponents and often in foul trouble.

Now, the coaches applaud his defensive development. Curry's toughness and grasp of the team's defensive concepts have led to significant strides on that end of the court.

Curry said his next step is to learn game management — especially down the stretch. First, though, he has to manage his first-year duties.

Sunday, Curry forgot to distribute the towels to his teammates after the Oklahoma City game. That is a punishable mistake.

"I heard them in the locker room talking about it," Curry explained. "They said I had to get one of those 'Dora the Explorer' things. The backpack."

Perfect rookie, indeed.

Notes: Forward Corey Maggette will be a game-time decision because of a hip pointer. He didn't practice Monday. Neither did forward Vladimir Radmanovic, who has a sore right Achilles. He is expected to be available tonight. ... Smart said Nelson is expected to rejoin the team in time to coach tonight's game.

NBA Insider: Celtics' Pierce sprains ankle; Raptors surging

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce said he has what he thinks is a mild sprain to his left foot and will have an X-ray on it.

Pierce rolled his foot in the first half of Monday's 99-88 victory against the Washington Wizards.

He stayed in the game through the third quarter but sat out the fourth.

CHAT: Jeff Zillgitt, Tuesday, noon ET

Up and down:

On Dec. 16, the Toronto Raptors were in ninth place in the East, 11 games behind the conference-leading Celtics. Through Sunday, Toronto was fifth in the East, 4½ games behind Boston for fourth. Toronto had gone 15-5; Boston, 9-12. Quietly, too, Toronto has become the East's highest-scoring team (104.1 points). Boston (99.1) is sixth.

•Since Dec. 1, the Cleveland Cavaliers have gone a league-best 26-6 (including eight wins in a row) to move from third in the East to first. They have won without starting point guard Mo Williams (sprained left shoulder) and key reserve guard Delonte West (broken left ring finger).

Around the hardwood:

The Phoenix Suns' Channing Frye will be in the three-point contest at All-Star weekend in Dallas, The (Phoenix) Arizona Republic reported, the first center since Sam Perkins in 1997. ... Rasheed Wallace's technical in Boston's loss Sunday to the Los Angeles Lakers was his 13th; the NBA rescinded one Friday. Sixteen is an automatic suspension.

Kobe may already be the greatest Laker ever -- and he's not done yet

Is Kobe Bryant the greatest of all Lakers? He now ranks No. 1 on their all-time scoring list after dunking softly with both hands on a third-quarter breakaway Monday in Memphis. Bryant finished the 95-93 loss to the Grizzlies with 44 points for the night and 25,208 points in his 14th season, surpassing the franchise record held by the general manager who acquired him in a draft-night deal, Jerry West.

West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Shaquille O'Neal all find themselves looking up to Bryant, who won't turn 32 until summer. This achievement underlines Bryant's place alongside West and Magic as the three most important Lakers, in terms of their success over an extended period of time.

West was the Lakers' first-ever draft pick following their relocation from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960, and over the next 14 seasons he established their standards for charisma, showmanship and team success. As GM he would extend through two subsequent generations: By winning five championships in the 1980s via Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and Worthy, and then setting up the Lakers to win four more (at least) through Shaq and Kobe, who has been their mainstay of the new millennium.

West was skeptical when Bryant entered the 1996 draft as a 17-year-old from Lower Merion High School in suburban Philadelphia. At that time all of the successful NBA players who skipped college had been big men who usually were forced to turn pro for reasons of money or academic ineligibility; Bryant was a 6-5 wing with an SAT score of 1080 and a father, Joe Bryant, who had recently finished a 16-year career as a player in the NBA and Europe. So Kobe could have gone to any school of his choosing, and he had money.

Bryant was the best draft prospect who had ever worked out for West. When West asked him to jump, Bryant touched the top of the backboard square. Michael Cooper, the former Lakers stopper who made his name guarding Larry Bird, was unable to stop Kobe. For the final course, Bryant devoured a one-on-one matchup against Dontae' Jones, the star of Mississippi State's recent Final Four team and an eventual first-round pick himself by the Knicks.

"I've seen enough,'' said West to an aide. "Let's go.'' He arranged to send starting center Vlade Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for Bryant, whom the Hornets chose with the 13th pick. Freed of Divac's salary, the Lakers then signed Shaq to a seven-year, $120 million contract. You know the rest of it.

"It's a tremendous honor,'' said Bryant Sunday in anticipation of breaking West's franchise record. "There's a lot of work that's been put into it, a lot of great advice from a lot of different mentors, and him being the primary one. When I first came into the league I remember him giving me great advice from day one. I can't take credit for it, because I really gained a great deal of advice from the great players who came before me.''

In many ways he is the second-coming of the GM who discovered him. West was too small to dominate at the championship level of the 1960s, when giants ruled his world, but changes in the game and Bryant's superior athleticism have altered that dynamic in Kobe's favor. Like West, nicknamed Mr. Clutch, Bryant is recognized as the most lethal player in the final seconds of a win-or-lose game, as he proved most recently with his writhing turnaround jumper with 7.2 seconds remaining Sunday to beat Boston (incidentally avenging West, who lost a half-dozen NBA Finals to Bill Russell's Celtics).

Much as West bridged the eras of Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain, so too has Bryant succeeded in guiding the Lakers back to the top of the league seven years after he and Shaq won the last of their three titles together.

In the larger picture, West's heir has also replaced him as the No. 14 scorer in league history. By season's end Bryant should have swept past Reggie Miller (25,279 points) and Alex English (25,613) to rank No. 12 overall, and a successful defense of the Lakers' championship would leave him with five rings to match the finest achievements of Magic. So we probably aren't finished comparing Bryant to the best who came before him.

Time Running Out on Stojakovic

It will be news in Serbia when Peja Stojakovic later this season sets the NBA's all-time Serbian scoring record.

It will be bigger news in his homeland when Stojakovic decides after next season what he does with his future.

Retire? Keep playing in the NBA? Head back to Europe for his final years?

In an interview with FanHouse, the New Orleans forward with one year left on his contract, didn't rule any out as options. Stojakovic, who hasn't been the same player since undergoing back surgery in 2006, said it's too early to contemplate his future, but, when he leaves the game, wants it to be on his own terms.

"I am going to be 34 after this contract,'' said Stojakovic, 32, who has 13,108 career NBA points, putting him in line in March to break the Serbian NBA record of 13,398 set by Vlade Divac, his former Sacramento teammate. "I want to make sure I play out (the current contract) on my own terms as far as being healthy and not being forced to stop playing because of injury.

"I love to play. I still enjoy playing. But also sometimes it's (tough) to be out there if you're in pain and just to take the pain medicine to get on the court.''

Stojakovic, whose two missed games this season were due to personal reasons, said his health recently has been "pretty good.'' But he was asked if there's a chance next season could be the final one for the three-time All-Star.

"I don't know,'' he said. "It's a tough thing to accept for a player like, 'OK, is this the last year or not?' I don't know. When you're a player you always think that it lasts forever. But you have to understand when you're at certain age what can you do to be helpful for that team?''

One thing is for sure. Stojakovic, who received a five-year, $64 million sign-and-trade deal to go from Indiana to New Orleans in 2006 after 7 ½ seasons with Sacramento and a half-season with the Pacers, has had his role change dramatically from his days of four times averaging 20 or more points for the Kings.

Stojakovic's scoring average of 11.7 and field-goal percentage of 39.4 are the lowest since his rookie season of 1998-99. He's averaging 29.9 minutes, the least since his second season of 1999-2000.

"It's a different role,'' said Stojakovic, speaking before point guard Chris Paul was lost over the weekend for about a month due to a knee injury. "I understand what my role is on the court and what I have to do for this team. It's a process. It's a transition for me.

"After I had the back surgery, my game was in danger. I was a little up and down. And we have two great players on the team in Chris and David (West), and we have to support them... Here I'm more of a spot-up shooter than (in Sacramento).''

Injuries and age have robbed Stojakovic of the athleticism he had with Kings. But he said he's "learned to accept the role that I'm given right now.''

Stojakovic has only eight 20-point games all season. In 2003-04, he had 59 during a season in which he averaged 24.2 points, second in the league, and was named to the All-NBA second team.

Times change.

"He understands his body more than anybody,'' West said. "He tries to get the most out of it. Some nights, especially when it's a back, you're going to have some issues and aches. But, for the most part, he gets through them and we depend on him to play well for us when he's out there.''

Stoyjakovic has pretty much become a designated 3-point shooter for the Hornets. A career-high 57 percent of his shots this season have been from beyond the arc. His 3-point percentage of 37.2 is respectable but lower than his 40.2 career mark entering the season.

Don't be surprised if New Orleans' offense without Paul consists of Stojakovic jacking up even more long jumpers. In the seven games Stojakovic has played this season without Paul, he's averaged a whopping 8.6 3-point attempts compared to 5.4 in his other 38 games.

"He's still capable at this time of his career,'' Hornets forward Julian Wright said. "He's kind of I think accepted his role of being somebody to be depended upon but the burden isn't all on him... Every scouting report (says) you're going to have to make sure you get out on him because he can shoot the ball. That's the last thing to go. Your athleticism may be the first.''

Wright figures Stojakovic has "maybe two years'' left as an NBA player. Of course, how long Stojakovic sticks around New Orleans remains to be seen.

Stojakovic, making $13.92 million this season and $14.26 million next season, would like to finish out his contract with the Hornets. But he knows his expiring deal makes him a more attractive trade piece starting next summer.

"Exactly,'' said Stojakovic, whose contract contains a 10 percent trade kicker. "I've been reading about other guys so I figure I'll be answering the same questions (after this season). That's part of the business... It's up to the front office... But I have no problem (staying in New Orleans). I really like the guys on the team. I'm having a good time. My family loves living in New Orleans.''

With the Hornets having made a number of deals since last summer to get under the luxury-tax threshold, look for Stojakovic to still be with them past the Feb. 18 trade deadline. As for whether anybody hands him the game ball when he sets the Serbian scoring record, that's another story.

Aging and beat up, this Boston dynasty looks one and done

The Celtics' Big Three has been reeling of late due to injuries and on-court play.

You know those other Celtics dynasties, the ones that stretched about a half-decade or longer? They had legs. By comparison, this one has toes.

Really, now: Doesn't it appear the KG-Pierce-Allen "run," if that's how it can be described, is done? After one championship?

The proud franchise experienced a resurgence two years ago when Kevin Garnett was rescued from the wintry depths of Minnesota (thanks again, Kevin McHale) and Ray Allen was brought in to help the suffering Paul Pierce, and the new Big Three quickly won the Big One. It was an intoxicating blend of Russell-like intimidation (KG), buttery outside shooting (Allen) and old-fashioned Celtic pride (Pierce) that carried the Celtics in 2008 and threatened to keep a choke hold on the East, if not the league, until LeBron James and/or Kobe Bryant got help.

But now the Celtics are reeling and vulnerable and swagger-less. They just completed a three-game stretch against the Hawks, Magic and Lakers, a triplet of contenders, and came away with nothing except hurt feelings. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are clearly winning the Eastern Conference championship smell test at the moment. These are indeed alarming times for the Celtics as they attempt to battle the effects of age, the encroachment of frisky challengers and the potential for a breakup this summer.

There's no panicking, even if everyone around the Celtics seems to be. Pierce was quick to stress how the team is still "together" following the Lakers game Sunday, moments after Kobe applied the dagger. But the aura of the Celtics as a serious title contender seems to be falling apart.

The issues with the Celtics begin squarely with Garnett and his body; he is an old 34, having spent almost half his life in the NBA. Rudy Tomjanovich once famously warned the naysayers about underestimating "the heart of a champion." But what about the knees?

Garnett had knee issues last spring during the postseason, which effectively ended any repeat championship hopes, and missed 10 games with a hyperextended right knee this season. You'd like to think a healthy Garnett wouldn't allow himself to be posterized, by Andrew Bynum, no less, in that loss to the Lakers on Sunday.

His season averages of 14.7 points and 7.3 rebounds a game represent near-career lows, and if they kept stats on number of games impacted, that probably would be a valley, too. Obviously, the playoffs matter most, and if KG's game is elevated come April, then who cares what he did in winter?

But that's just the point: Can he simply turn the faucet on so easily with so much wear and tear following him around?

It would help if Rasheed Wallace was picking up the slack, but as we've seen so far, Wallace is busy picking up technical fouls and loading up on 3-point shots (he's taken more than Allen!). As offseason additions go, this one appears to be a wash for the Celtics. And they have him for two more seasons.

Pierce, 32, is still generating offense, although you wonder how much this load-carrying could cost him come spring. As for the 33-year-old Allen -- here in the fourth quarter of a superb career -- is his scoring production (15.7 ppg) what you'd expect from a starting shooting guard on a contender?

Allen could be headed elsewhere, anyway, come summer when his contract is up. The Celtics are too far beyond the cap to sign an impact replacement, and any major restructuring must wait until the contracts of Pierce and Garnett are finished.

But that's a story for tomorrow. Right now, the Celtics are trying to figure out how to salvage their season, their reputation and the dynasty that wasn't.

"Our spirits are high," Garnett insisted, even if their flow is low.

When the Celtics assembled the Big Three, it was done with the understanding that this would be mainly a short-term process. All three were well into their primes then and perhaps their best days were behind them. If it is indeed one-and-done, then it was still worth sacrificing Al Jefferson and extending KG ... simply because you do whatever it takes to win a title.

And on the subject of dynasties, the Celtics may forever be remembered for the two dynasties that didn't happen, due to bad luck: the death of Len Bias and missing out on drafting Tim Duncan. No telling how many championship banners would be hanging in Boston if not for those misfortunes.

It is fashionable right now to erase the Celtics from the championship picture, if only because a bad January, injuries and cold, hard results are working against them. They will eventually stop stumbling. They'll take the division easily (which says plenty about the Atlantic). And they have the pride of a veteran team.

But dynasty? To paraphrase a former Celtic coach: A 2010 championship is not walking through that door.

Healthy Kaman, All-Star or not, now a Clippers' centerpiece

Chris Kaman is averaging 20.2 points and 9.1 rebounds a game for the Clippers.

LOS ANGELES -- There is a black hard-rubber mallet with a wooden handle set against media guides on the credenza behind the desk in Mike Dunleavy's office, just adjacent to the Clippers locker room. The coach said the hammer is there just because. Maybe as a bookend.

Unless ....

Unless it's the secret behind the dramatic shift in the fortunes of Chris Kaman.

There may be other, more believable reasons, to be sure. The health factor, of course. Kaman played just 56 games in 2007-08 mostly due to a bad back and sprained ankle, then just 31 in 2008-09 with a troublesome left foot. This season, he's appeared in 41 of 47 games in the Clippers' roller-coaster ride. The foot, he reports, is fine.

But, as Dunleavy explains at the hardware store, Kaman isn't simply feeling better. He is playing better, mostly from the shoulders up, with improved decision making and confidence to go with the shooting skills that have always been there.

All that made last Thursday a bad day for the Clippers. Kaman not only lost out in the coaches' vote for Western Conference backup center at All-Star weekend, but lost out to a Laker, Pau Gasol, and to a Laker that doesn't spend most of his time at center at that.

Here, take the other hand and slam that in the door, too.

Beyond the disappointment of a missed chance at positive publicity for the Clippers, beyond the frustration of Kaman being passed over when he has arguably been the best true center in the West, there is the counter that it is impossible to be disappointed or frustrated at anything in his first half. Kaman has played well, played smart and, in the meaningful big-picture development, has played himself back into position as either a dependable part of the Clips' present or, maybe more surprisingly, the long term as a 27-year-old returned to dependability.

Which brings us back to the office of the head coach inside Staples Center.

"His game has progressed," Dunleavy explained. "He's gotten better each year. But the biggest progression he has made is in his decision making. He's always been able to shoot the ball. He has more confidence in his ability to shoot the ball."

How did that happen?

"It was talking. It was drilling," Dunleavy said. "It was, um ..." -- he reaches back for the mallet -- "hammering a couple times. It was a whole process. Chinese water torture. But ultimately he got it."

Kaman's comeback season has led to 20.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 50.1 percent shooting, a constant positive as the Clippers went from the 4-9 start to pushing back into the playoff picture by winning seven of 11 in late-November to mid-December to losing nine of the last 12 and falling to 20-27. He's already within 51 points of topping his output from any of the last three seasons.

"Last year was frustrating for me," Kaman said. "I missed 52 games. And then I came back and I wasn't in good shape. I was overweight and out of shape. It's hard coming back from three months off and trying to be in good shape. I really put my time in in the summer and made sure that I'm in good shape. When you get hurt, it puts you that much farther back. I'm glad that at least I'm that much better this year. I've been doing a good job of taking care of myself."

He will not call it a reminder season, the kind of campaign that screams his continued presence, in case anyone lost track of Kaman amid all the medical reports the last two seasons. He will not call it vindication.

He will not even bite on the offered victory lap when asked if there is special satisfaction now because of all that came before. Kaman does not want to go there. Not yet.

"I want to wait until the season's over to answer that question," he said. "I really do. There's still a long road ahead and I still have a lot of games left that I need to participate in before I can answer that question."

He has been through enough pain and frustration to know it's a long way from being able to declare victory over the fates. But this is a very encouraging direction. Kaman has been mostly healthy and entirely productive when just lasting through the season would have passed for accomplishment, becoming a potential 20-10 guy in the process and unexpectedly building a candidacy for the All-Star Game.

He made it back. That point has been hammered home.

Team of the Month went under the radar

Who was the best team in the month of January?

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets had the best records, each going 12-3. The Charlotte Bobcats (12-4), Los Angeles Lakers (12-5) and New Orleans Hornets (12-5) each piled up the wins as well. But statistically, none of them was the best team.

The Oklahoma City Thunder were the best defensive team of the month, allowing just 97.7 points per 100 possessions. The Portland Trail Blazers were the best offensive team, scoring 111.0 points per 100 possessions. But overall, neither was at the top of the list.

That spot belonged to the Utah Jazz, who went 10-4 in January and outscored their opponents by 9.5 points per 100 possessions, the best differential of the month.

The Jazz ranked second offensively (109.9) and fourth defensively (100.4) in January. And they didn't do it against a light schedule. Eleven of their 14 opponents currently have a winning record.

When the month started, the Jazz were tied with the Thunder for eighth place in the West. When it ended, they were all alone in fourth.

Of course, if they want to stay there, Utah has to keep playing at a high level. Four of its next five games are against the Mavs, Blazers, Nuggets and Lakers. Fortunately for the Jazz, all four are at home, where they have won seven straight.

• Last Week: Cavs make another statement

Hero Team of the Week: Chicago (3-0) - Finished their trip strong, with wins in San Antonio, Oklahoma City and New Orleans.
Zero Team of the Week: L.A. Clippers (0-4) - Lost to the Nets and Timberwolves in the span of three days.

High jumps of the week: Chicago (+4), Oklahoma City (+4), Utah (+4), Washington (+4)
Free falls of the week: Boston (-4), Houston (-4), Phoenix (-4)

East vs. West: The West is 158-121 (0.566) in inter-conference games, but the East was 12-10 this week.

Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
Off: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
Def: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
The league averages through Sunday are 95.3 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 104.1 points scored per 100 possessions.

NBA.com's Power Rankings are just one man's opinion and are released every Monday during the season. If you've got an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail. You can also follow him on twitter.

	TEAM (LAST WEEK)	REC.	BREAKDOWN
1	Cleveland (1)	38-11	Pace: 93.3 (27), Off: 108.1 (5), Def: 99.9 (5) The Cavs have won eight straight and just began a stretch of seven straight games at home, where they've won 17 of their last 18. Daniel Gibson is averaging 13.0 points and shooting 47 percent from 3-point range in five games as a starter.
2	L.A. Lakers (2)	37-11	Pace: 96.2 (7), Off: 106.5 (9), Def: 99.3 (2) Kobe Bryant hit another game-winner, and the Lakers are now 5-2 on their eight-game trip, with their defense improving over the last three games. The trip ends Monday in Memphis, when Bryant (points) and Phil Jackson (wins) can both set franchise records.
3	Denver (3)	32-15	Pace: 97.7 (5), Off: 108.9 (3), Def: 103.4 (13) A season-high 23 turnovers in Oklahoma City on Friday resulted in the Nuggets' worst offensive game of the season and an end to their eight-game winning streak. But they recovered for a big win in San Antonio on Sunday and are now 6-3 without Carmelo Anthony.
4	Orlando (7)	32-16	Pace: 95.0 (15), Off: 106.7 (8), Def: 99.8 (4) The Magic won the Atlanta-Boston-Orlando round-robin this week, have won six of their last seven and made basketball writers happy by sending the ever-quotable Stan Van Gundy to the All-Star Game. But they've still got issues with their starting backcourt.
5	Utah (9)	28-18	Pace: 95.4 (14), Off: 106.0 (12), Def: 102.2 (10) Shooting 53 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range, the Jazz have won nine of their last 10. Six of the wins were over teams with winning records and another (Friday over the Kings) coming without both Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams.
6	Atlanta (5)	30-16	Pace: 93.5 (26), Off: 108.4 (4), Def: 103.5 (14) Sometimes, it's about matchups. The Hawks completed a season sweep of the Celtics on Friday, but lost their sixth straight game to the Magic on Saturday. They've shot just 39 percent in three games against Orlando this season with one more to go.
7	Oklahoma City (11)	26-21	Pace: 94.9 (17), Off: 102.9 (19), Def: 100.2 (6) It was against the Warriors (there's a Golden State Conversion Rate for scoring), but Kevin Durant was ridiculous on Sunday: 45 points on 16-for-21 shooting as the Thunder shot better than 50 percent as a team for the second straight game.
8	Boston (4)	29-16	Pace: 93.9 (22), Off: 105.3 (13), Def: 98.7 (1) The Celtics' offense has been pretty bad (101.6 rating) as they've gone 6-11 since Christmas. And how Kevin Garnett looked on Rashard Lewis' game-winning layup on Thursday was not a good sign for their defense. They get the Magic again on Sunday.
9	Dallas (6)	30-17	Pace: 94.1 (21), Off: 106.4 (10), Def: 102.3 (11) The Mavs haven't lost three straight all season, but after blowing games to the Suns and Blazers, they visit the red hot Jazz on Monday. They continue to struggle defensively, allowing each of their last three opponents to shoot 53 percent or better.
10	Memphis (10)	25-21	Pace: 95.9 (9), Off: 106.4 (11), Def: 107.5 (25) Blowing a 21-point lead to the CP3-less Hornets is not the way you want an 11-game home winning streak to end, especially when you've got a back-to-back against the Lakers and Cavs coming up. Rudy Gay has shot just 34 percent in the last four games.
	TEAM (LAST WEEK)	REC.	BREAKDOWN
11	Portland (8)	28-21	Pace: 90.0 (30), Off: 107.7 (6), Def: 104.5 (17) After dropping three straight, the Blazers needed Saturday's overtime win in Dallas, and they needed every one of Andre Miller's 52 points to get it. Their defense has allowed opponents to shoot 50 percent in the nine games Brandon Roy has missed.
12	San Antonio (12)	27-19	Pace: 93.7 (24), Off: 107.1 (7), Def: 102.1 (9) At 8-8, the Spurs were unable to take advantage of a home-heavy month. It was just the third time in Tim Duncan's career that they didn't have a winning record in January. Now, with Tony Parker out with a sprained ankle, they head out for the eight-game rodeo trip.
13	Toronto (15)	26-22	Pace: 95.5 (11), Off: 108.9 (2), Def: 109.3 (30) The Raptors have won five straight and are now 17-9 with Jarrett Jack in the starting lineup. Better yet, they get to face the Pacers, who just allowed them to shoot 60 percent, again in Indiana on Tuesday. Then they play the Nets, Kings and Sixers.
14	Charlotte (17)	24-22	Pace: 93.6 (25), Off: 100.6 (25), Def: 99.3 (3) The Bobcats finished January with three straight road wins. They were the ninth-best offensive team for the month after an ugly start to the season. They finish their six-game trip with visits to the Blazers and Lakers this week.
15	New Orleans (18)	26-21	Pace: 94.3 (20), Off: 104.8 (14), Def: 105.4 (19) Darren Collison was terrific (17 points, 18 assists) in Saturday's win in Memphis, but he might not be able to keep that up for a month or more, which is how long Chris Paul is reportedly out after injuring his knee. The Hornets' playoff chances just took a hit.
16	Chicago (20)	23-22	Pace: 95.5 (12), Off: 99.0 (27), Def: 101.2 (7) The Bulls finished their road trip with five straight impressive wins and are 13-5 since Christmas. Derrick Rose earned his All-Star selection with that stretch, but defense has been the key, as they've held their opponents to just 42 percent shooting.
17	Phoenix (13)	28-21	Pace: 98.7 (3), Off: 111.3 (1), Def: 108.5 (29) The Suns have won two straight, but they have the same record as they had after 49 games last season, when Terry Porter was two games from being fired. Statistically, they're the same (+2.8 points per 100 possessions) too, though not as good defensively.
18	Houston (14)	25-22	Pace: 95.5 (13), Off: 103.7 (16), Def: 104.4 (15) The Rockets have lost four of their last five (all at home), as well as their spot among the West's top eight. Their defense suffered a greater drop-off as they went 5-9 in January, but they shot 40 percent or lower in three of the four losses in the last nine days.
19	Miami (16)	24-23	Pace: 93.1 (28), Off: 104.7 (15), Def: 102.7 (12) Though they have have fallen to eighth in the East standings, the Heat have a three-game cushion over the Bucks. But they lost in Milwaukee on Saturday, play the Bucks again Monday, and then play eight of nine on the road, starting with the Celtics and Cavs.
20	Milwaukee (22)	20-25	Pace: 95.6 (10), Off: 101.1 (24), Def: 102.1 (8) Finishing the month off with two straight wins, the Bucks went 8-7 in January. It was their best offensive month of the season thus far, in part because they've cut down on turnovers. They averaged just 12.3 per game this month, down from 14.0 in the first two months.
	TEAM (LAST WEEK)	REC.	BREAKDOWN
21	New York (21)	18-29	Pace: 96.2 (8), Off: 103.6 (17), Def: 106.4 (21) The Knicks' nine losses in their last 12 games made it an even better month for the Jazz, who hold New York's first round pick this June. David Lee had 10 double-doubles in that stretch, but his team was outrebounded by almost eight boards per game.
22	L.A. Clippers (19)	20-27	Pace: 94.5 (19), Off: 101.4 (23), Def: 104.5 (18) When you let the Nets shoot a season-high 53 percent, you've got problems with your defense. When you shoot 41 percent against the Timberwolves' defense, you've got problems with your offense. Combine the two and you've got a really bad week.
23	Washington (27)	16-30	Pace: 95.0 (16), Off: 102.3 (22), Def: 106.5 (22) The Wizards learned the duration of Gilbert Arenas' suspension on Wednesday, giving them some closure on that situation, but closure on trade rumors won't come for another 17 days. At least they were able to escape New Jersey with a win on Friday.
24	Indiana (24)	16-32	Pace: 100.0 (2), Off: 98.6 (28), Def: 104.5 (16) In the Pacers' current three-game losing streak, they've been outrebounded by 55 and have attempted 51 fewer free throws than their opponents. Troy Murphy has shot 16-for-29 from the field, but is a sobering minus-73 over the three games.
25	Philadelphia (23)	16-31	Pace: 93.7 (23), Off: 102.9 (20), Def: 106.0 (20) Their three wins are by a total of 10 points, but the Sixers haven't lost to the Nets yet. They managed to win Sunday's game in New Jersey while shooting 36 percent from the field and 62 percent from the line. Friday's loss to the Lakers was more impressive.
26	Sacramento (28)	16-30	Pace: 97.3 (6), Off: 102.6 (21), Def: 107.3 (24) The Kings are probably glad to turn the calendar, as only the Nets had a worse record -- or were worse offensively -- in January. Their February schedule is a little easier, but not until after they start the month with games against the Nuggets, Spurs and Suns.
27	Minnesota (29)	11-38	Pace: 98.6 (4), Off: 97.9 (29), Def: 107.6 (27) The Timberwolves have won two straight, playing well offensively. Al Jefferson and Kevin Love combined for 47 points and 22 boards in Sunday's win over the Knicks, but four other guys scored at least 20 points over the two games. That's balance.
28	Detroit (25)	15-31	Pace: 90.9 (29), Off: 99.6 (26), Def: 106.7 (23) The Pistons haven't cracked 100 points in regulation in their last 23 games. They've lost five straight and have shot 20 percent from 3-point range over the last seven. They got Ben Gordon back again on Friday, but he scored just five points in 25 minutes on Sunday.
29	Golden State (26)	13-33	Pace: 103.0 (1), Off: 103.5 (18), Def: 108.0 (28) Grabbing less than 45 percent of available boards, the Warriors are the worst rebounding team of the last 20 years. The last team that was worse on the boards? The 1989-90 Warriors, coached by Don Nelson and featuring Run-TMC.
30	New Jersey (30)	4-42	Pace: 94.6 (18), Off: 94.8 (30), Def: 107.5 (26) The Nets got win No. 4 over the Clippers on Wednesday, but faltered down the stretch against the Wizards and Sixers. It's been their best three-game defensive stretch since Lawrence Frank was fired, but the opponents have a lot to do with that.

Nets assistant coach Harris resigns

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Longtime NBA coach Del Harris has resigned as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Nets.

The Nets issued a statement from Harris minutes after they lost 97-93 to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.

Harris joined the team in late November after general manager Kiki Vandeweghe was named the interim coach following the firing of Lawrence Frank after the Nets lost their first 17 games.

A former head coach with Houston, Milwaukee and the Lakers, Harris came to New Jersey to help Vandeweghe with his first head coaching assignment. The 72-year-old said Vandeweghe was able to handle the job by himself.

Harris said he was returning home to Dallas, adding he enjoyed his time with the Nets (4-43).

"I had not experienced such a losing situation since 1983, but because the players are such good people, the losing of games did not become the chaotic situation that has happened to so many teams who were locked into a total rebuilding year," Harris said in a statement.

The Nets have been competitive in their last four games and Harris said he thinks the team is getting over the hump.

"I have enjoyed my time here," he said. "There is no negative to this story. It's all good, but just time to go."

Celtics' Pierce day-to-day with sprained left foot

BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Celtics say Paul Pierce has a sprained left foot and is listed as day-to-day.

Pierce was hurt Monday during the first quarter of the Celtics' 99-88 victory at Washington. He scored 12 points in 28 minutes before sitting out the final period.

The All-Star forward and MVP of the 2008 NBA finals leads the Celtics with 18.9 points per game.

Boston, which has struggled with injuries this season, most notably to Kevin Garnett, hosts Miami on Wednesday night.