N.B.A. Today

Last night's scores, the upcoming schedule, and the latest news will be right here sprinkled with analysis from lead SOS analyst Cameron Berns and ESPN basketball guru Chad Ford.

Scores & Analysis
Atlanta got a much needed win over Charlotte last night 117-109 behind 34 points and 10 assists from Joe Johnson. Wallace and Richardson each had 27 in the loss. Despite a triple double from LeBron James, Orlando continued its early season run with a 117-116 OT win over the Cavaliers. Dwight Howard had 35 and 16 in the win. The struggling Wizards got a much needed 103-90 win over Indiana as Gilbert Arenas scored 30 with 11 assists. The Pacers have dropped five in a row and are playing like everyone expected them to. Utah has won 5 in a row as they won in Toronto 92-88. Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 14 rebounds in the win, and Andrei Kirilenko had 8 points, 9 boards, 11 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. That's what I like to call a Swiss Army game. The Celtics manhandled the Nets 91-69 to go to 7-0, but Berns is worried that the Celts stars would burn out come playoff time at the rate they're going:
"Boston is playing its stars too many minutes which could come back to haunt them aroud playoff time."
Dwayne Wade returned from injury, but the Heat lost to the Sonics 104-95 as Durant and Seattle got their first win of the year. I can definitely see Miami having an awful season, so I asked Chad Ford if the Heat would be big sellers come February:
"What do they have to sell? Dwyane Wade? That's the one guy they want to keep. Ricky Davis may have some value because he's in the last year of his deal. Ditto for Jason Williams. But they don't have a lot of coveted players to move."
The Hornets are 7-2, and ranked #2 this week in John Hollinger's power rankings? They beat the Sixers 95-76 and I asked Ford if New Orleans were really that good:
"They're good. They have a great point guard (Chris Paul) and Tyson Chandler is coming into his own (don't the Bulls wish they had him instead of Ben Wallace right now). They've been smart about building the team. David West is good. Mo Peterson looks like a good pickup. Peja has been up and down, but he's a good veteran leader. I think they're a playoff team for sure. Not sure they're the second best team in the West. But they look like that proverbial team no one would want to meet in the first round. Of course this is November. Ask me again in March."
Michael Redd hit a late jumper in Milwaukee's 102-99 home win over Memphis. Redd had 31 and Andrew Bogut had 23 and 12 in the victory. Minnesota got their first win 108-103 over woeful Sacramento as Rashad McCants had 33 in the victory. The Kings blow. Denver keeps rolling as Carmelo Anthony scored 25 in a 110-93 triumph over Portland. The Lakers got a nice road win in Houston 93-90 and Berns had some choice words for the Rockets:
" Houston is the most overated team in the league.( If you don't believe me watch the first half of their loss to the Lakers last night)." Houston was pretty bad in the first half and couldn't come back in time for the win. Berns also believes that the Bulls and Cavs are just .500 teams. Detroit beat the Warriors, and the dysfunctional Knicks fell to the Clippers.

TV Schedule
Tonight on TNT, Tim Duncan and the Spurs head to Dallas in a rivalry match with Dirk and Dallas followed by the Bulls at Steve Nash and the Suns.
A Friday night ESPN twinbill has Yao and the Rockets visiting San Antonio followed by the Pistons facing Kobe and the Lakers.
NBATV has the Bulls at Clippers on Saturday night.
NBATV has a great matchup on Sunday night as the BIG 3 of Boston travel to Orlando to battle Dwight Howard and the Magic.
NBATV on Monday has Kevin Durant and the Sonics taking on Pau Gasol and Memphis.
NBATV Tuesday has the Spurs facing Joe Johnson and the Hawks.
Dallas plays at Houston Wednesday on ESPN.
The league is off on Thanksgiving.

N.B.A. Thursday

What in the world is going on in The Association? The big story, news and notes, and rumors. Get your N.B.A. "fix" right now.

Tim Donaghy
These two words would've meant nothing to you a week ago, but now this name threatens to ruin the image of professional basketball, if it hasn't done so already. The FBI is investigating the now fired referee for betting on games in 05/06 and 06/07 including in games where he officiated. This opens up hundreds of questions about betting in the league including 10 listed by ESPN's Chris Sheridan. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&id=2948746) Wayne Drehs said in a recent article that the games in which Donaghy refereed were so far off from Vegas averages that something fishy had to have been going on. He said that a Vegas insider told him that there's a 1 in 1,000 chance for such discrepencies to happen in games that Donaghy did. Keep it right here at SOS for the latest in this ongoing story.

News and Notes
Monday
Anyone longing back to the glory days of the Vancouver Grizzlies? For those 2 people who said yes, basketball is coming back to Vancouver. Steve Nash will be in his home country on October 26 as his Suns go to the GM Place to take on Kevin Durant and the Sonics in preseason play. Travis Diener signed a contract with the Pacers, Detroit extended the contract of Antonio McDyess for 2 years, and Desmond Mason is returning to Milwaukee with a 2 year pact. New Jersey gave a multiyear contract extension to their head coach Lawrence Frank. New Orleans signed free agent Morris Peterson to a contract.
Tuesday
Troy Hudson is trying to reacha buyout agreement with Minnesota. Detroit signed their 2nd round pick Sammy Mejia. Washington hired Randy Ayers as an assistant coach. Memphis signed G Casey Jacobson and Phoenix inked Sean Marks to a 1 year deal.
Wednesday, Thursday
In N.B.A. criminal news, Former NBA player Ron Mercer surrendered to police on Wednesday to face a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a scuffle in a strip club in April, police said.
His friend was involved in the same incident for stabbing a club bouncer. Hornets owner George Shinn has sold 25% of the team to local investors, proof that Shinn wants the club to be a New Orleans fixture for the long term.

Rumors
- Washington has until the end of next week to sign or trade Juan Carlos Navarro. (Washington Post)
- The Wolves and Hudson are still speaking about a buyout. (St Paul Pioneer Press)
- Charlie Bell is the next in line to sign for the Bucks. The Bucks are still optimistic about signing Yi Jianlian. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Brandon Bass is close to signing a 2 year deal with Dallas. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)