Game to pay attention: Bulls vs. Blazers (Yahoo! Sports)
Chicago at Portland To be honest, most of tonight’s games fail to jump off the page and strangle your neck.

Rondo outplays Iverson as Celtics whip Pistons
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Without Yao, Rockets fall meekly to Terry, Mavs
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Yao out with sore foot
Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will sit out Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks with a sore left foot. The team said Yao is being held out “for precautionary reasons” after leaving Monday’s game at Oklahoma City with an apparent left ankle injury. Yao underwent tests on Tuesday that revealed no structural damage. Yao broke his left foot last February and missed the final 26 games of the regular season. He had surgery and said he was fully recovered when training camp began.NBA/~4/458956736″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Game to pay attention: Bulls vs. Blazers (Yahoo! Sports)
Chicago at Portland To be honest, most of tonight’s games fail to jump off the page and strangle your neck.

LIVE: Banged-up Rockets vs. Mavs
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Oden scores 22, but Warriors hold off Blazers (AP)

Greg Oden and Anthony Morrow have almost nothing in common, yet Portland’s earthshaking center and Golden State’s smooth shooting guard both took graceful steps forward in their young careers during the same ragtag game. Stephen Jackson scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and the Warriors overcame Oden’s 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 111-106 victory over the Trail Blazers on Tuesday…

8 is enough: Iverson, Pistons stop Cavs’ streak
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Has East turned the tables on West?
Last year the West feasted on the East. So far this season it’s been the opposite. Randy Hill examines this conference power shift.NBA/~4/458593894″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Court Awareness: Tuesday review
Wizards fans want Gilbert Arenas back, but John Lorge isn’t sure he can save them. Get the full review of last night.NBA/~4/458635681″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Free agency rumors about LeBron continue to swirl
While his free agency is still two years away, LeBron James won’t hestiate to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers if another franchise offers the superstar a better chance to win multiple NBA titles. “I think you do what is best for you and you do what is best for your career,” James said Tuesday night when asked about his sense of loyalty to the Cavaliers before they played the Nets in New Jersey. “…I go out and I play hard and that’s loyalty,” James added. “It’s hard because it’s a business.NBA/~4/457816028″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Different stars have greatness in common
With Kobe Bryant passing Larry Bird on the NBA scoring list, Charley Rosen takes the opportunity to compare superstars.NBA/~4/457785297″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

NBA Power Poll: Ranking teams, sizing up rookies (SportingNews.com)
After Anthony Morrow put up 37 points in his first start for the Warriors, it only seemed right to take a closer look at the rookies in this week’s Power Poll.

Trail Blazers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

A victory at Golden State on Tuesday night would give Portland four wins in five games in an extended road trip that began Nov. 10 at Orlando.

And maybe there should be some concern on the Trail Blazers‘ part about Golden State rookie Anthony Morrow, who made his first NBA start an unforgettable one Saturday night, collecting 37 points and 11 rebounds in a 121-103 victory over the L.A. Clippers.

The Warriors play Don Nelson’s small ball, with whippet-like Andres Biedrins in the post and a collection of shooters around him.

“We have to get out to their shooters,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “They can hurt you from the 3-point line if you don’t.”

Blazers 88, Timberwolves 83: ?? Saturday’s win at Minneapolis was an almost carbon copy of the…

Trail Blazers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

A victory at Golden State on Tuesday night would give Portland four wins in five games in an extended road trip that began Nov. 10 at Orlando.

And maybe there should be some concern on the Trail Blazers‘ part about Golden State rookie Anthony Morrow, who made his first NBA start an unforgettable one Saturday night, collecting 37 points and 11 rebounds in a 121-103 victory over the L.A. Clippers.

The Warriors play Don Nelson’s small ball, with whippet-like Andres Biedrins in the post and a collection of shooters around him.

“We have to get out to their shooters,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “They can hurt you from the 3-point line if you don’t.”

Blazers 88, Timberwolves 83: ?? Saturday’s win at Minneapolis was an almost carbon copy of the…

Prior sins
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Outspoken Cuban charged with insider trading
Federal regulators on Monday charged Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with insider trading for allegedly using confidential information on a stock sale to avoid more than $750,000 in losses.NBA/~4/456207471″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Forced buyouts help players but hurt league
Antonio McDyess was traded, yet ended up with a lucrative buyout and free agency. Charley Rosen says it’s a bad NBA trend.NBA/~4/456642926″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Suns hammer Pistons without Shaq
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Magic prove they aren’t one-man band vs. ‘Cats
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Lopez looking like a keeper so far
Brook Lopez’s first start caught Peter Vecsey’s eye. And the GMs who passed up on the Stanford star probably noticed too.NBA/~4/455032780″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Wade outguns Bosh but Raptors get last laugh
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Trail Blazers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

A victory at Golden State on Tuesday night would give Portland four wins in five games in an extended road trip that began Nov. 10 at Orlando.

And maybe there should be some concern on the Trail Blazers‘ part about Golden State rookie Anthony Morrow, who made his first NBA start an unforgettable one Saturday night, collecting 37 points and 11 rebounds in a 121-103 victory over the L.A. Clippers.

The Warriors play Don Nelson’s small ball, with whippet-like Andres Biedrins in the post and a collection of shooters around him.

“We have to get out to their shooters,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “They can hurt you from the 3-point line if you don’t.”

Blazers 88, Timberwolves 83: ?? Saturday’s win at Minneapolis was an almost carbon copy of the…

LeBron plays Jazz for 38; Cavs win 7th straight
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Rockets keep Paul in check in win over Hornets
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Roy, Oden lift Blazers over Wolves (AP)

Watch out NBA, Greg Oden is starting to clear the cobwebs from two injuries, giving Brandon Roy a monster presence down low for the young Portland Trail Blazers. Playing the first back-to-back of his career, the former No. 1 draft pick followed his first double-double with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 23 minutes.

Grizzlies ragged now but they have a future
O.J. Mayo and the Grizzlies are frustrating to watch at times, but more experience will solve many problems, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/454023694″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Martin fined $20,000 for actions after ejection
Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin was fined $20,000 by the NBA on Saturday for his actions after being ejected from a game. Martin was penalized for verbal abuse of an official and failure to leave the court in a timely manner following an ejection in a loss at Cleveland on Thursday. Martin was thrown out following a flagrant foul for slamming his shoulder into Cleveland forward Anderson Varejao.NBA/~4/454465918″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Rookie equals Jordan mark as Bulls top Pacers
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Trail Blazers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Trail Blazers end a four-game road trip at Minnesota Saturday night, and they wouldn’t mind an easier go at it than they experienced in their first meeting with the Timberwolves.

Portland needed a second-half comeback to overtake Minnesota 97-93 last Saturday at the Rose Garden.

“It’s always hard to beat a team twice in such a short period,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “We’ll need to play better than we did in Portland to win this time.”

Portland native Kevin Love, the Timberwolves‘ first-round draft pick, had a game he’d just soon forget in his return home. The 6-10 power forward was 0-for-7 from the field and had only two points and seven rebounds.

Hornets 87, Timberwolves 82: ?? Portland managed only two field goals in the final…

Even without Garnett, Celtics pull through in OT
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Power Poll: Point guard play makes big difference (SportingNews.com)
Mo Williams has upgraded the Cavaliers‘ offense and moved the team into the top 5 of this week’s poll.

Kobe, Lakers suffer first loss
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Quietly dominant, Howard will make noise
Dwight Howard might be mild-mannered, but the young Magic center is poised to break into superstardom, Mike Kahn says.NBA/~4/453175231″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Nash, Alston, Barnes suspended for fight
The NBA has suspended Steve Nash and Matt Barnes of Phoenix and Rafer Alston of Houston for their roles in a fight. Alston and Barnes were suspended for two games without pay and Nash for one. The league also fined Shaquille O’Neal $35,000 and Tracy McGrady $25,000 on Friday for their actions during the Rockets‘ 94-82 win in Phoenix on Wednesday. Barnes knocked back Alston with his shoulder late in the third quarter, and Alston charged him.NBA/~4/453304394″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Court Awareness: Thursday review
After watching another LeBron vs. Carmelo showdown, Matthew Petersen says it’s time to quit comparing the two.NBA/~4/453222369″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Overconfidence could be costly for Celtics
The Celtics keep coming out flat, then turning it on. In the long run, that’s no way to win another championship, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/453175232″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Nuggets pull away from Celtics in fourth quarter
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Report: Knicks, Marbury discuss breakup details
Exiled Stephon Marbury was summoned Thursday morning to a 45-minute meeting with Knicks president Donnie Walsh at the team’s Westchester headquarters, and the sides held preliminary discussions about a buyout, two sources told The New York Post.NBA/~4/453014220″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Trail Blazers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

If there is a tougher matchup at point guard in the NBA than Chris Paul, Nate McMillan wants to know about it.

“Chris is not just one of the best point guards in the league, he’s one of the best players, period,” said McMillan, whose Trail Blazers face Paul’s New Orleans Hornets Friday night.

McMillan was an assistant coach on the U.S. Olympic team that included Paul, winning the gold medal in Beijing.

Paul recently became the first player in NBA history to collect 20 points and 10 assists in each of the first six games of a season.

Trail Blazers 104, Heat 96: ?? Portland led most of the way and by as much as 12 in the first half, but Miami took a 75-73 lead into the fourth quarter.

Hornets hold off Trail Blazers (AP)

The New Orleans Hornets signed free-agent James Posey for his defense, his championship pedigree and his clutch shooting. The first two things should benefit the Hornets in the long run. His big-shot ability helped them beat the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. David West scored 18 points and Posey hit two 3-pointers — New Orleans’ only baskets in the last 8:30 — to help the Hornets outlast…

Court Awareness: Wednesday review
We should be talking about Shaq’s historic night, but a silly fight stole the show, says Andrew Ungvari in his Wednesday review.NBA/~4/451773616″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Gordon, Bulls shoot down slumping Mavericks
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Iverson helps sloppy Pistons rally past Warriors
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NBA’s most dominant force? Injuries
The list of the NBA’s walking wounded grows by the day. Randy Hill looks at who’s been hit worst by an abundance of early injuries.NBA/~4/452007863″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Two ejected following skirmish in Rockets’ win
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Trail Blazers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Now that the Trail Blazers have their first road victory of the season, they’re thinking they can turn their current four-game trip into a rousing success.

The second stop is Wednesday at Miami against a Heat team the Blazers swept two games from a year ago.

It’ll be a matchup of premier NBA shooting guards—All-Stars Brandon Roy of Portland and Dwyane Wade of Miami. Wade scored 37 points in a 98-91 loss last January, the most points ever scored by a Heat player against the Blazers.

“He’s one of the best players in the league,” Roy said of Wade. “It’s going to be a big challenge.”

Trail Blazers 106, Magic 99: ?? The Blazers had three players hit the 20-point mark for the first time this season and did a defensive number on Orlando’s Dwight…

Pierce’s clutch jumper hands Hawks first defeat
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Trail Blazers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Now that the Trail Blazers have their first road victory of the season, they’re thinking they can turn their current four-game trip into a rousing success.

The second stop is Wednesday at Miami against a Heat team the Blazers swept two games from a year ago.

It’ll be a matchup of premier NBA shooting guards—All-Stars Brandon Roy of Portland and Dwyane Wade of Miami. Wade scored 37 points in a 98-91 loss last January, the most points ever scored by a Heat player against the Blazers.

“He’s one of the best players in the league,” Roy said of Wade. “It’s going to be a big challenge.”

Trail Blazers 106, Magic 99: ?? The Blazers had three players hit the 20-point mark for the first time this season and did a defensive number on Orlando’s Dwight…

Hawks improve to 6-0
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NBA Power Rankings
John Galinsky’s Power Rankings are no laughing matter in Detroit, not with the Pistons sliding since adding Allen Iverson.NBA/~4/449845717″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

PG Williams returns for Jazz in win over Sixers
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