BASKETBALL NEWS

• Cavaliers, Celtics looking better every day 12/4/2008, 6:43 a.m. CST
(AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers keep rolling at home while the Boston Celtics have been unbeatable almost anywhere. The Eastern Conference's two best teams look better every day. LeBron James scored 21 points then grabbed an early seat on the bench as the Cavaliers improved to 10-0 on their own floor for the first time in their history and won their 14th in 15 games, 118-82 over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.

• Cavaliers, Celtics looking better every day 12/4/2008, 3:25 a.m. CST
(AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers keep rolling at home while the Boston Celtics have been unbeatable almost anywhere.

• Wade leads Heat over Jazz 12/3/2008, 10:54 p.m. CST
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dwyane Wade scored 23 points and the Miami Heat climbed back above .500 by beating the short-handed Utah Jazz 93-89 on Wednesday night.

• May's best game helps Bobcats beat Thunder 103-97 12/3/2008, 10:13 p.m. CST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Sean May was tired — again. Only this time, May had finally been effective for the Bobcats after months of slogging up the court in poor shape following knee surgery.

• Yao scores 24 to lead Rockets past Clippers 12/3/2008, 10:12 p.m. CST
HOUSTON (AP) — Yao Ming had 24 points, Rafer Alston sank five 3-pointers and added 21, and the Houston Rockets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 103-96 on Wednesday night.

• Johnson, Bibby combine for 46 in Hawks' 105-95 win 12/3/2008, 10:00 p.m. CST
ATLANTA (AP) — Josh Smith wasted no time asserting himself after missing the past 12 games with an ankle sprain.

• Hornets defeat Suns, 104-91 12/3/2008, 9:51 p.m. CST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chris Paul had 24 points and 15 assists to lead the New Orleans Hornets to a 104-91 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

• Cavaliers rock Knicks 118-82 12/3/2008, 9:43 p.m. CST
CLEVELAND (AP) — If this keeps up, LeBron James will never leave home.

• Bucks' bench shines, Milwaukee tops Chicago 12/3/2008, 9:43 p.m. CST
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Charlie Villanueva came off the bench to score 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and seldom-used Dan Gadzuric had 11 points and 14 rebounds, lifting the Milwaukee Bucks to a 97-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

• Rondo has triple-double, Boston wins 10th in a row 12/3/2008, 9:12 p.m. CST
BOSTON (AP) — Rajon Rondo notched his first career triple-double and Ray Allen scored 31 points, leading the Boston Celtics over the Indiana Pacers, 114-96 on Wednesday night for their 10th straight victory.

• Bryant scores 32 in Lakers' win over 76ers 12/3/2008, 9:12 p.m. CST
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kobe Bryant tormented his hometown team again, scoring 32 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers rebound from a last-second loss with a 114-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

• No. 14 Auburn defeats North Carolina A&T 95-74 12/3/2008, 9:10 p.m. CST
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Dewanna Bonner led No. 14 Auburn with 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 95-74 victory over North Carolina A&T on Wednesday night.

• James not distracted by New York talk 12/3/2008, 9:07 p.m. CST
CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James isn't bothered by the unending onslaught of questions about his free-agent future. He's sure his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates don't mind them, either.

• Howard leads Magic past Timberwolves 100-89 12/3/2008, 8:46 p.m. CST
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Dwight Howard had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Rashard Lewis also scored 23 points to lead the Orlando Magic to a 100-89 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

• Roy helps Blazers win 6th in row, 98-92 over Wiz 12/3/2008, 8:38 p.m. CST
WASHINGTON (AP) — Brandon Roy took over down the stretch Wednesday night, scoring 12 of his 22 points in the final 8 minutes to help Portland beat the Washington Wizards 98-92 and extend the Trail Blazers' winning streak to six games.

• Georgia routs Tennessee Tech 72-46 12/3/2008, 8:23 p.m. CST
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Angela Puleo scored 13 points and chipped in seven assists to lead Georgia to a 72-46 victory over Tennessee Tech on Wednesday night.

• Injury to Wolves' Miller apparently not serious 12/3/2008, 7:53 p.m. CST
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Minnesota forward Mike Miller returned to the game late in the third quarter after being taken to the locker room against Orlando on Wednesday night with an apparent knee injury.

• Wolves' Miller leaves Magic game with injury 12/3/2008, 7:40 p.m. CST
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Minnesota forward Mike Miller was taken to the locker room early in the third quarter of the Timberwolves' game against Orlando on Wednesday night with an apparent knee injury.

• Nash, O'Neal sit out vs. Hornets 12/3/2008, 7:36 p.m. CST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Phoenix point guard Steve Nash missed the Suns' game against the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night because of flu-like symptoms.

• Josh Smith returns after missing 12 games 12/3/2008, 7:04 p.m. CST
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing 12 games with a sprained ankle.

• Raptors fire coach Sam Mitchell after 132-93 loss 12/3/2008, 6:58 p.m. CST
TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Raptors fired coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday and replaced him with assistant Jay Triano, one day after an embarrassing loss at Denver. Mitchell led the Raptors to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and was honored as the NBA's coach of the year for 2006-07. Toronto was off to a sluggish 8-9 start, due in part to injuries.

• Raptors fire coach Sam Mitchell 12/3/2008, 4:29 p.m. CST
TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Raptors have fired coach Sam Mitchell one day after the team absorbed an embarrassing loss at Denver.

• Murphy's tip in lifts Pacers over Lakers, 118-117 12/3/2008, 6:29 a.m. CST
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Danny Granger scored 32 points and led Indiana back from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit, and Troy Murphy tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer to complete an improbable 118-117 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

• Marbury: Just another disgruntled employee? 12/3/2008, 4:30 a.m. CST
NEW YORK (AP) — Stephon Marbury really isn't any different than the average office worker agitated at his boss.

• Pistons' Wallace uses technical foul as motivation 12/3/2008, 3:19 a.m. CST
(AP) — Rasheed Wallace has been called for so many technical fouls in his career he rarely lets one affect his game. Sometimes he even uses them as motivation.

• Murphy's tip in lifts Pacers over Lakers, 118-117 12/3/2008, 3:09 a.m. CST
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Danny Granger scored 32 points and led Indiana back from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit, and Troy Murphy tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer to complete an improbable 118-117 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

• Korver and Williams lead Jazz over Kings 99-94 12/2/2008, 11:52 p.m. CST
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Kyle Korver scored 15 points and Deron Williams had two key baskets in the final minute to give the Utah Jazz a 99-94 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

• Sixers beat Bulls 103-95 in OT 12/2/2008, 10:41 p.m. CST
CHICAGO (AP) — Andre Miller scored nine of his season-high 28 points in overtime Tuesday night and the Philadelphia 76ers ended their four-game losing streak with a 103-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

• Billups leads Nuggets' 132-93 rout of Raptors 12/2/2008, 10:32 p.m. CST
DENVER (AP) — Thanks to Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony doesn't have to shoulder the Denver Nuggets' offense while grappling with an ailing right elbow.

• Mavericks rally from 15 to beat Clippers 100-98 12/2/2008, 10:26 p.m. CST
DALLAS (AP) — Jose Barea hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points and the Dallas Mavericks rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 100-98 Tuesday night.