LeBron James Wins NBA MVP Award

Unstoppable at both ends of the floor this season, LeBron James claimed the league MVP on Monday, receiving the award in the high school gym where he first emerged on the national scene.

"This is a place where all my dreams started and where I thought they could become real," James said in accepting the award at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. "There's really not a better place."

The Cleveland Cavaliers star won what some expected to be a close vote in a slam dunk. He received 109 of a possible 121 first-place votes to easily outdistance Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. James totalled 1,172 points in balloting by media members in the U.S. and Canada.

Bryant, last year's winner, got two first-place votes and finished with 698 points. Miami guard Dwyane Wade was third with 680 points and was named first on seven ballots. Orlando center Dwight Howard (328) was fourth followed by New Orleans guard Chris Paul (192).

James is the first Cavaliers player to win the award. He averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season, his sixth as a pro. He also finished second in voting for defensive player of the year, making him perhaps the league's most dominant two-way player since Michael Jordan.

"You look at the guys who have won this award -- Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dr. J, Oscar Robertson," James said. "All these guys laid down the path for guys like myself and Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard and Dwyane Wade to name a few."

James credited his teammates, who along with coach Mike Brown were present to see him accept the award, for raising their games in the Cavaliers' best season ever.

"Individual accolades come when team success happens," James said. "You look at those 14 guys over there, I got the award because of them. They put in the work."

At 24 years, 106 days on the final day of the regular season, James is the youngest player to win the award since Moses Malone (24 years, 16 days) in 1978-79. Wes Unseld was 23 when he won it in 1968-69.

"I'm 24 years old. To be up here and win this MVP award, I never thought it would happen this fast. I always dreamed about celebrating championships with teammates," James said.

"It takes a lot of sweat," said Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry. "I'm sure he did a lot of sweating right here. I've been fortunate enough to watch him sweat the past four years when no one else was around. I just want to acknowledge that and give it a round of applause."

James vied all season for MVP honours with Bryant and Wade. The three played on the U.S. gold medallist Olympic team last summer and seemed to upstage each other nightly.

"He deserved it," Wade said. "I said all year, I thought LeBron was the MVP of this league. He's a guy who every year is going to be in that conversation. ... He showed it all year, especially with his team's success."

Focused right from the start, the six-foot-eight, 250-pound James sharpened his already formidable skills this season.

He started a career-high 81 games and set personal bests in field-goal (49) and free-throw (79) percentages as well as blocks (93). James became the second player to post five straight seasons of at least 27 points, six rebounds and six assists. The other is Robertson, whose game is the one to which James' is most often compared.

James nearly averaged a triple-double -- 32 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists -- as the top-seeded Cavaliers breezed through the first round of the playoffs, sweeping the Detroit Pistons in four games. Cleveland will host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 on Tuesday.

James received the award at the school where he won three state basketball championships and became a Sports Illustrated cover subject at 17 years old. He announced plans to skip college in the Fighting Irish's quaint gym and recently filmed a "60 Minutes" interview there, where his retired No. 23 jersey hangs on a wall.

A few days after the Cavaliers were eliminated from last year's playoffs by Boston, James got back in the gym.

Despite scoring 45 points in the finale, James didn't feel he had done enough. So he went to work. He spent hours at the Cavaliers' training facility working on his jump shot. He practised finishing at the rim with his left hand, making him nearly impossible to stop inside.

James also began lifting weights like never before, adding muscle to his considerable frame. Then, once he began working out with the Olympic team, James aimed to refine his defensive game and became an elite stopper, often guarding the other team's best player -- regardless of position.

"His leaping ability with his strength and explosion, he's by himself," said Cavaliers assistant coach Chris Jent, who spent most of last summer working with James. "We don't have anyone in the league like him. Baseline to baseline he has to be the fastest or one of the fastest guys ever, and he can do it with the ball.

"And then once he gets there, his jumping is up there -- maybe by himself. That combination along with his mental attitude and aggressiveness make him unguardable."

Nuggets' Kenyon Martin Fined $25K

The NBA has fined Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin $25,000 for throwing Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki to the floor in the opener of their second-round playoff series.

Martin was also assessed a flagrant foul for the contact, which occurred with 5:51 left in the first quarter of Sunday's game, after Nowitzki had scored Dallas' first 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting.

Nowitzki said after the game he didn't have a problem with the foul, calling it "just a hard playoff foul."

After making his first six shots, Nowitzki was hounded and went six-for-16 the rest of the way to finish with a game-high 28 points in Dallas' 109-95 loss.

Nuggets Beat Hornets 2-0

Chauncey Billups finished with 31 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a resounding 108-93 win over New Orleans in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Billups' performance followed a 36-point effort in Game 1, which Denver won by a 113-84 score. The Nuggets now hold a firm 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven set, which continues Saturday as the Hornets host Game 3.

Denver has its first 2-0 postseason series lead since 1985 and is halfway to winning its first playoff set since 1994. The Nuggets have made a first-round playoff exit in each of the last five seasons.

Carmelo Anthony added 22 points and nine assists for the second-seeded Nuggets, while J.R. Smith scored 15 points off the bench. The Northwest Division champs shot 50 percent from the floor, making 9-of-16 three-pointers, and excelled in every facet of the game.

Denver totaled 26 assists on its 43 field goals, and committed only six turnovers. Additionally, the Nuggets scored 23 points off 17 New Orleans turnovers in the win.

David West had 21 points and 10 rebounds to pace seventh-seeded New Orleans, which also made 9-of-16 from beyond the arc but had only 34 field goals overall. Chris Paul had 14 points and 13 assists in the loss, while Peja Stojakovic added 17 points.

Orlando Magic Beats Sixers 96-87

Courtney Lee was the catalyst for Orlando, as the rookie recorded a team-high 24 points to help the Magic even their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers with a 96-87 Game 2 victory.

The sharp-shooting duo of Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis struggled from the field, shooting a combined 7-for-24. But the pair managed to get to the free throw line with regularity and ended with 16 points apiece for the Southeast Division champs, who rebounded from a last-second 100-98 loss in Sunday's series opener.

Orlando outscored the Sixers at the foul line, 22-12.

A day after becoming the youngest player ever to win the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award, Dwight Howard battled foul trouble all game, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds before picking up his sixth foul late in the fourth.

Andre Miller paced the Sixers with 30 points and seven rebounds, while Thaddeus Young chipped in 20 points for Philly, which couldn't overcome 17 turnovers.

Andre Iguodala, whose fadeaway jumper just before the regulation buzzer proved to be the game-winner in Game 1, scored 20 of his 21 points in the second half. The swingman also grabbed eight rebounds and doled out seven assists in the loss.

Game 3 of the series is scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia.

Lou Williams' layup had the Sixers within 72-67 three minutes into the fourth, but after a much-needed timeout, the hosts settled down and scored nine of the next 11 points.

Lee had a jumper and a three-pointer on the run, while Anthony Johnson cleaned up his own miss for an 81-69 edge with under seven minutes to play.

The Sixers inched closer and were down 84-79 with three minutes left following Miller's three-pointer. Turkoglu then missed a baseline jumper, but Marcin Gortat, Howard's replacement after his sixth foul, came down with a huge offensive rebound.

Johnson made the extra possession count with a running bucket, and Lewis hit a fadeaway jumper after Williams' errant three for a nine-point Orlando lead with two minutes remaining.

Miller then missed another three and the Magic hit enough free throws down the stretch to knot the series.

Each club had an extended spurt in the first frame, which ended tied, 21-21.

Holding a two-point lead late in the second, the Magic scored seven straight -- five coming from Lee -- and wound up leading, 46-39, at halftime.

The Magic then came storming out of the locker room, hitting eight of their first 11 shots of the half. One of those misses was a Rafer Alston layup attempt, but Howard was in the right spot for a putback dunk, capping an 18-7 flurry that resulted in a 64-46 Magic lead.

Facing the same deficit they battled back from in Game 1, the visitors fought back with an 11-0 run that Miller ended with a turnaround jumper. It was 70-62 in favor of Orlando heading to the fourth.

Lakers Beat Utah Jazz 125-112

Andrew Bynum scored 22 points and Pau Gasol added 20 with nine rebounds and six assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers in a 125-112 victory over the Utah Jazz in the regular season finale for both clubs.

The game was a preview of the first-round Western Conference matchup between these two teams, as the Lakers (65-17) are the No.1 seed and the Jazz (48-34) took the eighth seed.

Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom notched 16 points each for the Lakers, who won for the sixth straight time at home against the Jazz. Sasha Vujacic ended with 15 points in the win.

Deron Williams led all scorers with 25 points and 13 assists for the Jazz, who ended the season by losing seven of nine. Andrei Kirilenko added 20 points and Carlos Boozer had 16 with nine boards.

The Jazz were up 27-25 after the first quarter but the Lakers grabbed a 56-55 lead at the break.

LA opened a 68-59 lead on Derek Fisher's three-pointer early in the third frame. However, Williams' dunk sparked a 9-0 Utah run and his layup closed it out to tie the game at 68 with 5:42 left.

"Both teams competed, I liked it," said Lakers head coach Phil Jackson. "It was a spirited contest; we weren't prepared for their energy."

Minutes later, Bryant's three-point play sparked a 12-5 Lakers run that gave the home team a 90-81 lead. The Jazz cut it to 91-83 heading to the fourth frame.

Jordan Farmar's three, two buckets from Gasol and Bryant's three gave the Lakers a 101-83 advantage early in the fourth.

Utah didn't pose a threat the rest of the way.

"We didn't give them much of a battle," said Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan. "Knowing we have to play them again it looks pretty bleak. They've got guys that make the game look simple."

Raptors Beat Knicks 102-95

There is always some team that based on its late-season surge might have been a dangerous playoff underdog, if only it had qualified.

This year's version could be the Toronto Raptors, whose best basketball in a couple of years is probably a case of too little, too late.

Andrea Bargnani scored 23 points, Chris Bosh had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and the Raptors extended their winning streak to six with a 102-95 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday.

Shawn Marion added 12 points and 13 boards for the Raptors, who stayed alive for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. Toronto would have been eliminated with a loss and a victory by Chicago.

"We keep playing. We don't pay attention to the standings," Bosh said. "We just try to win the next game and they say we're not eliminated yet, so until that day we have to prepare the right way for every game."

Instead, the Raptors eliminated the Knicks, who haven't made the post-season since 2004. First-year coach Mike D'Antoni repeatedly said he thought New York could end its drought this season.

"I don't know, I was pretty disappointed that we didn't do it to be honest with you," D'Antoni said. "I just thought too many games would come down to where we could take control of it, 15 or 16 games less than five points, and we just never came up with the big play or the big stops and tonight was just another night."

Jose Calderon scored 15 points for Toronto, on its longest winning streak since its Atlantic Division championship team won six in a row in April 2007. The Raptors broke open a tight game by holding the Knicks to two field goals in the first six-plus minutes of the fourth quarter, then held on behind their excellent foul shooting.

Widely expected to be a playoff team this season, the Raptors got off to a dismal start, costing coach Sam Mitchell his job when the Bosh-Jermaine O'Neal inside tandem struggled. Marion has been a better fit since the Raptors acquired him from Miami for O'Neal, with Bargnani moving to the middle.

"There's nothing you can do about yesterday and times past," Toronto coach Jay Triano said. "I mean we've been frustrated throughout the year, but we're not right now. We've just got to keep playing and try to win as many games as we can."

Al Harrington and Chris Duhon each scored 22 points for the Knicks, who tumbled out of playoff contention with a disappointing finish to D'Antoni's first season. New York has lost four straight and 10 of its last 11 games.

"Once you get a feel of being in the playoffs and playing in the playoff games, that's a feeling that you strive to continue to have," said Duhon, who played in the post-season with Chicago. "I just think these guys deserve it. They need to deserve to understand the different level. You've got to play a different way, so the intensity is higher. It's a lot of fun playing in the playoffs."

The teams meet again Sunday night to complete a home-and-home series.

Quentin Richardson made the first basket of the fourth quarter to bring New York within two points, but Toronto scored nine straight to open an 86-75 lead on Bosh's jumper with 8:52 to play. A bucket by Chris Wilcox ended the Knicks' drought of about 3 1/2 minutes before consecutive field goals by Joey Graham and Jason Kapono stretched the lead to 90-77.

New York cut it to four, but Marion's follow and a three-point play by Anthony Parker restored a comfortable cushion at 99-90 with 1:41 left. Toronto then hit its free throws, finishing 17-of-20 from the line.

The Knicks scored the last six points of the first quarter, taking a 30-23 lead on Wilson Chandler's tip-in as time expired. New York pushed the lead to 12 early in the second, but Toronto battled back to tie it late in the period before the Knicks took a 50-48 edge into halftime.

Bulls Beat Pacers 112-106

Ben Gordon had 25 points and John Salmons 22, with six of Chicago's seven three-pointers between them, as the Bulls defeated Indiana, 112-106, to achieve the team's first four-game win streak in two years.

Tyrus Thomas scored 18 with eight boards and seven blocks, and Brad Miller added 17 points for Chicago, which is peaking at the right time with the club immersed in a race for one of the Eastern Conference's final playoff spots.

"Some of (the blocks) got the crowd involved, some of them gave us an extra possession," Thomas said. "And some of them just disrupted the things the pacers were trying to get done."

It was Chicago's first four-game winning streak since March 22-29, 2007.

The Bulls closed out a perfect three-game homestand with the win and has won seven of eight overall to remain tied with Detroit for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Derrick Rose logged 16 points, nine boards and eight helpers in the win.

Danny Granger dropped 32 points and Brandon Rush netted 29 for the Pacers, who had won two in a row following a five-game losing streak. Jeff Foster hauled in a game-high 18 rebounds and scored seven in the loss.

"My teammates were able to find me, I was making some shots," Rush said. "I was able to get to the hole, and I just played my type of game the whole game."

Indiana, which is five games off the final playoff spot in the East, was aiming for its first three-game winning streak since November 8-12 this season.

Indiana opened the final quarter down five and trailed from there until a Foster deuce and Granger three provided a 97-96 edge just before the six- minute mark. The Pacers continued to hold a slight edge until back-to-back Salmons three-pointers and a Thomas basket helped the Bulls to a 107-102 lead with 1 1/2 minutes to play.

A pair of field goals by T.J. Ford on the other end around a Rose trip to the hoop for two made it a one-possession game at 109-106 with 56.1 ticks remaining.

A Granger layup would have made it a one-point game, but Thomas swatted his seventh block of the game, got the loose ball and was fouled with 25.1 on the clock. His two free throws and 1-of-2 from Rose moments later sealed up the victory.

The Pacers came out with the hot hand and led 35-21 after the opening 12 minutes in large part thanks to Rush's 18 first-quarter points.

Gordon sparked the Bulls with 13 points in the second stanza and capped an 13-2 run to open the frame with a three-pointer to trim Indiana's lead to 37-34. An 8-0 spurt extended the run to 21-4, and Kirk Hinrich's jumper just before the midway point dropped for a 42-39 Chicago edge.

Granger's layup put the Pacers back in front a short time later before Salmons scored six of Chicago's final eight points in the frame to get within four, 58-54, at the break.

A three-pointer and jumper by Salmons opened the second half and gave Chicago the lead. The teams traded shots and played it close until a 9-0 Bulls stretch allowed for a 78-72 lead with 4 1/2 minutes to go.

A three-point play by Miller extended the lead to seven before the Pacers got back within five, 87-82, on a Rasho Nesterovic tip-in just before the horn.

Lakers Beat Bulls 117-109

Kobe Bryant scored 28, dished out seven assists and had five steals, as the Los Angeles Lakers began a seven-game road trip with a 117-109 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Pau Gasol chipped in 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who used a 25-4 run in the fourth quarter to win for the fifth time in six games. Trevor Ariza netted 18 points and Lamar Odom 16 as the Lakers rallied from a 15-point third-quarter deficit.

Jordan Farmar scored eight of his 13 points during the crucial fourth quarter run.

"We just played with a little more intensity, a little more energy," said Farmar. "We were a step faster to the fall, coming over helping each other out defensively and just moving the ball offensively."

John Salmons tallied 30 points for the Bulls, who had a three-game win streak broken. Derrick Rose scored 25, Ben Gordon 16, and Tyrus Thomas totaled 15 points and 16 boards in defeat.

"We were just turning the ball over. When you do that any team is going to beat you in this league," said Rose.

Despite the loss, the Bulls remained a game ahead of Charlotte for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but Milwaukee and New Jersey are lurking just 1 1/2 games behind the eighth slot.

Gordon's two foul shots, including one on a technical from LA's Sasha Vujacic, expanded Chicago's lead to 89-81 in the opening minute of the fourth. The Lakers then had a monster run.

A Luke Walton layup started the burst and Odom's three-ball tied the game. Rose hit a layup, but Walton's three-point play boosted the Lakers to the lead with under 10 minutes left.

Gordon came back with two foul shots, but LA scored the next 14 points, including eight from Farmar and he capped the flurry with a jam, moving the lead to 106-93 with nearly 4 1/2 minutes to go.

Salmons sank a layup in the closing minute of the opening quarter, expanding Chicago's lead to 34-24. His three-pointer at the end of the half moved the hosts to a 62-48 lead and his free throw in the opening minute of the third established another 15-point difference.

The Lakers scored the ensuing 12 points, half of them on long distance shots from Ariza and Derek Fisher, but Chicago came back to establish an 87-81 edge moving to the fourth.

Bucks Beat Warriors 127-120

Richard Jefferson scored a season-high 35 points to lead seven Bucks in double figures, as Milwaukee fended off a late Golden State rally to edge the Warriors, 127-120, at the Bradley Center.

Luke Ridnour totaled 17 points and five assists for the Bucks, who saw their three-game slide become history. Charlie Bell racked up 16 points and Ramon Sessions 15 with nine helpers.

Charlie Villanueva chipped in 14 points and seven boards in the win.

Jamal Crawford went 6-for-10 from three-point range en route to 32 points for the Warriors, who have dropped three in a row and six of seven overall. Stephen Jackson added 23 points and 11 helpers while Corey Maggette totaled 22 points.

Two free throws from Maggette brought the visitors within 122-118 with 63 ticks left to play.

After winding the clock down, Sessions had his layup bid blocked and the Warriors brought the ball upcourt. Maggette's three-pointer, though, was an airball and the Bucks held on for the win.

"When you play against teams like Golden State, you want to play up tempo but you don't want to get too crazy jacking up shots with them," said Jefferson. "I thought Ramon (Sessions) and Luke (Ridnour) did a good job of playing at the pace that we needed."

The Bucks led 33-28 after the first quarter and were on top 62-53 heading into the break.

The teams traded baskets and the deficit hovered around 10 points, before Marco Belinelli hit a three to make it 94-85 heading into the final 12 minutes.

Trailing by 13 in the fourth frame, Maggette hit a jumper and Crawford nailed a three to spark an epic 15-2 run that knotted the game at 104. Crawford's three and Jackson's free throw closed it out with 5:55 left in the tilt.

It stayed a one-possession game until Jefferson's layup, Villanueva's two free throws and Sessions' three-pointer made it 119-111 with 2:07 showing on the clock.

Jazz Beat Kings 102-89

Ronnie Brewer and Mehmet Okur scored 26 points each as Utah used a strong fourth quarter to beat Sacramento, 102-89, at EnergySolutions Arena.

Before the game, Utah mourned the loss of late owner Larry Miller. His public viewing and funeral service was held before the game at EnergySolutions Arena. NBA commissioner David Stern and former Jazz player Karl Malone were in attendance for the 90-minute Mormon ceremony.

The 64-year-old Miller died of complications from diabetes in Salt Lake City on February 20. Since Miller took over the Jazz as the majority owner in 1986, the team has made 20 playoff appearances and enjoyed six trips to the Western Conference finals along with two appearances in the NBA Finals.

"It was definitely a different day. My mom always says 'blessed are the flexible' and so we had to be a little bit flexible today," said Utah's Kyle Korver. "We all know what Larry meant to this team, this city and this state. We really only saw the basketball side of Larry, but it was fun to hear all of the different things that his grandkids and his kids were talking about. It just kind of showed you what kind of man he really was. He was a whole lot more than just the owner of the Jazz."

As for the game, Brewer added seven rebounds, while Okur pulled down five boards for the Jazz, who have won a season-high seven straight games. Deron Williams ended with 16 points and 11 assists.

Utah also has won nine consecutive home games and is a gaudy 26-6 as the host this season.

"I was just trying to play hard. I just knew that if I cut hard, my teammates were good enough passers that they would find me. That's just what I tried to do," said Brewer.

Sacramento was paced by Kevin Martin, who poured in 19 points. Bobby Jackson ended with 14 points, while Francisco Garcia finished with 13 points for the Kings, who have lost four of their past five outings. Rashad McCants added 17 points off the bench in defeat.

The Kings kept it close for most of the game but crumbled late in the fourth quarter. Ahead 80-79, the Jazz ripped off 11 consecutive points to extend their lead to 12 with just over five minutes remaining. This proved to be the final blow to the pesky Kings.

Sacramento never got closer than nine points the remainder of the way. The Jazz outscored the Kings 23-16 over the final 12 minutes.

The Jazz got off to a quick start, jumping out to an 11-2 lead to start the game. Okur tallied seven points during the flurry. After Andres Nocioni cut the gap to 19-17 with a three-pointer, Brewer rattled off six consecutive points to extend the Utah lead to 25-17 with under 3 1/2 minutes to go in the frame. The Jazz led 32-25 after 12 minutes of play.

Ahead 41-35 midway through the second quarter, Sacramento scored six unanswered points to tie the game with under four minutes until the break. But Utah responded and held onto a 54-50 edge heading into the locker room.

Okur's trey at the end of the third stanza gave the home team a 79-73 margin going into the final quarter.

"We were very competitive tonight and got down four points with eight minutes left but got sloppy with the basketball and had three straight turnovers and that pretty much put us in a bad way," said Sacramento head coach Kenny Natt. "I thought our guys worked hard. They could have caved in. This is a very good ball club and no one knows it better than me how good they are and how hard they work."

Cavaliers' Ben Wallace Out with Forearm Injury

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Cleveland Cavaliers forward/centre Ben Wallace suffered lacerations to his right forearm from broken glass while having a football catch in Richmond, Virginia, over All-Star Weekend.

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Wallace received 14 stitches in Richmond before heading back to Cleveland on Monday, and he was subsequently treated at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health early Tuesday morning for the removal of additional pieces of glass from his arm.

Wallace is expected to travel with the Cavs to Toronto on Tuesday afternoon, but his status for Wednesday's game against the Raptors is listed as questionable.

Cavs guard Sasha Pavlovic (sprained right ankle) was also evaluated on Tuesday morning at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health; he had his cast removed and will remain in an air cast walking boot. Pavlovic is expected to continue his rehab process in Cleveland and will not travel with the team to Toronto or Milwaukee.

Cleveland guards Delonte West (fractured wrist) and Tarence Kinsey (sprained right ankle) both practiced with the team on Tuesday but are listed as doubtful and questionable, respectively.

Celtics' Tony Allen Out with Thumb Injury

Boston Celtics backup guard Tony Allen is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks after undergoing thumb surgery Wednesday.

Doctors repaired ligaments in Allen's left thumb after he was hurt during practice last week. Allen has spent all five of his NBA seasons with the Celtics.

He is averaging 7.8 points in 40 games this season and 7.4 for his career. His career high of 11.5 points per game came in 2006-07, but he was limited to 33 games by a knee injury.

The surgery took place one day after the Celtics sent guard Sam Cassell and cash to the Sacramento Kings for a second-round pick in the 2015 draft. Cassell did not play for Boston this season.

Clippers' Zach Randolph Suspended

Los Angeles Clippers forward Zach Randolph has been suspended two games without pay, the NBA announced Wednesday, for striking Phoenix's Louis Amundson in the face Tuesday.

The incident occurred with 32.3 seconds left in the first quarter of the game, a 140-100 win for the Suns. Randolph and Amundson got tangled under the basket, and Amundson fell to the floor after being shoved by Randolph's outstretched left arm.

Randolph stood over Amundson, who got up and stood face-to-face with Randolph, who then struck Amundson in the face with his left hand.

"Basically he just threw me down when I was going for a rebound," said Amundson after the game. "I was on the floor and I could feel him on top of me, trying to step on me - I don't know what he was trying to do. I got up and I was pretty upset about the whole situation and I got in his face and he did what he did."

Randolph will begin serving his suspension Wednesday, when the Clippers host the Suns in the back end of the home-and-home.

Nets' Sean Williams Arrested

New Jersey Nets forward Sean Williams was arrested at Boston College last weekend for allegedly violating a no trespassing order.

A campus police report says the former BC player was arrested Sunday shortly before the Eagles played Duke. The order was issued in May. Police did not say why he was barred from campus.

Williams was dismissed from the Boston College team in January 2007. His lawyer says the player was invited to the game by the school's coaching staff.

Williams posted $40 bail but failed to show for arraignment Tuesday. A judge rescheduled the arraignment for March 5.

Williams and Nets coach Lawrence Frank had no comment in Houston, where the Nets played Tuesday night.

Suns Beat Clippers 140-100

Alvin Gentry had about as good a debut as an interim head coach can have, with six Suns reaching double digits in Phoenix's 140-100 demolition of the lowly Los Angeles Clippers.

Phoenix cut ties with the defensive-minded Terry Porter on Monday after the head coach led the perennial Western Conference contenders to a mediocre 28-23 record leading up to the All-Star Game, which was held at US Airways Center on Sunday.

The entire Suns roster looked All-Star worthy Tuesday, with Leandro Barbosa, starting in place of the suspended Jason Richardson, leading the way with 24 points. Amare Stoudemire, who is a fixture in trade rumors heading up to Thursday's deadline, added 23 points in Phoenix's highest scoring output of the season.

Grant Hill and Shaquille O'Neal, fresh off his co-MVP performance Sunday, tallied 20 and 15 points, respectively in the blowout.

Steve Nash, playing with a plethora of injuries, dished out 10 assists to go with eight points in limited minutes, helping snap the Suns' two-game slide.

Eric Gordon paced the Clippers with 24 points.

Los Angeles had won three of its previous four coming into the game, but allowed the Suns to shoot a ridiculous 75.6 percent from the floor in the first half, essentially taking an additional day off.

Ahead by five late in the first quarter, Phoenix scored 10 straight points to lead 33-18 with two minutes remaining in the frame.

The margin was 41-26 after 12 minutes and a 15-5 effort to end the half, highlighted by a Nash-to-Louis Amundson alley-oop gave the Suns an 81-49 edge at halftime.

Nine of the Suns first 12 points after the intermission came on the fastbreak, and the rest of the game essentially played as an All-Star game, as the Clippers trailed 118-72 heading to a meaningless fourth frame.

Bobcats' Gerald Wallace Released from Hospital

Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace was released from a Los Angeles hospital Thursday night after suffering a collapsed lung and a fractured rib earlier in the week.

The injuries occurred late in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's 117-110 double- overtime victory over the Lakers when he was fouled by Andrew Bynum. The Lakers center appeared to throw his right elbow into Wallace's ribs as he was charging the lane. Wallace fell to the floor, had to be helped off the court and was taken to the locker room.

Bynum was called for a flagrant foul on the play.

Wallace had an x-ray at the Staples Center following the game, then was taken to Centinela Hospital to undergo a CT scan as a precautionary measure.

Tests revealed that Wallace lost 30-40 percent of his lung capacity and had a non-displaced fracture of the fifth rib on his left side. Wallace had a chest tube inserted into the lung to help restore it to functional capacity.

Even though the lung has fully healed, Wallace will remain in the Los Angeles area and is scheduled to meet with a cardiothoracic surgeon on Monday, at which time it will be determined when the Alabama product will given clearance to travel back to Charlotte.

Wallace is averaging 16.4 points with 7.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 41 games this season.

Bobcats Sign Cartier Martin

The Charlotte Bobcats signed former Kansas State standout forward Cartier Martin to a 10-day contract Thursday.

Martin has played in 21 games this season for the NBADL's Iowa Energy, posting averages of 20.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 37.6 minutes per contest.

The 6-foot-7 Martin spent the 2007-08 campaign playing for Antalya BSB of the Turkish Basketball League.

A four-year standout at Kansas State, Martin became only the third player in school history to amass 1,500 points and 500 rebounds. He was named Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year as a senior in 2006-07 and received second team All-Big 12 honors as both a junior and senior.

Celtics' Kendrick Perkins Fined

Kendrick Perkins was fined US$10,000 by the NBA for a flagrant foul on Detroit's Jason Maxiell that led to the Boston Celtics forward to be ejected on Friday night.

Perkins said Sunday he would not appeal. "I think it's right. I think justice was served," he said. "I can pay that fine."

Perkins was ejected in the fourth quarter of Friday's game between Boston and Detroit after being called for a flagrant foul with 5:56 to play and the Celtics leading 70-65.

Perkins pulled Maxiell to the floor by the neck while Maxiell was trying to put back an offensive rebound. Maxiell got up and shoved Perkins, and was given a technical foul, while Perkins was called for a flagrant-2 foul, which brings an automatic ejection.

Chris Bosh to Stay with Raptors

With just one year left on his contract with the Raptors after this season, all-star Chris Bosh has recently become the subject of rumours suggesting he wants out of Toronto.

Bosh downplayed the reports at practice on Monday, telling reporters that he hasn't spoken to General Manager Bryan Colangelo and that the reports are not true.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith had thrown fuel on the fire Sunday when he claimed Bosh had expressed his wishes to leave the franchise.

"You're going to see Chris Bosh's name come up (in trade talks) simply because he's already told the Toronto Raptors that he has no desire to remain in Toronto," Smith said in an interview on ESPN. "You're going to hear Dallas' name in the equation because they've got a strong interest in Chris Bosh, as well as the Miami Heat, so you never know what could happen.

"[The Heat] are in pursuit of Chris Bosh," said Smith. "Everybody's been talking about Jermaine O'Neal or what have you - it's Chris Bosh that they want. Whether or not they're going to be lucky to get him, I sincerely doubt it, because Bryan Colangelo might try to hold on to him until next year."

Bosh said the comments caught him off guard.

“It was a surprise to me, and I can't be responsible for what other people say," the 24-year-old told reporters at practice on Monday. "I understand that you're entitled to an opinion, but making stuff up - we can't do that, let's all be fair.

“I haven't thought about that at all (free agency), I've been thinking about this year, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (Tuesday's opponent)," Bosh said. "That's what we say all the time. Can I tell the future? No, I cannot. I just have to wait until that situation comes up.”

Colangelo strongly denied the rumours.

"There's no truth to the rumour or speculation that he said anything to any of us in the organization that he's going to be leaving," the Raps' GM said Monday. "There's no truth to the fact that he's on the trading block or being shopped in any regard.

"Chris Bosh, as I've said, is the cornerstone of this franchise. As we look to build, we're building around Chris."

When it comes to speculation that the Raps' star could be on his way out, Smith is hardly the first media commentator to make that suggestion.

"Enjoy it while you see it - Chris Bosh in a Toronto Raptors all-star uniform," former Raptor Jalen Rose told ESPN on January 25. "Because this year or next year will be the last."

Rose made similar comments back in November.

"Cleveland Cavalier fans, Toronto Raptor fans - enjoy 'em while you got 'em," said Rose. "Summer 2010, New York Knick fans - stand, cheer and rejoice. I know right now, Nate Robinson wears number four and Quentin Richardson wears number 23. Expect to see LeBron James and Chris Bosh donning those numbers that season."

While Bosh has never publicly expressed a desire to leave the Raptors' organization, if he chooses to leave he would be the latest in a growing string of high-profile players to make an unwelcome exit.

Ask Raptors fans about Damon Stoudamire, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter.

"We've got to get some players," Stoudamire said 12 years ago amid the struggles of a young team. "That's the bottom line. They've got to prove to me that they're going to go out and be willing to spend money on some free agents and get some players that will come and play hard. It's frustrating when you go out and you are short-handed."

The problem did not end there.

McGrady broke the hearts of Raptors fans when he departed for the Orlando Magic in 2000, following a breakout season both for him and the Raptors team, which made its first playoff appearance that year.

Carter, far and away the most high-profile Raptor of all-time, became frustrated by the team's lack of success and demanded a trade. He was sent to the Nets in 2004. Carter even conceded that he had not given one hundred per cent effort in the later stages of his time with the Raptors.

Despite the strong recent play of Jose Calderon and the addition of Jermaine O'Neal in the off-season, the Raptors are 11 games under .500 at 19-30 on the season.

Grizzlies Sign Darius Miles

The Memphis Grizzlies announced on Friday that they have signed forward Darius Miles for the remainder of the season. In 10 games with the Grizzlies this year, Miles is averaging 5.7 points and 2.6 rebounds.

After originally signing Miles on December 13, Memphis waived him on January 7 after he appeared in just two games. The Grizzlies brought him back three days later with a 10-day contract despite the Portland Trail Blazers having earlier issued a warning to all NBA teams that threatened legal action against any club that signed the free agent.

Coming back from knee surgery after missing the entire 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons, Miles' return now puts the Blazers on the hook for $18 million over the final two years left on his contract.

That didn't stop Memphis, which later signed Miles to a second 10-day deal on January 20.

The 27-year-old holds career averages of 10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.14 blocks per game over 422 games with the Grizzlies, Cavaliers, Blazers and Clippers, who drafted him third overall in 2000 out of East St. Louis High School.

Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko has Ankle Surgery

Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko underwent successful surgery Friday to remove bone fragments from his right ankle.

The procedure was performed by Dr. John Edwards.

Kirilenko has been released from the hospital and is scheduled to meet with Jazz medical staff on Monday for further evaluation, though the 27-year-old Russian is expected to be sidelined up to a month.

Kirilenko is averaging 12.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.5 steals in 38 contests for the Jazz this season, his eighth with the franchise that selected him in the first round of the 1999 draft.

Thunder's Desmond Mason out with Knee Injury

Oklahoma City guard Desmond Mason will miss the rest of the season after hyperextending his right knee during the Thunder's 114-102 overtime victory over Memphis on Wednesday night.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti said Thursday an MRI exam revealed bruising to Mason's right femur and tibia bones. Team physicians will perform arthroscopic surgery to remove debris caused by the hyperextension.

A fan favourite, the six-foot-five Mason appeared in 39 games this season, starting 19 of them and averaging 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

Presti said the timing of the injury will prevent Mason from returning this season.

"We are disappointed to lose Desmond for the remainder of the season," Presti said. "He is a valuable part of our efforts on and off the court. We will support Desmond and work with him throughout the rehabilitation process."

76ers Beat Clippers 100-92

Andre Iguodala netted a season-high 28 points with 7 boards and as many assists to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 100-92 triumph over the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.

Thaddeus Young logged 20 points and Andre Miller chipped in 15 points and 9 assists as Philadelphia resumed a grueling 6-game road trip by snapping a 4-game losing streak. The Sixers are now 1-3 on the swing and will finish the trek with visits to Dallas and San Antonio.

"This was a good win -- our defense in the 2nd half, especially in the 4th, was great," Sixers interim head coach Tony DiLeo said. "We made a step in the right direction tonight."

Al Thornton led the way with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks for the Clippers, who dropped their 5th consecutive game. Eric Gordon contributed 21 points while Marcus Camby logged 16 points, 17 rebounds and 6 assists.

Baron Davis was just 5-of-16 shooting for 11 points to go along with 8 assists for Los Angeles, which has dropped 6 of its last 7 contests overall.

"They are an athletic team and scored a lot of points in the open court," Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We didn't do a good job of seeing the basketball; some of our turnovers were not forced. The difference was in transition."

Trailing by 4 to open the 4th, LA used 6 consecutive points and a tip-in from Camby to take an 80-79 lead with just under 6 minutes to play.

With the game tied at 86 a short time later, Young sparked a crucial 8-0 run with a hook shot. After Lou Williams nailed a jumper, Young was on the receiving end of a half-court lob from Miller and finished with the alley-oop jam with 1:42 to go.

A pair of Iguodala free throws made it an 8-point game, 94-86, just inside a minute left and the Sixers hit 6-of-7 from the line over that stretch to ice the win.

The Clippers held a 27-26 edge after 12 minutes but the Sixers turned the tables for a 3-point lead at the break, 50-47.

LA regained the lead, starting off the second half with 11 straight points but Philadelphia scored 11 of the game's next 13 points and took a 61-60 lead on Young's layup with 4.5 minutes to play in the frame. A late 6-1 spurt allowed the visitors a 69-65 lead heading to the final quarter.