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Saturday, January 2

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Adrian Wojnarowski: Prior to Christmas, Knicks turned down a Nets offer of Rafer Alston and Tony Battie for Nate Robinson and Darko Milicic, league sources say. Twitter.com

Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor wasn’t at shootaround and didn’t immediately return a message. The Jazz were not believed to have made a call about Utah Flash guard Dontell Jefferson's availability. The Jazz trail the Nuggets by two games in the Northwest Division, having fallen out of the Western Conference’s top eight after Thursday’s loss to Oklahoma City. They are just 2-5 in the division and would fall to 0-2 against Denver with a loss tonight. Salt Lake Tribune

Ross Siler: Jerry Sloan suggested the team wouldn't sign an emergency backup point guard because "He'd be probably more confused than we are." Twitter.com

The NBA players union will fight the Washington Wizards or the NBA if either tries to void the contracts of two Wizards players who are alleged to have pulled guns on each other before a recent practice. "They can attempt to take any action they want, but if it contradicts or violates the collective bargaining agreement, then we will litigate over that," Billy Hunter, the NBA Players Association executive director, told the Daily News Saturday. "There's no question we'd litigate." New York Daily News

Hunter indicated that commissioner David Stern is limited to what the current collective bargaining agreement permits via its rules regarding guns. At the least both players were in violation of rules that prohibit players from bringing guns onto team property. The incident allegedly occurred in the locker room of Washington's Verizon Center. "Right now, the commissioner has ample authority to suspend or fine the players," Hunter said from San Francisco. "To me, he has too much authority and we'd like to cut back on that. I'm not for strengthening (what Stern can do)." New York Daily News

According to two sources close to the team, Crittenton and Arenas had a disagreement on the team plane on the Wizards flight from Phoenix on Dec. 19. The reason for the dispute is unclear, but it may have been over a card game. A person who has spoken with Arenas recently said that the incident involving Crittenton was "nothing more than horseplay" and that there was never any intent to physically harm Crittenton. The person also said the argument between Arenas and Crittenton was over "who had the bigger gun." Washington Post

Arenas, long one of the league's more colorful and interesting players, is going to have a tough time joking his way out of this predicament. He spent one season throwing his jersey into the stands after home games, and some NBA people would describe his personality as quirky. However, there are others who say Arenas' actions go far beyond quirkiness. "Quirky is when you tie your shoes different from others or something like that," one league executive said. "Gilbert is very different." Oregonian

There certainly was a circus atmosphere surrounding practice, with about a dozen or so reporters carrying cameras and microphones all trying to get the scoop, which really wasn't going to be handed out on that day. I was amused by how players, like Antawn Jamison, smiled at the cameras and calmly walked by saying, "I'll answer questions about San Antonio." Brendan Haywood took the most entertaining approach as he spotted the cameras, then raced to the locker room door shouting, "Hey, is that Randy Wittman?" Washington Post

Three players actually stopped to briefly talk to reporters. Fabricio Oberto looked dazed and confused as he repeatedly said, "I don't know. I don't know what you're talking about." Nick Young wiped sweat from his nose and said that the NBA and police investigation into Arenas and Crittenton would not be a distraction. "No. We believe in each other. We a team, we family. We wouldn't let that happen." Mike Miller said, "People are going to investigate and do their jobs. We are going to do our jobs." Washington Post

Alan Hahn: Nate says despite the benching, which "humbled" him, he doesn't plan on changing his game. D'Antoni says Nate is in the rotation, Hughes out. Twitter.com

Alan Hahn: Watching Hill vs Darko battle for lowest intensity in a 1-on-1 post-up game w/ Herb feeding the post. Twitter.com

“With Blake, the thing about him that makes him so special is that he can play big against small teams,” said Dunleavy, who also serves as the franchise’s general manager. “He can guard the smaller guys, and we can pound it in against them. Against the bigger teams, he’s got the quickness to run the floor. He’s a great finisher. He’s a great passer.” New York Times

As for Jennings and Evans, Griffin said he was happy for them. “They’re doing what they love and they’re doing it well,” he said. “And that’s the way it should be. People get carried away a lot of the time with consensus this, consensus that. It’s up to how you play, and you don’t know until the season starts. Those guys are doing a great job.” New York Times

So, your siblings -- Frank, Adrienne and Lauren -- they all graduated from college and are doing very well in their respective professions? "Yes," Roger Mason Jr. said. And no one in your family relies on you for financial support?" "No." And your parents, they would be ultra-supportive even if you didn't play in the NBA?" "Definitely." Be honest: No baby-mama drama of any kind? I mean even Tom Brady has an out-of-wedlock kid. "Of course not." Washington Post

"The drama has never done anything for me," said the 29-year-old guard for the San Antonio Spurs, who make their annual pilgrimage to Verizon Center Saturday night to play Mason's old team. "It's not about that. If I can use the little celebrity I do have to help others, great. But I don't need the off-court drama to help with publicity." Washington Post

When Mason was 14, Marsha married Otis Wonsley, John Riggins's former backup for her son's favorite team. Wonsley began taking his stepson to training camp, "where I heard plenty of good Riggins and Joe Gibbs stories," Mason said. "I distinctly remember meeting Brian Mitchell when I was in middle school. It was incredible." "Like any kid, you're rebellious at first when your father passes and someone else comes along," he added. "But over time, it was great to have Otis in our lives. He had so much experience as far as being a professional athlete. He taught me so much." Washington Post

Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy was back managing the NBA team's practice today after getting treatment for pain in his lower back that forced him to miss the Clippers' last game. "I went to the hospital yesterday at 8 a.m. and had an epidural," said Dunleavy, 55, who aggravated a herniated disk in his back after a hard sneeze. "So we'll see how it goes. "I’ve been having problems with my leg going numb the last couple of weeks, and I had an MRI last week that showed I had a bulging disc," he said. "I had a cold as well" and the sneeze "just hit me the wrong way, threw it out. [I] went down on my knees, like someone stuck a knife in you." javascript:newwind('http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/01/clippers-nba-dunleavy-basketball-.html','771')

Is this an encouraging sign for Bulls fans? Possible 2010 free agent Dwyane Wade has paid $1.425 million for a four-bedroom, 3,476-square-foot town home in River West. The Richards alum is not the only pro basketball player in the development. Mavericks forward Shawn Marion, a Waukegan native, owns a town home nearby that he purchased in mid-2004 for $985,000. The Miami Heat guard also owns a two-story, 2,280-square-foot brick house in Matteson with his his estranged wife, Siohvaughn. Chicago Tribune

Ty Lawson: Only in Utah is where ull find somebody rockin the hitler mustache. Twitter.com

Two sources indicated Friday that Washington, while not actively considering it at this time, would not shy away from at least having internal discussions about voiding the rest of Arenas's contract, which has three years and $67.7 million remaining on it after this season. The team has waited two-plus seasons for Arenas to return from three knee surgeries, and his numbers this season have been very good for someone who's been out of regular action since 2007: 22.7 points, a career-high 6.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds. NBA.com

The NBA source noted that the Wizards could void the remainder of Arenas' six-year contract -- which he signed last summer -- if he is convicted of a felony. About $100 million remains on the contract. In stark contrast, Crittenton is owed just $1.48 million in the last year of a three-year contract. "A team doesn't have to void the contract. It's their option," the source said. "But if a player is in jail and can't perform services, it stands to reason that the team isn't going to pay him and will cancel the contract." New York Post

If Washington were to void Arenas's deal, it would suddenly become a player in the celebrated free agent class of 2010. Without Arenas's $17.7 million on the books next season, the Wizards would only have a little less than $38 million committed for the 2010-11 season, including a $2.27 million option Washington holds on the final year of Crittenton's contract. It must be stressed, however, that the team is currently planning to keep Arenas--pending whatever possible penalties he has to endure both from the local and/or state governments, and the NBA. NBA.com

The language in the NBA's standard contract with players allows teams to void existing contracts if players engage in prohibited offseason activities, such as hang gliding and the like that are viewed as dangerous by the league, if players are convicted of or plead guilty to a felony crime, or if they engage in acts of "moral turpitude," generally defined as behavior that would be viewed as embarrassing for a company or employer if disclosed publicly. NBA.com

The new investigation also has put any notion of trade talks between Washington, which is resigned to performing radical surgery on its roster and is now willing to trade anyone -- including Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison -- and other teams on hold indefinitely. A league source indicated Thursday that the Wizards would make a play for the expiring contract of Houston's Tracy McGrady, which another source confirmed Friday. However, the second source indicated that Washington was only one of several teams that were bidding for McGrady, who has been allowed to leave the Rockets indefinitely while the team tries to work out a deal for him. NBA.com

"It's not close to happening," the second source said. "Anyone who tells you that doesn't know what they're talking about." NBA.com

A dispute that began on the team plane and resumed more than 24 hours later in the team's locker room between Washington Wizards guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton is at the center of an investigation by local and federal authorities into Arenas' recent admission of gun possession on Wizards property, according to sources close to the situation. ESPN.com

Multiple sources told ESPN.com that an argument commenced during a card game on the team's overnight flight back to Washington from Phoenix on Dec. 19 and escalated into a heated exchange between Arenas and Crittenton. The Wizards had Dec. 20 off, but sources say the hostilities resumed Dec. 21 in the locker room on a practice day. ESPN.com

Sources say that Arenas, in response to what was said on the flight, placed three guns he owns on a chair near Crittenton's locker stall and invited him to pick one before practice on Dec. 21. Sources said that Crittenton subsequently let Arenas know that he had his own gun. ESPN.com

The team had the next day, Sunday the 20th, off, but was back at Verizon Center on Monday, Dec. 21, which is when the incident allegedly occurred. The source indicated that it happened before the team was in the locker room for the scheduled practice, but that there may have been one or more players in the room at the time. NBA.com

The NBA and its players' union will investigate whether a firearms possession probe of Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas stemmed from a dispute with teammate Javaris Crittenton, two sources told CBSSports.com Friday. Once a criminal probe is completed, an investigation by league security will expand after the New York Post and Yahoo! Sports reported Friday that Arenas' possession of firearms in the Verizon Center locker room in the days before Christmas Eve was related to an argument with Crittenton, a high-level source with knowledge of the probe said. The Post reported that the players pulled guns on each other during the argument on a practice day, while Yahoo! reported that the focus of the probe was whether Arenas had accessed his firearms during the argument. CBSSports.com

NBA rules collectively bargained with the players forbid the possession of firearms on league property or in the course of league business. In 2006, Sebastian Telfair was fined an undisclosed amount after a loaded handgun registered to his girlfriend was found on the team plane at Logan Airport in Boston when Telfair played for the Trail Blazers. Cavaliers guard Delonte West has been indicted on multiple weapons counts in Maryland for riding on his motorcycle Sept. 17 with two loaded handguns, a shotgun, 112 shotgun shells, and an 8.5-inch knife. If guns are found to have been wielded during a dispute between Arenas and Crittenton, it would be reminiscent of an incident in 2002 during which Warriors player Chris Mills allegedly pulled a gun on the Trail Blazers' team bus after an argument with Bonzi Wells. That incident led to the adoption of the league's zero-tolerance policy regarding guns on team property. However this turns out, it's time to start wondering when the Wizards' will adopt a zero-tolerance policy for Agent Zero. CBSSports.com

After joking "I hear it was the O.K. Corral," Arenas said, "I'll put the real story out in a couple of days. That's not the real story." NBA.com

Arenas may have taken a humorous approach to the allegations, but this situation is beyond serious, given the gun laws in the District of Columbia and the NBA's intolerance for gun possession on league property. League spokesperson Tim Frank said that the NBA doesn't plan any disciplinary action until the legal investigation is completed. "There is an active investigation by D.C. law enforcement authorities, which we are monitoring closely," Frank said in an e-mailed statement. "We are not taking any independent action at this time." Washington Post

When contacted by phone on Friday, Arenas's father, Gilbert Sr., also denied that Arenas and Crittenton pulled weapons on each other. "From the respect of guns being pulled in the locker room and at each other, yes, that's ludicrous," Arenas Sr. said. "Him bringing the locker room to keep away from his kids, that's true. Gil did not pull a guy on anybody. That's about all that I can say." Washington Post

This latest incident goes well beyond a garden variety "distraction." Said one disgusted teammate on Friday, who stressed that he did not witness the alleged incident: "the locker room is sacred. You're supposed to be safe in there." NBA.com

One source said that Butler, who has struggled to find his way in Saunders's new system, was frustrated by Arenas's inability or unwillingness to get him the ball. But on Friday, Butler said nothing was irretrievably broken between him and Arenas. "We're fine," Butler said. "People always thought it was a situation or something. We haven't had no issues. It was a lot of people that thought it was an issue. I just attacked it head on and asked him a question: 'you don't have no problem with me, do you?' We looked at film together, some of the things I should be doing more of. That was a coach thing, that wasn't a player thing. Like any captain or any leader on a team, we're pushing each other. We want each other to be successful, and in order for us to be successful, me and him both have to playing at high levels, along with Antawn and the rest of the core guys. NBA.com

“Unfortunate situation,” Nets point guard Devin Harris said Friday, after his team prepared for Saturday’s visit from Cleveland. “You really can’t put it in words. Obviously, you hope it didn’t come up, it’s not good for the league.” Newark Star-Ledger

“It was surprising — Gilbert is a playful guy,” said Jarvis Hayes, who played with Arenas for four seasons in Washington. “I didn’t think he would bring a gun to the locker room. When I first heard it, I thought he might have been playing. But he wasn’t playing, apparently. It was one of those things where emotions got a little too high.” Newark Star-Ledger

Harris estimates that “Seventy-five percent” of the players own weapons. He personally said he doesn’t have one, because, as he put it, “I have a pit bull.” Newark Star-Ledger

Incidents such as these convince NBA players that a gun is a necessity. “I mean, look at the situation,” Harris said. “A lot of guys have been robbed. A couple of guys, God rest their souls, have passed away. I guess they feel like they need some sort of protection, I don’t know. I can’t speak for everybody.” Newark Star-Ledger

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Everybody knows that you sing and dance, but not many people know that you're a part-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. So let's ask what every New Yorker wants to know: Is LeBron James coming to New York next season? Usher: I don't know. I don't think any of us can answer that question. Only he can answer that. I think he's just having fun; 25 is a very relaxing year. I remember 25 — I kind of came into my own. LeBron is an anomaly. He's a unique talent. As you come into your space, you find your home and you become more confident. So, hopefully, he'll stay home. Or, at least, he'll make it his home for business. New York Daily News

There are a handful of key dates every season for player movement in the NBA and two of them come early in the new year. Teams can start signing players to 10-day contracts on Tuesday, while players possessing non-guaranteed contracts will see those contracts become guaranteed if they survive with their current teams through Jan. 10. The latter stipulation, though, means that the following 20 players -- including a certain Allen Iverson in Philly -- actually only have to make it through Wednesday, which is the last day teams can release players with non-guaranteed deals in time for them to clear waivers. That's because the 48-hour waiver period has been moved up from Jan. 8 to Jan. 6 this season because Jan. 10 falls on a Sunday, which is a non-business day in the NBA. ESPN.com

There are five other players with partially guaranteed contracts that become fully guaranteed this month: Drew Gooden (Dallas), $1.9 million of his $4.5 million salary was guaranteed coming into the season. Anthony Morrow (Golden State), $300,000 of his $736,420 salary was guaranteed coming into the season. A.J. Price (Indiana), $300,000 of his $457,588 salary was guaranteed coming into the season. Marcus Williams (Memphis), $500,000 of his $855,189 salary was guaranteed coming into the season. Taylor Griffin (Phoenix), $250,000 of his $457,588 salary was guaranteed coming into the season. Four players with non-guaranteed contracts have already been waived this season: Miami's Shavlik Randolph, Oklahoma City's Mike Wilks, Phoenix's Jason Hart and Portland's Anthony Tolliver. Randolph was then signed by the Blazers on Dec. 30; Hart was released by the Suns after they acquired him Tuesday from Minnesota in a trade for Alando Tucker, cash and a conditional future second-round draft pick. ESPN.com

Getting a protest upheld is extremely rare in the NBA. Two years ago, the NBA upheld one for the first time since 1982, ironically involving the Hawks and current Cavs center Shaquille O'Neal. The final 51 seconds of a Hawks-Heat game was re-played after O'Neal had been incorrectly disqualified. The Cavs now have five business days to reply to the protest and then the league will rule. The Cavs' defense likely will be the Hawks' possession resulted in a turnover and was not impacted by the shot clock. In fact, on the play the Hawks didn't even seem to be in a hurry though later coach Mike Woodson said it caused his team to hurry. The burden would be on the Hawks to prove the mistake caused irreparable harm. Cleveland Plain Dealer

As long as the league is looking at the fourth quarter, the Cavs may want a review of a Daniel Gibson jumper with 9:40 left. Gibson was credited with two points on the play but replays indicated Gibson may have been behind the 3-point line. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Before Kobe Bryant's game-winning three-pointer even left his finger tips, Jordan Farmar felt his lips involuntarily curve into a smile. "I couldn't help it," Farmar said, laughing. "I already knew it was going in." Riverside Press-Enterprise

"Phil (Jackson) drew up a play for a three," said Bryant, who played 47 minutes and scored 27 of his 39 points in the second half. "I think he wanted to get out of here. We played like we were stuck in mud, like we had no energy for most of the night, so he wanted me to get a good look at a three and knock it down." Riverside Press-Enterprise

Instead he missed both, giving Bryant another chance to add to his legacy as the game's most feared closer. "He's right there with Michael (Jordan)," Jackson said. "They both did an unbelievable job of hitting shots that are remarkable shots, marvelous shots." Riverside Press-Enterprise

With the Kings playing zone defense, Bryant left Kenny Thomas at the left block and ran into Sergio Rodríguez on the left wing after the Kings point guard had tried to get around Pau Gasol up top. Rodríguez went reeling, and Bryant buried the three. Asked about Rodríguez being the only defender between him and the game winner, Bryant said afterward, "He's too little, man. He's not going to stop me from getting that damn ball. That wasn't going to happen." Bryant said he had no intention of forcing overtime on the final look. "I wanted to get out of there," he said. "I was going to shoot a three and try to knock it down." Sacramento Bee

Bryant's co-star doesn't mind, either. "When he's feeling it and the shots are going down, he's going to keep shooting," Pau Gasol said. "I have no problem with that." 10. Gasol's basketball IQ is in the same genius range as Bryant's, and there have never been two basketball geeks tougher to beat. Coming out of the final timeout, Gasol walked onto the court in step with Bryant, the two talking strategy on their own. Orange County Register

Same thing happened before the final play in Milwaukee, even though Gasol wasn't as directly involved in the play. Gasol got the inbounds pass from Vujacic and briefly considered driving down the lane himself. That's because Ime Udoka totally plastered to him, so Gasol could've created a shot by putting the ball on the floor. Gasol thought better of it and was patient enough to wait for Bryant to come clear – and then was smart enough to throw the pass so that it led Bryant to an open spot on the court. Suffice it to say that Shaquille O'Neal never threw a pass, and certainly not one as pretty as this one, to set up Bryant for a game winner. About Bryant's knack for making clutch shots, Gasol said: "It's not really surprising. It's exciting." Orange County Register

Kevin Ding: Kobe crosses paths with @RealLamarOdom in postgame locker room, and Odom says as they shake hands: "You the man, sir!" Twitter.com

Kevin Ding: Phil on Kobe's prowess with last-second shots: "He's there. He's right with Michael in that kind of breath." Twitter.com

Beno Udrih: “Kobe’s Kobe. Everybody knows who he is. He just played really great.” Spencer Hawes: “That’s why he’s Kobe. He makes big shots at big times.” Paul Westphal: “He is an unbelievable player. There is no question about it.” Orange County Register

Kevin Ding: Jordan Farmar on postgame Fox Sports camera now. Lakers told FSN no more wide background shots since Brown's butt was exposed. Twitter.com

Arash Markazi: Even more amazing than Kobe's game-winner is that the crowd still hasn't left. They're chanting MVP five minutes after the shot went in. Twitter.com

Andre Aldridge: "I felt kind of sick. I was just real, real nervous. I was just going to do everything he asked me to do.” Nate Robinson after told to play. Twitter.com

Quentin Richardson: Shout out to my lil bro @Nate_Robinson. Way to go get 40 as soon as they stopped the foolishness!! Somebody don't look too bright over there. Twitter.com

Jared Dudley: A lot of great players in this league that don't play.. Sometimes it's the situation of better players other times is just bad coaching. Twitter.com

Chris Douglas-Roberts: Shouts to my dog @Nate_Robinson. Hahahahahahaahha. I'm really laughing. 41 tonight....on the cool though. Yes yess. Twitter.com

"It's the first time I've really played with a big guy that needs touches in the paint. In the past, with Tyson [Chandler], that wasn't the case. So that's been a bit of an adjustment. I relinquished some of my role offensively to let him get his offense going." Hornets forward David West, explaining his slow start offensively this season in a recent chat and referring to new Hornets center Emeka Okafor. Since that chat, though, West has posted four double-doubles in New Orleans' past six games, including a 44-point, 12-rebound eruption Tuesday in a narrow loss at Houston. ESPN.com

Q: How do you jump from where you were as a rebounder to where you are now? What's your secret? Gerald Wallace: I just try, each year I come back, to be better at something. When I came in this year, the coaches were harassing me about rebounding. They want the 3s and 4s to go to the board every time offensively, and on defense, they want all five guys to go to the board. I had [games of] 18 and 20 [rebounds] in the beginning of the season, and it felt great. It was something that I felt good about, something I felt like I could do on a regular basis. All it takes is a little effort. That's all rebound is. A little effort. Q: Your size [6-foot-7, 220 pounds] isn't a disadvantage? Wallace: Size don't stop nobody. Spud Webb and Muggsy Bogues played in this league forever. Size is something for a person to [complain about] when they don't feel like tryin'. It's an excuse. ESPN.com

Asked whether he thought Pau Gasol deserved better than being fourth among Western Conference forwards in the all-star balloting, Jackson said only the coaches' nominations have much credence. He pointed out that Chinese voters have propelled four Houston Rockets into the top seven at their respective positions and that Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady would be all-star starters if the balloting ended today. "It's all skewed," Jackson said. "I think the important thing is when the coaches sit down and nominate the other candidates for the all-star game. Those will be the people that make the rest of the roster." Riverside Press-Enterprise

Charlie Villanueva: We're struggling now but I promise not for long. Pistons will prevail. 2010 is a new year, a new chapter, now it's time for some new wins. Twitter.com

The best-case scenario for Ron Artest's return appears to be Tuesday against Houston, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said before Friday's game. Artest, who continues to experience dizziness as a result of a concussion he sustained last week in a household accident, is scheduled to participate in non-contact drills during practice this afternoon. Riverside Press-Enterprise

Glen Davis turned 24 years old on Friday. He felt it, too. “I feel old,” he said after practice. “Old, old, old.” He had a reason to feel that way. The banged up big man, who broke his right thumb in October, sprained his right ankle this week. But with a depleted lineup (Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, and Paul Pierce will not play on Saturday), Davis is needed on the court. “We need some help. You know? We need as many bodies as we can,” he said. “So as long as I’m functioning, I can play with the pain. If I can function, I can play. It’s how it is.” WEEI

“No, I want to play. It doesn’t matter. As long as I can function, I’ll play. I’m good enough to do something out there,” he said. “That’s the beauty about my game. I’m not a high jumper. If I was a high jumper, I’d be kind of concerned because that’s the only thing I can do. But my game is staying on the ground, getting position. It kind of takes away from my jumpshot a little bit, but I’ll make it work.” WEEI

Three weeks later, few questioned the motion during the Owls’ upset of third-ranked Villanova. Fernandez, who is 6 feet 4 inches, was 7 for 9 from 3-point range and scored a career-high 33 points. “He’s really not a scorer,” said one N.B.A. scout, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not violate league rules about commenting on underclassmen. “Passing and smarts are his strengths. He lacks N.B.A. quickness.” New York Times

Kevin Durant: I REALLY WANNA PLAY FOR THE USA TEAM THIS SUMMER...ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE!! Twitter.com

Ramona Shelburne: mike dunleavy (back) sent a text sayin he had an epidural this morning and was feelin better. called himself 'day-to-day' Twitter.com

Patty Mills, on assignment from the Portland Trail Blazers, scored 38 points off the Idaho bench Friday night, lifting the Stampede to a 123-109 New Year’s Day victory over the Reno Bighorns in the Reno Events Center. Mills, Portland’s second-round draft pick out of St. Mary’s, finished 7-of-10 from behind the arc, while also chipping in 12 assists. Anthony Tolliver, who was waived by the Trail Blazers just days ago, scored 30 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Stampede (7-5). NBA.com

The Washington Wizards never told the NBA that two of its players drew guns on each other in a locker-room dispute over a gambling debt, sources said yesterday. It was only after The Post's inquiries more than a week after the Dec. 21 incident that league officials found out about the unprecedented alleged armed standoff between All-Star Gilbert Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton inside the Verizon Center in DC. New York Post

"This is gonna cost Ernie Grunfeld his job," a former NBA team president told The Post. "Because the buck stops at the top." Asked about the incident -- and what the Wizards have told or not told the NBA about it to date -- league spokesman Tim Frank said only, "There is an active investigation by DC law-enforcement authorities, which we are monitoring closely. We are not taking any independent action at this time." New York Post

Ask yourself this question: What's the most memorable single play from the 2000s? My instinctive answer: Chances are Robert Horry was on the floor for it. This YouTube compilation of Horry's greatest playoff hits includes multiple game winners and game clinchers that should stir your memory. Eighty percent of the footage is from the decade we just concluded, cementing Horry's place on this scorecard as the greatest role player of all time. ESPN.com

Five unhappy memories from the decade in question: 1. THE TIM DONAGHY SCANDAL: David Stern admitted from the beginning that the July 2007 discovery that Donaghy -- one of the league's more respected veteran referees -- was being investigated by the FBI for betting on games he officiated was the worst thing that ever happened to the commissioner and this league. Worse than entry No. 2 on this list, as bad as that was, because Donaghy's crimes tarnished the integrity of the sport. And it's not over. Not even close. Not when Donaghy has a new book out accusing the league of fostering a refereeing culture that favors certain players and teams and enabled him to win bets at a rate well above the gambling norm. Not when the NBA still can't conclusively convince its audience that Donaghy was a "rogue, isolated criminal," as Stern unforgettably described the ref at his first Donaghy news conference. ESPN.com

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl indefinitely suspended four Tennessee basketball players, including starting senior forward Tyler Smith, who were charged with gun possession and other counts after a Friday traffic stop, as reported earlier by Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com. CBSSports.com

One of the players, Tyler Smith, has been considered a potential NBA draft pick. How the alleged crimes pan out will make a very big difference in this young man's life. Examiner.com

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