News from March 3. The NBA named Russell Westbrook (OKC) and LeBron James (Cle) as Players of the Month for February. Westbrook averaged 31.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 10.3 assists as Oklahoma City went 9-3. James averaged 24.4 points and 7.3 assists as Cleveland went 8-3. The NBA named Andrew Wiggins (Min) and Marcus Smart (Bos) as Rookies of the Month for February. Wiggins averaged 16.8 points and 4.8 rebounds as Minnesota went 5-6. Smart averaged 9.8 points and 4.3 assists as Boston went 7-4. The NBA fined Alex Len (Pho) $20,000 for initiating an altercation with Hassan Whiteside (Mia) during Monday's Mia-Pho game. Whiteside was fined $15,000 for his role in the altercation. The NBA fined Markieff Morris (Pho) $15,000 for his flagrant foul on Goran Dragic (Mia) during Monday's Mia-Pho game. The NBA fined Phil Jackson (NY GM) for comments he made about a college freshman [the league did not announce the amount of the fine]. Memphis suspended Tony Allen for 1 game for violating team policy. Denver fired head coach Brian Shaw. Assistant coach Melvin Hunt was named as interim coach. Darren Collison (Sac) underwent core muscle surgery on his right hip and is expected to be out 6 weeks. New Orleans released Justin Hamilton. Dallas signed Bernard James for the rest of the season after he completed his 2nd 10-day contract. Detroit signed Quincy Miller to a 2nd 10-day contract after he completed his 1st 10-day contract. Miami signed Henry Walker to a 2nd 10-day contract after he completed his 1st 10-day contract. Phoenix signed Earl Barron to a 2nd 10-day contract after he completed his 1st 10-day contract. Sacramento elected not to sign David Stockton to a 2nd 10-day contract after he completed his 1st 10-day contract. Chicago placed Jimmy Butler (sprained left elbow) on IL. New York placed Jose Calderon (strained left Achilles) on IL. Sacramento activated DeMarcus Cousins. Atlanta became the first team to clinch a playoff berth. Den 106, Mil 95 at Den Danilo Gallinari (Den) had 26 points including 4-9 3-pointers and 7 rebounds. Kenneth Faried (Den) had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Ty Lawson (Den) had 16 points and 10 assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil) had 19 points including 7-10 FG, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 5 turnovers. Ersan Ilyasova (Mil) had 21 points on 9-15 FG. Khris Middleton (Mil) had 20 points including 6-20 FG, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Uta 93, Mem 82 at Mem Gordon Hayward (Uta) had 21 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Derrick Favors (Uta) had 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Rudy Gobert (Uta) had 15 points and 24 rebounds including 6 offensive. Marc Gasol (Mem) had 17 points and 8 rebounds. Courtney Lee (Mem) had 18 points and 5 rebounds. Zach Randolph (Mem, ill), Beno Udrih (Mem, ill), and Tony Allen (Mem, suspended) did not play. Chi 97, Was 92 at Chi Pau Gasol (Chi) had 20 points including 8-11 FG and 10 rebounds. Aaron Brooks (Chi) had 22 points including 8-23 FG and 8 assists. Nikola Mirotic (Chi) had 23 points including 8-11 FT and 8 rebounds. Marcin Gortat (Was) had 12 points and 12 rebounds. John Wall (Was) had 21 points, 11 assists, and 6 turnovers. Atl 104, Hou 96 at Atl Jeff Teague (Atl) had 25 points including 9-11 FT, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. Paul Millsap (Atl) had 16 points and 14 rebounds. Al Horford (Atl) had 18 points on 9-14 FG, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Terrence Jones (Hou) had 18 points including 8-11 FG, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Jason Terry (Hou) had 21 points including 4-8 3-pointers. Atl out-scored Hou 32-15 in the 4th quarter. Atl shot 18-21 FT and Hou shot 4-9 FT. James Harden (Hou, suspended) did not play. Cle 110, Bos 79 at Cle LeBron James (Cle) had 27 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Kyrie Irving (Cle) had 18 points and 5 assists. Kevin Love (Cle) had 12 points and 8 rebounds. Brandon Bass (Bos) had 15 points and 5 rebounds (all offensive). Isaiah Thomas (Bos) had 11 points including 4-13 FG. Cle out-scored Bos 61-36 in the 1st half. Cle shot 48.3% (43-89) FG and Bos shot 35.2% (31-88) FG. Cha 104, LAL 103 at Cha Al Jefferson (Cha) had 21 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 steals. Gerald Henderson (Cha) had 21 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Maurice Williams (Cha) had 20 points including 5-14 FG and 13 assists. Jordan Clarkson (LAL) had 19 points including 1-7 3-pointers. Jeremy Lin (LAL) had 23 points including 3-4 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. Kobe Bryant (LAL, right rotator cuff surgery), Ronnie Price (LAL, right elbow surgery), and Nick Young (LAL, sore left knee) did not play. Sac 124, NY 86 at NY Rudy Gay (Sac) had 25 points including 9-15 FG and 3-4 3-pointers and 7 rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) had 22 points including 11-11 FT and 10 rebounds. Ben McLemore (Sac) had 20 points. Alexey Shved (NY) had 15 points including 4-11 FG and 7 rebounds. Shane Larkin (NY) had 13 points and 6 assists. Sac out-scored NY 65-39 in the 1st half. Sac shot 49.4% (41-83) FG and NY shot 36.6% (30-82) FG. Schedule for Wednesday, March 4 (All times Central) New York @ Indiana 6:00 pm Phoenix @ Orlando 6:00 pm Utah @ Boston 6:30 pm Charlotte @ Brooklyn 6:30 pm Cleveland @ Toronto 6:30 pm Memphis @ Houston 7:00 pm Denver @ Minnesota 7:00 pm Detroit @ New Orleans 7:00 pm Philadelphia @ Oklahoma City 7:00 pm LA Lakers @ Miami 7:00 pm ESPN Sacramento @ San Antonio 7:30 pm Milwaukee @ Golden State 9:30 pm Portland @ LA Clippers 9:30 pm ESPN Schedule for Thursday, March 5 (All times Central) Oklahoma City @ Chicago 7:00 pm TNT Dallas @ Portland 9:30 pm TNT ---- Patricia Bender pbender@eskimo.com For Trianglons puzzles: http://www.trianglons.com For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html For Mavs stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs.html