News from December 12. Cleveland signed Scott Brooks. Kevin Johnson (Pho) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to remove loose cartilage and will be out at least 6 weeks. Milwaukee released Jeff Nordgaard. Uta 68, Dal 66 - at Uta Karl Malone (Uta) had 23 points including 10-15 FG, 5 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Jeff Hornacek (Uta) had 9 points and 6 rebounds. Shandon Anderson (Uta) had 13 points including 5-6 FG and 5 rebounds. Dennis Scott (Dal) had 21 points including 7-10 FG and 5-5 3-pointers. Michael Finley (Dal) had 21 points and 5 rebounds. Uta shot 21-24 FT and Dal shot 9-13 FT. [For those wondering, Dallas played "slow ball" where they would not initiate their offense until about 7 seconds were left on the shot clock and Utah played at Dallas' pace.] Shawn Bradley (Dal, torn calf muscle) did not play. LAL 119, Hou 102 - at LAL Rick Fox (LAL) had 30 points including 12-15 FG and 3-4 3-pointers and 7 rebounds. Elden Campbell (LAL) had 13 points and 7 rebounds. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 27 points including 9-10 FT and 5 rebounds. Charles Barkley (Hou) had 18 points including 5-14 FG and 14 rebounds. Clyde Drexler (Hou) had 21 points including 4-7 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. LAL shot 52.3% (46-88) FG and Hou shot 40.2% (35-87) FG. Shaquille O'Neal (LAL, abdominal strain) did not play. Van 95, GS 88 - at Van Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Van) had 30 points including 12-14 FT, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Otis Thorpe (Van) had 13 points and 9 rebounds. Bryant Reeves (Van) had 12 points and 6 rebounds. Joe Smith (GS) had 23 points and 10 rebounds. Erick Dampier (GS) had 14 points including 6-10 FT and 6 rebounds. Atl 83, LAC 74 - at LAC Christian Laettner (Atl) had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Dikembe Mutombo (Atl) had 14 points including 7-11 FG, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Steve Smith (Atl) had 22 points. Maurice Taylor (LAC) had 12 points and 9 rebounds. Keith Closs (LAC) had 15 points and 5 rebounds. Atl shot 16-21 FT and LAC shot 5-11 FT. Alan Henderson (Atl, sprained right ankle) did not play. Sea 111, Por 98 - at Sea Vin Baker (Sea) had 20 points and 17 rebounds. Hersey Hawkins (Sea) had 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Gary Payton (Sea) had 21 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Dale Ellis (Sea) had 19 points. Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 15 points including 7-11 FG, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals. Kenny Anderson (Por) had 17 points including 5-15 FG. Isaiah Rider (Por) had 21 points including 5-10 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Phi 106, Den 91 - at Phi Jim Jackson (Phi) had 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jerry Stackhouse (Phi) had 32 points. Allen Iverson (Phi) had 24 points including 10-12 FT, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Dean Garrett (Den) had 13 points and 12 rebounds. Anthony Goldwire (Den) had 14 points including 3-9 FG, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Phi shot 48.6% (36-74) FG and Den shot 38.2% (29-76) FG. Cha 79, Chi 77 - at Cha Anthony Mason (Cha) had 8 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Glen Rice (Cha) had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Vlade Divac (Cha) had 10 points including 4-11 FG and 5 rebounds. Michael Jordan (Chi) had 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Dennis Rodman (Chi) had 4 points and 19 rebounds. Bos 97, Was 88 - at Bos Antoine Walker (Bos) had 23 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 5 turnovers. Chauncey Billups (Bos) had 15 points and 6 assists. Ron Mercer (Bos) had 13 points including 5-17 FG. Chris Webber (Was) had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals. Juwan Howard (Was) had 22 points including 10-12 FT, 7 rebounds, and 7 turnovers. Ind 104, Mia 89 - at Ind Chris Mullin (Ind) had 13 points and 8 rebounds. Rik Smits (Ind) had 29 points and 6 rebounds. Reggie Miller (Ind) had 28 points including 4-4 3-pointers. Jamal Mashburn (Mia) had 18 points and 5 rebounds. Tim Hardaway (Mia) had 28 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals.