NBA Headlines Around The League
1. Get Ready: Kobe, LeBron Set For Showdown
2. Spurs, Pistons Pumped For Round 2 Tonight
3. Knicks Keep Winning Streak Alive, Top Mavs
4. Referee's 'No-Call' Fires Up Mavericks' Cuban
5. Harrington Predicts Artest Going To Clippers
6. Trade Kenyon? Nuggets GM Denies Rumors
1. Get Ready: Kobe, LeBron Set For Showdown
In the USA TODAY, David DuPree writes that "Kobe Bryant and LeBron
James have made the NBA their personal dueling ground lately, matching
performances by NBA legends such as Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson in
the process. Their first head-to-head meeting of the season will be
broadcast tonight (TNT, 10:30 ET). It'll be the nightcap of a powerhouse
doubleheader that begins with the San Antonio Spurs facing the Detroit
Pistons (TNT, 8:00 ET)."
http://click.nba.com/index.cfm?n1500...7180052o141870 2. Spurs, Pistons Pumped For Round 2 Tonight
In the EXPRESS-NEWS, Johnny Ludden writes that "closing in on their
second consecutive championship before the Spurs beat them in the Finals'
decisive game, the Pistons have used the sting of that defeat to push
themselves to the top of the standings. They return tonight (TNT, 8:00
ET) to the site of where their reign ended with a league-best 27-5
record, having inspired comparisons to the 72-victory Bulls of 1995-96.
After tonight, the Spurs won't have to focus on Detroit again until June,
if then."
http://click.nba.com/index.cfm?n1500...7180052o141871 3. Knicks Keep Winning Streak Alive, Top Mavs
In the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, Frank Isola writes that "the atmosphere
inside the Garden last night was playoff-like and the opponent was an
honest-to-goodness contender. And when 53 minutes of intense basketball
were completed, the Knicks still managed to remain unblemished in 2006.
The Knicks ran their winning streak to five for the first time since
February 2004 last night despite blowing an 18-point lead in regulation.
Larry Brown's team recorded its most impressive win of the season to
improve to 12-21 with its next four games against teams with sub-.500
records."
http://click.nba.com/index.cfm?n1500...7180052o141872 4. Referee's 'No-Call' Fires Up Mavericks' Cuban
In the DALLAS MORNING NEWS, Eddie Sefko writes that "if it hadn't been
an OT game, the third-quarter skirmish between Jerry Stackhouse and
Maurice Taylor might not have turned out to be so important. But there was
no doubt in Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's mind that a failure to call a
technical foul when Taylor pushed referee Tony Brown was a huge
mistake. 'It was the most outrageous thing I've ever seen in my six years --
when a ref gets pushed two hands to the chest and no technical is
called,' Cuban said."
http://click.nba.com/index.cfm?n1500...7180052o141873 5. Harrington Predicts Artest Going To Clippers
In the INDIANAPOLIS STAR, Mike Wells reports that "Pacers officials
aren't talking, but a former Pacer thinks he knows where Ron Artest will
be traded. Al Harrington told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on
Wednesday that he heard from people in Indiana the Pacers were close to a
deal that would send Artest to the Los Angeles Clippers for forward Corey
Maggette. The Pacers placed Artest on the inactive list Dec. 12, two
days after he voiced his desire to be traded."
http://click.nba.com/index.cfm?n1500...7180052o141874 6. Trade Kenyon? Nuggets GM Denies Rumors
In the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, Chris Tomasson writes that Nuggets GM Kiki
Vandeweghe on Wednesday "refuted a report in the Jan. 16 issue of
Sports Illustrated that the Nuggets offered forward Kenyon Martin last week
to the Indiana Pacers in hopes of landing forward Ron Artest. The
magazine reported Denver offered Martin and guard Voshon Lenard for Artest
and center Scot Pollard, but the Pacers didn't want to take on Martin's
contract."
http://click.nba.com/index.cfm?n1500...7180052o141875
JT
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