In the News

Dragic lifts Slovenia to win at worlds (AP)
Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns had 16 points and eight assists, leading Slovenia to an 80-56 victory over Tunisia on Saturday in its opening game of the world championships. Gasper Vidmar added 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and Bostjan Nachbar finished with 14 points for Slovenia (1-0), which faces Group B favorite the United States on Sunday.

Former Nets F Nachbar to sign with Russian squad
Bostjan Nachbar is the latest NBA player to choose the euro over the dollar.

Nets overcome 42 by James, down Cavs (AP)

Richard Jefferson scored 24 points, and the New Jersey Nets overcame LeBron James' 42 points to hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-99 on Wednesday night and snap a six-game losing streak. Bostjan Nachbar added 21 points and Devin Harris had 19, including three buckets in the last four-plus minutes after Cleveland had cut a 19-point lead to one.

Mike Dunleavy scored 34 points, and the Indiana Pacers beat the New Jersey Nets 113-103 on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak. Travis Diener tied a career high with 19 points, and Jeff Foster added 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Pacers. Richard Jefferson scored 34 points and Bostjan Nachbar added 22 for the Nets.

Sitting at the end of the New Jersey Nets' bench didn't agree with Bostjan Nachbar, so he did something to improve the situation. Nachbar made the most of his chance to play in third quarter and scored 10 of his 14 points in a decisive spurt to lead the Nets to a 92-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

Josh Smith knows that Joe Johnson can't carry the Atlanta Hawks every night. So Smith was pleased to join Marvin Williams and Josh Childress in letting Johnson play 38 quiet minutes. "That just shows the growth of our team," Smith said. "When our superstar is not having a good night, the three of us can lift the team up." Williams scored 24 points, Smith and Childress each had 23, and Atlanta ended...

Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and the Phoenix Suns made it 14 in a row at home over New Jersey by routing the Nets 116-92 on Sunday night. Raja Bell added 20 points, including 5-of-10 3-pointers. New Jersey hasn't won in Phoenix since March 13, 1993. Six players, including all five starters, scored in double figures for the Suns.

Chris Kaman and Tim Thomas both scored 18 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers past the Nets 91-82 on Tuesday night for their first win in New Jersey in nearly 10 years. Richard Jefferson led the Nets with 21 points but was 6-for-21 from the field. New Jersey shot 32 percent (26-for-81), which included an abysmal 5-for-25 in the fourth quarter.

Caron Butler scored 20 of his 28 points in the second half, leading the Washington Wizards to a 104-89 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Sunday night. Butler gave Washington control of the game for good early in the final quarter, singlehandedly outscoring the Nets 10-1 over a 3-minute span. Butler's run gave Washington a 92-77 lead with about 6 1/2 minutes remaining.

Jamal Crawford scored 29 points, Zach Randolph added 25, and the New York Knicks overcame the absences of two starters to beat the New Jersey Nets 100-93 on Wednesday night. With point guard Stephon Marbury and center Eddy Curry unavailable, reserves Fred Jones and David Lee stepped into the lineup and both finished in double figures, helping New York beat its cross-river rival for only the second...