In the News

Struggling Kings stun Magic in Orlando (AP)

Jermaine Taylor had 21 points, Beno Udrih added 18 and the Sacramento Kings beat Orlando 111-105 on Wednesday night to snap a five-game losing streak against the Magic. Samuel Dalembert and Jason Thompson had 17 points apiece for Sacramento, which won for just the third time in its last 11 games. Dwight Howard had 31 points and 17 rebounds for Orlando.

Scola, Rockets roll by Evans-less Kings (AP)

Luis Scola had 23 points and 10 rebounds in three quarters, and the Houston Rockets cruised to 118-105 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. The Rockets used a big run late in the first half to take over and outscored Sacramento 33-24 in the third quarter to put away the game. Scola was key in Houston's third-quarter dominance, scoring 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and making both...

Hornets improve to 11-1, beat Kings (AP)

David West had 17 points, and Trevor Ariza added 16 to help the New Orleans Hornets improve to 11-1 with a 75-71 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. The Hornets have won three straight to match San Antonio for the best record in the NBA. Donte Greene had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento.

Kings rally from 16 down to beat Raptors (AP)

Tyreke Evans scored 23 points and the Sacramento Kings rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Toronto Raptors 111-108 on Monday night. The Kings, who won three of their first four games for the first time since the 2003-04 season, have won their last five home openers. Beno Udrih scored 17 points, rookie DeMarcus Cousins had 16 points, and Omri Casspi had 14 for the Kings, who rallied from an...

2010 NBA free agents: New Orleans Hornets nixed Luther Head deal after medical report
The Hornets say they decided not to sign free agent Luther Head after consulting with the team's medical staff.

Agent: Hornets doing damage to Head (AP)
The agent for Luther Head said Wednesday that his client is healthy and that the New Orleans Hornets have not offered a reasonable explanation for why they rescinded a two-year contract offer for the veteran guard. Mark Bartelstein said the Hornets informed him not long after general manager Jeff Bower had stepped down on Tuesday that Head, who played for the Indiana Pacers last season, had failed...

Agent: New Orleans Hornets withdraw contract offer for Luther Head
The agent for Luther Head says his client is healthy and the New Orleans Hornets have not offered a reasonable explanation for why they rescinded a two-year contract offer for the veteran guard.

NBA free agency: Luther Head, New Orleans Hornets agree to two-year deal
Free-agent guard Luther Head is signing with the New Orleans Hornets, according to his agent.

Hornets, G Head agree on 2-year contract (AP)
The New Orleans Hornets have reached an agreement on a two-year contract with veteran guard Luther Head. The Hornets are not announcing the deal yet because Head still must pass his physical, but Head's agent, Mark Bartelstein, told The Associated Press on Saturday that the deal paying Head about $2.5 million over two years is done.

Bosh lifts Raptors to fifth straight win (AP)

Chris Bosh had 26 points and 15 rebounds, Andrea Bargnani scored 17 points and the Toronto Raptors won their fifth straight game, beating the Indiana Pacers 117-102 on Sunday night. Former Pacers guard Jarrett Jack scored 16 points and was one of seven Raptors to reach double figures as Toronto shot a season-best 60.2 percent (50 for 83) and topped 100 points for the 13th straight game.

Brand, Iverson help Sixers beat Pacers (AP)

Elton Brand scored 23 points, and Thaddeus Young had 22 points and 10 rebounds in the Philadelphia 76ers' 107-97 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. Allen Iverson, recently voted a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team, had 17 points, five rebounds and three assists for the 76ers (15-28).

Wolves ruin Granger's return, top Pacers (AP)

Al Jefferson had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves spoiled Danny Granger's surprise return with a 116-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. Kevin Love had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Ryan Gomes added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves, who snapped a five-game losing streak.

Waiver Wire: Is Luther playing head games?
The Wizards have to make some changes with Gilbert Arenas out indefinitely. Our Sergio Gonzalez touches on that development and the emergence of Luther Head in Indiana in his latest edition of Playing the Waiver Wire.




Hibbert's 26 lift Pacers over Magic (AP)

Roy Hibbert scored a career-high 26 points, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 97-90 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. Hibbert, a 7-2 center, added eight rebounds and four blocks. Luther Head had 18 points and Dahntay Jones scored 13 for the Pacers, who have won two of three after losing eight straight.

Pacers topple Wolves to end eight-game skid
Roy Hibbert and Luther Head each scored 21 points and the Indiana Pacers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-111 on Saturday night to snap an eight-game losing streak.

Pacers halt 8-game slide, beat Wolves (AP)

Roy Hibbert and Luther Head each scored 21 points and the Indiana Pacers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-111 on Saturday night to snap an eight-game losing streak. Brandon Rush scored 16 points and Mike Dunleavy added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Pacers. Al Jefferson scored 23 points, Wayne Ellington had a career-high 16 and Kevin Love also scored 16 for the Timberwolves, who have lost...

Pacers stumble to eighth straight loss (AP)

Rudy Gay scored 31 points to lead the Memphis Grizzlies over Indiana 121-110 on Wednesday night, the Pacers' eighth straight loss. Zach Randolph had 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Marc Gasol added 21 points and 10 boards for the Grizzlies. Former Pacer Jamaal Tinsley scored three points in 15 minutes for Memphis.

Rockets hand Wolves 12th straight loss (AP)

From dunking on a player 8 inches taller and 55 pounds heavier than he is to swatting away shots and chasing after loose balls, Al Jefferson is trying everything he can to snap the Minnesota Timberwolves out of this miserable slump. Yet nothing seems to be working. Tracy McGrady scored 23 points and the Houston Rockets made 12 3-pointers to hand the Timberwolves their 12th straight loss, 109-102 on...

McGrady-less Rockets beat Spurs 103-84 (AP)

Luther Head scored 21 points in place of the injured Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets used balanced scoring to beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-84 on Saturday night. Ron Artest added 16 points and eight rebounds, Yao Ming and Rafer Alston scored 12 points apiece and Luis Scola added 11 for Houston, which had all five starters in double-figures for just the second time this season.

Rockets buy supplies for Ike victims (AP)
The Houston Rockets purchased four tractor-trailers full of food, water and toiletries for victims of Hurricane Ike and players unloaded them at a distribution center Thursday. The four trucks carried 80,000 pounds of supplies, said team spokeswoman Tracey Hughes. Forwards Mike Harris and Chuck Hayes and guards Rafer Alston, Aaron Brooks and Luther Head carried boxes of food and orange juice.

Jazz beat Rockets for 2-0 series lead (AP)

Tracy McGrady disappeared again in the fourth quarter and the Utah Jazz took a commanding lead in their playoff series with the Houston Rockets. Deron Williams shrugged off an ankle injury and scored 22 points and Mehmet Okur added 16 points and 16 rebounds as the Jazz beat the Rockets 90-84 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Minus Yao, Rockets win 13th straight (AP)

In their first game without Yao Ming, Luther Head had 18 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 94-69 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night for their 13th straight victory. Yao is out for the season with a stress fracture in his left foot. The Rockets didn't seem to miss their All-Star center, jumping to a 7-0 lead and never trailing as they coasted to their 17th win in the last 18...

Rockets win again without McGrady, 92-84 (AP)

Still unsure when they'll get Tracy McGrady back, the Houston Rockets are doing just fine without him right now. Luther Head's season-high 24 points and Rafer Alston's double-double Tuesday night led Houston past the Washington Wizards 92-84, the Rockets' third consecutive victory. Alston finished with 15 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and Yao Ming scored 21 points for Houston, which is 5-2...

Yao carries Rockets past Raptors 91-79 (AP)

Yao Ming scored 17 of his 25 points in the second half and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 91-79 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night. Rafer Alston added 18 points, and Bonzi Wells had 13 points and 11 rebounds as Houston won its second straight and third in four games.

Mavs win sixth straight vs. Rockets (AP)

The Dallas Mavericks didn't need a big comeback to win at Houston this time. Josh Howard scored 23 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 20 as the Mavericks beat the Rockets 96-83 on Saturday night, continuing to dominate their in-state division rival. Jerry Stackhouse had 17 points for the Mavs, who've won six straight meetings with the Rockets and 10 of the last 11.

Rockets win despite poor foul shooting (AP)

As long as the Houston Rockets avoided the free-throw line on Wednesday night, they did just fine against the Detroit Pistons. Tracy McGrady scored 29 points and Yao Ming added 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Rockets nearly entered the NBA record book for foul-shot futility before beating the Pistons 80-77.

Harris, Nowitzki rally Mavs past Rockets (AP)

Devin Harris scored 22 points and converted a key three-point play in the closing minutes, and the Dallas Mavericks rallied from a double-digit deficit for the second straight game to beat the Houston Rockets 100-94 on Wednesday night. Dirk Nowitzki shook off a slow start to score 18 points and grab 14 rebounds for the Mavericks, who overcame a 24-point deficit to beat Toronto on Tuesday night.

Rockets pick up option for Head
The Houston Rockets on Wednesday extended guard Luther Head's contract through the 2008-09 season. The 6-foot-3 Head has averaged 9.8 points and 2.6 assists since the Rockets drafted him 24th overall in the 2005 draft. Last season, Head shot 44 percent from 3-point range (177-for-401), the third-best single-season percentage in team history. His 177 3-pointers were the second-highest season total in franchise history. Head sank a 3-pointer in 37 consecutive games last season, a team record.

Rockets extend Head's contract through '08-09
The Rockets extended guard Luther Head's contract through the 2008-09 season.

Rockets extend G Head's contract (AP)
The Houston Rockets on Wednesday extended guard Luther Head's contract through the 2008-09 season. The 6-foot-3 Head has averaged 9.8 points and 2.6 assists since the Rockets drafted him 24th overall in the 2005 draft. Last season, Head shot 44 percent from 3-point range (177-for-401), the third-best single-season percentage in team history.

Luther Head, G - HOU
Head out with Achilles injury for Rockets Visit Rotoworld.com for more analysis on this update.

Hornets rally from 21 down, edge Rockets (AP)

It was only fitting that the New Orleans Hornets' return to their temporary home will be remembered as a comeback. Chris Paul scored 14 points and Hilton Armstrong had 10 of his 12 in the second half as the Hornets rallied from a 21-point first-quarter deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 94-92 Tuesday night in the preseason opener for both teams.