Summaries

Monday’s Games

Suns 104, Nets 103

PHOENIX (104)

Hill 2-6 0-0 4, Frye 3-8 0-0 7, R.Lopez 6-8 2-3 14, Nash 3-13 4-4 10, Carter 2-10 0-0 5, Gortat 8-11 1-2 17, Dudley 3-6 2-2 10, Pietrus 5-10 0-0 13, Warrick 7-12 2-2 16, Brooks 3-8 0-0 8. Totals 42-92 11-13 104.

NEW JERSEY (103)

James 3-4 0-0 6, Humphries 8-15 0-1 16, B.Lopez 12-23 4-5 28, Williams 5-14 2-2 13, Morrow 6-16 5-5 22, Outlaw 5-8 0-1 10, Vujacic 2-6 0-0 5, Uzoh 1-2 1-2 3, Petro 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 42-89 12-16 103.

Phoenix 26 26 17 27 8 — 104

New Jersey 23 28 15 30 7 — 103

3-Point Goals—Phoenix 9-25 (Pietrus 3-5, Brooks 2-3, Dudley 2-3, Frye 1-4, Carter 1-6, Hill 0-1, Nash 0-3), New Jersey 7-21 (Morrow 5-10, Vujacic 1-3, Williams 1-5, Outlaw 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Phoenix 52 (Frye 8), New Jersey 51 (Humphries 15). Assists—Phoenix 28 (Nash 15), New Jersey 32 (Williams 18). Total Fouls—Phoenix 14, New Jersey 20. Technicals—New Jersey defensive three second 2. A—15,836 (18,500).

Bulls 105, Wizards 77

CHICAGO (105)

Deng 9-17 1-1 21, Boozer 3-11 6-6 12, Noah 8-10 3-4 19, Rose 7-17 5-6 21, Bogans 1-2 0-0 3, Gibson 2-2 0-0 4, Brewer 1-4 0-0 2, Korver 4-10 0-0 11, Watson 2-5 4-5 8, Asik 1-2 0-0 2, Scalabrine 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 39-81 19-22 105.

WASHINGTON (77)

Howard 5-10 0-0 10, Blatche 6-14 3-3 15, McGee 1-3 3-4 5, Wall 3-14 3-4 9, Young 6-15 0-0 14, Seraphin 2-5 2-2 6, Lewis 1-3 0-0 3, Evans 3-7 0-0 7, Crawford 1-6 0-0 2, Booker 2-6 0-1 4, Yi 1-3 0-0 2, Shakur 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 31-87 11-14 77.

Chicago 25 25 28 27 — 105

Washington 20 17 20 20 — 77

3-Point Goals—Chicago 8-23 (Korver 3-6, Deng 2-5, Rose 2-8, Bogans 1-2, Watson 0-2), Washington 4-13 (Young 2-6, Lewis 1-2, Evans 1-3, Howard 0-1, Crawford 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Chicago 62 (Noah 11), Washington 42 (Blatche 11). Assists—Chicago 24 (Rose 9), Washington 19 (Wall 10). Total Fouls—Chicago 17, Washington 21. A—17,873 (20,173).

Nuggets 100, Hawks 90

ATLANTA (90)

Williams 4-14 5-6 13, Jo.Smith 4-7 2-2 10, Horford 10-15 1-2 21, Teague 1-6 5-6 7, Johnson 10-23 2-2 22, Crawford 3-12 3-5 11, Pachulia 1-3 2-2 4, Powell 1-3 0-0 2, Wilkins 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 34-85 20-25 90.

DENVER (100)

Chandler 6-14 2-2 15, Martin 6-11 2-7 14, Nene 6-13 1-1 13, Lawson 3-5 0-0 6, Afflalo 2-10 4-4 8, Felton 7-12 2-2 16, J. Smith 6-10 5-6 19, Andersen 3-3 0-0 6, Harrington 1-4 1-2 3. Totals 40-82 17-24 100.

Atlanta 25 22 23 20 — 90

Denver 21 25 25 29 — 100

3-Point Goals—Atlanta 2-19 (Crawford 2-8, Wilkins 0-1, Jo.Smith 0-1, Teague 0-1, Williams 0-3, Johnson 0-5), Denver 3-14 (J. Smith 2-4, Chandler 1-4, Felton 0-1, Harrington 0-1, Afflalo 0-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Atlanta 55 (Horford 16), Denver 50 (Martin 11). Assists—Atlanta 15 (Horford 4), Denver 22 (Felton 7). Total Fouls—Atlanta 17, Denver 15. Technicals—Pachulia, Atlanta defensive three second. A—16,163 (19,155).

Celtics 107, Jazz 102

BOSTON (107)

Pierce 4-10 11-11 21, Garnett 7-13 2-2 16, Krstic 4-7 3-4 11, Rondo 9-16 0-0 18, Allen 9-15 2-2 25, Green 2-6 1-1 5, Davis 2-8 3-4 7, Wafer 0-1 0-0 0, Bradley 2-6 0-1 4, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 39-82 22-25 107.

UTAH (102)

Kirilenko 6-11 6-8 18, Millsap 5-13 7-7 17, Jefferson 11-21 6-7 28, Harris 6-11 6-7 19, Bell 1-4 0-0 2, Miles 1-6 0-0 2, Hayward 1-5 2-2 4, Favors 4-5 1-2 9, Watson 0-2 3-4 3. Totals 35-78 31-37 102.

Boston 30 26 23 28 — 107

Utah 21 32 22 27 — 102

3-Point Goals—Boston 7-15 (Allen 5-8, Pierce 2-4, Davis 0-1, Green 0-1, Wafer 0-1), Utah 1-7 (Harris 1-4, Miles 0-1, Bell 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Boston 48 (Garnett 14), Utah 47 (Jefferson 19). Assists—Boston 22 (Rondo 11), Utah 16 (Harris 5). Total Fouls—Boston 27, Utah 21. Technicals—Garnett, Boston defensive three second, Jefferson, Utah defensive three second. A—19,911 (19,911).

Kings 105, Clippers 99

L.A. CLIPPERS (99)

Gomes 0-1 0-0 0, Griffin 9-17 9-12 27, Jordan 2-3 2-6 6, Williams 7-18 0-0 16, Foye 7-17 7-7 23, Kaman 6-12 0-0 12, Aminu 2-5 1-1 5, Bledsoe 2-5 0-0 5, Smith 1-2 0-1 2, Moon 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 37-81 19-27 99.

SACRAMENTO (105)

Casspi 5-10 3-4 15, Thompson 5-7 2-2 12, Dalembert 4-9 0-0 8, Udrih 7-14 3-3 19, Taylor 3-6 3-4 9, Cousins 1-8 3-10 5, Thornton 9-16 10-12 29, Jackson 1-2 0-0 2, Greene 2-4 0-0 4, Jeter 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 38-80 24-35 105.

L.A. Clippers 29 23 31 16 — 99

Sacramento 29 22 27 27 — 105

3-Point Goals—L.A. Clippers 6-17 (Williams 2-6, Foye 2-7, Bledsoe 1-1, Moon 1-1, Aminu 0-2), Sacramento 5-18 (Udrih 2-2, Casspi 2-6, Thornton 1-4, Jeter 0-1, Jackson 0-1, Cousins 0-1, Taylor 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—L.A. Clippers 47 (Griffin 12), Sacramento 58 (Dalembert 10). Assists—L.A. Clippers 20 (Williams, Bledsoe 5), Sacramento 14 (Udrih 7). Total Fouls—L.A. Clippers 27, Sacramento 22. Technicals—L.A. Clippers defensive three second. A—17,317 (17,317).

Leaders

Through Monday’s Games

SCORING

G FG FT PTS AVG

Durant, OKC 54 510 424 1539 28.5

James, MIA 58 530 388 1520 26.2

Stoudemire, NYK 56 549 343 1450 25.9

Wade, MIA 56 512 359 1430 25.5

Anthony, NYK 53 466 364 1342 25.3

Bryant, LAL 61 548 352 1530 25.1

Ellis, GOL 58 544 266 1445 24.9

Rose, CHI 57 512 303 1414 24.8

Martin, HOU 59 395 451 1372 23.3

Howard, ORL 58 478 390 1346 23.2

Griffin, LAC 61 528 332 1395 22.9

Nowitzki, DAL 50 414 261 1142 22.8

Aldridge, POR 59 519 281 1322 22.4

Westbrook, OKC 58 432 394 1278 22.0

Bargnani, TOR 53 441 222 1165 22.0

Love, MIN 60 409 364 1262 21.0

Granger, IND 57 407 264 1198 21.0

Williams, NJN 56 382 317 1171 20.9

Randolph, MEM 56 451 221 1129 20.2

Gay, MEM 54 409 194 1069 19.8

FG PERCENTAGE

FG FGA PCT

Hilario, DEN 301 481 .626

Howard, ORL 478 801 .597

A. Johnson, TOR 248 421 .589

Okafor, NOR 226 385 .587

Horford, ATL 391 685 .571

Ibaka, OKC 219 393 .557

Young, PHL 318 574 .554

Odom, LAL 352 644 .547

Boozer, CHI 315 589 .535

Gasol, LAL 438 825 .531

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf

Boston 43 15 .741 — 6-4 W-2 25-5 18-10 29-7

New York 30 27 .526 12½ 5-5 W-1 16-12 14-15 20-12

Philadelphia 30 29 .508 13½ 7-3 W-4 19-9 11-20 19-20

New Jersey 17 43 .283 27 2-8 L-6 13-16 4-27 9-25

Toronto 16 44 .267 28 3-7 L-2 11-20 5-24 10-27

Southeast Division

W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf

Miami 43 17 .717 — 7-3 L-1 22-6 21-11 29-10

Orlando 38 22 .633 5 7-3 W-2 23-9 15-13 25-11

Atlanta 36 24 .600 7 4-6 L-1 17-9 19-15 24-12

Charlotte 26 33 .441 16½ 5-5 L-1 16-14 10-19 15-22

Washington 15 44 .254 27½ 2-8 L-6 14-16 1-28 10-28

Central Division

W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf

Chicago 41 17 .707 — 7-3 W-3 26-4 15-13 24-10

Indiana 26 32 .448 15 5-5 L-2 16-14 10-18 18-18

Milwaukee 22 36 .379 19 3-7 L-2 14-14 8-22 14-17

Detroit 22 39 .361 20½ 3-7 W-1 15-16 7-23 14-21

Cleveland 11 48 .186 30½ 3-7 L-1 8-21 3-27 8-28

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Southwest Division

W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf

San Antonio 49 10 .831 — 8-2 W-3 28-2 21-8 31-5

Dallas 43 16 .729 6 9-1 W-6 22-8 21-8 24-8

New Orleans 35 26 .574 15 3-7 L-1 21-9 14-17 18-19

Memphis 33 28 .541 17 6-4 L-1 20-8 13-20 19-18

Houston 30 31 .492 20 7-3 W-4 16-13 14-18 17-21

Northwest Division

W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf

Oklahoma City 36 22 .621 — 5-5 L-3 20-9 16-13 22-16

Denver 35 26 .574 2½ 5-5 W-1 25-7 10-19 20-18

Portland 33 26 .559 3½ 7-3 L-1 20-9 13-17 21-16

Utah 32 29 .525 5½ 2-8 L-2 17-14 15-15 16-20

Minnesota 14 46 .233 23 3-7 W-1 10-21 4-25 6-32

Pacific Division

W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf

L.A. Lakers 42 19 .689 — 7-3 W-4 21-8 21-11 24-11

Phoenix 31 27 .534 9½ 8-2 W-4 17-13 14-14 16-17

Golden State 26 32 .448 14½ 5-5 L-3 19-13 7-19 16-21

L.A. Clippers 21 40 .344 21 2-8 L-5 16-15 5-25 14-25

Sacramento 15 43 .259 25½ 3-7 W-1 8-22 7-21 9-26

———

Monday’s Games

Phoenix 104, New Jersey 103, OT Chicago 105, Washington 77

Denver 100, Atlanta 90 Boston 107, Utah 102

Sacramento 105, L.A. Clippers 99

Today’s Games

Golden State at Indiana, 4 p.m. New York at Orlando, 4 p.m.

Dallas at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. New Orleans at Toronto, 4 p.m.

San Antonio at Memphis, 5 p.m. Detroit at Milwaukee, 5 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Houston at Portland, 7 p.m.

Wednesday’s Games

Chicago at Atlanta, 4 p.m. San Antonio at Cleveland, 4 p.m.

Golden State at Washington, 4 p.m. Phoenix at Boston, 4:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Detroit, 4:30 p.m. New Orleans at New York, 4:30 p.m.

Indiana at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m. Charlotte at Denver, 6 p.m.

Portland at Sacramento, 7 p.m. Houston at L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m.

All Times PST

By Brian Mahoney

The Associated Press

That Big Three in Miami is already becoming old news, giving way to another trio that can reshape the league.

Speculation shifts quickly in the NBA. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh hadn’t even played their first game together in Miami before the focus changed to Carmelo Anthony.

The Melodrama finally ended last week and immediately kicked off an apparent Deronathon — the long journey until Deron Williams can become a free agent.

Dwight Howard and Chris Paul join him as the potential headliners of the 2012 class. Even before Anthony was traded to New York and Williams was dealt to New Jersey the next day, the three All-Stars were already facing questions about their plans.

They shouldn’t answer.

That’s the advice from players who were part of last year’s free agency frenzy. They believe Anthony’s saga was worse and think the one involving next year’s group could even top that.

Wade said if he could go back, he’d have done what James did — answer no questions during the season. So his message for his Olympic teammates is pretty simple.

“Probably not to keep talking about it,” Wade said.

Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Charles Barkley was even more direct.

“The thing that bugs me the most, I don’t understand why you talk about these things when you’re not a free agent. Carmelo should have came out like Albert Pujols and said, ‘Hey listen, we’re not going to talk about this any more. I play for the Denver Nuggets, and whatever happens, happens,’” Barkley said during the All-Star break. “You should never talk about the job you’re going to have in the future.”

But the questions will be unavoidable. For Williams, they began the minute he arrived in New Jersey. He said during his news conference it was too soon to think about committing to the Nets long term.

Paul is sure to draw just as much media attention as Anthony on Wednesday, with New Orleans making its lone visit to Madison Square Garden. He’s long been considered the next piece that comes to New York — unless it’s Williams or Howard.

That’s the legacy of last summer, when James, Wade and Bosh set in motion the idea of super teams through free agency.

“I think at first it was the unknown, but now everyone gets to see that quote-unquote star players in this league can go try to team up, so now everyone wants to talk about where they can go and who they can team up with,” Wade said. “Now it’s something that’s become reality.”

The questions started some two years early for last year’s class. James at first seemed to like the attention, but tired of the talk and the effect it was having on the Cavs. He announced in November 2009 he wouldn’t take any more free agency questions until the season was over.

“It gets to the point where you’re answering for a certain amount of time and then you would say, ‘All right, I’m done,” said Amare Stoudemire, the focus of trade talk around the deadline two straight years before leaving Phoenix for New York in July.

“And once you say you’re done, then your team can refocus. Even though the talk will still be out there, but the team can refocus on the actual goal of the year instead of answering questions all season.”

The buzz around the Hornets’ point guard started in September with reports Paul planned to ask out. Howard expressed his frustration three weeks ago with theories he would look to flee Orlando for bigger markets in Los Angeles or New York.

Players can control the story — or at least contain it — by simply refusing to participate in it, the route that Anthony declined.

Even after his trade to New York, he took to his Twitter account last week to fire back when Nuggets coach George Karl was critical of his defensive play.

Bosh went through that, too. After enduring all the questions from the media — not to mention fans on the streets of Toronto — he was barely gone when Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo told a radio station that his franchise player had “checked out” late in the season.

“I would not want to go through it again and the only advice I could give them is just stay strong, just keep playing basketball,” Bosh said. “As much as you can, don’t let it affect you and just be prepared for anything that comes out there.

“People are going to say, ‘Oh, he’s checked out, he’s not paying attention, he’s given up on his team.’ They’re going to try to find some kind of way to just throw you off your game. You just have to just stay the trail, keep practicing, keep working and just be prepared to talk about it every time you speak with the media.”

The on-deck free agents say they learned from watching their predecessors, but their situations will bring new challenges. Perhaps even questions about franchise tags, which owners may push for as way to keep this trio from leaving.

“I would just tell them make statements about it, talk about it early,” Wade said. “But once it gets into the season, leave it alone, because you can’t control it. You don’t want it to get too crazy where it’s not about the team, it’s all about you and what you’re going to do. So leave it alone after November.”