A big game from Howard yesterday night boosted the Mavericks to a 105-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Josh Howard scored twenty-seven points and helped Dallas go on a 28-11 run to close the 1st period. That gave the Mavericks a 33-18 lead and San Antonio tried without success for the rest of the night to catch up. San Antonio came no closer than ten points during the final 3 periods, in this season’s 1st meeting of the powerful Southwest Division rivals

If the Seattle SuperSonics do not stop their losing streak that has already grew to 8 games after Tuesday’s 103-76 loss to the Orlando Magic, tonight in Miami, then there appears to be no end to their suffering in the nearest future. Seattle’s string of consecutive defeats is tied for 4th longest in team history, it’s the longest in franchise history to start a new season. After trading Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, their leading scorers in the offseason, the SuperSonics were expected to struggle harder this season.

Houston Rockets star center Yao Ming came to the team’s video room with a special request. The player wanted a DVD featuring every highlight from Yi Jianlian’s brief career. Today night, Yao Ming will finally get a closer look at China’s NBA next big thing. Before what is expected to be one of the largest TV audiences in the history of NBA, Yao Ming will play against Yi Jianlian for the first time in the NBA, when the Bucks visit Toyota Center. The two basketball stars will be the first Chinese players to match up against each other since Zhizhi from Dallas played against Bateer from Denver in 2002. But apparently, Yao vs. Yi has a bit more intrigue.

Boston put on a precision clinic at both ends of the court yesterday night that left the Nuggets helpless.

Pierce scored twenty-six points, newcomers Garnett had twenty-three points and thirteen rebounds while Allen finished with twenty-two points as the unbeaten Boston (3-0) rocked visiting Denver 119-92.

After watching his team shoot a torrid 64.5 % from the floor Boston head coach Doc Rivers said there was nothing to complain about. The team came out ready to play and they played well.

Despite their 2nd straight home victory, Boston thinks they can play much better. Pierce said they were just scratching the surface of where they can be. The player sees a lot of positives, but they are by far nowhere near where they want to be, however, they are getting better every day.

Allen Iverson led the Nuggets (2-3) with 22 points, but Carmelo Anthony was held to just 11.

Playing unselfishly, the Celtics came out of the gate fast and never let up against Denver, who dropped a 119-112 decision in NYC 2 days ago.

Ahead 38-22 after 1, the lead ballooned to 77-38 by halftime as Boston shot a blistering 72 % from the field (31-of-43) behind Pierce’s twenty points, while Garnett and Allen added fourteen and thirteen, respectively.

The Boston Celtics got the early lead and never looked back. With Denver offering little resistance, Boston continued the onslaught as the gap swelled to 91-50 on Garnett’s dunk late in the 3rd quarter before coasting to the emphatic win.

Elsewhere Utah 103, Cleveland 101 Speedy Williams drove the length of the court and scooped in a driving layup with 1.3 seconds remaining, lifting Utah to the dramatic home court win over Cleveland.

NBA Player of the Week honors went Tracy McGrady, the Houston Rockets star, and Danny Granger, the Indiana Pacers forward. Tracy McGrady was honored after he averaged 4.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 32.3 points on 50.0 shooting, leading the Houston Rockets to a 3-0 mark. Eastern Conference honors went to Danny Granger. The player averaged 8.7 rebounds and 22.7 points in helping the Indiana Pacers to a 3-0 week.

J.J. Barea made the most of his 1st league start, shooting 9-for-11 for a career-high twenty-five points and leading the Dallas Mavericks past the Kings 123-102 Saturday night in Dallas. Dallas had 101 points by the end of the 3rd quarter and threatened the record of the franchise for shooting accuracy. They finished 45-for-69 for 65.2%, just shy of their best-ever mark of 67.7 set twenty-four years ago. Martin led Sacramento with 28 points, but Sacramento dropped to 0-3 with Bibby injured and Artest suspended.

Howard, a 13-year NBA forward cast aside by the Timberwolves 2 days earlier, signed with the Mavericks on Thursday. The contract brings Juwan Howard back to a team, where he played for a year from February 2001. In eighty games, 71 of them as a starter for the Mavericks, he averaged 7.3 rebounds and 14.6 points. Juwan Howard has career averages of 7.1 rebounds and 16.1 points in 951 games with Dallas, Washington, Orlando, Denver, and Houston.

Terry scored a game-high twenty-four points off the bench as the Mavericks defeated the Cavaliers 92-74 yesterday night in the regular-season opener for the two teams. Stackhouse scored seventeen points and Nowitzki had fifteen points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists as Dallas won a matchup between teams that lost the past 2 NBA Finals. Ilgauskas had seventeen points and eighteen rebounds for Cleveland, who were swept by San Antonio in June’s National Basketball Association title series.