Howard Out for the Rest of the Season

The Sacramento Kings today waived guard Larry Hughes. Hughes was acquired from the New York Knicks as part of a three-team trade on February 18, 2010, and did not appear in any contests with Sacramento. The Kings roster now stands at 14. - NBA

Washington Wizards guard-forward Josh Howard will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee, the team said today. Howard was injured late in the first quarter of yesterday's 101-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls at Verizon Center, tempering the Wizards' third win in four games since a series of trades revamped the roster. - Washington Post

Joakim Noah missed his second breakaway dunk in as many games Monday night in the Bulls' 101-95 loss to the Wizards. But that rejection paled in comparison to the dejection Noah portrayed afterward, when he painstakingly detailed his frustration with the plantar fasciitis in his left foot. "I don't think the foot is going to be 100 percent for the rest of the season," Noah said bluntly. - Chicago Tribune

Brook Lopez may have to go a little Norman Bates if the Nets are going to avoid the infamy of the worst record in NBA history. By his own admission, Lopez is a nice guy. But the Nets need for him to get nasty, maybe a little psycho, and demand the ball. Or as Vince Carter put it last year, Lopez needs to play like a 7-footer. - New York Post

The Indiana Pacers were without leading scorer Danny Granger for Monday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks. Granger missed the game for personal family reasons and coach Jim O'Brien said he doesn't know when he'll return to the team. "I have no idea," O'Brien said. "It's a serious situation he's going through." - Indianapolis Star

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t the only Eastern Conference contenders who will try to sign Zydrunas Ilgauskas once he becomes a free agent. So will the Atlanta Hawks. And they might go to some unusual lengths to do so. “Anything I had to do to get a guy like that, I’d do it,” Hawks center Al Horford said. “If I have to buy him lunch, go watch his kids, anything. He’s the kind of guy that can help us once the playoffs come around.” - Yahoo! Sports

If Brendan Haywood isn't careful, Mavericks fans are going to start expecting this all the time. The new center put together another titanic game Monday night, which has pretty much been the norm during the Mavericks' winning streak, which reached four with a 91-82 bashing of Indiana at American Airlines Center. Haywood had 13 points, 20 rebounds and three blocks, anchoring the defense and taking advantage of his offensive opportunities. During the streak, he has averaged 12.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. - Star-Telegram

An official within the league told The Associated Press on Monday the NBA has not threatened to stop a potential reunion between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The Cavaliers traded their longtime center to Washington last week in the three-team deal that brought Antawn Jamison to Cleveland. The Wizards may decide to buy out Ilgauskas, allowing him to become a free agent. - AP

Forward Mike Harris, of the NBA Development League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers, told FOX 26 Sports Tuesday he will sign a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards. It's expected Harris will fill the roster spot that opened when the Wizards lost the newly-acquired Josh Howard for the season because of a knee injury. - MyFoxHouston

The Mavericks had already planned to sign Von Wafer to a 10-day deal to provide some backcourt depth and are expected to formally ink the former Houston Rockets guard on Wednesday. That would make Wafer, after starting the season in Greece, eligible to play six games over the next 10 days starting with Wednesday night's showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers. - ESPN

After becoming part-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jianhua 'Kenny' Huang's next goal is to transform pro basketball in his homeland of China. As an investor in China's National Basketball League, Huang says he'll introduce cutting-edge management practices adopted from England's Premier League and the NFL. "This is the first time private enterprise has been given the chance to reform a Chinese league," Huang told The Associated Press Tuesday by telephone from Cleveland. - AP

Philadelphia was supposed to be Iverson's resurrection, his chance at redemption. Except the baggage ultimately got too heavy, outweighing past accomplishments, minimizing sympathy and understanding from those in position to help. Of course, we're not talking about the illness of his daughter, Messiah. Just Iverson himself. "Put it this way," one Eastern Conference official explained. "If Iverson was what he use to be, he'd play no matter what. It says something about his inability to play." More than anyone wants to admit. - Philadelphia Inquirer

Dan Patrick Show - Mark Cuban on many NBA players he thinks would take less money to win a championship: “Most because they recognize the opportunities and the bragging rights that come with it. It is kind of like winning on a golf course. If you could kick some guy’s butt on the golf course, you might take a little bit less than best just to take the bragging rights.” - SportsRadioInterviews

Alaska Hungry, Purefoods Ready

(From PBA Online)

Adding to his collection of 12 championship trophies is something that still excites the PBA's longest-tenured and eldest coach Tim Cone because proving himself up to the task against younger foes is a challenge that keeps the fire in his belly.

Cone, 52, broke into the league in 1989 and has since figured in 21 finals, including this Philippine Cup. He's matched with Purefoods' Ryan Gregorio in the season's opening conference finals, which reels off tonight.

Gregorio, 37, caddied for Eric Altamirano for five years before his promotion to head coach in 2002. In his debut as Purefoods' chief technician, he piloted the franchise to the Governors Cup title in a 4-3 win over Cone and the Aces.

Their first finals clash was memorable. Purefoods recovered from a 0-2 deficit to bag three in a row before finishing off Alaska in Game 7, 91-76. Two of Gregorio's players remain in his roster - Kerby Raymundo and Roger Yap- while Ronnie Magsanoc and Rey Evangelista are now assistant coaches and Alvin Patrimonio serves as team manager.

For Alaska, not a single player stayed in the lineup and only one is still active - Don Allado, ironically now playing for Purefoods. Jojo Lastimosa moved on to join Cone's staff.

In the 2005-06 Philippine Cup semifinals, Purefoods once more rebounded from a 0-2 hole then staged a miracle comeback from 1-3 to sweep the last three games in clinching the series overAlaska. The finale was a heart-stopper as Purefoods nipped Alaska , 90-89, in Game 7. Purefoods went on to beat Red Bull, 4-2, in the finals as Gregorio won his second career crown. Among Gregorio's players thatconference were James and Roger Yap, Raymundo, P. J. Simon, Marc Pingris and Paul Artadi - who will all be in uniform for the Tender Juicy Giants in the current title playoffs.

Back from Alaska's cast in 2006 are Willie Miller, Sonny Thoss, Tony de la Cruz, Reynel Hugnatan, Jeffrey Cariaso and John Ferriols.

In all, Alaska and Purefoods have faced off in five finals with the Aces winning three comfortably by identical 4-1 counts. In the two series that Purefoods took, the Giants were stretched to the limit.

Gregorio has made it to four finals so far with his last appearance a close call as Purefoods lost a 4-3 decision to Sta. Lucia Realty in the 2007-08 Philippine Cup. He hasn't savored a victory ride since the 2005-06 season. A title is a long time coming for Purefoods.

Here are the 15 factors of consequence in the finals.

Defense. It's clear that when Purefoods limits opponents to 90 points or less, the Giants almost always win. Purefoods is 17-2 when its opponents are held to less than 90 and 2-8 when they score more than 90. In 19 wins so far thisconference, Purefoods has held its victims to an average of 80.3. In 10 losses, the Giants gave up 95.4 a game. Edge: Purefoods.