Dec. 3, 2001

Vince Carter | Hubert Davis | Joseph Forte | Rick Fox | Brendan Haywood | Antawn Jamison | Michael Jordan | George Lynch | Jeff McInnis | Eric Montross | Jerry Stackhouse | Rasheed Wallace | Scott Williams | Shammond Williams

This Week's Featured Games:

Washington at San Antonio (Tuesday, Dec. 4, 8:30 p.m., FSSW, WGN): Michael Jordan's comeback trail rides into Texas where the Wizards will face a Spurs team that is 11-4 and alone atop the Midwest Division. The Wizards (5-11) have three wins in their last five games heading into a four-game road swing, but a sore right knee could sideline Jordan for at least part of the trip. Former Tar Heel Hubert Davis is having a solid season for Washington, averaging 10.0 points per game. Rookie center Brendan Haywood, Washington's third Carolina component, played well in his first action last week. Spurs power forward Tim Duncan is ninth in the league with 24.5 ppg.

Toronto at Milwaukee (Thursday, Dec. 6, 9:00 p.m., TNT, SNET-T, FSN): Vince Carter and the Raptors will travel to the Bradley Center on Thursday for a showdown with Ray Allen and the second place Bucks. Toronto sits at 11-7 and is eager to make a move in the standings, while Milwaukee, 9-5, will attempt to rebound from a four-game losing streak suffered at the hands of several Western Conference opponents last week. Carter is fifth in the league in ppg (25.3). The sharp-shooting Bucks are led by Allen (21.6 ppg) and Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson (20.7 ppg), the two rank 16th and 21st, respectively, in scoring.

Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento (Friday, Dec. 7, 10:00 p.m., KCAL, KMAX): In a match-up of two of NBA's strongest teams, the Lakers head to Arco Arena to take on an improved Kings team that has Chris Weber back. The Lakers, 15-1, lead the Pacific Division and have the best record in the league. Sacramento, 13-5, finds itself in second place in the Pacific and has the third-best record in the league behind the Lakers and the Spurs (11-4, .733). Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal lead the two-time defending champs. Weber, Predrag Stojakovic and newly acquired Mike Bibby pace the Kings.

Vince Carter (Toronto Raptors)
Last Week: Carter scored a team-high 19 points and tied for a team-high with 10 rebounds in a thrilling 104-103 win at Atlanta on Saturday night. He also had 17 points, five boards and six assists in an 85-69 home defeat suffered at the hands of Boston. In the Raptors only other game last week, Carter showed his complete game, scoring a game-high 23 points to go along with eight rebounds, seven assists and a blocked shot in a 91-88 win versus Memphis on Thursday. He is currently fifth in the NBA in points per game (25.3). Carter also ranks third in three-point field goals made (46), seventh in minutes played (725), and 10th in steals (31).
Coming Up: at Milwaukee (12/6), vs., Denver (12/7), vs. Phoenix (12/9)
2001-02 Season Stats: 25.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.2 apg

Hubert Davis (Washington Wizards)
Last Week: Davis continued his strong play for Washington. He had six points and three rebounds in a season-high 38 minutes coming off the bench in the Wizards 96-87 home loss to the Magic on Sunday. Davis also had eight points, five rebounds and two assists in an 84-75 road defeat of the Heat on Saturday night.
Coming Up: at San Antonio (12/4), at Houston (12/6), at Dallas (12/8)
2001-02 Season Stats: 10.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.5 apg

Joseph Forte (Boston Celtics)
Last Week: Forte did not play in any of the Celtics' four games last week.
Coming Up: vs. Denver (12/5), vs. Phoenix (12/7), at Chicago (12/8)
2001-02 Season Stats: 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.0 apg

Rick Fox (Los Angeles Lakers)
Last Week: Fox had six points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in a 101-76 thrashing of Minnesota at the Staples Center on Sunday night. He had seven points, six rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot in a 104-85 defeat of Milwaukee, a team many think may be headed to the NBA Finals next June. The Lakers have now scored at least 102 points in their last five games. Fox is averaging 28.8 minutes a game as a starter.
Coming Up: vs. Dallas (12/5), at Sacramento (12/7), vs. Seattle (12/11)
2001-02 Season Stats: 7.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.6 apg

Brendan Haywood (Washington Wizards)
Last Week: The rookie saw his first action last week and has already made a fine impression. Haywood recorded two points, a team-high eight rebounds and two blocks in 30 minutes in his first NBA game, a 94-75 win at Cleveland on 11/27. He also had three points and six clutch rebounds in a 94-87 road defeat of the Eastern Conference Champion Sixers on Wednesday night. Haywood also registered season highs of 18 points and nine rebounds in a loss to Orlando on Sunday. Sixth-placed Washington is now 2-2 with Haywood in the lineup.
Coming Up: at San Antonio (12/4), at Houston (12/6), at Dallas (12/8)
2001-02 Season Stats: 6.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.3 apg

Antawn Jamison (Golden State Warriors)
Last Week: Jamison scored a season-high 32 points on season-bests of 14 field goals made and four three-point field goals made in a 116-106 loss at Dallas on 11/27. He was then held scoreless in 24 minutes in the rematch on Saturday night in Oakland, a 111-82 Maverick win. Jamison currently ranks 17th in offensive rebounds (47). The Warriors, at 7-10, are in seventh place in the Pacific.
Coming Up: at Phoenix (12/3), vs. Philadelphia (12/5), vs. Charlotte (12/7)
2001-02 Season Stats: 16.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.4 apg

Michael Jordan (Washington Wizards)
Last Week: In his best performance of the week, Jordan dropped 30 points, pulled six boards, dished seven assists, made five steals and blocked a shot in Washington's 94-87 road win over Allen Iverson and the Sixers on Wednesday. MJ had a team-high 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in an 84-75 win at Miami on Friday night. He had 25 points, seven boards and seven assists in a loss to Orlando Sunday night. Jordan is considering having his knee drained and possibly sitting out a few games in the next week or so. He currently ranks sixth in the NBA in points per game (24.8), 12th in steals per game (1.81), and first in the league in field goal attempts per 48 minutes (31.2).
Coming Up: at San Antonio (12/4), at Houston (12/6), at Dallas (12/8))
2001-02 Season Stats: 24.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.0 apg

George Lynch (Charlotte Hornets)
Last Week: Lynch is currently on the injured list and has not played a game yet this season.
Coming Up: at Utah (12/4), @ Portland (12/6), at Golden State (12/7)
2001-02 Season Stats: 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg, 0.0 apg

Jeff McInnis (Los Angeles Clippers)
Last Week: McInnis contributed 17 points and three assists in a 103-72 thrashing of the Pacers on Sunday night at the Staples Center. He had 10 points and seven assists in a 94-75 home victory over Minnesota on Wednesday. McInnis is currently 17th in the NBA in assists per game (5.9).
Coming Up: vs. Miami (12/4), vs. Charlotte (12/7), vs. Orlando (12/9)
2001-02 Season Stats: 13.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.9 apg

Eric Montross (Toronto Raptors)
Last Week: Montross had a season-high three rebounds in four minutes played in a 85-69 loss versus Boston on Sunday night. It was the seven-footer's only action of the week.
Coming Up: at Milwaukee (12/6), vs., Denver (12/7), vs. Phoenix (12/9)
2001-02 Season Stats: 0.9 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.0 apg

Jerry Stackhouse (Detroit Pistons)
Last Week: After missing three games with a strained groin, Stackhouse returned and scored a team-high 26 points and dished three assists in a 104-96 home loss to Charlotte on Wednesday. In the rematch on Friday, he poured in 31 points in 110-105 win at Charlotte. Stackhouse had 25 points, seven rounds and nine assists in a 100-97 win at New York on Sunday. He currently ranks 13th in the NBA in points per game (23.0) and fifth in free throw attempts per 48 minutes (10.39).
Coming Up: at Cleveland (12/4), vs. Seattle (12/5), vs. Houston (12/9)
2001-02 Season Stats: 23.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.4 apg

Rasheed Wallace (Portland Trail Blazers)
Last Week: Wallace tallied a team-high 26 points, seven rebounds, four steals and four blocks in a 96-90 win over Indiana at the Rose Garden on 11/27. He had 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 101-95 home win over the Bucks on Friday night. Wallace had 15 points and 11 boards on Sunday versus Phoenix. The Blazers, at a disappointing 9-8, are fourth in the Pacific Division. Wallace ranks 15th in the NBA in minutes played (656), ninth in double-doubles (8), 16th in rebounds per game (8.9) and 18th in defensive rebounds (108).
Coming Up: vs. Seattle (12/6), at Dallas (12/8), at Utah (12/11)
2001-02 Season Stats: 18.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.9 apg

Scott Williams (Denver Nuggets)
Last Week: Williams had seven points and three rebounds in just 16 minutes off the bench in the Nuggets 96-93 home win over the Clippers on Friday. He had four points and pulled seven rebounds on Wednesday versus Indiana. Williams ranks 19th in the NBA in defensive rebounds per 48 minutes (9.7).
Coming Up: at Indiana (12/4), at Boston (12/5), at Toronto (12/7)
2001-02 Season Stats: 5.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.3 apg

Shammond Williams (Seattle SuperSonics)
Last Week: Williams scored two points to go along with two assists in a 107-92 loss to the Lakers in Seattle on Friday night. Williams did not play on Sunday versus Milwaukee.
Coming Up: at Minnesota (12/4), at Detroit (12/5), vs. Miami (12/7)
2001-02 Season Stats: 3.1 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 1.4 apg