SCOREBOARD
Friday, Dec. 7
Utah at San Antonio (9:30 p.m. EST). Carlos Boozer and the Northwest-leading Jazz visit the Spurs, who are undefeated (11-0) at home.
STARS
Thursday
– Allen Iverson, Nuggets, scored 35 points and had 12 assists as Denver downed Dallas 122-109.
– Brandon Roy, Trail Blazers, scored 25 points as Portland posted a 112-106 win against Miami.
– Josh Smith, Hawks, had 28 points and seven blocked shots to lead Atlanta over Minnesota 90-89.
HOT SHOT
Denver guard Allen Iverson is on a roll. One day after scoring 51 points in a defeat, Iverson scored 35 points and had 12 assists to lead Denver past Dallas 122-109 on Thursday night. Iverson made 12 of 19 field goals and was 11-for-13 from the line. This was the first 30-10 game of the season for Iverson, who has reached 30 points six times and had four games with at least 10 assists.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki tied his season high with 32 points and had 12 rebounds in the Mavericks’ 122-109 loss to Denver Thursday night. It was only the sixth double-double in 20 games this season for Nowitzki. … Dwyane Wade turned in a near triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for Miami, but shot 9-for-26 from the field as the Heat fell to Portland 112-106.
MOST VALUABLE
Despite their struggles on and off the court, New York remained the NBA’s most valuable franchise for a third straight year, according to a list compiled by Forbes. The Knicks were valued at $604 million, up 3 percent from the previous year. New York also had a league-high $196 million in revenues for the 2006-07 season while topping the list with negative $42.2 million in operating income after going 33-49 and missing the playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers remained second following a 2 percent decrease in value, down to $560 from $568 million and Chicago ($500 million) was third after a league-best $59.3 million in operating income.
SPEAKING
“Everything has been taken out of context. I was sick yesterday and I couldn’t play. Everyone has come up with their own theory of me being upset. I would never abuse the game of basketball,” – Guard Jason Kidd on why the eight-time All Star missed New Jersey’s game against the New York Knicks Wednesday night. The Nets captain insisted a migraine caused him to miss the game, brushing aside reports he was staging a personal one-day strike to induce a trade or force a new contract.