A night after getting beat by the Chicago Bulls in their own building, the Boston Celtics got handed their worst defeat in franchise history by Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards.

Jordan scored 21 points in 22 minutes as the Wizards beat the Celtics 114-69 Thursday night.

The 45-point loss topped Boston's previous worst of 42 points, a 128-84 loss at Portland on Jan. 4, 1977. It was the third-biggest margin of victory in Wizards history.

The Indiana Pacers now have three less contracts to worry about.  pacers.com, the official website of the organization, is reporting that the team has signed fourth year player Ron Artest and Jonathan Bender to contract extensions.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com Artest was signed for an additional 6 years and $42 million, an amount which is sure to push the Indiana Pacers over the luxury tax threshold in future seasons.  There was no report on the terms of Bender's deal.

Artest was hoping to have his contractual situation resolved so it didn't act as a distraction to him this season, vowing that it wasn't about the money.

"I never been around anyone who loves more basketball than he does," said Artest's agent Mark Bartlestein. "I think it would have been a real distraction if we didn't get this done."

"The contract isn't a big issue,'' Artest said. "I'm here for this year. My main focus is a championship. I'd play basketball for free."

Bender, however, did not go as far.

"I've got to live on something,'' Bender said. "This is where I want to be.''

The Pacers can now turn their attention to starters Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal and Brad Miller, all of whom are out of contract after this season.  Signing all three eligable fourth year players now avoided a very busy offseason for Indiana, but the decisions were not hard according to President Donnie Walsh.

"In the case of Jonathan Bender, we have a lot of faith in the player that he will become and has started to become,'' Walsh said. "And in the case of Ron Artest, he has the opportunity to be a truly terrific all-around player.''

The Atlanta Hawks have signed free agent center Amal McCaskill to a contract, it was announced today by VP/General Manager Pete Babcock.

He replaces Nazr Mohammed on the active roster. Mohammed was placed on the injured list today due to a stress fracture, fifth metatarsal in his right foot. He's expected to miss four-to-six weeks.

Chris Tomasson writes about Skita and the arrival of his family in Denver.  The 19 yr. old played well in the Nuggets opening game.

Count the commissioner neutral on the issue of the Jazz perhaps some day selling their nickname to the team that now toils in the city where Utah's Jazz were born.
     
"I don't even have a view on that," NBA commissioner David Stern said prior to the Jazz's regular-season opener against the New Orleans Hornets, who have relocated here from Charlotte. "That's up to (Jazz owner) Larry Miller."
     
But Stern does have a hunch as to whether or not the name will ever be sold.
     
And that is no-go.

It is the duty of every newspaper to correct wrongdoings, expose injustices and publish the truth "without fear or favor."
     
In that light, and in the public interest, I will reveal, for the first time, the truth about Aaron James.
     
The man is innocent.
     
He never, ever said he wouldn't play in Utah.
     
May the rumor end here forever.