The Rockets are unlikely to use their disabled player exception, according to sources, before it expires on Monday.

The NBA granted the Rockets the disabled player exception on Jan. 14 because they lost Yao Ming for the season.

The Knicks have reached an agreement with former Nuggets general manager Mark Warkentien to join the team as a high-level consultant, according to league sources.

The hiring may be a prelude to a larger role in the future.

Warkentien, who will work closely with president Donnie Walsh, has a strong relationship with Carmelo Anthony.

A contract has been drawn for the NBA's 2009 Executive of the Year, but is still awaiting signatures.

Bryan Colangelo is in the final year of his five-year contract with the Raptors, but the general manager says he hasn't spoken to anybody within the franchise about his future.

The Raptors are headed for the lottery for the third consecutive season.

There have been rumors that Colangelo is seeking another five-year deal worth at least the $20 million his current contract was valued at, according to the Globe and Mail.

Colangelo says he's made no contract demands and his focus is on taking advantage of Toronto's improving draft position by scouting tirelessly.

"I haven't talked to anyone about my contract," he said. "Anyone who says I have is talking BS. I'm not looking for the door right now; I love being here. My focus is on moving forward."

Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo believes an "energy drink" he bought at a gas station contained the substance that led to his 10-game suspension.

Mayo spoke about his suspension for the first time Saturday, claiming he didn't know the drink "had any bad substances in it."

The NBA suspended Mayo on Thursday for testing positive for DHEA, which is on the league's list of banned performance-enhancing drugs.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers was ejected in the first half of the team's 88-71 loss to the Suns on Friday night.

Rivers was frustrated after Boston was called for eight fouls in the first quarter against Phoenix's big men.

"I'm not sure," Rivers said when asked about the ejection. "I didn't earn it. So I think you have to ask Mr. [Steve] Javie. He actually came into our huddle. We were standing there and he came up to us. I'll tell you exactly what was said. He said, 'You guys are complaining way too much.' And I said, 'Then make the right calls.' His answer back was 'I'll make a call for you.' That's how I got the tech. After I got the tech, I didn't have any choice words for him. I didn't say a word. You know what I said? 'It's about the game, it's not about one individual.' That's what I said over and over again."

With 4:07 left in the fourth quarter, Kevin Garnett followed Rivers when he was called for two technicals after he was whistled for a foul on Channing Frye following a three-point shot.

Kobe Bryant passed Hakeem Olajuwon for eighth on the NBA's all-time scoring list with a dunk in the first quarter against the Kings on Friday night.

Bryant entered the game needing 13 points to reach 26,947 for his career and surpass Olajuwon.

On the NBA's all-time scoring list only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, Moses Malone and Elvin Hayes are ahead of Bryant.

The Lakers lost 100-95 to the lowly Kings on Friday night and afterwards Lamar Odom blamed the loss on the media.

"Yeah, I'm blaming this on you guys," Odom said. "You guys are jumping to the Boston game."

Odom was joking, but the talk prior to Friday's game against Sacramento was dominated by questions about the Celtics, who the Lakers will play on Sunday.

The Lakers had put a gag order in place, saying no one was allowed to talk about the Celtics until after the Lakers finished off the Kings.

"Like I've said, teams they come in here and they are looking for a 'W'," Odom said. "You don't do the small things that you need to do defensively and take people out of the game. … They got comfortable.

"But I don't think anybody looked ahead. We got beat. We got our [butts] beat. … We got hit on the chin."

The Knicks surged past the Heat in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden.

- New York 93, Miami 88

Team FIC Differential: Knicks +10.4, Heat -10.4

The New York Knicks (24-21) outscored the Miami Heat (31-14) by 14 points in the fourth quarter to notch a comeback victory on Thursday night. Amar’e Stoudemire led with 24 points and eight rebounds, Danilo Gallinari scored 20 points on 5-for-15 shooting and Landry Fields added 19 points, 13 boards and six assists. New York shot just 36.1% from the field, but forced 17 turnovers. Dwyane Wade starred with 34 points, 16 rebounds and five assists, LeBron James posted 24 points, 11 boards and five dimes and James Jones contributed 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting.

Game FIC Scores

Dwyane Wade, Miami – 23.5
Landry Fields, New York – 23.2
Amar’e Stoudemire, New York – 20.2
LeBron James, New York – 13.8

- Dallas 111, Houston 106

Team FIC Differential: Mavericks +14.8, Rockets -14.8

The Dallas Mavericks (30-15) won a close battle against the Houston Rockets (22-26) at the American Airlines Center. Tyson Chandler had 21 points and 15 rebounds, Jason Kidd posted 11 points and 10 assists and Jose Juan Barea scored 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting off the bench. Dallas shot 50% from the field and turned the ball over just nine times. Luis Scola had 30 points and eight rebounds, Kevin Martin scored 27 points on 7-for-15 shooting and Chuck Hayes put up 16 points and eight boards in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Tyson Chandler, Dallas – 20.3
Luis Scola, Houston – 19.8
Jason Kidd, Dallas – 16.8
Chuck Hayes, Houston – 15.8

- Boston 88, Portland 78

Team FIC Differential: Celtics +11.5, Trail Blazers -11.5

The Boston Celtics (35-10) used a balanced effort to top the Portland Trail Blazers (25-22). Ray Allen scored 18 points on 6-for-14 shooting, Rajon Rondo tallied 11 points, six rebounds and five assists and Kevin Garnett excelled with 10 points, nine boards and nine dimes. Boston turned the ball over 21 times, but held Portland to 36.7% shooting. LaMarcus Aldridge starred with 17 points and 16 rebounds, Andre Miller posted 14 points and seven assists and Wesley Matthews chipped in 12 points and seven boards.

Game FIC Scores

Kevin Garnett, Boston – 17.2
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland – 13.2
Ray Allen, Boston – 10.1
Andre Miller, Portland – 9.2

• RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their ‘Reina Value.’ Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

Kevin Garnett, who endorses a shoe company from China called Anta, will wear special all green shoes in Sunday's game against the Lakers.

The shoes have the numbers 152-120 on the tongue, which represents Boston's all-time record against their rivals from Los Angeles.

Boston last played the Lakers last June in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.

Sources say Wilson Chandler is "leaning toward" hiring Amar'e Stoudemire's agent, Happy Walters, to represent him.

Chandler parted ways with former agent Chris Luchey last week.

The same source contends that Chandler is upset over persistent reports that he will be part of a potential deal for Carmelo Anthony.

"He's really worried that he's going to get traded," the source added. "He doesn't want to leave New York. And he doesn't want to be in Denver."

Walters, via a text message, has denied that he is in line to represent Chandler, but admitted he is scheduled to meet with the forward.