Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace refuses to lay off referees.

He has already been fined $30,000 for criticizing referees this season and he lucked out on another occasion when the NBA didn't want to bring more attention to the claims of Tim Donaghy, the former official convicted of gambling.

Boston general manager Danny Ainge told Wallace that he should watch his statements, but the forward won't comply.

"Either way they're going to get me," Wallace said. "If I don't say nothing I'm going to get fined, and if I say something I'm going to get fined. So I might as well say something about what's on my mind, what I want to say. They're going to hit me up either way. I've been through that before in Portland. When I wasn't talking to the media they were fining me. But then when I did talk to the media they didn't like what I had to say, so they fined me some more. So I was like, 'Well, (expletive), if you're going to fine me I might as well say what the hell I want to say.' "

A reporter then suggested to Wallace that he could reply "no comment" to questions.

"Yeah, I could do that, but I think I have to be honest when I'm asked a question. And what happened to freedom of speech? You know, I say what's on my mind, speaking my freedom, and I get fined for it. It's a catch-22 with that (expletive), man.

"See, they think they can control people with money. Everybody don't live like that. That's how they live up there in that office. They think, 'Oh, I'm going to hit him in the pocket. That's where it will hurt.' No, it don't hurt me. I didn't have it growing up, so, I mean, either way it don't hurt me. As long as my family's cool, I'm cool. It ain't hurting my family. I make sure of that."

The Celtics lost their third straight game, all of which have come on the road, Wednesday night against the Suns.

- Cleveland 106, Atlanta 101

Team FIC Differential: Cavaliers +20.7, Hawks -20.7

The Cleveland Cavaliers (26-8) used a strong fourth quarter to beat the Atlanta Hawks (21-10) on Wednesday night. LeBron James starred with 48 points, 10 rebounds and six assists on his birthday, Anderson Varejao posted 14 points and nine boards and Maurice Williams added 14 points, 10 dimes and five rebounds. Cleveland attempted 23 more foul shots than Atlanta and turned the ball over just eight times. Joe Johnson led with 35 points, Al Horford tallied 10 points and seven rebounds and Mike Bibby contributed 20 points and six assists in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

LeBron James, Cleveland ? 38.5

Joe Johnson, Atlanta ? 20.8

Maurice Williams, Cleveland ? 17.1

Mike Bibby, Atlanta ? 13.1

- Memphis 121, Indiana 110

Team FIC Differential: Grizzlies +18.6, Pacers -18.6

The Memphis Grizzlies (15-16) got closer to .500 with an emphatic win over the Indiana Pacers (9-22) at Conseco Fieldhouse. Rudy Gay had 31 points and nine rebounds, Zach Randolph tallied 28 points and 13 boards and Marc Gasol put up 21 points and ten rebounds. Memphis shot 50% and attempted 13 more free throws than Indiana. Luther Head led with 30 points and seven rebounds, Roy Hibbert posted 25 points and 13 boards and Earl Watson stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the struggling Pacers.

Game FIC Scores

Rudy Gay, Memphis ? 25.1

Roy Hibbert, Indiana ? 19.3

Luther Head, Indiana ? 18.0

Zach Randolph, Memphis ? 17.6

- Orlando 117, Milwaukee 92

Team FIC Differential: Magic +48.9, Bucks -48.9

Vince Carter recovered from an elbow to the head and led the Orlando Magic (23-8) over the Milwaukee Bucks (12-18). Carter scored 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting, Dwight Howard posted 17 points and 10 rebounds and Jason Williams totaled 16 points and seven assists. Orlando drilled 55% of their shots and Milwaukee took just nine trips to the foul line. Brandon Jennings had a team-high 20 points, Andrew Bogut tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds and Ersan Ilyasova chipped in 13 points and seven boards.

Game FIC Scores

Jason Williams, Orlando ? 17.3

Dwight Howard, Orlando ? 16.8

Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee ? 11.6

Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee ? 10.4

- Toronto 107, Charlotte 103

Team FIC Differential: Raptors +24.6, Bobcats -24.6

The Toronto Raptors (16-17) beat the Charlotte Bobcats (12-18) in a very close contest on Wednesday night. Chris Bosh starred with 33 points and 13 rebounds, Andrea Bargnani scored 28 points and Marco Belinelli recorded 13 points and four boards off the bench. Charlotte shot 54% from the field, but they also turned the ball over 23 times. Stephen Jackson led with 30 points and five assists, Gerald Wallace posted 15 points and 16 rebounds and Raymond Felton helped with 23 points, seven boards and four dimes.

Game FIC Scores

Chris Bosh, Toronto ? 29.1

Raymond Felton, Charlotte ? 18.1

Gerald Wallace, Charlotte ? 14.6

Andrea Bargnani, Toronto ? 11.8

- New Jersey 104, New York 95

Team FIC Differential: Nets +8.1, Knicks -8.1

The New Jersey Nets (3-29) got just their third win off the season against the New York Knicks (12-20) at the Izod Center. Yi Jianlian had 22 points and six rebounds, Brook Lopez posted 21 points and 14 boards and Devin Harris excelled with 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. New Jersey shot 51% and had just 10 turnovers. David Lee starred with 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, Al Harrington tallied 25 points and nine boards and Wilson Chandler added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Knicks.

Game FIC Scores

David Lee, New York ? 28.0

Brook Lopez, New Jersey ? 26.5

Wilson Chandler, New York ? 16.5

Yi Jianlian, New Jersey ? 15.0

- New Orleans 95, Miami 91

Team FIC Differential: Hornets +2.6, Heat -2.6

The Miami Heat (16-13) charged back in the fourth quarter, but the New Orleans Hornets (14-16) held on for a win at home. David West had 21 points and 10 rebounds, Emeka Okafor tallied 15 points and 14 boards and Chris Paul contributed 18 points, nine assists and five rebounds. The two clubs had very similar statistics, but New Orleans edged Miami slightly in shooting percentage and rebounds. Dwyane Wade had 22 points and six assists, Jermaine O?Neal posted 12 points and nine rebounds and Quentin Richardson put up 14 points and eight boards.

Game FIC Scores

Chris Paul, New Orleans ? 20.6

Emeka Okafor, New Orleans ? 18.0

Dwyane Wade, Miami ? 12.2

Quentin Richardson, Miami ? 11.0

- Utah 107, Minnesota 103

Team FIC Differential: Jazz +8. Timberwolves -8

The Utah Jazz (18-13) outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves (7-26) at the Target Center. Deron Williams starred with 21 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, Carlos Boozer posted 16 points and 12 boards and Ronnie Brewer scored 20 points on 10-for-14 shooting. Minnesota shot 52%, but had more turnovers and fewer rebounds than Utah. Al Jefferson led with 21 points and nine rebounds, Wayne Ellington tallied 13 points and four boards and Kevin Love stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Kevin Love, Minnesota ? 23.4

Al Jefferson, Minnesota ? 22.4

Deron Williams, Utah ? 20.8

Carlos Boozer, Utah ? 15.0

- Phoenix 116, Boston 98

Team FIC Differential: Suns +32.5, Celtics -32.5

The Phoenix Suns (21-12) built an early lead and never looked back against the Boston Celtics (23-8) on Wednesday evening. Amare Stoudemire had 26 points and seven rebounds, Channing Frye tallied 26 points and 10 boards and Steve Nash totaled 11 points and eight assists. Phoenix shot 50% and outrebounded Boston by four. Eddie House scored a team-high 19 points, Rajon Rondo posted 13 points and eight assists and Kendrick Perkins recorded 13 points and seven rebounds.

Game FIC Scores

Channing Frye, Phoenix ? 24.3

Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix ? 18.3

Tony Allen, Boston ? 12.3

Eddie House, Boston ? 10.0

- Portland 103, L.A. Clippers 99

Team FIC Differential: Trail Blazers +5.3, Clippers -5.3

The Portland Trail Blazers (21-13) lost LaMarcus Aldridge to an ankle sprain but they still have enough to down the Los Angeles Clippers (13-18). Brandon Roy starred with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists, Juwan Howard posted 10 points and nine boards and Jerryd Bayless chipped in 14 points and eight dimes. Portland hit 50% of their shots and outrebounded Los Angeles by seven. Chris Kaman had 25 points and nine rebounds, Eric Gordon tallied 24 points and six assists and Baron Davis added 12 points, 11 dimes and five boards.

Game FIC Scores

Eric Gordon, Los Angeles ? 18.4

Chris Kaman, Los Angeles ? 18.3

Brandon Roy, Portland ? 17.9

Juwan Howard, Portland ? 13.5

- Philadelphia 116, Sacramento 106

Team FIC Differential: 76ers +13.9, Kings -13.9

The Philadelphia 76ers (9-22) pulled away from the Sacramento Kings (14-17) in the fourth quarter to record a rare road win. Lou Williams led with 22 points, Allen Iverson tallied 20 points and five rebounds and Andre Iguodala added 19 points, nine assists and seven boards. Philadelphia shot 52% and attempted nine more foul shots than Sacramento. Omri Casspi had 21 points and nine rebounds, Jason Thompson posted 15 points and 11 boards and Donte Greene totaled 21 points and seven rebounds.

Game FIC Scores

Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia ? 24.5

Jason Thompson, Sacramento ? 19.1

Omri Casspi, Sacramento ? 17.5

Lou Williams, Philadelphia ? 17.0

? 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

Celtics coach Doc Rivers decided to rest forward Kevin Garnett on Wednesday night against the Suns.

In addition, he'll almost certainly miss Saturday's contest against the Raptors as well.

"I just decided if I was debating it, the basketball gods were probably telling me 'you're right' and just go ahead with it," Rivers said. "So we sat him down, and we've got to wait for it to heal. And we'll see how long that takes.

"You know, someone said, 'Are you being too cautious?' Probably. But I'd rather be safe than sorry."

Garnett has recovered from his recent right thigh bruise, but has a hyperextended knee, which is unrelated to the injury that required offseason surgery.

"It's really just a hyperextended knee," Rivers said. "He did it in the Clippers game and complained about it. It wasn't a big deal. I didn't like the way he ran in the second half of the Clippers game. That's the first that I noticed anything."

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett could miss Wednesday night's game against the Suns with a sore right knee.

It's also possible that he could be out longer.

"If I do decide to sit [Garnett], I'm not sitting him for one game. I can tell you that," Celtics coach Doc Rivers told Comcast Sportsnet. "I told Kevin that."

Rivers added that if he did decide to rest Garnett he would probably do so until Jan. 6, when Boston faces Miami.

"It's early in the season," Rivers told Comcast. "We got tonight and we got two days, and then we got three days after that. To me, if you're going to rest guys, this is the perfect time to do it."

The Boston Celtics announced Wednesday that guard Lester Hudson has been recalled from the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.

Hudson has appeared in five games for the Red Claws this season averaging 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.  

In his final game with the Red Claws before being recalled he netted 21 points, grabbed five boards and handed out five assists against the Bakersfield Jam on December 27.

Celtics forward Glen Davis left the arena on crutches Monday night following Boston's 103-99 loss to Golden State.

Davis suffered a sprained right ankle in a collision with Warriors center Ronny Turiaf.

The Boston Globe writes that Davis could be out for an extended period of time, although X-rays were negative.

"I sprained the ankle before [as in last season], so hopefully I'll be back soon," he said. "I can't walk. If I can't walk, I can't run."

Davis, who missed the start of the season with a thumb injury, has appeared in just three games.

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett says that the team's win over the Magic in Orlando means nothing if they don't compete against the NBA's bottom-feeders.

The Magic have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, but Garnett is already looking towards Boston's next game.

"It doesn't separate you if you don't come out and play the same way," said Garnett.

"You know, you can't pick and choose when you play great. You play good against Orlando, you've got to play good (against) Philly. You've got to play good against Indiana. You've got to play good against the Clippers. You've got to play good against the Lakers. You've got to be consistent with what you're doing in order to sustain that presence."

So Garnett doesn't necessarily believe the Magic win was a statement game.

"I believe in making a presence," KG said. "I wouldn't say statement. We're a team that we thrive on trying to be better. We thrive on trying to be perfect, even though we know perfect is not a thing of reality. But we damn near try to get as close as we can to it.

"When we communicate, when we play with energy, when we're aggressive, when we have a defensive mindset first, when everybody on this team does their job, does their role, man, we're a pretty difficult team to deal with. That within itself sets a presence, and that's all. We've just got to be consistent. We want to be consistent in what we do. But at the same time we want to have a presence about ourselves."

The Celtics are being cautious with forward Paul Pierce's right knee.

The captain had surgery for an infection in the knee earlier this week.

Boston president Danny Ainge said Pierce's return is not expected before the Celtics host Toronto on Jan. 2.

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett took a nasty fall in the final moments of the team's victory over the Magic on Friday.

Boston coach Doc Rivers said he heard a thud when Garnett's head hit the floor.

"I'm OK," Garnett said "I've had harder falls. I'm just glad we won, to be honest. I'm sure I'll feel it in the morning. But for now, I'm all right."

Rasheed Wallace called a timeout, but Garnett got up after being down for just a few moments.

"Adrenaline's going," Garnett said. "You're still going. You're still able to move. I think it was only, what, two minutes, a minute and something, so I figured that I can suck it up for a minute and 50, two minutes or so and finish it out. It was a hard hit. Just tried to pop up and finish the game."

Boston Celtics rookie guard Lester Hudson was re-assigned to the Maine Red Claws, the Celtics' NBA D-League affiliate, it was announced Saturday.  

Hudson's re-assignment is the ninth time an NBA player has been assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate this season.  

Hudson was originally assigned to the Red Claws on Dec. 15 before being recalled to the Celtics on Dec. 20.  

During that assignment Hudson appeared in three games for Maine, averaging 16.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists.  

He scored a career-high 25 points on Dec. 16 in a road win over the Erie BayHawks.