SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The Sacramento Kings placed forward Lawrence Funderburke on waivers Monday.

Funderburke hasn't played all season because of an injured left heel. He's spent his entire seven-year career with the Kings, the longest tenure of any player on the current roster. He has averaged 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in his career.

NEW YORK (AP) Kings forward Chris Webber was suspended for eight games Tuesday: five for violating the NBA's drug policy and three for pleading guilty to lying to a grand jury.

Webber has missed the entire season after left knee surgery and was taken off the injured list Monday. His suspension started with Tuesday night's home game against Boston.

The five-time All-Star was the Kings' leader in scoring, rebounding and assists last season. He hasn't played since tearing cartilage in his left knee during the second round of last season's playoffs.

Webber pleaded guilty in July to charges of lying about his relationship with Ed Martin, a University of Michigan booster who claimed he loaned $616,000 to Webber.

Webber has been practicing with the Kings for several weeks, but he wasn't healthy enough to appear in games.

He averaged 23.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals last season.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The Sacramento Kings activated Chris Webber from the injured list Monday, but the star forward will have to serve an NBA suspension before he can return to the lineup.

Webber, a five-time All-Star, was the Kings' leader in scoring, rebounding and assists last season. He hasn't played since tearing cartilage in his left knee during the second round of last season's playoffs, and he had extensive offseason surgery.

Webber faces a suspension after pleading guilty last July to charges of lying to a grand jury about his relationship with Ed Martin, a University of Michigan booster who claimed he loaned $616,000 to Webber.

The Sacramento Bee also reported that Webber would be suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

The Kings compiled an NBA-best 37-13 record leading up to the All-Star break despite Webber's absence. Brad Miller, acquired from Indiana in an offseason trade, has fit seamlessly into Webber's spot in the Kings' offense, while fellow All-Star Peja Stojakovic is the NBA's third-leading scorer.

Miller could miss time after spraining his right foot Sunday in the All-Star game. Tests on Monday revealed no breaks or tears, but the Kings said there is no timetable for his return.

Webber has been practicing with the Kings for several weeks, but he wasn't healthy enough to appear in games until recently. He averaged 23.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals last season.

To make room for Webber on the roster, the Kings placed forward Lawrence Funderburke back on the injured list. Funderburke has not played all season because of an injured heel.

LOS ANGELES (AP) Sacramento Kings center Brad Miller sprained his right ankle late in the third quarter of Sunday night's All-Star game.

Miller went down hard under the East basket shortly before time expired in the quarter. He got up slowly and walked to the bench unaided, but left the court later.

Miller is averaging 15.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 blocks for the Kings this season _ all career highs. He was selected for his second straight All-Star game, his first since joining the Kings in an offseason trade.

Sacramento, leading the Los Angeles Lakers by six games in the Pacific Division, hosts the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

Chris Webber will be suspended at least six games by the NBA for lying to a federal grand jury, it was learned Saturday, a strong penalty that comes as a response to what one league official called "horrendous" actions by the Kings forward.

The exact length of the discipline is not known, but an announcement could be made within days, as soon as Webber is activated after spending the first 50 games on the injured list while recovering from knee surgery.

The Kings are believed to have already been informed of the decision.

NBA executives declined comment.

LOS ANGELES (AP) Denver's Voshon Lenard denied Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic from a third consecutive victory in the NBA All-Star 3-point shooting contest Saturday night.

Lenard edged Stojakovic 18-16 in the final round.

The Denver Nuggets guard hit all five red, white and blue money balls (worth two points) in the one-minute final. Stojakovic needed to hit the last money ball to force a tie, but it bounced off the rim as the clock expired.

``I knew it was going to be tough. He's a two-time champion,'' Lenard said. ``I just tried to hang in there, but to win it over Peja, it's a privilege.''

Stojakovic could have tied Larry Bird (1986-88) and Craig Hodges (1990-92) as a three-time winner. Last year, Stojakovic won his second title over Wesley Person of Memphis in overtime after a clock malfunction during the final round.

Lenard has been one of the league's top long-range shooters over his nine-year pro career, but it was his first appearance in the 3-point contest.

Philadelphia forward Kyle Korver also made the three-man finals. He scored 15 points after hitting all five shots from the left corner. He missed all five attempts at another of the five shooting stations.

Stojakovic led after the first round with 21 points, including hitting 4-of-5 from the top of the key. He hit the final money ball, kept his arms extended, then made the crowd laugh by cocking his head to the left as if to say, ``Take that!''

Korver was second with 19 points, making all five from the left corner and 5-of-6 from the right corner. Lenard was third with 18 points.

Rashard Lewis of Seattle, Houston's Cuttino Mobley and Detroit's Chauncey Billups didn't advance out of the first round. Lewis had 16 points; Mobley had 13 points; and Billups managed just 12 points after numerous balls bounced off the rim.

Lenard earned $25,000. Stojakovic received $15,000.

Players had a minute to shoot as many balls as they could from five spots around the 3-point line. The four orange balls at each station were worth one point.

LOS ANGELES (AP) Nona Gaye gave one of the most impressive performances at All-Star weekend _ and she did it with a little help from her late father.

Gaye, the daughter of legendary singer Marvin Gaye, sang a stirring rendition of the national anthem during the All-Star Saturday festivities at Staples Center. It was a duet with her father, who changed the nation's perception of ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' with his performance at Los Angeles' last All-Star game 21 years ago.

Images of Marvin Gaye's performance played on a screen behind Nona as she sang along with an enhanced recording of the performance. The crowd whooped and cheered throughout the song.

Before the 1983 All-Star game at the Forum, Marvin Gaye stole the show with a soul-flavored rendition of the national anthem. Though a few purists, including former commissioner Larry O'Brien, were unimpressed with the unique arrangement, the players and most of the fans recognized a watershed moment in the history of sports and music.

``It was the prettiest and the most soulful national anthem I've ever heard,'' said former Lakers guard Michael Cooper, who attended the 1983 game. ``I've never seen so many people tear up or feel the way they felt after someone sang the national anthem.

``That national anthem brought everyone together. ... You have some good renditions by different people, but nothing ever sounded, or compared to, or made you feel the way Marvin Gaye sang that one.''

There was nearly as much music as basketball on All-Star Saturday: Tamia, the wife of Orlando's Grant Hill, sang the Canadian anthem, while Ruben Studdard and the Beach Boys also performed.

___

YAO HOMECOMING:@ The Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings will play two exhibition games in China in October, and Yao Ming expects to hear from a lot of friends and relatives in his hometown of Shanghai.

Asked how many might be on his list for free passes, Yao grinned and said: ``We may have to hold out the entire stadium.''

The Rockets' All-Star center, speaking through an interpreter, added: ``I'm very, very happy to get a chance to play in Shanghai again.''

The first game will be in Shanghai Stadium on Oct. 14. The teams play again at Capital Stadium in Beijing on Oct. 16.

Yao's Houston teammate, Steve Francis, already is excited about the trip.

``One of the things you hear about China, even when you're young, is about the Great Wall,'' Francis said. ``Maybe Yao and I can go run along the Great Wall.''

Both games _ the first to be staged by an American pro sports league in China _ will be televised by ESPN.

___

JAY WILLIAMS:@ A year ago, Jay Williams played in the Rookie Challenge at All-Star weekend. The Chicago guard seemed headed for an outstanding NBA career until his motorcycle accident last June, which has put his career in jeopardy.

But Williams was back at the All-Star game this weekend as a correspondent for the NBA's TV network. Williams, who received a generous contract buyout from the Bulls last week, bantered with former Duke teammates Mike Dunleavy and Carlos Boozer before speaking about his future.

``Rehab is coming well,'' said Williams, the second overall pick in the 2002 draft. ``It's something I do every day of my life. They say it's going good. I think I'll be running by summer. Then we'll work on cutting, and then trying to get back out here.''

The accident severed a main nerve in Williams' leg, fractured his pelvis and tore three of the four main ligaments in his left knee. He spent two weeks at a Chicago hospital and several more weeks at a hospital in North Carolina.

Williams still walks with a pronounced limp, and doctors have cautioned him to remain realistic about his rehab schedule. He realizes he might never play again, but refuses to give up.

Said Williams: ``It could happen. You never know.''

___

LOOSE BALLS:@ California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will appear on TNT's pregame show before Sunday's All-Star game. ... Both All-Star teams held practices Saturday at the nearby convention center housing the NBA's interactive fan pavilion. At the end of the East practice, Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin and Baron Davis threw their shoes into the crowd. ... Most of the All-Stars attended Saturday's proceedings. Iverson cheered loudly for Kyle Korver, his Philadelphia teammate, in the 3-Point Shootout. ... Lennox Lewis, who retired as heavyweight champion earlier in the month, sat next to actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Detroit Pistons center Zeljko Rebraca was ejected for punching Sacramento's Brad Miller on Wednesday night, and Corliss Williamson was tossed after a hard foul on Miller.

After Rebraca and Miller got tangled up leaping for a rebound, Miller appeared to swing an elbow near Rebraca's face. Rebraca responded by throwing a punch that landed on the back of Miller's head with 5:08 left in the third quarter.

Late in the third period, Williamson charged into a driving Miller and was called for a flagrant foul, his second technical foul.

Rebraca left the game with nine points and a season-high seven rebounds. Williamson had 10 points.

Lawrence Frank found yet another way to guide the New Jersey Nets to victory.

To improve to 8-0 as a head coach, Frank used a red-faced tirade to get the Nets going after they fell behind by 13 points in the first quarter of an 89-78 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night for their ninth straight win overall.

``That's probably the most angry I've seen him,'' starting center Aaron Williams said. ``You have to do that sometimes. We weren't playing the way we were supposed to play. That's his job.''

Frank yelled at the Nets after the first quarter, when they had their largest deficit since the 33-year-old coach replaced Byron Scott more than two weeks ago.

Frank's 8-0 start is tied for the second-best in NBA history with Pistons coach Larry Brown. It's one shy of the mark for best coaching start shared by Kurt Rambis (Los Angeles Lakers, 1998-99) and Buddy Jeannette (Baltimore Bullets, 1947-48).

``He doesn't care about that,'' said Jason Kidd, who had 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. ``He wants to win. He doesn't care about going undefeated. He wants to win every time we go on the floor.''

In other NBA games, it was: L.A. Lakers 98, Miami 83; Sacramento 124, Milwaukee 117; Minnesota 96, L.A. Clippers 84; Indiana 103, Chicago 84; Dallas 105, New York 90; Utah 86, Portland 81; Toronto 101, Phoenix 94; and Golden State 106, Seattle 97.

The Nets finally got some stops on defense and got their transition game going midway through the second quarter. New Jersey closed the quarter with a 14-0 run and took a 46-42 lead. Detroit missed its final 10 shots.

Richard Jefferson, who had 27 points and 10 rebounds, was outstanding in the run. He scored eight points and ignited the run with an alley-oop lay-in from a pass from Keynon Martin that might have been offensive goaltending.

Martin had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Kerry Kittles added 17 points as the Nets posted their ninth straight double-digit win and sent the Pistons to their fourth straight loss.

``We're just flat-out not getting it done,'' said Pistons All-Star Ben Wallace, who had 13 points and 12 rebounds. ``We came out in the first quarter and played pretty decent. After that, everything was downhill.''

Chauncey Billups had 23 points and Richard Hamilton added 19 for Detroit.

Lakers 98, Heat 83

At Miami, Shaquille O'Neal had 25 points and reserve Derek Fisher scored eight of his season-high 18 points in the fourth quarter, helping Los Angeles post consecutive wins for the first time since mid-January.

Dwyane Wade had 19 points for Miami, which dropped its fifth straight.

The Lakers were again without All-Star guard Kobe Bryant, who missed his seventh game because of a lacerated right index finger.

Timberwolves 96, Clippers 84

At Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett had 14 points and nine rebounds in the first quarter and finished with 31 points and 16 rebounds to lead Minnesota.

Gary Trent scored 15 points, Sam Cassell, who went scoreless until making back-to-back jumpers midway through the third quarter, had eight points and 12 assists.

Corey Maggette had a season-high 34 points for the Clippers, who lost their third straight.

Kings 124, Bucks 117

At Milwaukee, Peja Stojakovic scored 31 points and sank all four of his free throws in the final 20 seconds to help Sacramento hold off the Bucks.

Mike Bibby scored 24 points, and Brad Miller 21 for the Kings. Desmond Mason and Toni Kukoc each scored 21 off the bench for Milwaukee.

Mavericks 105, Knicks 90

At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Michael Finley added 25 points and 10 rebounds for the surging Mavericks, who stopped New York's season-high five-game winning streak.

Rookie Josh Howard had 17 points, eight rebounds and four steals for the Dallas, which won for the 13th time 16 games.

For the Knicks, Stephon Marbury had 24 points and 11 assists, and Keith Van Horn added 20 points and nine rebounds.

Pacers 103, Bulls 84

At Chicago, Ron Artest scored 26 points against his former team and Indiana rolled to its league-high 39th win.

Jermaine O'Neal added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana, which doesn't play again before this weekend's All-Star game.

Chicago, coming off a 1-6 road trip, got its fifth straight game of 20 points or more from Eddy Curry, who finished with 23.

Jazz 86, Trail Blazers 81

At Portland, Ore., Carlos Arroyo scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and Utah held off Portland in the Trail Blazers' first game since trading forward Rasheed Wallace, who was traded to Atlanta Monday night.

Andrei Kirilenko added 20 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz, who won their second straight after a four-game losing streak.

Derek Anderson led the Blazers with 21 points, while Darius Miles had 19.

Warriors 106, SuperSonics 97

At Seattle, Jason Richardson had 22 points and Brian Cardinal added 20, and Golden State rebounded from an NBA record-tying two-point quarter two days ago with its sixth road win of the season.

Clifford Robinson had 18 points, Speedy Claxton added 17 and Erick Dampier pulled down 12 rebounds for Golden State.

Rashard Lewis led the Sonics with 20 points.

Raptors 101, Suns 94

At Phoenix, Vince Carter scored 22 of his 29 points in the second half and Morris Peterson matched his career high with seven 3-pointers to lead Toronto.

Peterson was 7-for-11 from 3-point range for a season-high 27 points.

Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points and Joe Johnson 19 for the Suns, who have lost four in a row _ all at home _ and 10 of 12.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Kenyon Martin matched his season high with 29 points, and New Jersey gave interim coach Lawrence Frank his seventh straight victory.

Frank, who replaced the fired Byron Scott as coach of the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions, moved within two wins of tying the NBA record for the best coaching start. Kurt Rambis of the Lakers (97-98) and Buddy Jeannette of the Baltimore Bullets (1947-48) each started their careers 9-0. The Nets have won eight straight games overall, all by 10 or more points.

Jason Kidd had his 57th career triple-double, finishing with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

Allen Iverson had 27 points and eight assists for Philadelphia.

Knicks 110, Clippers 104

NEW YORK (AP) Stephon Marbury scored 15 of his season-high 42 points in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to lead New York to its fifth straight victory.

Marbury eclipsed the season high of 40 he set earlier this season for Phoenix, shooting 15-for-20 overall and 4-for-5 from 3-point range to give New York its longest winning streak in nearly three years.

Kurt Thomas added 28 points, making his first seven shots to give him 14 consecutive made field goals over two games, and finished 12-for-19 to help New York improved to 9-3 under coach Lenny Wilkens. Corey Maggette and Elton Brand scored 28 apiece for the Clippers.

Kings 115, Nuggets 92

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Peja Stojakovic made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 35 points for the Kings.

Stojakovic finished 7-of-11 from 3-point range, and was 11-of-21 overall from the field for the Kings, an NBA-best 23-4 at home. Mike Bibby made six 3-pointers and had a season-high 30 points.

Rookie Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and eight rebounds for the Nuggets, winless in their last 15 games at Arco Arena.

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