New Orleans at Indiana (8 p.m. EST). The top two teams in the Eastern Conference meet in Indianapolis.

Sunday, Jan. 4

Seattle at Sacramento (9 p.m. EST). The Sonics travel to Sacramento, where the Kings have won 16 of 18.

Stars

Friday

_ Ray Allen, SuperSonics, scored 35 points and had nine assists in a 111-109 win over the Lakers.

_ Jason Kidd, Nets, had 26 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds in a 97-82 win over the Cavaliers.

_ Eddie Jones, Heat, had 33 points and eight assists to lead Miami to a 112-101 win over the Magic.

_ Ben Wallace, Pistons, grabbed 22 rebounds in a 93-81 victory over the Suns.

_ Jamal Crawford, Bulls, had 28 points and six assists to lead Chicago to a 104-99 victory over the Knicks.

AILING LAKERS

In a 111-109 loss to Seattle on Friday night, the Lakers were without Karl Malone, who hasn't played since Dec. 21 because of a sprained knee ligament, and lost Shaquille O'Neal early in the second quarter with a strained right calf. Malone was not with the team on Friday night, but the team didn't place him on the injured list as expected. O'Neal, averaging 20.6 points and 11.8 rebounds, played only 14 minutes, scoring six points with five rebounds.

STRONG IN DEFEAT

Orlando's Drew Gooden had 29 points and 11 rebounds in a 112-101 loss to the Heat Friday night. ... New York's Dikembe Mutombo had 15 points, 16 rebounds, and six blocks in a 104-99 loss to the Bulls. ... Portland's Rasheed Wallace had 30 points in a 106-96 loss to the Nuggets.

BLAZIN'

Zach Randolph, in his third season and first as a starter, has become the Blazers' top scorer and rebounder. He averaged 24.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and shot 47 percent in 15 December games.

POPEYE'S BACK

The Golden State Warriors activated forward Popeye Jones from the injured list Friday. Jones tore cartilage in his left knee Nov. 5 and was placed on the injured list a week later, missing 24 games.

DEALS

The Raptors traded center Mengke Bateer to the Orlando Magic for forward Robert Archibald. Toronto also sent Orlando the rights to 2003 second-round draft choice Remon Van de Hare and the option to swap second-round draft positions at the 2005 draft.

SPEAKING

``The special thing is he doesn't have to beat you by scoring. He is 6-foot-8, 240, and to be 19-years old and have the composure he has _ He is special.'' _ Jason Kidd on LeBron James, after New Jersey's 97-82 victory over the Cavaliers on Friday night. James had 14 points and nine assists in the loss.