Milwaukee at Cleveland (7:30 p.m. EST). The Cavaliers are part of a tight race for the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

STARS

Thursday

_Peja Stojakovic, Kings, scored 22 of his 27 points in the first half to spark Sacramento to a 114-105 win over Philadelphia.

_Rafer Alston, Heat, tied his career high with 23 points, helping Miami beat Milwaukee 104-98.

HAPPY RETURN

Playing in his second game of the season, Chris Webber had 24 points and 10 assists to lead Sacramento to a 114-105 win over Philadelphia on Thursday night. Webber had 26 points and 12 rebounds Tuesday in his debut after missing nine months to rehabilitate his knee and serve an eight-game suspension.

THE BUTLERS DID IT

Miami's Caron Butler and Rasual Butler each scored season highs Thursday night in the Heat's 104-98 win over Milwaukee. Caron Butler started and scored 21 points in 36 minutes. Rasual Butler came off the bench to score 20 points in 25 minutes, equaling the scoring output of all the Bucks' reserves.

MIXED GREETINGS

Rasheed Wallace was treated more warmly than his former teammates in his return to Portland on Thursday night. Wallace made his first trip to the Rose Garden since Portland traded him, helping his new team, the Detroit Pistons, to an 83-68 victory. Wallace heard a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd when he was introduced, but it was nothing compared to the jeers showered on the Trail Blazers when they went into the half trailing 46-29. Wallace had 13 points and nine rebounds.

SPEAKING

``His game will rate out about as good as you can have. He was incredible. He played a phenomenal game for 43 minutes.'' _ Miami coach Stan Van Gundy on Rafer Alston, who tied his career high with 23 points in the Heat's 104-98 win over Milwaukee on Thursday night.