Sacramento at L.A. Lakers (10:30 p.m. EST). The Lakers, winners of five straight, host the division-leading Kings.

STARS

Monday

_ Yao Ming, Rockets, had 28 points and 13 rebounds in Houston's 93-85 overtime win over Portland.

_ Kenny Thomas, 76ers, had 27 points and 13 rebounds in Philadelphia's 107-98 win over Dallas.

_ Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets, had 22 points in Denver's 102-80 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

BACK ON TRACK

Indiana snapped a two-game skid by beating Chicago 101-77 on Monday night. The Eastern Conference-leading Pacers haven't lost three in a row this season.

HAWK EYES

With Monday night's 96-84 win, New York swept the season series from Atlanta for the first time since 1974-75.

STRONG IN DEFEAT

Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points in Dallas' 107-98 loss to Philadelphia on Monday night. ... Stephen Jackson had 20 points in Atlanta's 96-84 loss at New York. ... Predrag Drobnjak scored 24 points, the only Los Angeles player in double figures, in the Clippers' 102-80 loss to Denver.

SLUMPING

Atlanta lost for the ninth time in 11 games, 96-84 to New York on Monday night. ... The Los Angeles Clippers' 102-80 loss to Denver was their fourth consecutive defeat and 12th in 14 games.

FINED

Steve Francis was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Monday for cursing during a halftime television interview and for criticizing officials. Francis drew his league-leading 17th technical foul, then complained about what he considered a non-call in the closing seconds of the first half of Houston's 100-95 loss to Sacramento on Sunday night.

SPEAKING

``I don't really think I sent a message. They knew what I could do.'' _ Nazr Mohammed, who had 18 points and 13 rebounds for New York against his former team, Atlanta, in the Knicks' 96-84 win Monday night.