BASKETBALL

O’Neal will undergo surgery Monday to repair his injured right thumb. He was examined Sunday by Dr. Thomas Graham at the National Hand Center in Baltimore. Graham will perform the surgery.

Sylvia Fowles of Spartak Moscow has been named the EuroLeague Women Player of the Week after leading her team to the Final Four in a two game sweep of Quarter-Final Round opponent Fenerbahce.

With the groups for the inaugural U-17 World Championship for Women drawn on 12th February, the exact tournament schedule has now been finalised.In the 2009 U-16 Continental Championships, the 12 participating countries were determined.

We’re still inconsistent at times,” said Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin who had 12 points and 10 rebounds. “If we can lock in and just do the stuff we can do and learn from the mistakes we make, that can go a long way.” Said Anthony, “We’re just playing good basketball, that’s it.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas could reach agreement on a buyout with the Washington Wizards in the next couple of days. The bigger question is this: Will the NBA allow him to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Howard had 22 points and 16 rebounds in a bruising battle with Shaquille O’Neal and the Orlando Magic beat Cleveland 101-95 on Sunday for the Cavaliers’ first three-game losing streak in two years.

In an effort of giving back and contribute to the development of basketball in the country, ex-international, Mobolaji Akiode has concluded arrangement to stage a basketball clinic/seminar next month in Lagos.

The New York Knicks supposedly had a three-team deal set up with the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets that would have brought the team Tracy McGrady, but it fell through, according to the New York Post. That fell apart when the Wizards made its seven-player deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

There have been plenty of rumors about the Miami Heat sending second-year vet Michael Beasley packing before this Thursday’s trade deadline but the Sporting News is reporting that the team is now thinking that it will keep the second-year ambidextrous forward who was drafted second overall in 2008.

Dwyane Wade was named MVP of the 59th All-Star Game after scoring 28 points and dishing out 11 assists. The Heat’s signature star added to his Lone Star State legend with a dazzling aerial performance Sunday night worthy of the largest basketball crowd in the history of civilization.