Hoops News Blog

San Diego prosecutors won’t file criminal charges against Kobe Bryant after reviewing allegations by a man who accused the Los Angeles Lakers star of injuring him during a scuffle at church. The city attorney’s office said Tuesday that there was insufficient evidence to prove charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Clippers guard Chauncey Billups will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon during Los Angeles’ 107-102 victory over the Magic in Orlando on Monday night. The team says an MRI on Tuesday confirmed Billups’ injury. Billups will return to Los Angeles on Thursday for further evaluation.

Perhaps Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy’s biggest frustration this season has nothing to do with what his team hasn’t accomplished at times during games. It is centered on what the abbreviated NBA schedule hasn’t allowed his team to do much so far — and that’s practice. “I hate it, I’ll be honest,” Van Gundy said.

The NBA says a goaltending call in the final seconds of regulation in the Portland Trail Blazers’ overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night was incorrect. Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge was called for goaltending on Kevin Durant’s attempted layup with six seconds left in the game.

Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari is expected to miss a month with a severely sprained left ankle that turned out to be less serious than first feared. Tests on Tuesday revealed the chip fracture in his left foot didn’t actually occur Monday night when he rolled his ankle in a game against Houston.

The NBA has decided to try a new format for its All-Star weekend game featuring the league’s top young talent. The Rising Stars Challenge will feature teams comprised of both rookies and sophomores. TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will serve as the general managers and conduct a draft on Feb.

The New York Knicks say they expect Carmelo Anthony to miss a week or two with a strained right groin. Anthony was hurt Monday, leaving after six minutes of a 99-88 victory over Utah and continuing an injury-plagued season. Anthony has missed three games with various ankle, wrist and hand injuries and shot poorly in a handful of others while playing through the pain.

Kevin Durant had 33 points, including a dunk with 2.9 seconds left in overtime, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111-107 on Monday night. Russell Westbrook added 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder, who upped their NBA-best record to 19-5. LaMarcus Aldridge had 39 points for Portland, who led 103-101 with 6 seconds left in regulation before a goaltending call…

Luis Scola scored 25 points and the Houston Rockets handed the injury-riddled Denver Nuggets their third straight loss, 99-90 on Monday night. The Nuggets not only lost for the fifth time in six games but they lost budding star forward Danilo Gallinari, who rolled his left ankle in the third quarter.

Kobe Bryant had his place in history. With “Beat L.A.!” echoing through a second straight sellout crowd, Lou Williams had his shot to remember. Williams nailed the go-ahead 3-pointer, scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, and spoiled Bryant’s record-setting night while leading the Philadelphia 76ers to 95-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.