Only four teams took the floor on Thursday night as the NBA provided fans with an interesting two-game slate on Thanksgiving.

- Orlando 105, Washington 90

Team FIC Differential: Magic +30.2, Wizards -30.2

The Magic (12-4) got hot early and held off the Wizards (2-11) to give them an even dozen victories this season. Dwight Howard had 26 points and 14 rebounds; Hedo Turkoglu tallied 20 points and 10 boards; and Anthony Johnson added 7 points and 12 assists. Orlando shot 46% from the floor, outrebounded Washington by three, and attempted eight more foul shots. Caron Butler led with 25 points; Antawn Jamison posted 17 points and 12 rebounds; and Darius Songaila added 12 points off the bench in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Dwight Howard, Orlando ? 26.8

Anthony Johnson, Orlando ? 17.0

Antawn Jamison, Washington ? 15.4

Caron Butler, Washington ? 13.5

- New Orleans 105, Denver 101

Team FIC Differential: Hornets -1.1, Nuggets +1.1

The Hornets (9-5) won their fourth-straight game on Thursday night when they defeated the equally-hot Nuggets (10-6). Chris Paul led with 22 points and 10 assists; David West tallied 15 points and 8 rebounds; and James Posey added 10 points and 5 boards off the bench. Denver shot 50% on the night, but New Orleans attempted seven more free throws and 12-for-23 from behind the three-point line. J.R. Smith scored 32 points; Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and 6 rebounds; and Chauncey Billups added 12 points and 5 assists in the losing effort.

Game FIC Scores

J.R. Smith, Denver ? 23.3

Chris Paul, New Orleans ? 22.0

Rasual Butler, New Orleans ? 18.0

Carmelo Anthony, Denver ? 14.3

? RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their `Reina Value.'
Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

There were a number debuts in the NBA on Tuesday night, and not all of them were successful.

- Washington 124, Golden State 100

Team FIC Differential: Wizards +34.7, Warriors -34.7

Ed Tapscott led the Wizards (2-10) to a win over the Warriors (5-9) in his coaching debut on Tuesday night. Caron Butler had 35 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists; Antawn Jamison posted 25 points and 11 boards; and Andray Blatche added 25 points, 12 boards, and 5 assists. Washington shot 50% from the floor and outrebounded Golden State by eighteen. Corey Maggette led with 17 points; Stephen Jackson tallied 16 points and 8 assists; and Andris Biedrins added 15 points and 9 rebounds in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Caron Butler, Washington ? 30.9

Andray Blatche, Washington ? 30.5

Stephen Jackson, Golden State ? 18.1

Andris Biedrins, Golden State ? 13.4

- Cleveland 119, New York 101

Team FIC Differential: Cavaliers +41, Knicks -41

LeBron James and the Cavaliers (11-3) spoiled Al Harrington?s debut for the Knicks (7-7) with a convincing victory. James starred with 26 points; Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 11 points and 10 rebounds; and Daniel Gibson added 10 points and 7 assists. Cleveland hit 52% of their shots, outrebounded New York by five, and forced seventeen turnovers. Quentin Richardson scored 22 points; David Lee had 12 points and 13 rebounds; and Harrington contributed 13 points and 9 boards for the Knicks.

Game FIC Scores

David Lee, New York ? 16.9

LeBron James, Cleveland ? 16.4

Tim Thomas, New York ? 12.4

Anderson Varejao, Cleveland 11.5

- Phoenix 99, Oklahoma City 98

Team FIC Differential: Thunder +12, Suns -12

Matt Barnes hit a three-pointer with 27 seconds left on Tuesday night to give the Suns (10-5) a stunning victory over the Thunder (1-13). Amare Stoudemire had 22 points and 7 rebounds; Steve Nash posted 20 points, 15 assists, and 8 boards; and Boris Diaw contributed 11 points and 6 boards. Phoenix shot 53% from the field, but Oklahoma City led for a majority of the game. Kevin Durant scored 29 points; Jeff Green had 13 points and 6 rebounds; and rookie Russell Westbrook added 16 points, 5 boards, and 5 assists.

Game FIC Scores

Steve Nash, Phoenix ? 23.0

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City ? 18.0

Earl Watson, Oklahoma City ? 16.0

Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix ? 15.3

- Dallas 109, Indiana 106

Team FIC Differential: Mavericks +11.4, Pacers -11.4

The Mavericks (7-7) used a 32-23 run in the fourth quarter to edge the Pacers (5-8). Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points and 8 rebounds; Jason Terry scored 29 points off the bench; and Antoine Wright added a career-high 22 points in the win. Dallas shot 50% from the field and attempted eleven more free throws than Indiana. Danny Granger posted 24 points and 7 rebounds; Troy Murphy tallied 21 points and 11 boards; and Marquis Daniels added 12 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Jason Kidd, Dallas ? 23.4

Jason Terry, Dallas ? 20.3

Troy Murphy, Indiana ? 18.0

Marquis Daniels, Indiana ? 11.3

- L.A. Lakers 120. New Jersey 93

Team FIC Differential: Lakers +38.5, Nets -38.5

The Lakers (12-1) used a strong second half to put away the Nets (6-7) on Tuesday night. Pau Gasol led with 26 points and 8 rebounds; Jordan Farmar had 18 points and 5 boards; and Andrew Bynum added 15 points and 6 boards. Los Angeles shot 50% from the floor, and they outrebounded New Jersey by six. Devin Harris had 21 points and 6 assists; rookie Brook Lopez posted 17 points and 10 rebounds; and Yi Jianlian added 13 points and 9 boards.

Game FIC Scores

Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers ? 19.8

Jordan Farmar, L.A. Lakers ? 16.0

Brook Lopez, New Jersey ? 15.8

Yi Jianlian, New Jersey ? 15.2

? RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their `Reina Value.'
Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

Gilbert Arenas revealed on Tuesday that he was close to returning to the Golden State Warriors this past off season, but since the Wizards remained committed to him, he remained committed to them, the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting.

"I was close to going back," Arenas said. "If (the Wizards) would have flinched any, I would have gone back to Golden State. ... My injury, they felt like they didn't have to throw any money at me because there was nobody there. And then they found out (Baron Davis) opted out and realized (the Warriors) were still looking at me.

"I was surprised (by the Warriors' max offer) because I talked to BD the night before and he said he wasn't leaving. What surprised both of us was Elton Brand opting out (from the Clippers)."

Arenas, who says he talked with Warriors team president Robert Rowell about the possible deal, hasn't played since re-signing with the Wizards for six years at $111 million this past summer after undergoing another operation on his left knee.

New Washington coach Ed Tapscott has decided that he will shorten the team's rotation and look to improve the team's defense.

"We're better than 1-10," Tapscott said. "We know it, and we all are responsible. So, we're going to preach accountability and unity on this team. We're all accountable and we want to have greater unity. I really believe we have to get better defensively. Our numbers say that and our performance says that. We have to play with a greater physical presence, guard the lane and be a more physical team. At the same time, we're not going to try and turn greyhounds into Clydesdales, but we have not been a very physical team."

He will likely go with a starting lineup of Dee Brown, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and JaVale McGee in his debut against Golden State on Tuesday night.

"Get your best players on the floor," Tapscott said. "If that's young guys, it's young guys. If it's older guys, it's older guys. When you're struggling, it's all about improving your performance and you've got to go with the people who will allow you to do that most efficiently."

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced on Monday that the team has relieved Head Coach Eddie Jordan of his duties.? Ed Tapscott will lead the team as interim head coach beginning immediately.
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"This was an extremely difficult decision because I'm personally very fond of Eddie,? said Wizards Chairman Abe Pollin in a statement.? ?He helped bring our franchise back to the playoffs and became ingrained in the Washington, D.C., community.? I will forever be grateful for his dedication and hard work.? However, sometimes circumstances force changes.? Our team is not performing to my expectations and I felt it was time to make a change.? We wish Eddie and his family all the best."

The Wizards have fired head coach Eddie Jordan, according to a report by the Washington Post on Monday morning.

Ed Tapscott, who had carried the title of Director of Player Development but traveled with the team and essentially served as an extra assistant coach, will take over coaching duties.

The Wizards have opened the season with a 1-10 record.

Heat rookie forward Michael Beasley was reportedly cited for speeding Monday night when the team visited his hometown Wizards.

Beasley was brought in by police after being cited for traveling at an excessive speed. No other violations were cited, according to a source.

The rookie said he initially turned off his cell phone to avoid old friends while in Washington for the game, but later couldn't fight the urge to turn his phone back on.

"I went back around my neighborhood and hung out with the people that were trying to call. So I kind of defeated the purpose," Beasley admitted.

Wizards' guard Gilbert Arenas doesn't think that last place is such a bad place for the team because their record could land a top pick next June.

"I don't want to see them struggle," Arenas said Thursday, "but if this is one of those years where we don't make the playoffs or we finish in last place ... that's what happened to San Antonio, and that's how they got Tim Duncan and look at them now ... and that's for the better."

Washington is 1-8 heading into their game Friday night against Houston, and have been playing without Arenas because of yet another knee injury.

Agent Zero is hoping to return around the first of the new year.

"They said Jan. 1 -- there is no doubt that I will be good to go ... play 40 minutes," Arenas said.

"I definitely want to wait until after New Year's. ... It will give me time to get in shape. Plus I want to learn the new playbook," he added.

Gilbert Arenas continues to rehab his surgically repaired left knee but remains limited to non-contact basketball activities and is not certain when he will be able to return.

"Me and Brendan (Haywood), we talk about it," Arenas said. "If I come back in January -- that's about 20, 25 games we counted -- when do we say it's okay? If we're 15 games out, how hard is it to come back from that? It might depend on who is in the eighth spot at the time and what our record is."

Injured Washington guard Gilbert Arenas is ahead of schedule and reportedly defeated teammate Nick Young in a game of one-on-one within the last week.

"He was so embarrassed," Arenas said, adding that, "I broke the mess out on him."

Arenas has also been shooting around at the end of recent practices and last week jumped and nearly dunked the ball three or four times.