David West

By Jason M. Breslow, Boston.com The Celtics are close to a deal that would bring free-agent forward David West to Boston, according to a report from NBA.com's David Aldridge. West is a two-time All-Star who has averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game since being drafted by the New Orleans Hornets in 2003. The big power forward had a strong start in 2011, but had his season cut short after tearing his ACL in March. He had successful reconstructive surgery in April.

LeBron James scored Miami's final 17 points in a furious one-man rally, finishing with 37 as the Heat pulled out a 101-98 victory over the New Jersey Nets Monday night in Newark. In a game the Heat never led until the final 51 seconds, James willed them to their 10th straight victory over the Nets. With Dwyane Wade not playing, James scored those 17 points over the last 4:48. Clippers 92, Thunder 77 - Nick Young scored 19 points off the bench to help host Los Angeles knock Oklahoma City out of the top spot in the West.

David West is uncertain whether his NBA future lies in New Orleans or elsewhere. What the Hornets’ leading scorer knew for sure on Monday was that he wasn’t going to allow recent reconstructive surgery on his left knee to scare him away from free agency. “It’s about making the best decision right now for my family,’’ West said in a phone interview in which he explained his decision to opt out of the final year of his contract. “It’s not taking New Orleans out of the equation, just an opportunity to sign a better deal, and an opportunity to make sure the decision I...

David West had 22 points and 10 rebounds to help the Indiana Pacers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-88 on Monday night for their fifth consecutive win. Danny Granger scored 19 points, Paul George had 18 and Roy Hibbert added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers, who solidified their grip on the No. 3 position in the Eastern Conference standings. Indiana scored at least 100 points for the 10th time in 11 games. Jose Barea had 14 points and nine assists and reserves Michael Beasley and Derrick Williams added 13 points each for Minnesota, which lost its 10th in a row. Kevin Love, one of...

Carmelo Anthony scored 38 points in his return from a one-game suspension for refusing to come out of a game last weekend, and he led host Denver past Portland, 106-90, last night. Anthony logged 38 minutes as he helped the Nuggets avoid falling out of first place for the first time since Dec. 8. Anthony's point total was his second highest of the season and his 16 baskets tied his season high. Hornets 104, Mavericks 88 - Chris Paul had 27 points and 15 assists, and New Orleans increased its season-best winning streak to six games with a victory over visiting Dallas.

■When, where: Tonight, 7, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. ■TV, radio: CSN, WEEI (850, 93.7). ■Scoring: Danny Granger 14.7, Roy Hibbert 14.2, Tyler Hansbrough 12.2. ■Rebounding: Hibbert 9.8, David West 6.7, Hansbrough 6.2. ■Assists: Darren Collison 5.5, Paul George 2.7, West 2.5. ■Head to head: This is the second of four meetings. The Pacers won the first meeting in Boston, 87-74, Jan. 6. ■Miscellany: Indiana has not won consecutive games against the Celtics since 2007 . . . This is one of Indiana's few home games in a stretch with eight of its next 11 on the...

Danny Granger scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to help the Indiana Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-98 on Friday night for their fourth straight win. Roy Hibbert had 21 points and 12 rebounds, David West scored 14 points and Paul George added eight points and a career-high 16 rebounds for the Pacers (34-21), who have won eight of 10. Kevin Durant scored 44 points for the Thunder, the most against the Pacers this season. Russell Westbrook had 21 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, but he shot 7 for 23 from the field as the Thunder lost their third consecutive game.

Chris Paul had 23 points, 17 assists, and 9 rebounds, and the Hornets ran away with their ninth straight win, 117-93, over the Denver Nuggets last night in New Orleans. A jubilant crowd broke into repeated chants of "M-V-P" in recognition of a masterful performance by the Hornets' guard, who is New Orleans' best shot at making the All-Star game as a reserve. Peja Stojakovic hit four 3-pointers and finished with 19 points for New Orleans, which improved to 20-0 when scoring 100 or more points, and Jannero Pargo and David West each scored 13 points.

Kobe Bryant overcame a scoreless opening 16 minutes to finish with 42 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers blew a 21-point lead before rallying for a 132-128 overtime victory over the host Sacramento Kings last night. Bryant fed Smush Parker for the game-tying shot in the final second of regulation for one of his nine assists, then scored on the opening possession of overtime to give the Lakers the lead for good in the first meeting of the season between these two fierce California rivals.

Grant Hill scored a season-high 30 points and had 11 rebounds, Steve Nash added 20 points and 10 assists, and the shorthanded Phoenix Suns snapped host Oklahoma City’s five-game winning streak by beating the Thunder, 113-110, last night. Phoenix played while still waiting for trade acquisitions Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, and Mickael Pietrus to join the team but found a way to slip past the Thunder down the stretch. The Suns let a 13-point lead slip away but were able to recover and take the lead for good on Robin Lopez’s dunk with 6:45 left.

Danny Granger scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to help the Indiana Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-98 on Friday night for their fourth straight win. Roy Hibbert had 21 points and 12 rebounds, David West scored 14 points and Paul George added eight points and a career-high 16 rebounds for the Pacers (34-21), who have won eight of 10. Kevin Durant scored 44 points for the Thunder, the most against the Pacers this season. Russell Westbrook had 21 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, but he shot 7 for 23 from the field as the Thunder lost their third consecutive game.

Chris Paul wanted out of New Orleans for a better chance to win. In his first trip back, he received a mix of a cheers and boos, and left with a loss. Chris Kaman scored 20 points and the Hornets rallied for a 97-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday night, spoiling Paul's return. Jarrett Jack and Jason Smith each scored 17 as New Orleans snapped a five-game home losing streak. "There was a lot of emotions going through my head," Paul said. "But as soon as they threw the ball up, all of that was out the window.

Danny Granger scored 20 points and the Indiana Pacers beat the New Orleans Hornets 102-84 on Saturday night for their first six-game winning streak in seven years. David West had 14 points and 13 rebounds in his first game back in New Orleans after playing the first eight years of his career with the Hornets. Darren Collison added 13 points, including a circus shot at the halftime buzzer. Indiana, playing only its second game in the last 10 days, blew it open with a 21-4 run to take a 54-37 lead at the half.

■When, where: Tonight, 7:30, at TD Garden. ■TV, radio: CSN, WEEI (850, 93.7). ■Scoring: Danny Granger 16.5, Roy Hibbert 14.4, David West 11.5. ■Rebounding: Hibbert 9.9, West 6.6, Tyler Hansbrough 5.8. ■Assists: Darren Collison 5.4, West 2.6, Paul George 2.1. ■Head to head: This is the third of four meetings. The Pacers won both previous matchups. ■Miscellany: The Pacers held Boston to 74 points Feb. 6, the Celtics second-lowest scoring game of the season; they have outscored the Celtics, 184-157, on the season . . . Indiana is second in the league...

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff David West made what was perceived as an unusual free-agent decision last month, choosing to sign with the smaller-market, building Indiana Pacers over a potential opportunity with the Celtics. The Celtics were working out a deal to acquire West as long as he agreed to a long-term extension to stay in Boston beyond this season. Instead of a three- or four-year deal at about $9 million per season, West accepted a two-year $20 million offer from Indiana.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he "had no problem with" David West's decision to reject a Celtics' offer to sign a free agent contract with Indiana. "He had two good decisions," Rivers said before practice Thursday. "He could look at us as a team trying to win it right now and Indiana in the thick of it and they're growing. To me it was a win-win situation, a good place to be. " Rivers on Brandon Bass: "He's already a very good individual defender. If you told Brandon to just guard his guy, he's probably our best at that because he can move his feet extremely well...

Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points and Chris Webber had 18 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 93-78 win over the Los Angeles Lakers last night at The Palace at Auburn Hills, Mich. The Pistons have won five straight -- building a two-game lead for the best record in the Eastern Conference -- and are 9-2 with Webber in the starting lineup. "It's only going to get better," Webber said with a grin. Kobe Bryant agreed, adding the Pistons are playing like champions in part because of Webber.

Hornets general manager Dell Demps paced in and out of the club's practice gym with his mobile phone to his ear. Inside, star guard Chris Paul wore his familiar black No. 3 practice jersey in what marked his fourth day of training camp with the team that has been trying since last week to accommodate the star guard's preference for a trade. Paul, for the fourth consecutive day, did not speak to reporters. However, others had plenty to say. After practice, coach Monty Williams sought to emphasize patience and perspective while entertaining yet another round of questions...