London, Nov 30 : Former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Ian MacLaurin has reportedly said that England should abandon plans to return to India for its two-match Test series in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks in which nearly 200 people lost their lives.

“I think it’s sad for cricket. But the safety of our players is absolutely paramount and I am sure that the ECB will take the same view,” the Daily Times quoted MacLaurin as saying.

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 29  -- Dwight Howard had 32 points, 21 rebounds and four blocked four shots Saturday to spark the Orlando Magic to a 110-96 win over Indiana.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29  -- Mike Bibby's 21 points led a balanced attack Saturday and Atlanta held on for a 102-98 win against the Washington Wizards.

Bibby went 3-for-6 on three-pointers, but was held scoreless in the fourth period during the Wizards determined effort to overcome an 80-71 deficit.

Maurice Evans and Al Horford scored 19 points apiece, with Evans adding nine rebounds and Horford 13 rebounds with six assists.

Overall, the Hawks sank 11-of-25 three pointers, a 44 percent rate.

Marvin Williams added 14 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Hawks, who beat Washington for the third straight time, twice this season.

Antawn Jamison led Washington with 26 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

CHARLOTTE, N. C., Nov. 29  -- Paul Pierce scored 19 points Saturday, pacing Boston to an 89-84 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats for the Celtics' eighth straight win.

STARKVILLE, Miss., Nov. 29  -- Mississippi State football Coach Sylvester Croom resigned Saturday, one day after the Bulldogs ended their season with a 45-0 loss to Ole Miss.

Croom directed the Bulldogs to a 21-38 record, including 4-8 this season, in his five years at the helm.

"Five years ago, Mississippi State gave me the unprecedented opportunity to be a head football coach in the Southeastern Conference and to build a program based upon a strong foundation," Croom said. "I believe the foundation has been set for those goals to be reached under the leadership of someone else, and it was my decision to resign."

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Nov. 29  -- Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin injured his right ankle Saturday in the third-ranked Gators' 45-15 win over No. 23 Florida State.

Harvin, tackled from behind and hit from the front, twisted to the ground with 6:44 left in the half. Harvin remained on the field before limping off with the help of trainers, keeping the weight off his right foot.

He was attended to on the sideline, and didn't return to the game. It is unknown if he will be able to play in next Saturday's game for the Southeastern Conference championship against top-ranked, undefeated Alabama.