Los Angeles - Looking to pull themselves out of the Eastern Conference cellar, the Washington Wizards on Wednesday picked up a pair of backup guards in a three-team trade with the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets.

The Wizards (4-13), who recently fired head coach Eddie Jordan due to their slow start, acquired Javaris Crittenton from the Grizzlies and Mike James from the Hornets.

Los Angeles - With the Detroit Pistons failing to click on all cylinders recently, help has returned in an effort to get them charged up again.

Antonio McDyess has re-signed with the Pistons for the remainder of the season, the club announced on Tuesday.

On November 3, McDyess, along with starting point guard Chauncey Billups and Cheikh Samb were dealt to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for high-scoring guard Allen Iverson.

Los Angeles - Randy Wittman became the latest NBA coaching casualty, after the bottom-feeding Minnesota Timbwervolves fired him and named vice president of basketball operations, Kevin McHale, as his replacement.

Wittman's dismissal comes on the heels of a five-game losing streak, including a 29-point drubbing by the New Jersey Nets, and a 23-point embarrassment at the hands of the equally-abysmal LA Clippers (4-16) over the weekend

Los Angeles  - J. J. Barea's big second half gave the Dallas Mavericks a victory. His teammates almost gave it back.

Barea scored 20 of his 22 points after halftime Saturday night and the host Mavericks survived a furious late surge by the Atlanta Hawks for a 100-98 victory, their ninth win in
10 games.

German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and Jason Terry added 19 for Dallas, which nearly blew a 17-point lead in the last

five minutes. Nevertheless, the Mavs have won four in a row overall and five straight at home.

"We got another win," Terry said. "We're disappointed with the way we finished. But we're excited about the way we played for 45 minutes."

Los Angeles - German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki dominated through three quarters, before JJ Barea took over in the fourth.

Los Angeles - Rajon Rondo recorded his first career triple-double, and the Boston Celtics extracted a measure of revenge.

Rondo had 16 points, 13 rebounds and a personal-best 17 assists, as the Celtics rolled to their 10th consecutive victory, 114-96 over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

"It's not easy to do," Rondo said. "I've been so close a lot of games, and to finally get one, I'm excited about it. And most important, we got the win."