Wells, Magloire Fined in Separate Incidents

Memphis Grizzly guard Bonzi Wells and New Orleans Hornet center Jamaal Magloire were fined $5,000 apiece by the NBA on Thursday for throwing a basketball into the stands in separate games.

Wells tossed the ball into the stands during the third quarter of the Grizzlies’ victory over Philadelphia in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday. That night, Magloire did the same thing in the third period of Miami’s victory over the Hornets.

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Indiana forward Ron Artest missed practice to deal with a personal matter. Pacer Coach Rick Carlisle said the absence was excused and Artest would be in the starting lineup tonight against the visiting Sacramento Kings.

Artest has been benched at the start of games twice this season for missing practices.

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A drug investigation involving the search of Milwaukee Buck rookie guard T.J. Ford’s home will not result in charges because of insufficient evident, said Julius Kim, Milwaukee County’s assistant district attorney. ... Forward Charles Oakley, 40, signed a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets, reuniting Coach Jeff Van Gundy with another former New York Knick. Oakley is the third former Knick on the Rockets, joining point guard Mark Jackson and assistant coach Patrick Ewing.