Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Two of the NBA's best big-ball teams meet Monday; Yao sits out; Hill misses another game; Biedrins rules the boards; Nowtizki and Jefferson make All-Star bids; Mighty Mouse is set to fly out of Memphis; Varejao hurts his ankle; Blount steps up for the Heat; and more...

BEST OF BIG-BALL 
The NBA's Western conference is known for its depth, but it's also known for its size. Most of the league's elite big-men reside in the West, and it's two best 'big-ball' teams do as well: San Antonio and Utah.

Despite a league-wide trend toward smaller, quicker lineups, the Spurs and Jazz prefer a more methodical, tough, half-court style. Both teams love to pound the ball into their big-men, win on the boards and with tough defense, and grind it out. And they are both highly successful with the approach, having met in last season's West finals (which the Spurs won).

Yet lately both big-ball beasts have been struggling to stay on top in the West as their small-ball competitors have taken over division leads. The Spurs are 5-5 in their past 10, while Utah is only recently emerging from a tough December. As the two meet again Monday in Utah, which big-ball team will bring the biggest game?

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CAVALIERS 
For the past several weeks Anderson Varejao has been playing the best ball of his young career. But that may be put on hold now, since the Brazlilian big-man left Sunday's game with an ankle injury. Varejao played just 16 minutes of the 98-95 win over the Lakers after hurting his left ankle. If he is out long it could be tough for the Cavs, who are already playing without swingman Aleksandar Pavlovic.

GRIZZLIES 
It looks like Damon Stoudamire will be able to find a new team soon. USA Today is reporting that the speedy veteran point guard will be released imminently if he is not claimed on waivers. Stoudamire has not played in January since a late-December decision by the team to go with rookie point guard Mike Conley (who is himself now sidelined with sore ribs). There are several likely destinations for Mighty Mouse, but the most logical might be with the Celtics, who need more depth to back up young point guard Rajon Rondo.

HEAT 
Things are looking pretty gloomy lately for the struggling Heat with Shaquille O'Neal out again with a hip problem. But lately Mark Blount is at least making te loss a little easier to bear. The veteran pivot got off to a slow start this season in Miami but recently he has been looking solid filling in for Shaq. Saturday Blount posted his second straight solid outing in his second straight start, scoring 19 points against the Pacers. He had 23 the game before versus the Spurs.

JAZZ 
Is Carlos Boozer slowing down? It's looking that way. After a torrid start to the season that saw the gritty power forward average 25 points per game in November, Boozer averaged 23 points per game in December and is managing just 18 per contest in January. He did recently post 33 point versus the Kings (on Jan.25) but Sunday had just 13 against the Yao Ming-less Rockets. Perhaps fatigue is taking a toll on the big fella

KNICKS 
Knicks' head coach Isiah Thomas still hasn't found the right formula with his flawed roster, but that hasn't stopped him from mixing and matching. Sunday saw yet another new lineup, this time with Mardy Collins starting and Renaldo Balkman providing the most minutes off the bench. Neither player made a huge difference (although Balkman played good defense against the Warriors with three blocks and two steals) as the Knicks fell again, 106-104.

MAVERICKS 
Could Dirk Nowitzki actually get left off the NBA's Western conference All-Star team? Probably not, but the reigning NBA MVP is in tight for a backup spot on the team for the upcoming All-Star Game. With players such as Chris Paul, Steve Nash, and Amare Stoudemire certain to be named to the squad, Nowitzki will need to hope that NBA coaches write his name down on the ballots. Perhaps Sunday's outing will help, as Dirk dropped 32 points, 11 boards, and four helpers against the Nuggets.

ROCKETS 
With Tracy McGrady in and out of the lineup all season long, Yao Ming has done a great job of carrying the Rockets. But Sunday it was McGrady's turn, as Yao sat out against the Jazz with a respiratory infection. It's uncertain how long the massive center will be out, but it's notable that rookie forward Luis Scola started Sunday in his place and posted 18 points and six rebounds against Utah. Usual backup Dikembe Mutombo didn't play.

SUNS 
With the exception of a recent two-week absence caused by an appendectomy, Grant Hill has been mostly healthy this season for the Suns. That is, until this weekend. Friday the 35-year-old swingman missed most of his team's game against the Cavaliers due to back spasms, and Sunday he sat out all game versus the Bulls with the problem. He is day-to-day with the problem, and Boris Diaw will fill in if he can't go.

TIMBERWOLVES 
He might be a longshot to make the upcoming All-Star team as a reserve in the deep West, but Al Jefferson is giving it his best try. The young and emerging big-man has been really coming on in January, and Sunday had 40 points, 19 boards, and two blocks in a 98-95 pounding of the Nets. The 40 points were a career high for the 23-year-old power forward-center.

WARRIORS 
Last season Andris Biedrins enjoyed a true breakout campaign, but so far this season he hasn't been quite as noticeable. . . at least until Sunday. That's when the athletic young center exploded for 26 rebounds against the Knicks in Golden State's 106-104 win. The 26 boards were the most by any player in the NBA this season.