Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Gooden and Hughes set to face Cavs; James torches Knicks for 50 points; J-Rich comes up big against former team; Celtics first to clinch playoff berth; Nowitzki suspended for one game; and more...

REMATCH 
Cleveland beat Chicago 95-86 last Sunday in the first meeting between the two clubs in the aftermath of their recent blockbuster trade. The Bulls have a chance for some quick payback as they host the Cavaliers at the United Center on Thursday

A lot of players were involved in the deadline deal, but the main men were Ben Wallace and Joe Smith going from Chicago to Cleveland and Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden going the other way. Since arriving with their new clubs, Gooden and Hughes have played bigger roles, both becoming starters for the Bulls. Wallace is starting for the Cavs, while Smith comes off the bench in a reserve role.

Gooden and Hughes have combined for 29.7 points and 13.7 boards per game in their first six outings with Cleveland, while Wallace and Smith have totaled 17.0 points and 14.2 rebounds per game for the Bulls in their first five appearances. So far, the deal looks like a win-win for both clubs.

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BOBCATS 
Charlotte's Jason Richardson finally got some sweet revenge against his former team on Wednesday as he poured in 42 points in the Bobcats' entertaining 118-109 win over the warriors. When J-Rich faced Golden State on February 1, for the first time since last June's trade (for the rights to Brandan Wright), he turned in an awful performance. He sank just two of his seven attempts from the field, finishing with 10 points in a 127-96 loss. Richardson spent six years with the Warriors and was said to be devastated when he was dealt.

BULLS 
Chicago GM John Paxson has reportedly suspended forward Tyrus Thomas two games for skipping practice without permission on Wednesday. The volatile former LSU star is probably unhappy to have been supplanted in the starting rotation by new arrival Drew Gooden. This is not the first time this season Chicago has had a discipline problem with one of their younger players. Earlier in the year, rookie Joakim Noah was suspended two games by his teammates for fighting with an assistant coach.

CAVALIERS 
Cleveland's LeBron James bolstered his MVP case further on Wednesday, scoring 50 points and adding 10 rebounds in the Cavaliers' 119-105 win over the Knicks in New York. Madison Square Garden was abuzz for one of the few times this season as James put on a show, scoring with thunderous dunks and from beyond the arc, where he was 7-for-13 in the game. King James did most of his damage in the second and third quarters when he scored 35 of his 50 points.

CELTICS 
Just 59 games into the 2007-08 season, the Celtics have become the first NBA team to clinch a playoff berth. Boston's 90-78 win over Detroit on Wednesday gives the Celtics a 47-12 record on the year. While Boston has been great this season, the fact they have already wrapped up a postseason spot speaks more to the lack of depth in the Eastern Conference. If the playoffs were to start today, three of the eight eastern teams to qualify would have sub-.500 records. Kevin Garnett had a season-high 31 points for the Beantowners in a win that also gives the Celtics a playoff tiebreaker against the Pistons. Boston won two of the three games between the two squads this year.

JAZZ  
Utah's Andrei Kirilenko did not play against the Timberwolves on Wednesday after injuring his hip when he was fouled by Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki on Monday. The lanky Russian could also miss games against Phoenix and Denver on Friday and Saturday respectively with the injury. In is absence on Wednesday, C.J. Miles got the start for the Jazz. He scored nine points and added three rebounds in Utah's easy 105-76 win over Minnesota.

MAVERICKS 
Dallas will be without Dirk Nowitzki for Thursday's tilt with Houston after the superstar was suspended one game for his flagrant foul on Utah's Andrei Kirilenko on Monday. At the time, a flagrant-1 was assessed by the on-court zebras. However, after the league took a closer look on tape, they upped the call to a flagrant-2, which carries the one-game suspension. With the German power forward sidelined, look for Malik Allen and Juwan Howard to pick up some extra minutes.

RAPTORS 
Toronto is already missing All-Star Chris Bosh with a knee injury. After Wednesday night's 108-83 rout of Miami, the Raptors may now also have to do without fellow forward Andrea Bargnani. The first-overall pick in the 2006 draft got the worst of a third quarter collision with the Heat's Alexander Johnson. The big Italian broke three teeth, but x-rays were negative for facial fractures reports the Associated Press. In a testament to Bargnani's growing toughness, he did manage to make his two free throws after lying on the court for over three minutes. He then left the game and did not return. If both Bargnani and Bosh remain unavailable, look for Rasho Nesterovic, Primoz Brezec and Kris Humphries to see more playing time in the depleted frontcourt.

ROCKETS 
Two of the biggest stars in the NBA will miss the latest Battle of Texas on Thursday as Houston's Yao Ming remains sidelined with a broken foot and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki sits out due to a suspension. Despite the loss of Ming, the sizzling Rockets enter the game in search of their 16th consecutive victory. Dikembe Mutombo, 41, has been doing a decent job as the starter since Ming went down. However, he was completely ineffective (two points, one rebound) in Wednesday's 117-99 win over Indiana, leading to young forwards Carl Landry (13 points, eight rebounds) and Chuck Hayes (nine points, 11 rebounds) playing heavy minutes in relief.

SUNS 
Shaquille O'Neal finally had a vintage Shaq performance for Phoenix on Wednesday, scoring 12 points and adding 18 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Suns dropped a 126-113 decision to the Nuggets. Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson combined to score 61 points in the Denver victory. Phoenix is now 3-5 with the Big Diesel in the lineup.

WIZARDS 
Washington's Gilbert Arenas has played only eight games since last April due to a serious knee injury, but that hasn't stopped the gregarious guard from reiterating to the Washington Times that he still plans on opting out of his contract at the conclusion of this season. He is currently in the midst of a six-year, $65 million deal. That may be a lot of money, but the reality is that Arenas will likely command far more on the open market regardless of his recent injury woes. Agent Zero is reportedly targeting March 25, or thereabouts, as his return date.