Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Young (Warriors) and old (Spurs) clash in San Antonio; Arenas back with Wiz next season?; Jermaine O'Neal returns; Brand back Thursday; Butler back out?; Bosh still hot; and more...


AGE-OLD QUESTION 
Is experience more important in the NBA, or is youthful energy? We might find out Tuesday, as one of the Western conference's oldest teams (the Spurs) takes on one of its youngest (the Warriors) in a possible playoff preview.
With an average age of 31.6, the Spurs' rotation features several experienced veterans who knows what it takes to win. That said, several of the key players in that core are getting a little long in the tooth, by league standards; swingman Michael Finley is 35 years old, small forward Bruce Bowen is 36, Brent Barry is 36, and Robert Horry is 37. Even superstars Tim Duncan (31) and Manu Ginobili (30) are getting on in age. Meanwhile, the Warriors feature several rising stars under 30: point guard Baron Davis (28), big-man Al Harrington (28), combo guard Monta Ellis (22), center Andris Biedrins (21), and forward Brandan Wright (20).

With Golden State battling for the final playoff spot in the West and the Spurs not yet guaranteed a postseason berth of their own, will half-court experience be able to hold off full-court youth on Tuesday in San Antonio?

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GILBERT TO STAY A WIZARD? 
In a recent interview with the Washington Post, Gilbert Arenas announced his intentions to remain in Washington following the season, including willingness to "take a pay cut" assuming the team also signs free-agent-to-be Antawn Jamison. INTEL: Agent Zero is expected by many to opt out of his contract after this season. These comments may give hope to Wizards fans anxious to keep their team intact, though the always-talkative guard could change his mind several times by the summer. Unfortunately, he did not talk about when he will return to the court.

JERMAINE BACK, BOOSTS THE PACERS 
After missing 33 games with a bone bruise to his knee, center Jermaine O'Neal returned on Monday to help his Pacers defeat the Heat 105-85. Coming off the bench, O'Neal played 18 minutes while recording nine points and two rebounds. INTEL: He didn't to a ton at either end Monday, but O'Neal should round into form before the season ends. As he plays more, there is a chance the recently-surging Troy Murphy might see a little less playing time. Murphy logged just 22 minutes Monday night while splitting time with Jeff Foster (26 minutes).

ELTON BACK THURSDAY? 
Elton Brand told the Orange County Register on Monday that the Clippers have penciled him in to return Thursday when they travel to Sacramento to face the Kings. INTEL: Brand ruptured his Achilles last summer, an injury that typically takes upwards of a year to heal. Barring any setbacks he'll play in the final seven games of L.A.'s season. With Chris Kaman still looking far less than 100 percent lately due to back troubles, Brand could conceivably play significant minutes in his return.

CARON TWEAKS HAMSTRING 
All-star small forward Caron Butler was a surprise scratch Monday in the Wizards' 129-87 blowout loss to the Utah Jazz. Butler strained a hamstring on Sunday, and is considered day-to-day. INTEL: The injury is not a major concern yet, as this was the second of back-to-back contests for the Wizards and maybe they were just resting Butler. Andray Blatche started in his place and finished with six points, eight rebounds, and two blocks while the athletic Dominic McGuire came off the pine to post seven points, five boards, and two assists in 32 minutes.

DIRK BACK WEDNESDAY? 
Nursing a knee sprain and a sore ankle, Maverick Dirk Nowitzki missed another game on Monday as Dallas faced the L.A. Clippers. But a report in the Dallas Morning News opens the possibility he could return to action Wednesday against the Warriors. INTEL: Since struggling Dallas is just a half-game ahead of Golden State in playoff race (with the two Nos.7 and No.8 in the West, respectively), Nowitzki's presence would definitely give his team a jump-start. However, the coaching staff might prefer that he show he can handle a full practice before he tests the knee and ankle in a game situation.

BOSH GOING DEEP 
Chris Bosh saw another large workload on Monday while leading the Toronto Raptors to a 104-100 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. In 46 minutes of action, Bosh dropped 32 points, snagged eight rebounds, and handed out five assists. He also made a three-pointer for the third consecutive game. INTEL: As there's no particular reason Bosh has started draining treys of late, his fantasy owners should consider it a nice bonus. He's now 7-14 beyond the arc this season. On the less-positive side, one of the Raptors' biggest problems this season is a lack of inside intimidation and rebounding, so maybe the team would be better served if their best post player were closer to the basket than to the perimeter. Bosh has tallied double-digit boards in just one of his past four outings.

J-RICH STAYS STRONG 
After recently being named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Charlotte guard Jason Richardson came out firing once again Monday, putting in 26 points against the Raptors. The total included four more long balls, bringing his season total to an NBA-leading 211. INTEL: J-Rich has reached the 20 point plateau in seven straight, and while the Bobs continue to struggle as a team, they have to be pleased that he is healthy again. Trading for him before this season was a risk for the team considering his history of knee problems, but Richardson has re-emerged as one of the NBA's premier scoring swingmen.

JOSH & JOE SHOW GROUNDS GRIZZ 
The Atlanta Hawks got a full team effort on Monday, as all five starters scored in double-figures during a 116-99 drubbing of Memphis. Forward Josh Smith led the way with 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists on 11-of-13 shooting, and Joe Johnson buried four triples and added eight assists en route to 19 points. INTEL: Atlanta's been playing like a new team since acquiring Mike Bibby, and are strengthening their hold on the East's eight-and-final playoff spot. Johnson especially has raised his game in March, with his per-game averages for points (24.9), assists (7.0), field-goal shooting (46.8), and three-pointers made (2.8) during the month all tops for his season.

C.J. RISES IN ROUT 
With Andrei Kirilenko (calf) missing Monday's game (his second straight), athletic swingman C.J. Miles received his third straight start for Utah. He played his best game of the season in the 129-87 win over Washington, scoring 29 points (including four three-pointers) to go with five assists and four rebounds. INTEL: As great an effort as this was, Paul Millsap remains Utah's most reliable frontcourt option if AK-47 sits. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan prefers Millsap to come off the bench, but he has logged more minutes than Miles over the past three.