The Sacramento Kings trailed the Bulls by as many as 35 points on Monday, but Tyreke Evans led a stunning late-game charge as Sacramento stole a road victory in Chicago. Evans started slow but finished with 23 points (8-of-19 FGs, 6-of-9 FTs), eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. He even knocked down his only 3-point attempt. The 35 point comeback was the second largest in NBA history.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Milwaukee: Milwaukee Bucks C Andrew Bogut dominated the Pacers’ frontcourt in Monday’s road victory, scoring a career-high 31 points and grabbing a season-high 18 rebounds. He shot 14-of-19 from the field, adding three assists, one steal and three blocks.

Dallas: Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki (elbow) is on the active list and will play on Tuesday against the Trail Blazers, according to beat writer Eddie Sefko.

Sacramento: Kevin Martin (wrist) is scheduled to have a CT scan on December 30th. If all goes well he could return in early January. “I’ll know more after that,” Martin said. “It could be (early January).” He began shooting again nearly two weeks ago, and recently began doing dribbling drills with both hands.

Detroit: Detroit Pistons F Charlie Villanueva said he will play Tuesday despite plantar fasciitis, which causes “a sharp pain every step I make.” “I can’t really move out there. I’m very limited,” said Villanueva. It seems like only a matter of time before CV needs to take time off and rest his heel, but for the immediate future he sounds like he’ll keep suiting up. On a side note, he is no longer wearing a mask to protect his recently broken nose.

Detroit: Ben Gordon missed his ninth straight game on Tuesday as he recovers from a sprained ankle.
He said he “wasn’t quite ready,” which seems to have been the case for weeks now. Keep him benched until we get a concrete report that he’s ready to suck it up and play.

San Antonio: Spurs rookie DeJuan Blair moved into the starting lineup on Monday, posting eight points and six rebounds in 16 minutes.

Indiana: Pacers center Jeff Foster is out indefinitely with back pain. Foster joined the team in Boston on Tuesday but for the immediate future Roy Hibbert and Solomon Jones will hold down the C spot for Indiana Pacers.

Oklahoma City: Injured veteran Matt Harpring (knee) has been traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of Tuesday’s trade for Eric Maynor. Harpring’s career is almost certainly over, and he’s currently working as a commentator for NBATV. OKC gains an expiring contract, and Utah gets to slash his salary from their luxury tax.

2008-09 NBA Team Preview – Indiana Pacers

2008 Record: 36-46
Division Finish: 3rd – Central
2008 Playoffs: Missed the playoffs.

Head Coach: Jim O’Brien
Season: Going into second season
Record At Indiana: 36-46
Career Record: 218-204

Offseason Acquisitions:
TJ Ford, G, 12.2 ppg, 6.1 apg. – Traded from Toronto Raptors
Radoslav Nesterovic, C, 7.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg., – Traded from Toronto Raptors
Austin Croshere, F, 3.9 ppg., 2.4 rpg. – Signed from Golden State Warriors
Maceo Baston, F, 2.7 ppg., 1.7 rpg. – Traded from Toronto Raptors
Josh Davis, F, 2.5 ppg., 1.7 rpg. – Signed as free agent
Jarrett Jack, G, 9.9 ppg., 3.8 apg. – Traded from Portland Trail Blazers
Josh McRoberts, F, 1.5 ppg., 1.3 rpg. -  Traded from Portland Trail Blazers

Offseason Losses:
Jeremaine O’Neal, F-C, 13.6 ppg., 6.7 rpg – Traded to Toronto Raptors
Ronald “Flip” Murray, G, 11.0 ppg., 3.5 apg – Signed with Atlanta Hawks
Kareem Rush, G, 8.3 ppg, 2.4 ppg – Signed with Philadelphia 76ers
Shawne Williams, F, 6.7 ppg., 2.7 rpg. – Traded to Dallas Mavericks
David Harrison, C, 4.2 ppg., 2.1 rpg. – Signed with Minnesota Timberwolves
Andre Owens, G, 4.0 ppg., 1.5 rpg. – Sign with Serbian League
Ike Diogu, F, 5.6 ppg., 2.8 rpg. – Traded to Portland Trail Blazers

Offseason Transactions:
Signed Jeff Foster, C, to a contract extension.
Exercised the option on Stephen Graham,G, through 2008-09 season.

Rookies:
Roy Hibbert, C, 7-2, 13.4 ppg., 6.4 rpg., Georgetown
Brandon Rush, G, 6-7, 13.3 ppg, 5.1, rpg., Kansas

The Skinny:
Before the Detroit Pistons were the team to beat in the Eastern Conference it was the Indiana Pacers that everyone had to get through to make it to either the conference or NBA Finals. However, the last few years have not been kind to the Pacers, but they look like may have turned the corner and will be a playoff team in 2007-08.

Six years ago the Pacers won the Central Division with a 61-21 record, which is the franchise record for victories. With Reggie Miller only getting better with age like a fine wine and Jermaine O’Neal playing great basketball, the team was on the doorstep of the NBA Finals. They lost to eventual World Champion Detroit in the Eastern Finals.

There are certain moments in sports where you know where you were when something happened. I was in my living room casually watching the Pacers and Pistons in the fall of 2004 when the infamous brawl between the two teams broke out. That might have changed the relationship between the fans and players in all of professional sports It also started a downward spiral for the Pacers.

Indiana managed to get into the second round of the playoffs in 2004-05, but the next year they were bounced in the first round. Three years after playing for the Eastern Conference title, the Pacers were a dismal 35-47. Last season was not much better for the team as they posted a 36-46 record.

But things are not as bad as they may seem in Indiana. As bad as the East is, they still had an outside shot at the playoffs last season and made a great effort to get in. The Pacers won nearly a third of their games during the last month of the season, going 11-5 down the stretch and 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Unlike some teams – New Jersey I am looking in your direction – that purge their teams with a fire sale, Indiana has gradually made changes over the last two years. Last season they brought in Jim O’Brien as head coach, who had Boston in the conference finals in 2001-02 and his teams have made the playoffs in three of the five full seasons he has coached.

Two years ago they started trimming the fat and brought in Troy Muphy and Mike Dunleavy, Jr from Golden State. During this last offseason they traded the face of the franchise, O’Neal, to the Toronto Raptors. While those two trades completely changed the face of the organization, I think they were greatly needed. Between the fight with the Pistons and the retirement of Miller the team needed a new identity. I think they have made the right moves for a fresh start.

I will admit that I have never been a Dunleavy fan, dating back to his days at Duke, but I am also one to admit when I am wrong and this case I am wrong. I would have never guessed that he was averaging double figures the last six years and last season he posted a career-best 19.1 ppg,, an improvement of five points per game. That improvement got him in the running for the NBA Most Improved Player award.

A player who probably does not get enough credit is forward Danny Granger. He quietly led the team with 19.6 ppg. last season. Granger has made huge strides in his three years in the league. He upped his scoring averaged by six points from 2006-07 and by 12 since his rookie season.

While Indiana gave up O’Neal – who has been hampered by injuries of late – they did pick up a big piece of the puzzle in point guard T.J. Ford. The Pacers desperately needed an experienced point guard and Ford’s 6.1 assists per game and 12.2 ppg. will fill that role nicely.

The departure of O’Neal obviously leaves a whole in the front court. As part of the O’Neal trade the Pacers got center Radoslav Nesterovic. He was a spot starter for the Raptors, but was a key part to the San Antonio Spurs’ success, including their 2005 NBA Championships team. I could see him being the starter for the first portion of the season until rookie Roy Hibbert comes along. I am a big Hibbert fan and I like that Indiana has him instead of Australian Nathan Jawai that they originally drafted.

Troy Murphy is a solid power forward, but probably the weakest link in the Indiana starting five. Do not get me wrong, his 12.2 ppg. and 7.2 rpg. is solid, but I think that is the one area that still needs to be addressed. He averaged a double-double for two seasons with Golden State, but his production has slipped of late.

Prediction:
If Indiana stays healthy I think they are a playoff team. They made a good run at the endof the season and have made some good moves to make their team even better. Their biggest problem is their depth.

One through five they have a playoffs caliber team, but their reserves are shaky. Nesterovic and Hibbert are two solid players at the center and Ford has a very good back-up at the point guard position in Jarred Jack. He was a good back-up for the Trail Blazers and Indiana should not miss a beat with him in to spell Ford.

Another spot where they have a good back up is at the shooting guard position. I like players who know how to win and Brandon Rush led the Kansas Jayhawks to the national championship. He will make a good reserve behind Dunleavy and one day could be a great starter in the league. I like that Indiana swapped the draft rights of Jarryd Bayless for Rush.

That leaves the two forward positions as the susceptible ones. Behind the very talented Granger they only have Stephen Graham, who is below average. The Pacers have brought in a bunch of players to compete for the back-up spot to Murphy. The four players Indiana signed – Austin Crosher, Maceo Baston, Josh Davis and Josh McRoberts – did not averaged as many points combined as Murphy. Crosher is the choice for now. He played for Indiana during their heyday, but is starting to get old. Do not ask me why McRoberts left Duke early. He could have used an extra year there. Instead he has been mediocre, but most Duke pro players do not pan out.

With a strong starting five I think Indiana will get into the playoffs this year. I expect to see them a few games over .500 or right around there. That should put them in the sixth or seventh seed. I think their frontcourt is too weak to get them beyond the first round, but if they upgrade the power forward position they could make a run in 2009-10.

2008-09 NBA Team Preview – Atlanta Hawks

2008 Record: 37-45
Division Finish: 3rd – Southeast
2008 Playoffs: Lost, 4-3, to Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference First Round

Head Coach: Mike Woodson
Season: Going into fifth season
Record At Atlanta: 106-222
Career Record: Same

Offseason Acquisitions:
Ronald “Flip” Murray, G, 11.0 ppg., 3.5 apg – Signed from Indiana Pacers
Maurice Williams, G-F, 9.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg. – Signed from Orlando Magic
Randolph Morris, F-C, 3.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg., – Signed from New York Knicks
Thomas Gardner, G, – Free Agent

Offseason Losses:
Josh Childress, G-F, 11.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg – Signed in Greece
Salim Stoudamire, G, 5.7 ppg., 0.8 apg – Signe with San Antonio
Signed Jeremy Richardson, F, 1.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg, – Signed with Orlando Magic

Offseason Transactions:
Matched Memphis Grizzlies contract offer for Josh Smith
Picked up the option on Al Horford through 2009-10
Picked up the option on Acie Law through 2009-10.

Rookies:
Othello Hunter, F, 6-8, 9.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg., Ohio State

The Skinny:
If the Atlanta Hawks were in the Western Conference we would be talking about how they had a great chance to improve their team in the lottery. But since they play in the Eastern Conference were talking about how fortunate they are to be a playoff team. Of course since they did not have any draft picks anyway I guess it was best to make the playoffs. It gives them something to build on and sell tickets.

The Hawks have one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Point guard Mike Bibby, a nine-year veteran, threw off the curve when he joined the team last year. Joe Johnson and Speedy Claxton have six years of service then after that no one has more than four.

That is the good news because they have got a lot of youth and if they can keep this team together they have a shot of being good for a while. That young, cocky attitude was what they need to push the Boston Celtics to a seventh game in the first round of the playoffs.

The flip side of being young is that their inexperience often shows at the wrong time, like game seven against Boston when they lost by 34 points. I think in order to force a game seven they had to expend most of their energy in a tight 103-100 game six victory.

Rick Sund was named the Hawks’ general manager in May, but he didn’t have much to work with. When Atlanta acquired Joe Johnson from Phoenix in 2005 they had to give the Suns their 2008 first round pick. Then when the Hawks brought Bibby on board last season it cost them their second round pick.

Atlanta did get two quality free agents during the offseason. They signed Ronald “Flip” Murray from Indiana. He can play either the point or shooting guard spots. In addition, they picked up swingman Maurice Williams from the Orlando Magic. They signed undrafted rookie Othello Hunter from Ohio State. He was a spot starter during the Buckeyes’ run to the National Championship game and averaged 9.9 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game as a start on the OSU’s NIT Championship squad.

The reason for the such a quiet offseason is that Atlanta has almost all of its pieces back from last year’s team. Conventional wisdom says that should make them a better team, but we will see. It is the East after all.

Johnson is back for his fourth season with the Hawks. Since being traded to Atlanta from Phoenix he has averaged at least 20 ppg., including last season when he tossed in 21.7 ppg. Johnson is one of the better all-around players in the league as he averaged 4.2 rpg. and assists per game last season.

Five of the Hawks’ top six scorers are back for the 2008-09 season. Atlanta matched an offer sheet from the Memphis Grizzlies to keep Josh Smith and his 17.2 ppg. and 8.2 rpg. around for a few more years. They had to do that. He is the face of the franchise and if they lost him they might have spun back into oblivion. Forward Marvin Williams continued his improvement as he poured in a career-high 14.8 ppg. and grabbed 5.7 rpg.

The lone top scorer not back is Josh Childress. He accepted a $20 million, three year deal to play in a team in Greece. I guess he is just chasing the money since he had a pretty decent season last year. The Haws will miss his 11.8 ppg. and 4.8 rpg. Atlanta still holds the rights to Childress for two more years if he decided to come back to the NBA. If they do not rescind their qualifying offer to him he will count for about $4.5 million against the cap.

The weakest portion of the Hawks last season was the point guard spot so that is why they went out and got Bibby. Speedy Claxton was hurt most of last season and Acie Law was just a rookie and was not ready to start in the NBA. That left most of the duties up to Johnson, which probably affected his scoring production. Just over halfway through the season the team brought in Bibby and he averaged 14.1 ppg. and 6.5 apg., but the team went just 15-18 with him running the show. Bringing in a point guard at midseason is like bringing in a quarterback. Yeah it might be an upgrade, but only over time. It takes a while to get all the timing down. I would imagine the team was Law to learn behind Bibby for a few years.

Prediction:
I am not exactly sold on Atlanta as a consistent playoff team. Last season was their first trip to the playoffs in eight years. And it is not like the Hawks have been just knocking on the doorstep of the playoffs every year only to just miss it by this much. They have been brutal.

The 37-45 record was their best record since 1998-99 when the last made the playoffs. If this team plays in the Western Conference it is excited about a lottery pick, not selling playoff tickets.

I could be wrong about the Hawks this year, but I do not think they are going to make the playoffs. As bad as the East is, it is very possible that I am wrong. Atlanta, Indiana and New Jersey are all very mediocre teams that will be fighting for that eighth spot. Who knows what the Miami Heat will do this year, but I think they will be better as well. Maybe someone like Toronto or Orlando slips up and two of the three aforementioned teams gets into the playoffs.

I have never really been a big Mike Bibby fan. I am just not. I think he has got some occasional good moves that give him some flash, but I do not think there is much substances there. Think back to all the talent he had around him in Sacramento during that four-year run from 2000-04 and they never got it done. I always thought he got out-played in crunch time.

As I said above bringing in a point guard in midseason is like bringing in a quarterback at midseason, but should he not have made them slightly better? At least they could have gone more than 15-18 during his time. He is an improvement over what they had, but not what they need to be a consistent playoff team.

Another problem for the Hawks is at the center position. Second-year man Al Horford will be the starting center, but I am not sure if he is an NBA center or not. Maybe in college, but I do not think he can do it in the Association. I think he would be a great power forward, but you already have Smith and Williams. Maybe I am wrong. He put up some solid numbers his first year – 10.1 ppg. and 9.7 rpg. – but less than a block per game. Zaza Pachulia from Georgia, the country not the school, is his back up and he is mediocre. Once Horford came in last year Pachulia was demoted to the bench and only scored 5.2 ppg and grabbed 4.0 rpg.

I also think losing Josh Childress is going to be a bigger problem than they think. He was a really good sixth-man and they did not bring in any of his caliber during the offseason. Flip Murray is okay, but I do not think he is at Childress’ level.

Bottom line, I see the eighth spot in the East going to someone like Indiana or New Jersey, not the Hawks. If this team stays together and improves they could build into a consistent playoff team, but they are a year or two away from that.