Suns win ninth straight
PHOENIX, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Steve Nash was one of three Phoenix players with 21 points Wednesday night as the Suns stormed to their ninth straight win, 120-101 over Cleveland.
At 13-2, Phoenix has the NBA's best record and is off to its best start in 24 seasons.
Amare Stoudemire and Quentin Richardson also had 21 points while Joe Johnson had 18.
The Suns limited Cleveland's LeBron James to 15 points.
Cleveland is one of the two teams that owns a victory over Phoenix this year.
Phoenix went on an 18-6 run in the third period to break open a close game.
San Antonio equals best start
SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Tim Duncan took over in the second period Wednesday night in leading San Antonio to a 105-72 blasting of Philadelphia.
The Spurs equaled the best start in their history at 13-3.
Philadelphia managed to play San Antonio on even terms in the first period, but Duncan scored 17 consecutive points in the second period en route to a 24-point night.
San Antonio has won 20 straight home games. Devin Brown added 24 points
Mark Jackson led Philadelphia with 18.
Illinois bumps off No. 1 Wake Forest
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Roger Powell led a surprisingly overpowering performance Wednesday night as third-ranked Illinois crushed No. 1 Wake Forest, 91-73.
The Illini hit 56 percent of their shots, held a 21-point lead at halftime and had as much as a 32-point advantage in the second period.
Powell scored 19 points while Dee Brown and Luther Head had 16 each.
Wake Forest had won its first five games and been voted No. 1 for the first time in school history. Illinois is unbeaten in its five games this season and staked a claim to be the top-ranked team in the nation next week.
NHL brass to huddle Thursday
NEW YORK, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and 30 general managers meet Thursday to discuss a contract dispute that has forced cancellation of more than 300 games.
NHL players have been locked out since Sept. 15, when their old collective bargaining agreement expired. Nearly 300 are playing with teams in Europe.
Negotiators for league and players union have not met since Sept. 9.
The NHL wants a salary cap, which the union has refused.
The players have proposed a luxury tax, which Bettman says is not the answer to the league's financial troubles. He said in Edmonton this week a luxury tax would "create a potential for future disaster in the NHL."
D.C. Council OKs new baseball stadium
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- The Washington, D.C., City Council narrowly gave preliminary approval to a finance plan for a new baseball stadium, The Washington Times said Wednesday.
The 6-4 vote with three abstentions handed Mayor Anthony Williams a victory after weeks of acrimonious debate over the construction of a new stadium for the Washington Nationals, formerly the Montreal Expos.
The vote came after more than seven hours of debate. A mandatory second vote is slated for Dec. 14 and will be preceded by more debate and possible revisions to the bill.
"This is a very gratifying day. The council has done a great thing for our city. We're still not completely there yet, but we're now gaining significant momentum," Williams said.
