Pistons deal for Iverson; Nuggets get Billups
pro basketball
The Detroit Pistons shook the NBA in a big way yesterday - landing former Most Valuable Player Allen Iverson from the Denver Nuggets. The Pistons gave up All-Star point guard and former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, top reserve Antonio McDyess and project Cheikh Samb. Iverson is in the final year of his contract, making $20.8 million this season. He could debut with the Pistons tomorrow night at Toronto. Billups is in the second season of a four-year deal worth a guaranteed $46 million with a $14 million team option for a fifth year. Billups and the Pistons won the 2004 NBA title, but Detroit has been looking to overhaul the team after the Pistons exited from the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth straight time last spring. Iverson was the league MVP in 2001 and is a nine-time All-Star. He has averaged nearly 28 points for his career. Billups, 32, is a three-time All-Star who has averaged nearly 15 points and 5 1/2 assists for his career. With the Nuggets' roster growing to 14 after the trade, Denver waived former Wizards forward Juwan Howard.
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MORE PISTONS: : All-Star guard Richard Hamilton agreed to a three-year extension worth about $34 million, a basketball official told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The officials said two years of the contract are guaranteed and the third is partially guaranteed. His current $62 million, seven-year deal was signed five years ago.
RESULTS: : The host Philadelphia 76ers built a 20-point halftime lead en route to a 125-91 victory over the winless Sacramento Kings. ... Dwight Howard had 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the host Orlando Magic past the Chicago Bulls, 96-93. ... Marc Gasol had 27 points and 16 rebounds as the host Memphis Grizzlies beat the Golden State Warriors, 90-79. ... Hamilton scored 19 and visiting Detroit beat the Charlotte Bobcats, 101-83, to improve to 3-0. ... LeBron James scored 29 to send the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-81 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Browns QB Anderson benched for Quinn
pro football
Quarterback Derek Anderson has been benched by the Cleveland Browns, who will start popular backup Brady Quinn on Thursday night against the Denver Broncos. Anderson, who has been inconsistent this season, threw a costly interception that was returned for a touchdown in the final minutes of Sunday's 37-27 loss to the visiting Ravens. Also, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, forced to sit out the 2008 season because of a serious staph infection in his surgically repaired right knee, plans to return next season for the Browns.
