NBA – Williams on the move to Nets; Melo, Billups win on Knicks debut

EAST RUTHERFORD (NBA) - The New Jersey Nets will unveil Deron Williams as the new face of the franchise at a news conference on Thursday afternoon.

The Nets pulled off a major trade to acquire the Team USA playmaker Williams from the Utah Jazz, who in return received Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, a couple of first-round picks and cash considerations.

Williams will be in a line-up that has center Brook Lopez, who is averaging 19.4 points but just 5.8 rebounds.

Nets general manager Billy King said: "I feel Deron Williams is the best point guard in the NBA.

"And when you want to try to win you need a point guard and a center, and I think we have two of the best.”

Williams will be a free agent after next season but the Nets expect him to sign a long-term deal with the club.

He won't be able to sign an extension until July, however, as the Collective Bargaining Agreement runs out after this season.

While there is a lot of uncertainty in terms of how much money teams will have to spend on players, King said: "I don't look at it as a risk.

"I look at it as we can sign him to an extension this summer. And he knows it. We know it. I look at it - I don't think it's a risk."

Melo, Billups win on NY debut

The player New Jersey had tried to acquire from Denver, Carmelo Anthony, ended up being traded to the New York Knicks along with fellow Team USA guard Chauncey Billups and they tasted victory in their first game on Wednesday night.

Anthony had 27 points on 10 of 25 shooting from the floor and also pulled down 10 rebounds in a 114-108 triumph over Milwaukee at Madison Square Garden.

Billups, one of the Americans' co-captains in last summer's gold-medal run at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, made all 12 of his free-throws en route to 21 points.

He also handed out eight assists as the Knicks improved to 29-26.

Anthony spoke on Wednesday about returning home to New York.

"I think New York needed a moment like this," he said.

"When they got Amare (Stoudemire), it brought some excitement back to the city.

"Now, as Amare said, New York basketball is back.

"Will we win a championship this year? Who knows? That takes time.

"But this team is headed in the right direction.

“It's a dream come true for me, and I'm ready to rock."

One of the teams the Knicks trail in the Eastern Conference, Chicago, lost 118-113 at Toronto.

Spain national team point guard Jose Calderon had 17 assists and three steals to go with his six points for the Raptors.

Joakim Noah played for the first time since missing 30 games with a thumb injury and had 16 rebounds to go with his seven points for the Bulls in 25 minutes.

Houston's Courtney Lee, a shooting guard the Bulls have been linked with, had 16 points in 18 minutes off the bench for the Rockets in a 124-119 win at Cleveland.

Mike Conley scored 22 points and handed out nine assists as Memphis prevailed 104-95 at Minnesota.

The Indiana Pacers, who are battling for a play-off spot in the Eastern Conference, got 21 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and a block from Tyler Hansbrough in a 102-101 home win over Detroit.

The Pacers are eighth in the East - one and a half games ahead of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Philadelphia, seventh in the East, won 117-94 at home against Washington.

The Orlando Magic suffered a 111-105 home upset against Sacramento, who were led by Beno Udrih's 18 points and 10 assists.

The Jazz no longer have Williams and they crashed to a 118-99 defeat Dallas, who got 23 points from Dirk Nowitzki.

Utah didn't have Harris or Favors in the squad, yet.

Dallas are 41-16 and playing as if they will go deep into the Western Conference post-season.

And so are the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, who both won their games.

The Lakers got another huge night from one of their Team USA stars, Kobe Bryant, in a 106-101 win at Portland.

Bryant poured in 37 points and corralled nine rebounds while Pau Gasol of Spain added 18 points and 14 boards.

The Blazers lost despite getting 29 points and 14 rebounds from LaMarcus Aldridge.

San Antonio prevailed at home over Oklahoma City, 109-105.

In other games, Phoenix beat visiting Atlanta 105-97, and New Orleans won against the struggling LA Clippers 98-87.

Point guard Baron Davis was not in the line-up for the Clippers amidst speculation that he has been traded to Cleveland for Mo Williams.

FIBA