Los Angeles - For one quarter, Carmelo Anthony went into attack mode, and then into the NBA history books.

Anthony erupted for 45 points, including a league record-tying 33 in the third quarter, carrying the Nuggets to a 116-105 home victory over the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

"That was one of the greatest quarters I've ever been apart of," said Anthony, who added 11 rebounds to his ninth career game of 40 or more points. "The most important thing is we won the game tonight."

Los Angeles - It's only December but the Phoenix Suns are already doing their spring cleaning.

The Suns sent Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and rookie Sean Singletary to the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday, in exchange for shooting guard Jason Richardson, second-year forward Jared Dudley and a 2010 second draft choice.

Los Angeles - Looking to pull themselves out of the Eastern Conference cellar, the Washington Wizards on Wednesday picked up a pair of backup guards in a three-team trade with the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets.

The Wizards (4-13), who recently fired head coach Eddie Jordan due to their slow start, acquired Javaris Crittenton from the Grizzlies and Mike James from the Hornets.

Los Angeles - With the Detroit Pistons failing to click on all cylinders recently, help has returned in an effort to get them charged up again.

Antonio McDyess has re-signed with the Pistons for the remainder of the season, the club announced on Tuesday.

On November 3, McDyess, along with starting point guard Chauncey Billups and Cheikh Samb were dealt to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for high-scoring guard Allen Iverson.

Los Angeles - Randy Wittman became the latest NBA coaching casualty, after the bottom-feeding Minnesota Timbwervolves fired him and named vice president of basketball operations, Kevin McHale, as his replacement.

Wittman's dismissal comes on the heels of a five-game losing streak, including a 29-point drubbing by the New Jersey Nets, and a 23-point embarrassment at the hands of the equally-abysmal LA Clippers (4-16) over the weekend

Los Angeles  - J. J. Barea's big second half gave the Dallas Mavericks a victory. His teammates almost gave it back.

Barea scored 20 of his 22 points after halftime Saturday night and the host Mavericks survived a furious late surge by the Atlanta Hawks for a 100-98 victory, their ninth win in
10 games.

German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and Jason Terry added 19 for Dallas, which nearly blew a 17-point lead in the last

five minutes. Nevertheless, the Mavs have won four in a row overall and five straight at home.

"We got another win," Terry said. "We're disappointed with the way we finished. But we're excited about the way we played for 45 minutes."