national team reach an agreement that gives the players a pay raise for World Cup qualifiers in exchange for a no-strike pledge through 2005. The USSF had threatened to lock out the players for the team's first game in the CONCACAF final qualifying group on February 9 at Trinidad and Tobago. (AP/Yahoo!) 20 January 2005 (Thursday) NBA basketball: (NBA) The Houston Rockets defeat the Orlando Magic 108–99 in Orlando. Tracy McGrady scored 27 points in his return to Orlando. (NBA) The Dallas Mavericks defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 99–79 in Dallas. (NBA) 19 January 2005 (Wednesday) NBA basketball: (NBA) The Boston Celtics end the Chicago Bulls' seven-game win streak with a 92–83 win in Boston. (NBA) The Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Charlotte Bobcats 107–105 in Charlotte. (NBA) The Toronto Raptors defeat the New York Knicks 98–81 in Toronto. (NBA) The Miami Heat defeat the Atlanta Hawks 111–92 in Miami. (NBA) The New Jersey Nets defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 96–90 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (NBA) The New Orleans Hornets upset the Indiana Pacers 90–87 in New Orleans (NBA) The San Antonio Spurs defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 80–79 in San Antonio. (NBA) The Memphis Grizzlies defeat the Phoenix Suns 88–79 in Phoenix. (NBA) The Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 107–101 in Portland. With 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, LeBron James becomes the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. (NBA) The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 93–90 in L.A. (NBA) NFL: Former Oakland Raiders offensive lineman Barrett Robbins is formally charged with three counts of attempted murder in an incident involving Miami Beach, Florida policemen which left one officer injured and Robbins hospitalized with two gunshot wounds. (Miami Herald) Swimming: FINA strips Montreal of hosting duties for the world swimming championships for 2005 because the city couldn't raise sufficient funds. Athens, host of the 2004 Summer Olympics, looks to be the likely replacement.(USA Today) 18 January 2005 (Tuesday) NBA basketball: (NBA) Orlando Magic 103, Detroit Pistons 101 in Orlando. (NBA) Dallas Mavericks 137, Washington Wizards 120 in Dallas. (NBA) Indiana Pacers 87, Houston Rockets 74 in Houston. (NBA) Sacramento Kings 113, Portland Trail Blazers 107 in overtime in Sacramento. (NBA) Denver Nuggets 116, Seattle SuperSonics 100 in overtime in Seattle. (NBA) 17 January 2005 (Monday) NBA basketball: (NBA) Chicago Bulls 88, New York Knicks 86 in New York. (NBA) Milwaukee Bucks 99,