Hornets Extend Stay in Oklahoma

The New Orleans Hornets will play most of their games in Oklahoma City next season with their hometown still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.

The NBA announced Tuesday that the Hornets would play 35 games in Oklahoma City and six in New Orleans in 2006-07.

NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement that the league remains committed to returning to New Orleans, but “for now, our collective interests are best served by having the team play the bulk of its 2006-07 schedule in Oklahoma City.

“However, we are hopeful that the team will be in a position to return to New Orleans full time beginning in the 2007-08 season.”

Stern also said the NBA will begin talks to bring the 2008 All-Star game to New Orleans.

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Atlanta Hawk forward Josh Smith could become the third player to win consecutive NBA dunk contests when he participates in the event Feb. 18 during All-Star weekend.

Joining Smith this year will be Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knick 5-foot-9 guard Nate Robinson and Hakim Warrick of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Michael Jordan won back-to-back competitions in 1987-88, and Jason Richardson did it in 2002-03.

For the third year in a row, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James on Monday declined an invitation to participate, saying, “I’m not a slam-dunk-competition-type of guy. ... I don’t want to be defined as being in the slam dunk contest, it’s just not me.”

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The Toronto Raptors traded center Aaron Williams to New Orleans for two second-round draft picks.

Williams, 34, averaged 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 14 games with the Raptors this season. He was acquired by Toronto in the trade that sent Vince Carter to the New Jersey Nets in December 2004.

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Sacramento King center Brad Miller will be sidelined for at least one week because of a broken right thumb. He was hurt Sunday at Toronto in the finale of a six-game trip.

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Houston Rocket forward Tracy McGrady has the best-selling NBA jersey in China, with teammate Yao Ming third in his home country based on sales from retail stores across China as of November, the NBA said in a news release.

It is the first time the NBA has done a survey of Chinese sales.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Allen Iverson was second. The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant was fourth on the list, and James rounded out the top five.

The number of jerseys sold wasn’t disclosed.