THREE POINTS

PERSONNEL FILES

It has been hit or miss for teams that signed players waived this season after lucrative contract buyouts, with the biggest hit being Chris Webber with the Detroit Pistons.

Webber, 34, released in January by the Philadelphia 76ers, has opened up the Pistons’ offense while helping them to a 21-6 record as a starter and averaging 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 32.4 minutes.

Eddie Jones, 35, waived by Memphis in February, has averaged 9.7 points while helping resurgent Miami to a nine-game winning streak despite the loss of Dwyane Wade (shoulder).

Jalen Rose, 34, was waived by New York in October but has played only 23 games in Phoenix and averaged 3.3 points.

DEALING AND REELING

The deal helped both teams. That refrain often follows trades, but it’s not true in the short term for Indiana and Golden State, which are 10-17 and 13-15, respectively, since the eight-player Jan. 17 trade in which Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Josh Powell were sent from the Pacers to the Warriors for Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, Ike Diogu and Keith McLeod.

The Pacers have been downright atrocious, losing 11 in a row until beating short-handed Atlanta on Saturday and being outscored by an average of 14 points during the slide.

KINGS WITHOUT KING?

The Cleveland Cavaliers won again Tuesday when LeBron James sat out against Sacramento because of back spasms, moving to 3-0 without him this season and 9-2 during his career.

-- PAUL NETTER