THROUGH THE WIRE: TUESDAY (01/04/11)

24. The NBA has announced it's players of the month. For December the honors out west are bestowed upon Kevin Durant, while in the East they are split between the Miami Heat's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. James' averages of 25.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game and Wade's 27.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game this December have proved the critics wrong as Miami posted a league best 15-1 record, including beating defending champion Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day. Defending top scorer Kevein Durant averaged a league best, 29.4 points per game during December. He led his Oklahoma City Thunder to an 11 and 4 record. Durant also had a merry Christmas, beating Denver with a season-high, 44 points and also 7 rebounds, and a double pair of blocks and assists.

48. In other December honors, New York Knicks' Landry Fields and the Los Angels Clippers' Blake Griffin were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month. Fields, fielded averages of 8.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game (this record of thieving leads all rookies). The Clip's Griffin led all rookies in scoring and rebounding with an all-star 23 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. This 20, and 10 top postman also handed out 3.9 assists per game. Also coaches received their monthly honors. Although both teams were written off before the season began the coach of the months honor went to the Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra and the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich. Spo' led the Heat to a hot, 15-1 record while Pop' defended his November coach of the month toitle by furthering his team to a 13-2 record. Congratulations all.

82. Things are looking good for the Knicks in the big apple, still injuries may be taking some bite out of New York's bark. Impressive, Italien forward Danilo Gallinari has injured his knee. It's just a sprain but Gallinari will still miss around a fortnight to just under a month. The injury was picked up during a Knick/pacer game where Danilo's knee, collided with Indiana's Brandon Rush's shoulder. this mid-air collision will ground Gallinari and his 15.3 points per for awhile.

O.T. In other injury news Philly's Andre Iguodla will miss his fifth straight game with bilateral Achilles tendinitis...but Minnesota's Jonny Fylnn will be back in action after he and his sprained ankle sat out Saturday...the Charlote Bobcats are filling out the injury list aslo, Gerald Wallace is set to miss a game with more ankle problems while big man, DeSagana Diop is done for the season with a ruptured right Achilles' tendon. With all theses injuries plastering up the league, is anybody out there willing to suit up and play? TIM DAVID HARVEY.