New Jersey

People who live in New Jersey can be forgiven if they initially yawned Thursday morning at the news of another federal sting that swept up a wide range of public officials, including the young mayor of Hoboken, who's been on the job all of three weeks. They might have even shrugged at the report that five rabbis were also snared in the dragnet for allegedly washing $3 million through an international money-laundering ring. But body parts?

While a sprained left ankle spoiled Vince Carter's return to New Jersey, it did nothing to slow down Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. Carter scored 16 points before leaving the game against his former teammates in the second quarter, but Howard more than made up for his absence with 20 points, 22 rebounds and four blocks in a 95-85 victory Friday night. Carter, who said he was feeling better after the game and hoped to be back Sunday, spent the second half in the trainers' room and had his ankle wrapped.

Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, climbed on a stage here the other night and hailed his state's political history at a rally for Jon Corzine, the embattled Democratic governor running for reelection. "New Jersey," Booker shouted to supporters in the upscale sushi bar, "is a state of impossible dreams." Until recently, that described Corzine's likely odds at the ballot box Tuesday. But the unpopular governor's race against Christopher Christie, the Republican challenger, has tightened to a dead heat after months of relentless negative campaigning by both sides.

at Charlotte 79, New Jersey 68: Gerald Wallace had 24 points and 20 rebounds and the Bobcats held the Nets without a point for more than 10 minutes during a 24-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters. It was the longest scoring drought in the NBA in nearly four years. at New York 117, New Orleans 111: David Lee scored 28 points, Al Harrington had 13 of his 24 in the fourth quarter, and the Knicks earned their first win of the season. Chris Paul had 32 points and 13 assists for the Hornets.

Cleveland 100, at New York 91: LeBron James scored 33 in his lone Madison Square Garden appearance. Phoenix 110, at Boston 103: The Suns' Jason Richardson had 34 points. at Orlando 110, Detroit 103: The Magic held off Charlie Villanueva's 22 fourth-quarter points. Milwaukee 87, at Minnesota 72: Andrew Bogut's 17 points countered 20 by Timberwolves' rookie Jonny Flynn. at Miami 96, Denver 88: The Nuggets suffered their first loss of the season. at Indiana 102, Washington 86: Tyler Hansbrough debuted with 13 points.

Ducks Tonight At NEW JERSEY When: 4 PDT. Where: Prudential Center; Newark, N.J. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks: 6-7-2, Devils: 11-4-0. Record vs. Devils (2008-09): 1-0-0. Update: The Ducks enter a four-game trip with a two-game winning streak. Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere is on the active roster for the first time since Oct. 24 when he aggravated a strained groan muscle. Giguere figures to be in the backup role behind Jonas Hiller, although Giguere told reporters he doesn't want to serve a backup role anymore.

Seven states and two family planning groups asked a federal court to block a controversial federal regulation that protects health workers who refuse to provide care that they find objectionable. In three lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, the states and groups sought a court order preventing the regulation from going into effect Tuesday and a permanent decision voiding the rule. "The Bush administration has left a ticking political time bomb that is set to explode literally on the day of the president's inaugural and blow apart women's rights," said Connecticut Atty.

It was good news for poetry that Barack Obama had award-winning poet Elizabeth Alexander read her "Praise Song for the Day" at his inauguration last month. It was maybe not as good news for Alexander, who had to follow Obama's speech -- a challenging time slot for sure. The poem was, to some, underwhelming and, to others, forgettable. But one man saw this as an opportunity: the radio DJ who goes by Kenny G at WFMU-FM, an independent, free-form radio station in New Jersey that broadcasts into New York City (it's online too at www.wfmu.

It wasn't the iconic image -- or importance -- of Marty McSorley's stick, but when the Kings surrendered two goals in the final 1:53 and lost at Montreal to begin their 11-day East Coast swing, their season appeared to be plummeting on a trajectory that was just as sharp as that infamous blade. Already on the far fringes of the playoff race, the Kings still had visits to two of the NHL's hottest teams, Atlantic Division leader New Jersey and Southeast Division leader Washington, as part of their five-game trip.