NEW YORK — A review of the NBA's officiating program found no evidence of illegal activity by any referee other than Tim Donaghy, though it recommended significant changes for monitoring gambling and game integrity.

The report, compiled over 14 months by former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz and released yesterday, called for the creation of a "culture of compliance" and closer monitoring of games for suspicious activity.

Pedowitz made three key recommendations to the league: create a hot line to anonymously raise questions about gambling and game integrity issues; make available any complaints the league receives about refs — beginning in the 2008-09 playoffs — to both teams to avoid suspicions of bias; provide more access to referees for both fans and media.

The report also suggests mandatory gambling education for players. "We believe that gambling can expose the players and the League to significant risks, and therefore it is important that players be educated regarding those risks," the report says.

Boston Celtics players Paul Pierce and Ray Allen agreed gambling's an issue that should be addressed.

WARRIORS

CONTEMPLATING CHANGE IN THUNDER AS MASCOT

With the Oklahoma City Thunder now part of the NBA lineup, the Golden State Warriors' mascot might be a goner. Thunder is his name.

Thunder has been part of this franchise for some 12 years and his likeness is featured on the team's primary logo, though the team doesn't use that image much anymore.

Warriors team president Robert Rowell is willing to make the switch for the benefit of the other Thunder, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics. When the timing's right, that is.

"We're clearly going to do something to accommodate Oklahoma City and not have our mascot named Thunder," Rowell said. "For the sake of not making things confusing, we're going to do something. We just have to figure out a good exit strategy."

WNBA

ADVANTAGE AT GUARD HELPS SPARK SHOCK

If the WNBA finals are going to be about stopping the other team's top scorer, Detroit guard Deanna Nolan thinks the Shock have the edge over the San Antonio Silver Stars.

Nolan speaks from the experience of Game 1, when she struggled through a 5-for-16 shooting night while veteran teammate Katie Smith propped her up with a playoff career-high 25 points.

The Silver Stars didn't get the same kind of help for Becky Hammon, who had just four points through three quarters of Detroit's 77-69 victory. Game 2 is tonight in San Antonio before the series shifts to Michigan for Game 3 on Sunday.

Although Sophia Young scored 21 points for San Antonio, no one could match the impact of Smith, a 10-year veteran who was 4-of-8 from 3-point range and added nine rebounds. Her four-point play gave Detroit its first double-digit lead late in the first half.

"Katie was stepping back and shooting 3s with a post on her," Nolan said. "I don't know if they're going to do the same thing, but that's something that's an advantage on our side."

Combined with Taj McWilliams-Franklin (24 points), the duo that usually plays alongside the spotlight of Nolan scored more than half of Detroit's points.

OVER AND BACK ...

New York Knicks forward Jared Jeffries fractured his left fibula at practice yesterday and the 6-foot-11 seventh-year pro is expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks. Also, Eddy Curry didn't practice again while recovering from a bacterial infection.