11.   The regular referees, who usually work in three-man crews, have been locked out since the start of the exhibition season.

12.   The regular referees, however, were not thrilled.

13.   The U.S. National Basketball Association and its officials signed their new contract Thursday and the league said the regular referees will return Tuesday.

14.   But it did not start with regular referees.

15.   Players across the league are agreed that they want the return of regular referees after a month with replacements.

16.   Players want their regular referees back before then.

17.   Regular NBA referees have been working Raptors home games.

18.   Regular referees are on the job in Toronto, where the expansion Raptors are covered by a law forbidden replacements for striking workers.

19.   Regular referees called games in Toronto, where laws forbid the use of strike-breaking substitutes.

20.   Replacements from the minor-league ranks had replaced the regular referees, but drew scorn from players and fans for missing calls and being too quick to call technical fouls.