A federal judge on Friday slapped down NBA efforts to end superstation WGN-TV’s broadcasts of Chicago Bulls games and instead raised the minimum number of such broadcasts allowed from 25 to 30 each season.

“It seems to me that 30 may be a good balance all the way around,” District Judge Hubert L. Will said in Chicago after announcing his decision in a lawsuit closely watched in professional sports and the television industry.

The NBA had sought to curb the superstation broadcasts, saying they hurt ratings of network games. Will rejected that and for the second time in four years called the league’s efforts “a naked restraint of trade.”

He did order WGN-TV and the Bulls to negotiate with their NBA adversaries and work out fees to compensate the league for superstation broadcasts.

WGN-TV and Bulls attorneys had sought permission to air 41 games a season, but claimed victory.

Avent changes story

Orlando Magic forward Anthony Avent recanted his statement to police about a New Year’s Eve knife attack, saying he was stabbed by a friend at home and not by three men who confronted him on a downtown street.

Avent said he was trying to protect the friend, who he would not identify to reporters, from prosecution. He added that he didn’t regret misleading police about the facts of the incident.

“I don’t feel bad about what I did,” the 6-foot-9, third-year pro said before Friday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“If I had to do it over again, I’d do the same thing, knowing I was protecting a friend. I can handle whatever heat comes from this. I was looking out for a friend, and I’m still looking out for a friend.”