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Kobe Does It Again: Hits Game-Winner In Final Seconds Against Raptors

2010-03-10T06:37:48Z

Lori Shepler - AP

about 4 hours ago: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, is called for an offensive foul as he runs into Toronto Raptors guard Jarrett Jack (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 9, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lori Shepler)

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Read more about the Lakers on SB Nation's Laker blog, Silver Screen and Roll, and follow the Raptors on Raptors HQ.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant played hero again, sinking the winning jumper from the right baseline with 1.9 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game skid with a 109-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Bryant, who missed a potential winning three-pointer at the end of regulation in a 106-105 loss in Toronto on January 24, scored 32 points, dished out six assists and had six rebounds.

Andrew Bynum tallied 22 points, while Pau Gasol registered 17 points and nine boards for the Lakers, who were on their longest skid since January of 2008.

Chris Bosh hit the tying three-pointer with 9.5 seconds left in regulation and finished with 22 points for Toronto, which has lost six of seven overall and eight straight on the road against the Lakers. Andrea Bargnani added 21 points and Jarrett Jack notched 18 points, seven boards and seven assists.

A turnover by Hedo Turkoglu led to a pair of free throws for Derek Fisher, giving the Lakers a 106-102 lead with 30.6 seconds left.

Jose Calderon then drove in for a quick bucket before Lamar Odom made 1-of-2 at the charity stripe with 19.6 seconds left. Bosh then tied the game from the top of the arc before Bryant worked his magic.

Bryant drove around Antoine Wright and shot the ball over a pair of defenders before it swished through for the lead. It was the sixth game-winning shot of the season for Bryant, who had 14 points in the last quarter.

Wright's desperation shot from deep in his own end was way off the mark.

Toronto trailed 29-24 after one quarter, but surged late in the second to grab a 58-50 lead at halftime. The Raptors continued to hold the advantage in the third, moving to the last period with an 84-81 edge.

The Lakers haven't lost four in a row since April 8-13, 2007...This was the start of a four-game road trip for Toronto with contests upcoming against Sacramento, Golden State and Portland...The Lakers finished 36-of-44 at the foul line...Toronto has lost eight of its last 10 vs. the Lakers.

Danny Granger, Channing Frye Each Suspended One Game For Altercation

2010-03-09T23:44:53Z

Matt York - AP

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NBA Power Rankings: Where March Matters

2010-03-09T19:19:30Z

John Raoux - AP

2 days ago: Official Tony Brothers (25) stands between Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) and Orlando Magic forward Matt Barnes, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, March 7, 2010. Orlando won 96-94. Bryant and Barnes continuously traded elbows and were each hit with a technical foul in the third quarter after going chest-to-chest in a verbal spat. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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SB Nation's Mike Prada loves March Madness as much as the rest of us, but in this week's edition of the SB Nation NBA Power Rankings, he reminds us that March matters in the NBA, too.

We're a week away from March Madness, meaning everyone conveniently forgets about the NBA to go ga-ga over a bunch of amateurs dribbling around the perimeter and bricking threes. (I'm kidding college basketball fans. But only a little). That's your right, I suppose.

However, you'll end up missing a key part of the NBA calendar. March is when the contenders push for the playoffs and the pretenders start tanking. March is when we figure out who enters the playoffs hot and who enters the playoffs stumbling. March is when teams become settled after the trade deadline and really show us who they are.

If you're playing well in March, chances are you're going to play well in April, May and June. The Spurs used to own March, using the month as their sign the real season had begun. Naturally, the Spurs won several championships and became the closest thing to a dynasty that we saw in the NBA this decade. The Celtics went 21-4 in March and April of 2008, which spurred them to the title that season. In other words, March matters a lot.

March also helps us get some separation in our power ranking tiers. We know now for a fact that ten teams are completely out of it. Depending on how the Bucks and Spurs do the rest of the season, we also know for a fact that there are 12 shoo-ins for the playoffs and eight more teams fighting for positioning. Finally, depending on how Boston responds this week, we know there are six or seven teams that are a threat to win it all. By the end of the month, we'll probably have even more clarity on these tiers.

I guess it's not March Madness, because it's not as exciting. But it's also certainly not March Meaningless. And since that was a horrible pun, let's get on with the rankings.

IN THEIR OWN CATEGORY

30. New Jersey Nets: 7-56 overall, 1-3 last week

SBN Blog: NetsDaily

Last week: 30.

The Nets have won two games in two weeks. Rejoice!

In all seriousness, they are playing much better recently, and a big reason is Devin Harris. Since the all-star break, Harris is averaging 20.6 points and 7.5 assists per game, which is a significant improvement from where he was in the first half of the season. Toss in an improved Courtney Lee, and the Nets are actually getting some legit production out of their so-called Big 3 (Harris, Lee, Brook Lopez). Sure, the other 11 players on the roster stink (especially Yi Jianlian, because we have to get our shots in at Yi Jianlian), but they're not really a part of the future anyway. Things are looking up.

(Think of this after the Nets drop to the fourth pick, select Derrick Favors and overpay for Rudy Gay with their cap space this summer).

DREGS OF THE LEAGUE

29. Minnesota Timberwolves: 14-50 overall, 0-3 last week.

SBN Blog: Canis Hoopus

Last week: 29.

I guess it's understandable for a team to start tanking in March, but damn, they could at least be subtle about it. In last night's loss to Dallas, Kevin Love played 12 minutes. That's it. As I mentioned last week, Kevin Love is all sorts of awesome. If you look at the advanced stats -- you know, the kind that do a better job of measuring real impact on the game -- Love is having a historically good season for young forwards. How he plays only 12 minutes in a game is beyond me. I'm going to assume the Wolves are tanking, because no coach could be that stupid.

Earth to Kurt Rambis, you're not dealing with the video game version of Kevin Love here. (Warning: language not safe for work)

28. Golden State Warriors: 17-46 overall, 0-5 last week.

SBN Blog: Golden State of Mind

Last week: 28.

Warrior fans are among the most loyal in sports. Don't believe me? Take one look at the stands at a Warriors home game. They're pretty close to full, even though the Warriors have made exactly one playoff appearance in 16 years. So when one rabid Warriors fan writes that he's reached the breaking point and will not renew his season tickets, it speaks volumes about just how bad it's become. Even Warriors fans, who are predisposed to failure and incompetency, are fed up.

For everyone's sake, I hope Larry Ellison from Oracle buys the team already. Can I get an amen?

27. Indiana Pacers: 20-43 overall, 0-4 last week

SBN Blog: Indy Cornrows

Last week: 26.

Coaching is a tough profession, don't get me wrong. You only have a certain amount of control over your team, and it's much less than any fan thinks you have. Still, Jim O'Brien committed a pretty epic blunder this week. The Pacers hung around in the first half against the mighty Lakers last Wednesday, led by strong play from Josh McRoberts. But when asked about McRoberts' play, here's what O'Brien had to say.

"It's irrelevant," O'Brien said. "Try to do it in a winning effort. It's really irrelevant."

See Josh, you gotta show more fight when it matters! Like this.

Wait, nevermind, that was in a losing effort too. I guess you're screwed then.

26. Washington Wizards: 21-39 overall, 0-3 last week.

SBN Blog: Bullets Forever

Last week: 22.

Last week, the Wizards faced two elite defenses (Milwaukee and Boston) for the first time since they blew up their team. The result? They couldn't score. I guess they are who we thought they were.

25. Detroit Pistons: 22-41 overall, 1-3 last week.

SBN Blog: Detroit Bad Boys.

Last week: 25.

I have nothing snarky to say about Rodney Stuckey's scary collapse. Here's hoping he'll ultimately be okay. I'm also happy to see the Pistons respond with a big win over the Rockets without Stuckey on Sunday. In Stuckey's absence, Will Bynum had 12 points, 11 assists and just one turnover. He's also a free agent, and you'd think he'd like to go somewhere else where he won't be stuck behind three other guards in the pecking order. Whoever gets him will be getting one hell of a bargain.

(You hear that, Wizards? Whoever gets Will Bynum will be getting one hell of a bargain.)

24. Philadelphia 76ers: 23-39 overall, 1-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Liberty Ballers

Last week: 24.

The fact that they beat Toronto in the impossible early-afternoon Sunday game the Raptors always seem to win just underscores why this team is so frustrating. They have talent, but they have no cohesion and terrible coaching. It should come as no surprise that Eddie Jordan is on the chopping block.

It also should come as no surprise that Sixers fans would rather have Jordan Sams from SB Nation's Sixers blog Liberty Ballers be the team's next coach than Doug Collins.

23. New York Knicks: 22-41 overall, 2-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Posting and Toasting

Last week: 27.

There are three constants in this world. Death, taxes, and the New York Knicks being confusing. I don't even bat an eye when they follow up a 20-point home loss to the Nets (which included an 0-18 performance from three-point range) with a one-point win against the Hawks. Just sit and nod.

22. Sacramento Kings: 22-41 overall, 2-2 last week

SBN Blog: Sactown Royalty

Last week: 22.

Someone needs to teach Spencer Hawes how to rebound. In the wake of Sunday's loss to Oklahoma City, a game in which the Kings were outrebounded 45-33, Sactown Royalty crunched some numbers and found that Hawes is pretty much the only one to blame. In 24 minutes, Hawes grabbed two rebounds. The last time those two teams played, he had three rebounds in 31 minutes. Since Tyreke Evans is the only one allowed to score on the Kings (slight exaggeration), Hawes needs to rebound. Unfortunately, since rebounding can't really be taught, Hawes is kind of screwed. As are the Kings.

21. Los Angeles Clippers: 25-38 overall, 0-3 last week.

SBN Blog: Clips Nation.

Last week: 21.

BO-RING.

MEDIOCRE CLUBS

20. Houston Rockets: 31-31 overall, 1-2 since the break.

SBN Blog: The Dream Shake

Last week: 19.

The Rockets are struggling since the trade deadline, but it's not Kevin Martin's fault. The Mongoose has stepped up his game in Houston, averaging an efficient 23.3 points per game on just 15.9 shots. Whose fault is it? Well, they miss Carl Landry a lot (and Landry misses them too), and their lack of interior defense and rebounding is really catching up to them. Therefore, it's looking like no playoffs for them.

Which is okay. The Rockets were punting this year anyway after the Yao Ming injury, and they now have a ton of draft picks and assets at their disposal (thanks to Donnie Walsh). I just wish they went back to being plucky overachievers like they were earlier in the season.

On the bright side, Shane Battier does karaoke, in a tongue-in-cheek way.

19. New Orleans Hornets: 32-32 overall, 1-2 last week.

SBN Blog: At the Hive

Last week: 15.

With the news that Chris Paul's injury is more serious than initially expected, let's reopen the debate about Darren Collison. We know Collison has been outstanding in Paul's place. We also know that it's hard to justify keeping both players around when the Hornets have several other weaknesses at other positions (as well as a hefty luxury-tax bill already in 2010-11). It would seem logical to trade Collison this summer to upgrade another position and/or to help cut costs by forcing anyone acquiring Collison to take on one of the Hornets' bad contracts.

But what happens if Paul's injury problems continue? Paul doesn't exactly have the body of a player who will stand the test of time. He's had two serious injuries already in his career, the other one being in 2006-07. Isn't it nice to have Collison around as insurance? Collison's cheap too (on a rookie contract), so it's not like you're paying through the roof for a backup point guard.

There's one other option (and I'm going to be killed for even bringing this up). What about trading Paul? If you're the Hornets, you have to be concerned not only with Paul's longevity, but also his frustration with the direction of the franchise. This year will mark the second straight year where the team has fallen in the standings, and there isn't too much hope for a major roster reconstruction in the near future. With Collison already in tow, don't you have to at least consider trading Paul while his value is high? I know this is bordering on blasphemy, but you have to at least think about it.

Anyway, none of these questions would have been relevant if Collison wasn't playing out of his mind like he is. So I guess it's a good problem to have.

18. Chicago Bulls: 31-31 overall, 0-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Blog A Bull

Last week: 14.

Here's a lesson for all those teams that actually make money: do your due dilligence when filling out the end of your bench. Otherwise, you could end up like the Bulls, who are in deep trouble now that Joakim Noah is out for at least three weeks. Noah's a valuable player, but he becomes more valuable when his backups stink. Brad Miller lost about five steps this summer, and the only other center on the roster is Noah's college teammate Chris Richard, who isn't exactly lighting up the D-League. Naturally, the Bulls have lost four in a row after surging into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

But hey, this is what you get when you strive to win the profitability title instead of the NBA title.

17. Toronto Raptors: 32-29, 1-1 last week.

SBN Blog: Raptors HQ

Last week: 14.

I really don't want to come across like one of those "offense wins games, but defense wins championships" curmudgeons, but the Toronto Raptors are currently surrendering an average of 112.4 points per 100 possessions this year. This is 1.5 points worse than the 29th-best defensive team. Keep this in mind anyone starts to talk about the Raptors as a dangerous first-round opponent in the playoffs.

16. Charlotte Bobcats: 30-31 overall, 2-1 last week.

SBN Blog: Rufus on Fire

Last week: 29.

Crazy stat of the day: the Bobcats are 4-2 this season against the Lakers and Cavaliers and 26-29 against everyone else. This will become relevant if they make a deep playoff run. In other words, it won't be relevant.

15. Memphis Grizzlies: 33-31 overall, 3-1 last week

SBN Blog: Straight Outta Vancouver

Last week: 18.

I can't begrudge someone for creating a Hasheem Thabeet mix, not when you can find mixes of the most obscure players in the league on YouTube. But could you at least not make it public while Thabeet's in the NBA Developmental League? By doing that, you're just asking me to mock you.

I think it's safe to say timing isn't a strong suit for most YouTube users.

14. Miami Heat: 32-31 overall, 3-0 last week.

SBN Blog: Peninsula is Mightier

Last week: 20.

I hate this team. Just when we thought they were floundering, they win three straight, including an instant classic against the Lakers on TNT. It's not their fault; in fact, you have to give them a lot of credit for being a .500 team with that roster. But if I'm the Grizzlies, I'm sitting there and thinking, 'How the hell is that team a playoff team? Why can't we be in the Eastern Conference?'

Look at their roster beyond Dwyane Wade. Jermaine O'Neal is having a really good year, but he's your second-best player. Michael Beasley remains terribly inconsistent. The team's two point guards are Rafer Alston, who is threatening to retire after skipping practice, and Carlos Arroyo, who wasn't in the NBA last year. They've given nearly 2700 minutes combined this season to Dorrell Wright, Joel Anthony and Daequan Cook. On paper, they stink. But despite that, they're one game over .500 and could be a dangerous matchup for a team like Atlanta, who they've beaten three of four times this year.

Usually, it's fun to watch a team play better than they should. For some reason, though, Miami is no fun. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that management clearly doesn't care about this season. The Heat, like the Knicks, have had their eyes on 2010 for over two years now, yet they escape the criticism the Knicks get for punting two years of Wade's prime. I want to see Miami's brass criticized, so therefore I want the Heat to miss the playoffs. Instead, they're winning, and I'm mad.

GOOD, BUT NOT GREAT

13. San Antonio Spurs: 36-25 overall, 2-1 last week

SBN Blog: Pounding the Rock.

Last week: 10.

Dear television commentators,

Do me a favor. Don't look at the name on the front of the jersey when talking about the Spurs' chances this spring. Look at the facts.

FACT: Tony Parker is hurt and might not be back this season.

FACT: The Spurs have the most difficult closing stretch of any team in the league. Twelve of their final 21 games are on the road. They still have to play Orlando twice, the Lakers twice, at Dallas, at Denver, at Phoenix, at Atlanta, at Boston, at Oklahoma City and at home against Cleveland. That means 11 of their last 21 games are against teams in the top 10 of these power rankings.

FACT: The Spurs still lay eggs in games they should win. Last night, they lost to Cleveland without LeBron James. Here's a visual reaction by a Spurs fan on Pounding the Rock.

At this point, the question shouldn't be whether the Spurs can win the title. Instead, it should be whether they can hold on to a playoff spot. They are five and a half games ahead of Memphis right now, but that closing schedule is brutal. It's totally conceivable that the Spurs fall apart without Tony Parker and miss the playoffs, which I'd personally prefer since I'd love to see a Grizzlies-Lakers first-round series.

So please, ignore the name on the front of the jersey and focus on the facts. If this were any other team, we'd be writing their eulogy already.

12. Portland Trail Blazers: 38-27 overall, 2-0 last week.

SBN Blog: Blazers Edge

Last week: 12.

This season has seen two firsts for Andre Miller. Earlier this season, he scored 50 points in a game for the first time in his career. This week, he dunked the ball on the fast break for the first time in his career.

Who said he was a bad free agent signing?

(Disclaimer: I'm sure Miller has dunked before, so this is obviously an exaggeration, but I think we can all agree he rarely does it, if ever).

11. Milwaukee Bucks: 33-29 overall, 3-0 last week.

SBN Blog: Brew Hoop

Last week: 13.

The best team in the league right now that nobody's heard about. Since the trade for John Salmons, the Bucks are 9-1, with their only loss coming on the road in overtime to the Hawks on the second game of a back-to-back. They're so good that fans don't really know how to act.

Salmons and the Bucks have been a perfect match. The Bucks needed someone to score points, even if he's not much of a passer, and Salmons needed to go somewhere where he could shift back to small forward and get his touches. That's the thing about Salmons: he needs minutes and touches, but if he gets them, he suddenly becomes a great two-way player. With the Bulls this year, Salmons was forced to play shooting guard and stand around while Luol Deng took his shots. His defense and passing suffered tremendously. Now, he's getting his minutes and touches, and his defensive intensity has skyrocketed. He looks like the John Salmons we saw in the playoffs last year, if not better.

If I'm one of the top four teams in the East, I'm praying I don't have to play the Bucks. They're so good defensively, particularly with their ball pressure, so they'll tire our guards out. They're not a great scoring team, but they have the two things you need in the playoffs at a bare minimum: an elite post player (Andrew Bogut) and a wing player capable of creating his own shot (Salmons). If Brandon Jennings gets overwhelmed by the playoffs, they have a great, experienced backup in Luke Ridnour that can step in. I don't think Milwaukee will win a series, but I do think they'll tire out whoever they play enough to prevent that team from making a deep playoff run.

Tonight's game against Boston will say a lot about the Bucks. Here's hoping they win.

10. Atlanta Hawks: 40-23 overall, 2-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Peachtree Hoops.

Last week: 8.

Last year, the Hawks surged to the top of the league early on, only to fall back to the middle of the pack. This year, the same pattern is happening. The Hawks were 20-8 at Christmas; they're just 20-15 since. They haven't beaten an elite team (i.e. a team ahead of them in these rankings) at full strength since January 29, when they beat the Celtics for the fourth time this year (they did beat the Jazz, but the Jazz were playing without Deron Williams). The league has caught up with how the Hawks play, and because they're coached by Mike Woodson, the Hawks haven't adjusted.

Making matters worse, this is the Hawks' time. Joe Johnson's a free agent after the year is over. If they let him go, they fall way back in the standings. If they overpay him (which is what it'll likely take), they stagnate as a team that's about as good as they've been the past couple years. So their time is now either way. Unfortunately, it's looking more and more like the Hawks aren't going to be a major threat in the playoffs.

9. Oklahoma City Thunder: 38-24 overall, 3-1 last week

SBN Blog: Welcome To Loud City

Last week: 9.

An area of concern for the Thunder: their once stout defense has been leaking recently. They allowed 107 points to the Kings, 119 to the Nuggets and 102 to the Kings again. They managed to win both games against the Kings, but for a team that needs to defend at a high level to compete, their recent performances are concerning.

On a completely different note, I've decided Nick Collison is a chill bro, or at least more of a chill bro than Michael Scott of the Office.

8. Phoenix Suns: 40-25 overall, 2-1 last week

SBN Blog: Bright Side of the Sun.

Last week: 7.

The Suns are 29th in defensive efficiency, 30th in forced turnovers and 29th in defensive rebounding, yet they're potentially headed for 50 wins again. It's really amazing they're winning so many games.

Speaking of amazing, how crazy is it to see Grant Hill play this well again? I won't say he's the Hill of old, because that would be crazy, but he looks young again. He scores so many points in transition, beating younger players in the dust. He handles the ball when he has to, defends at a high level and makes athletic plays that guys 15 years younger couldn't make. Like this one:

Watching Hill gives me hope that Gilbert Arenas can get his act together, overcome his injuries and be somewhere close to the same player he used to be for the Wizards. If Hill can recover from his injury problems, why can't Arenas? Then, I remember that there's a big difference between the Suns' training staff and the Wizards', and I get depressed again.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS

7. Boston Celtics: 40-21 overall, 4-0 last week.

SBN Blog: Celtics Blog.

Last week: 12.

They've won four in a row, so I'll put them back into contender status even though they still looked pretty bad in slipping by the hapless Wizards on Sunday. Maybe they can do it again. Who knows? Maybe there aren't chemistry problems after all. Maybe the Celtics are like that married couple that overcomes all their problems to succeed. Maybe they can win the title again.

Or ... maybe they're winning because they played Detroit, Charlotte, Philadelphia and Washington. The Celtics have games in Milwaukee and Cleveland this week, so we'll find out

6. Utah Jazz: 40-22 overall, 2-0 last week.

SBN Blog: SLC Dunk

Last week: 6.

It's good to be the Utah Jazz right now. Sure, you've got a pesky luxury tax bill, and you have a big decision to make on Carlos Boozer this summer. But you've also won 21 of your last 26 games, even with an undrafted rookie starting at shooting guard. You also have a likely high lottery selection this year, courtesy Isiah Thomas. Finally, nobody is paying attention to you, even as your tear up the league. Everyone's touting Dallas and Denver as the teams with the best chance of dethroning the Lakers, but nobody's mentioning you. That's just how you want it to be.

5. Denver Nuggets: 42-21 overall, 3-0 last week.

SBN Blog: Denver Stiffs.

Last week: 5.

I still believe the Nuggets have the best chance at beating the Lakers in a seven-game series when it's all said and done. Nobody on the Lakers can guard Chauncey Billups, and the Lakers in general struggle with Denver's speed. But the Nuggets are in big trouble with the losses of Kenyon Martin until the playoffs and Ty Lawson for a while. An already shallow team now has to give heavy minutes to Malik Allen and Anthony Carter, two guys who haven't deserved big minutes since 2004. Dallas has already passed them, and Utah is hot on their heels. Hell, Phoenix could overtake them. Playoff seeding matters, because as good as the Nuggets have played the Lakers, they've also let down against other teams.

Denver's also like Atlanta in that this is their best shot. The Nuggets already have $70 million committed to just six players last year, meaning they're going to have to go into penny-pinching mode soon to avoid a huge luxury tax bill. Billups is getting older, as is Martin. Other Western Conference teams are getting better. If the Nuggets don't win this year, they probably won't win in the near future either.

To Denver's credit, at least they're in a better spot than the Hawks because they'll have their core players no matter what. But it's still armageddon for them, and these injuries really don't help.

4. Los Angeles Lakers: 46-18 overall, 1-3 last week.

SBN Blog: Silver Screen and Roll

Last week: 2.

Three-game losing streak! Panic!

(I have nothing more to say about this team that hasn't already been covered by Kelly Dwyer. Just read this. Yes, that means you, Kobe).

3. Orlando Magic: 44-20 overall, 3-0 last week.

SBN Blog: Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Last week: 3.

Let me take you back to the summer of 2008. The Wizards had just signed Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison and were ready to compete for a title (stop laughing please. I said STOP LAUGHING!). Arenas had generously left a little bit of money on the table, enough to sign a backup small forward for about half of the mid-level exception without going over the luxury tax. Arenas' buddy Matt Barnes was then a free agent, having fallen out of favor in Golden State. Arenas never told the Wizards to sign Barnes outright, but that was the implication.

Instead, the Wizards signed Dee Brown. Barnes went on to Phoenix, where he flopped, and now he's in Orlando, where he's become an indispensable player for cheap. He's given the Magic toughness, and, as Orlando Pinstriped Post notes, he's making a tangible difference too. Isn't that exactly the type of player the Wizards have missed the last few years?

That's why Orlando's management is great and the Wizards' isn't. Well, it's just one reason. Imagine Barnes doing this to LeBron James as a member of the Wizards. Of course you'd find that awesome.

2. Dallas Mavericks: 44-21 overall, 4-0 last week.

SBN Blog: Mavs Moneyball.

Last week: 4.

Dallas has now won 12 games in a row after fleecing Washington in the Caron Butler/Brendan Haywood trade. They're clearly the second-best team in the league at this moment. And yet, Shawn Marion is indicating he isn't so thrilled with how many shots he's getting. This is unbelievable. Marion has played nearly his entire career with Steve Nash or Jason Kidd, and all he's done is complained about it. I'd tell him to go play for the worst team in the league to gain some perspective, but he's already done that (Miami in 2007-08) and nothing has changed.

Can you overcome someone grumbling like this? Yes, of course. Should you have to? No, absolutely not. When is Shawn Marion going to cheer up and realize he's in a great, great situation?

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: 50-15 overall, 3-1 last week.

SBN Blog: Fear the Sword

Last week: 1.

The Cavs lost this week, but it was to red-hot Milwaukee without LeBron James, so they're still atop this list. Cavs fans, be happy?

However, I gotta take a shot at LeBron James while I can. (Be proud, Cavs fans. I haven't taken a single shot at my least favorite player in the league until now). Apparently, Brandon Jennings was a little excited about the win and showed it. This reportedly pissed off LeBron, who told friends he wasn't enthused by Jennings' conduct.

Uhh ... seriously? Pot, meet kettle.

I rest my case.

Mavericks Make It Twelve In A Row, Crush Timberwolves 125 -112

2010-03-09T04:09:47Z

Jim Mone - AP

1 day ago: Minnesota Timberwolves' Ryan Hollins, left, defends as Dallas Mavericks' Caron Butler lays up a shot in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 8, 2010 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

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For more, check out our Mavericks blog, Mavs Moneyball, and our Timberwolves blog, Canius Hoopus.

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Shawn Marion posted 29 points to go with 14 rebounds, pacing the Mavericks to their 12th straight victory in a 125-112 decision over the lowly Timberwolves.

Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler added 24 and 23 points, respectively, for Dallas, which is in the midst of its longest winning streak in three seasons.

Jason Kidd ended with 12 points and 10 assists for the victors.

Minnesota's Al Jefferson returned for a two-game suspension for a suspected DWI and scored 36 points on 16-of-21 shooting while pulling down 13 rebounds. Ryan Hollins had 13 points and nine boards before being ejected late in the game for Minnesota, which has dropped six straight overall and ninth straight at the Target Center against the Mavs.

Minnesota actually got out to a fast start, as Jefferson scored 11 points in the first five minutes, hitting a turnaround jumper for a 19-9 lead.

The Mavs countered with a 23-4 flurry over the next five minutes to take control. Marion had 10 points during the stretch, and Dallas led 34-27 at the first-quarter buzzer.

It was a double-digit game for most of the second quarter, and Dallas' 71-61 lead at halftime fell to seven, 77-70, following a Hollins dunk near the nine- minute mark of the third.

Again the visitors had an answer, scoring 12 of the next 13 points, as a Nowitzki bucket yielded an 89-71 lead midway through the frame.

Dallas owned a 97-84 advantage with 12 minutes to play, and the closest the T'Wolves got in the fourth was 10.

Down 112-102 with under four minutes left, Hollins caught Nowitzki with an elbow going after a rebound and was subsequently ejected. Earlier in the game, he got away with a similar forearm to the face of DeShawn Stevenson.

Nowitzki, who earlier in the day was awarded the Player of the Week in the Western Conference for the period ending March 7, hit the ensuing four free throws and the Mavs cruised from there.

The last time the Mavs tasted defeat was on February 16 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are on their longest win streak since a franchise-best 17- game run from January 27-March 11, 2007...Rodrigue Beaubois ended with 11 points for the Mavs, who made half of their 96 field goal attempts...Jonny Flynn posted 13 points and eight assists for Minnesota, which won the battle on the glass, 54-39.

Knicks Escape Atlanta With 99-98 Win, Gallinari Drops 27

2010-03-09T03:35:43Z

Bill Kostroun - AP

1 day ago: New York Knicks' Sergio Rodriguez, of Spain, gets sandwiched by Atlanta Hawks' Jamal Crawford, left, and Al Horford, right, during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 8, 2010 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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Danilo Gallinari made four three-pointers and finished with a game-high 27 points, as the New York Knicks escaped with a 99-98 win over the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Danilo Gallinari made four three-pointers and finished with a game-high 27 points, as the New York Knicks escaped with a 99-98 win over the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden.

David Lee contributed a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Al Harrington went for 14 points off the bench for the Knicks, who were able to recover from a 113-93 loss to New Jersey on Saturday.

New York, which had lost four of its last five coming into the contest, made 10-of-15 three-pointers after setting an NBA record by going 0-for-18 from three-point range in the setback to the Nets.

Josh Smith had a team-best 25 points to go along with 10 rebounds and six assists, while Joe Johnson ended with 22 points for Atlanta, which dropped its second straight after a four-game winning streak. Al Horford, who was unable to get off the would-be game-winning shot as time expired, turned in a solid performance with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

LeBron Sits And Jamison Leaves With Injury, But Cavs Still Beat Spurs

2010-03-09T03:29:07Z

Ron Schwane - AP

1 day ago: Cleveland Cavaliers' Mo Williams, right, brings the ball up against San Antonio Spurs' George Hill during the first quarter in an NBA basketball game Monday, March 8, 2010, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

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Mo Williams had 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, as the Cleveland Cavaliers edged the San Antonio Spurs, 97-95, in a matchup between shorthanded teams.

For more, check out our Cavaliers blog, Fear the Sword, and our Spurs blog, Pounding the Rock.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Mo Williams had 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, as the Cleveland Cavaliers edged the San Antonio Spurs, 97-95, in a matchup between shorthanded teams.

The Cavaliers rested LeBron James for a second consecutive game, and may have lost Antawn Jamison to injury. Jamison left the game nearly midway through the third quarter and did not return.

Jamison finished with 17 points, while Delonte West had 16 points and came up with a big steal in the final minute. Jawad Williams added 13 points for the Cavaliers, who rebounded from Saturday's loss at Milwaukee and became the first team this season to win 50 games (50-14).

Manu Ginobili had a huge night for the Spurs, sinking seven three-pointers on his way to 38 points. He appeared to hit a game-tying three with 14.2 seconds left, but it was ruled a two-pointer after review.

George Hill added 23 points for San Antonio, which had its four-game win streak broken and played its first game since losing guard Tony Parker to a broken hand on Saturday.

Ray Allen's Go-Ahead Shot With Seconds Left Lifts Celtics Over Wizards 86-83

2010-03-08T03:01:24Z

Michael Dwyer - AP

2 days ago: Boston Celtics' Ray Allen, right, and Paul Pierce celebrate Allen's go-ahead basket in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, March 7, 2010, in Boston. The Celtics won 86-83. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

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Ray Allen hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 17.1 seconds left in regulation to lift Boston to an 86-83 comeback victory over Washington at TD Garden.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Ray Allen hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 17.1 seconds left in regulation to lift Boston to an 86-83 comeback victory over Washington at TD Garden.

Allen ended with a game-high 25 points, while Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo chipped in 17 and 15 points, respectively, for the Celtics, who have won four straight on the heels of a 1-3 stretch.

Al Thornton led the Wizards with 24 points and 11 rebounds but missed a potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer. Andray Blatche posted 23 points and nine boards for the Wizards, losers of three straight.

Boston rallied from a 79-66 deficit with 6:11 remaining by scoring 10 straight points, as Pierce's jumper made it a three-point game with 2:57 to play.

McGee's alley-oop slam did little to curb the Celtics' momentum, as a Kevin Garnett free throw and Rondo layup preceded Allen's three-pointer from the left that suddenly gave the hosts a 82-81 lead.

Randy Foye gave Washington the lead again with 1:17 to play, and after unsuccessful trips from both teams, Allen found himself open on the right side and drained a go-ahead three with 17.1 seconds on the clock.

Blatche was short on a shot inside the lane, and Washington knocked the carom out of bounds. Garnett's 1-for-2 trip to the foul line with 5.8 ticks left kept the Wizards' hope alive, but Thornton's open three from the left wing hit all iron to end the game.

The Celtics shot a meager 35.0 percent from the field in the first half and trailed 25-19 at the end of the opening quarter and 44-38 at halftime.

Washington led by as many as 11 in the third and took a 66-62 cushion into the final frame, which the Wizards began on a 9-2 run to push their lead to double digits again.

Boston has won six against the Wizards, who received 13 points from JaVale McGee...Kendrick Perkins totaled 12 points and seven rebounds for the Celtics, who ended up shooting 41.1 percent from the floor...Garnett missed all seven of his field goal attempts and ended with eight points and 10 rebounds...Washington made 1-of-11 from three-point range.

Kobe Misses Shot At Buzzer, Magic Hold Off Lakers, 96-94

2010-03-07T19:20:19Z

John Raoux - AP

2 days ago: Orlando Magic guard Vince Carter, with ball, draws a foul from Los Angeles Lakers center Josh Powell on a drive to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, March 7, 2010. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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Vince Carter scored a team-high 25 points as Orlando escaped with a 96-94 win over defending champion Los Angeles in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.

For more on today's game, be sure to visit Orlando Pinstriped Post for the Magic and Silver Screen and Roll for the Lakers.

Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Vince Carter scored a team-high 25 points, and Dwight Howard added 15 points and 16 rebounds, as the Orlando Magic escaped with a 96-94 win over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.

Jameer Nelson finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Orlando, which has won five straight and seven of its last eight overall. Rashard Lewis hit four three-pointers and ended with 12 points and six boards.

Kobe Bryant, who missed a potential game-tying shot at the fourth-quarter buzzer, led all scorers with 34 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers, who have dropped three straight -- all on the road -- for the first time since January 23-27, 2008. Pau Gasol donated a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds in defeat.

LA, which earned a 98-92 victory over the Magic on January 18 at Staples Center, defeated Orlando for the NBA title in five games last year. It was the Lakers' 15th title in franchise history.

Trailing, 74-64, after three quarters, Bryant hit a pair of jumpers to ignite an 8-0 run and get LA to within two, 74-72, with 8:35 remaining. Orlando answered with a 7-2 burst to grab a 81-74 after a Howard dunk a short time later. On the play, Gasol was issued a flagrant foul, but Howard missed both free throws.

Then, with the Magic up 94-89 in the final minute, Bryant drained a corner three with 26.4 seconds on the clock. After Nelson was fouled and made 1-of-2 from the stripe, Bryant hit a long jumper from the top of the arc with 12.9 ticks left to cut LA's deficit to one.

The shot was originally ruled a three before the officials briefly reviewed it, and the replay clearly showed Bryant's foot was on the line. Carter was then fouled and made 1-of-2 with 9.7 seconds to go before Bryant's medium-range jumper was off the mark as time expired.

The Magic had a 31-24 lead after the first 12 minutes, then went up by double- figures, 38-28, after Mickael Pietrus hit a three-pointer in the early stages of the second quarter.

Orlando continued to hold the lead throughout the period, but Gasol's dunk got the Lakers to within 52-48 heading into the break. A layup and jumper from Matt Barnes and Jason Williams, respectively, allowed the hosts to build a 71-59 lead with 2:27 left in the third quarter, and the Magic settled for a 10-point lead after three.

Despite the loss, the Lakers have won 17 of the last 23 matchups with the Magic and hold a 31-12 advantage in the all-time series...Howard's double- double was hit 50th of the season, which leads the NBA...Orlando will also face the Clippers and Chicago Bulls on its three-game homestand...The Magic shot 41.1 percent from the field, while LA shot only 37.5 percent...Barnes finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Tony Parker Breaks Hand, May Miss Rest Of Regular Season

2010-03-07T18:37:31Z

Joe Murphy - NBAE/Getty Images

3 days ago: MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 6: Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots against Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies on March 6, 2010 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Gregg Popovich expects his point guard to miss six weeks, which puts him out until the beginning of the playoffs.

The San Antonio Spurs got devastating news from their win at Memphis: point guard Tony Parker may be lost for the rest of the regular season after breaking a bone in his right hand.

Parker broke the fourth metacarpal – the bone between the bottom knuckle and the wrist – near the end of the first half and did not return to the game. The injury apparently occurred during a scramble for the ball.

A Spurs spokesperson confirmed the broken bone, but could not say how long Parker, the team's second-leading scorer at 16.6 points a game, would miss. The team will evaluate the injury later.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was more direct about the nature of his point guard's loss. "He's got a broken hand. He'll be out six weeks," Popovich said. "He did it in the first half when he dove on the floor."

If that six week figure holds true, that would keep Parker out for the balance of the regular season; six weeks from yesterday is April 17, and the Spurs' season finale is April 14 at Dallas.

The usual thing to do in this scenario--especially when dealing with a playoff stalwart like the Spurs--is to say "well, at least he'll be back and fresh for the playoffs, which is exactly what San Antonio could use." Problem: the Spurs could miss the playoffs. They're 36-24 (which would be an easy 5 seed in the East), which gives them a 7 seed. Portland's at 8, and they're only 1 1/2 games behind San Antonio; the best-case scenario is that that order flips and the Spurs face Los Angeles in Round 1. Yikes.

If you're a Tony Parker owner in fantasy basketball, acquire George Hill at once. If you're a Spurs fan, embrace the power of prayer.

Nets Romp At MSG For Seventh Win, 113-93

2010-03-07T03:17:37Z

Frank Franklin II - AP

3 days ago: New York Knicks' Danilo Gallinari (8), of Italy, shoots over New Jersey Nets' Courtney Lee (6) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 6, 2010, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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For more on today's game, read about the Knicks at Posting and Toasting and the Nets at Nets Daily.

New York, NY (Sports Network)

- Devin Harris recorded a season-high 31 points on 13-of-21 shooting to help the New Jersey Nets to just their seventh win of the season, 113-93 against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Courtney Lee, who missed the last three games with a sprained left ankle, added 25 points. Brook Lopez racked up 18 and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who picked up their second win this season over New York, which is more than any other opponent.

The Nets, who came back from a 16-point deficit, recorded a season-high 14 three-pointers (14-of-24) in moving to 7-55 on the season.

David Lee paced the Knicks' offense with 23 points and six rebounds, while Wilson Chandler picked up a double-double with 20 points and 10 boards, but New York lost for the 15th time in 18 contests.

Cavs Rally From Huge Deficit To Top Pistons 99-92, Stuckey Taken To Hospital

2010-03-06T03:12:28Z

Tony Dejak - AP

4 days ago: Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) jumps to the basket against Detroit Pistons center Kwame Brown (38) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 5, 2010, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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Read more about Rodney Stuckey's medical emergency here. And be sure to visit our Pistons blog, Detroit Bad Boys, and our Cavaliers blog, Fear the Sword.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - LeBron James dropped 40 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out six assists to lead Cleveland in a 99-92 win against Detroit at Quicken Loans Arena.

Antawn Jamison added 17 points and Anderson Varejao scored 16 and pulled down 10 rebounds in Cleveland's sixth straight win.

Detroit built up a 20-point lead in the first half and led through three quarters before a freakish medical emergency involving Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey cast a cloud over the end of the game.

Stuckey suffered what seemed to be a seizure during a timeout with 2:30 left in the third quarter and was rushed from the arena on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance. He was said to be stable after being taken to nearby Cleveland Clinic, but was given an EKG and an oxygen tank during a nearly 12-minute delay while Stuckey lay in front of Detroit's bench.

Tayshaun Prince had 23 points and Richard Hamilton scored 20 for the Pistons, who have dropped six straight. Stuckey had 10 assists and eight points before leaving. Charlie Villanueva chipped in a dozen points.

Jackson, Bobcats Take Down Lakers, 98-83

2010-03-06T02:59:58Z

Nell Redmond - AP

4 days ago: Charlotte Bobcats guard Stephen Jackson (1) tries to pass as Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar, left, and forward Ron Artest defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 5, 2010 in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

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For more, check out our Lakers blog, Silver Screen and Roll, and our Bobcats blog, Rufus On Fire.

Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Stephen Jackson scored 21 points, and the hot-shooting Bobcats trounced the Lakers, 98-83, dealing Los Angeles its second straight defeat.

Gerald Wallace added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who had lost five of their previous six games. Charlotte has been one of the few teams to have recent success against the Lakers, winning seven of its last 10 encounters with the defending champions.

Tyrus Thomas contributed 14 points and nine boards for Charlotte, which shot a very efficient 51.4 percent from the field. In addition, the team went 6-of-12 from three-point range in the win.

Conversely, the Lakers, who were led by Kobe Bryant's 26 points, shot just 36.3 percent in their second loss in as many nights. Andrew Bynum added 14 points and 10 boards, but Los Angeles will have just one more opportunity to get a win on its three-game road trip -- Sunday in an NBA Finals rematch at Orlando.

Jordan Farmer posted 12 points, while Pau Gasol had 11 with 13 rebounds, as the Lakers shot just 3-of-18 from long distance in defeat. It was the lowest point total for Los Angeles since scoring 79 in a loss to Denver on November 13.

Bynum recorded eight points and seven boards in the first quarter, and Los Angeles grabbed a 26-23 lead after 12 minutes, but Charlotte quickly erased its deficit and moved in front for good.

The Bobcats scored the first five points of the second quarter to move in front, and Thomas capped a 6-0 burst a short time later for a 34-29 edge.

Charlotte was able to increase its lead to six, 49-43, at halftime. The hosts then opened the second half on a 10-0 burst, as Wallace drilled a pair of threes for a commanding 59-43 advantage.

The Lakers never recovered and trailed, 75-63, heading to the fourth. The Bobcats' lead reached as high as 20 in the final quarter, as they coasted to the victory.

The teams split the season series, 1-1...Raymond Felton finished with 13 points for the Bobcats, who got 12 points from D.J. Augustin...Tyson Chandler, who missed the last seven games with a foot injury, scored six points and grabbed four rebounds in 15 minutes. Nazr Mohammed (back) did not play...Each team had 41 rebounds and 20 turnovers.

Rodney Stuckey Returns Home After Suffering Seizure

2010-03-06T02:06:39Z

Tony Dejak - AP

4 days ago: Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey is carried out on a stretcher in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Friday, March 5, 2010, in Cleveland. Stuckey collapsed into a trainer's arms on the bench Friday night during a game against the Cavaliers. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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During the third quarter of Friday night's Pistons-Cavaliers game in Cleveland, Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey left the floor and promptly collapsed near the bench. Stuckey was unresponsive. Behind the bench, fans fell silent, as medical staff attended to Stuckey.

Stuckey was loaded into an ambulance and is now being taken to a medical center about a mile away. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers and Pistons have resumed play.

Unfortunately, details regarding Stuckey's situation are scarce at the moment. We are hoping the best for Stuckey, and as soon as we learn more details, we'll pass them along.

Does This Mean Steve Nash Is Human? Injuries Catching Up With Suns Superstar

2010-03-05T20:50:11Z

Gregory Bull - AP

4 months ago: Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash, center, warms up before a preseason NBA basketball game with the Philadelphia 76ers in Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Behind is teammate Goran Dragic. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

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For a few years now, we've been expecting Steve Nash to show the effects of aging. In fact, we all probably underestimate just how many times Steve Nash has been written off. The idea that Nash might fade or begin to decline has been around for quite some time. Remember when he went to Phoenix from Dallas?

Even back then, when Nash was just 30 years old, ESPN's Bill Simmons had this to say about the move:

Any time you construct a free agent offer that's so insane, Mark Cuban studies it for a few minutes, then throws up his hands and says, "You know what, I can't match that thing" ... I mean, that's a pretty good sign you went overboard. Which is exactly what the Suns did by guaranteeing Steve Nash and his bad back $60 million. Crazy contract. Just crazy.

Since then, he's won two MVPs, carried the Suns year-in and year-out, and signed another lucrative contract extension that seems crazy. Until you remember that he's Steve Nash.

For years now, he's had a laundry list of nagging injuries, and yet, he's kept getting better. His mastery of the point guard position is truly a thing to behold, and despite the injuries, he's still a nightmare for defenses, and the catalyst for a Phoenix offense that remains among the NBA's elite. But now it looks like the wear and tear might be finally catching up to him.

From SB Nation's Suns blog, Bright Side of the Sun:

"I'm sore when I wake up in the morning," said a frustrated Nash."It's mentally and physically fatiguing to play physically at a deficit for so long...I can't do the things I want to do and it's painful out there but I've got to find a way to suck it up right now...Hopefully I'm not hurting the team."

Nash describes the impact of his injuries on his game this way, "I have no thrust. Every movement my back tightens and stops me from going somewhere. Our training staff does a great job to even get me out there at all."

Contrary to Simmons' point above, the Nash contract has wound up being one of the better signings in NBA history. Since his arrival, Nash has been a revelation on and off the court, infusing that team with an energy not seen since the days of Kevin Johnson in the mid-90s. The marriage between Phoenix and Nash has been perfect in almost every sense. But everyone gets old. All dreams have to end sometime.

Thursday night in a loss Jazz, Nash went 0-3 in the critical fourth quarter, and according to Seth Pollack, he "grimaced in pain while putting his arms through the sleeves of his shirt." Nash is still a great player, but he's human, too. With the playoffs on the horizon for Phoenix, you have to wonder: How long can he keep this up?

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Set To Return To The Cavaliers

2010-03-05T02:53:31Z

David Zalubowski - AP

15 days ago: In this Jan. 8, 2010, photo, Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, of Lithuania, heads to the bench during the Cavaliers' NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in Denver. An official within the league tells The Associated Press the NBA has not threatened to stop a potential reunion between the Cavaliers and Ilgauskas. The Cavaliers traded their longtime center to Washington last week in the three-team deal that brought Antawn Jamison to Cleveland. The Wizards may decide to buy out Ilgauskas, allowing him to become a free agent. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Miami Edges Kobe And The Lakers In Overtime, 114-111

2010-03-04T23:32:58Z

Issac Baldizon - NBAE/Getty Images

5 days ago: MIAMI - MARCH 4: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat drives against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 4, 2010 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Udonis Haslem hit the go-ahead basket in overtime and Carlos Arroyo sealed the game at the foul line, as Miami upended the Lakers, 114-11.

Read more at our team blogs, Silver Screen And Roll and Peninsula Is Mightier.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Udonis Haslem hit the go-ahead basket in overtime and Carlos Arroyo sealed the game at the foul line, as Miami upended the Lakers, 114-111, at American Airlines Arena.

Dwyane Wade dished out a season-high 14 assists to go with 27 points, while Quentin Richardson scored 25 points behind 7-of-11 shooting from three-point range for the Heat, who have won two straight on the heels of a four-game slide.

Kobe Bryant ended with 39 points but was whistled for a charge going in for the potential tying basket late in OT for Los Angeles, which was coming off a 3-0 homestand.

Lamar Odom recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Andrew Bynum added 12 and 10 in defeat.

The were 19 ties and 31 lead changes in the game, an NBA season-high for the latter.

Late in the fourth, Odom grabbed an offensive carom, put in a layup while being fouled and hit the free throw to pull the Lakers within 94-90 with 2:26 left to play in regulation.

Derek Fisher followed with a three, and Wade and Bryant traded field goals.

Wade then missed a three, and Richardson fouled Bryant with 42.6 seconds remaining. Bryant, who hit the game-winning three at the buzzer to beat Miami, 108-107, on December 4th earlier this season, made both attempts from the foul line to give the Lakers their first -- and only -- lead of the final quarter.

Jermaine O'Neal was whistled for a moving screen on the ensuing inbounds pass prior to Wade getting a piece of Bryant's jumper from the top of the key.

Haslem grabbed the air ball, and Richardson drilled a contested, go-ahead three from the right wing with 11.1 ticks left.

After a timeout, Bryant drove the lane, rose from just outside the right elbow and calmly sank the tying fadeaway with 3.3 showing.

Wade similarly tried to weave his way to the basket from the left side, but Odom forced a double-pump on his fallaway attempt, which fell way off the mark to send the game to overtime.

It was a one-possession game throughout the extra session until the final minute. Haslem's jumper broke a 109-all tie with 37.3 seconds left, and after Pau Gasol's offensive rebound, O'Neal stepped in front of a driving Bryant and took the charge just outside the circle.

Arroyo, who ended with 17 points, made two free throws with 18.4 seconds showing, and Bryant's miss from long range at the other end essentially sealed the game's outcome.

A closely-played first quarter ended with LA holding a slim 27-26 lead, and a sloppy second saw the visitors take a 47-44 edge into the locker room.

Richardson hit two threes to spark a 9-0 run late in the third for a 70-63 lead, and the Heat owned a 74-68 advantage going into the final stanza.

Haslem donated 12 points and 11 rebounds, while O'Neal finished with 13 points for the Heat, who made 21-of-25 free throws in the win...Fisher scored 14 points for LA, which received 10 points each from Ron Artest and Gasol...The Lakers made just 15-of-25 from the stripe.

Report: Celtics Sign Michael Finley For The Remainder Of The Season

2010-03-04T22:23:27Z

Darren Abate - AP

8 days ago: FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2009, file photo, San Antonio Spurs' Michael Finley disagrees with a call during an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in San Antonio. The Spurs waived swingman Finley after nearly five seasons on Monday, March 1, giving the 15-year veteran a chance to finish the season with more playing time elsewhere. (AP Photo/Darren Abat, File)

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According to reports, veteran shooting guard Michael Finley will sign with the Boston Celtics for the remainder of the 2009-10 season, bolstering the second unit and providing a steadying presence for the playoffs.

It's just another case of the ~~rich get richer~~ old get older. On Monday, when the Finley rumors first began, we said that the Boston Celtics had officially become the New England Patriots. Any veteran with diminished skills but a "great locker room presence," and you can count on the Celtics being interested. That was the joke, anyway.

But this is not a joke, and via Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears we have confirmation from Finley's camp:

Finley's agent tells Y! his client will report 2 Bos on Sat. Fin could play Sunday against Wash. Cs made no playing time promises to Fin.

It's uncertain how much Finley's presence would help Boston, as he was relegated to the bench for most of his time in San Antonio this season. The Spurs eventually granted Finley his release at the guard's request. Given Finley's age and relative lack of activity this year, even the most delusional Celtics fan is entering into this with modest expectations. In fact, for now you'd have to think there's really only one goal in all of this.

His mission, should he choose to accept it? Just don't be as disastrous as Tony Allen.

For more on this story check out SB Nation's Celtics Blog.

NBA Talking Points: Where Galifianakis Is Greek For 'More Fun Than LeBron James'

2010-03-04T20:10:25Z

Lebron James (Courtesy of Getty Images)

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In this week's edition of NBA Talking Points, Andrew Sharp says it's time to put an end to the LeBron Free Agency talk. There's no fresh news, the speculation's all biased, and nothing's going to change until July. But have you met Zach Galifianakis?

On Wednesday, while scanning through the LeBron James Free Agency Storystream, I caught myself getting cynical about the NBA for a few minutes. For those unfamiliar with the term, a "Storystream" is a concept that SB Nation developed that allows you to track the way a story evolves over time. It's comprised of an initial story, and then we add updates as more news or analysis emerges. Cool stuff.

And that LeBron Storystream could probably be populated with three or four news items, every day, for the next four months. Even though none of it means anything. Is that depressing to anyone else?

As basketball fans, there are only a handful of certainties in life:

1. Kobe's taking the last shot.

2. Don't trade with Daryl Morey.

3. Always trade with the Knicks.

4. Don't mess with David Stern.

5. Ron Artest is sometimes crazy funny, sometimes crazy productive, and sometimes crazy scary. But always remember—always always always—that at the end of the day, Ron Artest is crazy.

6. Finally, LeBron James' free agency is The Biggest Story in Basketball.

Whether we like it or not, basketball fans are going to be listening to a solid four months of analysts pontificating about LeBron's free agency plans this summer. Because what's more important: This year's chamipionship, or a decision that could change the landscape for the next six? From that perspective, the coverage makes sense.

The problem is, nobody knows a damn thing about what he will or won't do, and we're left overthinking things for the next 16 weeks, asking the same questions over and over, driving ourselves crazy. Still, because it's news, someone has to ask... What Could LeBron's Number Change Mean for this Summer? Good question.

And I would answer it, but if you don't mind, I'd rather pour this pot of hot coffee on my face.

I don't care about LeBron. Enough. In June, after the finals, we can discuss Lebron's free agency plans. It's not that the story's not important, but there's no news. LeBron has all the leverage here, and he's not saying a word until July. The only speculation is coming from people that are impossibly desperate (Knicks fans) or painfully defensive (Cavs fans). What's interesting about that? Whats fun about that? [Rant over]

[Wipes hot coffee from face ... Takes deep breath] So, since yesterday had me feeling all cynical and grumpy we'll begin this week by talking about someone that could make anyone smile.

1. WHO IS ZACH GALIFIANAKIS? Glad you asked.

To my amazement, Galifianakis (pronounced Gal-if-fin-ahk-iss) isn't really a household name at this point in his career. People may recognize him from The Hangover or the HBO show Bored to Death, but other than that, he's played mostly supporting roles, popping in for a few cameos that make you say, "Heyyyy, wait a second... That's the guy from The Hangover!" But he's bigger than a bit player. If he's not officially the funniest person on earth, he's one of a handful of people that deserve consideration. This weekend he's hosting Saturday Night Live, when his strange brand of comedy will hit the National TV and, in the process, might just resuscitate the most worn out brand in television. But how do we describe him?

Part of his what makes him so great is just a sight gag. His ridiculous beard makes him the funniest looking person in any room he enters. Beards either make someone look terrifying, homeless, or hilarious, and in Zach's case, it's definitely the third one. His beard is like Seth Rogen's jewfro; it's impossible not to laugh at someone that looks like that. So that's advantage number one.

Then there's his jokes which, while often wildly inappropriate, are somehow acceptable since they're coming from this round, bearded, cartoon character of a man. He looks so cuddly. So when, out of the blue, he tells someone to the shut the f— up, or asks Natalie Portman about her vagina, it's somehow not abrasive, and just awesome. Advantage number two.

And in addition to scathing sarcasm, he's also relentlessly self-deprecating. And in a world of unfunny, pretentious Hollywood celebrities, it's refreshing to have someone out there who's willing to make himself look ridiculous for the sake of good comedy. And it doesn't hurt if you can make fun of those pretentious celebrities in the process.

"My dream is to just do arthouse pictures. I really wanna be... I would love to be in the most independent movie ever made."

But his greatest asset of all is the awkward pause. With prolonged stares into the camera, in between delivering ridiculously blunt statements, he's made awkwardness into an artform. Please consult his "Between Two Ferns" series with Funny or Die for a definitive look at his mastery of awkwardness, or just check the awesome promos for this week's Saturday Night Live. ("Excuse me, I got a little Amy Adams stuck in my throat.")

As comedians go, Galifianakis is his own animal—strange, successful, and most of all, refreshing.

2. WHO IS THE NBA'S ZACH GALIFIANAKIS? So, if Galifianakis were an NBA player... Who would he be? There are a number of factors to consider here. First off, we have to remember that Galifianakis had to wait a while for his true "breakthrough" performance in The Hangover. He's been hilarious for years, but not until that movie did average fans of comedy begin to appreciate his brilliance. So ideally, we'd be talking about a late-bloomer.

There's also his ridiculous appearance, which might be tougher to find in the League. Big Baby from the Celtics comes close, but he's nowhere near talented enough to deserve the comparison. It's sad, but true: the NBA just doesn't have many people that have a giant potbelly and a mountainman beard. The closest fit, appearance wise, would be Baron Davis, with his legendary beard and baby fat that's remained on his frame for his entire career.

Could Baron be our answer? Let's break this down. He's one of the most likable players in the league. Despite being one of the best athletes in the league—especially in his first few seasons—he's always had that extra baby fat on his frame. And then there's that awesome beard. This week, he offered to sell it for $5,000, or for a limited time as part of a recession special, $29.99.

Like his tubby counterpart Galifianakis, he doesn't take himself too seriously, and he's one of the strangest characters in the league. But there's still something missing. On paper, "Boom Dizzle" seems like a perfect comparison, but he's just not quite goofy enough. Although to be fair to Boom, that's mainly because I have one specific person in mind. Steve Nash.

To the left, we have Steve Nash making fun of Violet Palmer with finger glasses. That would be one the ten best players in the NBA operating at third grade level of humor. How can you not love that?

Earlier this year I mentioned that if Steve Nash has one celebrity comparison, it would be Jennifer Aniston (do yourself a favor and click on this photo). But that's only in basketball terms. The way he's aged is inexplicable. Like Aniston, he's gotten immeasurably better at an age where he's supposed be declining dramatically. He's the NBA's resident hot older woman.

But as a character, he's just as goofy as Galifianakis, and easily the funniest guy in the entire NBA. Think about all the strange, hilarious videos he's produced over the years.

Remember that singalong with Dirk Nowitzki? Remember his intrepid reporting for David Letterman at the NBA Finals? Or that spoof of Step Brothers he did with Baron Davis? Nash has done so many ridiculous things over the years that we forget about some of the funniest moments. And frankly, we forget just how ridiculous he is. It's not normal for a 36 year-old NBA All-Star to act like this.

His Vitamin Water sponsorship has produced some of his funniest moments—talking about his relationship with the company, he deadpans: "I just like to take a big brand, put it on my back, and give them a little piggy back ride for a while. See how good they can be." And arguably his greatest moment came in this Vitamin Water informerical:

Like Galifianakis, it took a while for the rest of us to really catch on to his brilliance. And maybe as a result, Nash has never taken himself too seriously—like when he spliced together a bunch of his worst plays and told fans to vote him into the All-Star Game—and most importantly, he's a breath of fresh air for fans. It's not the rest of the NBA is pretentious or even boring, but Nash just brings a whole new element and makes things more fun.

Jennifer Aniston explains Nash, the player, but Zach Galifianakis explains Nash, the person. Or at least, why we love him so much.

And if you think this analogy is strained, or we're overthinking things, look at this way: Isn't that more fun than a psychoanalysis of Lebron James and whether he'll go to the Knicks?

If nothing else, this has been an open solicitation for Steve Nash to grow a ridiculously thick beard.

(Zach G. image via www.tsbmag.com, Steve Nash image via The Onion)

3. FREE DANNY GRANGER. Wednesday night in Portland, Danny Granger turned in a pretty impressive showing, hitting for 30 points on 12-22 shooting. Nevertheless, his team lost by 23 points in a game that was never really close. So, you ask: If their best player was playing that well, how could an NBA team get so badly outclassed? Well, the rest of the starters shot 9-29 from the field, with T.J. Ford the second-leading scorer on the night. With 9 points.

Now, using a COMPLEX STATISTICAL FORMULA™, we can see that Mr. Granger is approximately 24% better than everyone else on the Pacers. You see, 12-22 rounds out to about 55% percent, while 9-29 checks in at 31%. And if my formula is to be trusted, then 55-31=24. Care to argue? NUMBERS DON'T LIE.*

Does that oversimplify things? Maybe, but here's what I wrote about the Pacers in October:

Where does this leave Granger? Well, frustrated. ... Because [his teammates] kind of suck. Granger’s improved every year he’s been in the league, and quietly, he’s one of the steadier stars the NBA has to offer. He does everything well, and on a good team as a second option, he’d be damn near unstoppable. Instead, he’s stuck in Indiana, leading a mediocre supporting cast to the 11th spot in the East every year.

Maybe "unstoppable second option" is exaggerating Granger's potential, but there's no question that on a good team, he could make a big difference. A great third option, at worst. On the Pacers, he toils in obscurity on a nightly basis, getting blown out by a relatively average team like the Blazers, just because that's what happens to crappy teams. Despite Granger's best efforts, they are the slump busters of the NBA universe.

Maybe there's nothing wrong with it now, but in 12 months, when we're having the same conversation, don't be surprised if Danny Granger just snaps one day. Could you blame him?

*(Excuse me, I was just imitating every stats-obsessed NBA writer I've ever met.)

4. THE PROKHOROV WAY: LOSE A HOUSE, GAIN A STADIUM Propsective Nets' owner Mikhail Prokhorov made headlines this week when he lost $53 million in a housing contract gone bad. The villa is below, via this ABC News Photo Gallery of Villa La Leopolda:

First thing's first: You're not ballin until you got helicopters takin' pictures of your house.

And even though Prokhorov wound up backing out of an agreement to purchase the house—or the villa, or compound, or whatever insanely rich people call their homes—the story's message resonates regardless. He's rich enough to consider buying that property, and what's more, he's rich enough to risk losing $53 million by walking away from the deal.

And while wealth itself isn't inherently cool or worth of our attention, having that kind of wealth come to the NBA is, unquestionably, inherently cool. Next week, the New Jersey Nets break ground on a new arena. It'll be like a lush French villa, but in the heart of Brooklyn, and shaped like a spaceship. With Prokhorov at the helm, you can be sure it'll be interesting.

5. ALLEN IVERSON'S BIZARRE JOURNEY TAKES ANOTHER TURN. Earlier this week, we put together a collection of excerpts from stories on Allen Iverson's crazy, crazy year. Let's try to fit it all in one sentence: He signed with Memphis, got hurt and missed the preseason, came back in November and complained about minutes, got released after sitting out a bunch of games, almost went to the Knicks, retired from basketball, returned to basketball to play for the 76ers, got voted into the All-Star Game, was conspicuously absent from said event, and a few weeks later, he was released again, under circumstances that are still shrouded in mystery.

It fit into one sentence, but jeez. That's a long-ass sentence. And now he's getting divorced:

A week after the Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson announced he was leaving basketball for the rest of the season to be with his sick 4-year-old daughter, the star’s wife filed for divorce in Fulton County Superior Court.

In the divorce petition filed on Tuesday, Tawanna Iverson said her 8 ½-year-long marriage to the guard was "irretrievably broken." In the petition, Tawanna Iverson asked for temporary and permanent custody of their five children as well as child support and alimony.

It's never wise to speculate, but something is going on with AI, right? Whatever the problems, let's hope Bubba Chuck gets things worked out before too long. (If nothing else, then for Scoop Jackson's sake.)

6. MAGIC AND BIRD: THE DOCUMENTARY

Saturday night, HBO will debut Bird and Magic: A Courtship Of Rivals, a look at the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. I'll have a full review up next week, but if you're a basketball fan, how can you miss that?

7. Shaq Goes Down For The Cavs. What Does It Mean? Earlier this week, after it was announced that Shaq had surgery to repair his thumb and would be out for eight weeks, it sparked a bit of debate in the SB Nation offices. On the one hand, you had me arguing that the Cavs will ultimately be a more dangerous team without Shaq:

Until then, this move forces Mike Brown to get out of his own way. For a few years now, the Cavs have been better when they play small. More fun, more explosive, and just better. The problem this whole time is that Mike Brown, for all his defensive wizardry, almost never goes to small ball unless foul trouble or injuries forces his hand. This doesn't necessarily make the Cavaliers a bad team, but let's say that it transforms their offense from what should be a sports car, into a plain-but-perfectly-reliable sedan. They can still hum along at a decent pace with Shaq and Anderson Varejao up front, but they won't be leaving anyone in the dust.

Playing small, the matchups get a lot more impossible for Cleveland opponents. They can spread the floor with shooters, put Lebron and JJ Hickson (or Leon Powe, who just returned from injury) in the high or low posts, and from there, just eviscerate defenses.

On the other hand, there was my SB Nation running mate, Mike Prada:

Cleveland’s had stretches where they’ve dominated with their small lineup, such as in a December game against Phoenix and a recent game against Boston. But ask yourself this question: would Cleveland’s small lineup work as well if it wasn’t contrasted with their big lineup? In other words, how much of Cleveland’s success with the small lineup is due to it being completely different than it’s big lineup? I’m pretty sure it has a lot to do with it. Not only in terms of scouting, but also because the ability to change the game with a simple lineup switch is something no team can really contend with.

Now that Shaq is out, Cleveland is forced to go small the entire game, which will allow teams to properly prepare for it. The novelty act of the small lineup will wear off. That’s a value Shaq brings that Sharp overlooks. [...]

This isn’t to say Cleveland’s in trouble with this injury. They have enough depth where they’ll survive. But that’s exactly it: they’ll survive. They won’t thrive as Sharp suggested.

Since Monday's argument Cleveland beat the Nets and Knicks by a combined 50 points. It came against two terrible teams, but even so. That's a pretty big number. Does it mean I'm right? No. Or not yet, at least. But... I had to mention it, right?

8. SONG OF THE WEEK. Kanye West, "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (Galifiankis Video Version)

From the description of this video:

On June 1, 2007 I got a one line email from Zach that said, "this sounds like a joke but it is true. Kayne West wants me to lip sync his new video. can you fly to nc to shoot it? " There was very little discussion in advance other than that. Hiring the cloggers was Zach's idea, and Inman was able to track them down. For all the ridiculousness you see here, I have to say we took the song very seriously. We asked ourselves, "What if two farmers from North Carolina set out to make their own Kanye West music video...and succeeded?"

"Hiring the cloggers was Zach's idea." But of course it was... Steve Nash is impressed.

Carmelo Drops 30 On Thunder, Nuggets Roll 119-90

2010-03-04T05:08:04Z

David Zalubowski - AP

6 days ago: Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, left, works the ball inside past Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Carmelo Anthony dropped 30 points and Nene scored 20, as the Denver Nuggets slowed a red-hot Oklahoma City club with a convincing 119-90 win at the Pepsi Center.

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Carmelo Anthony dropped 30 points and Nene scored 20, as the Denver Nuggets slowed a red-hot Oklahoma City club with a convincing 119-90 win at the Pepsi Center.

J.R. Smith was 4-of-5 from three-point range to end with 18 points for the Nuggets, who were coming off back-to-back losses to fellow West heavyweights, the Suns and Lakers.

Chauncey Billups and Chris Andersen chipped in 13 points each, Anthony Carter had a game-high 12 assists and Kenyon Martin pulled down 13 rebounds.

Kevin Durant and James Harden had 19 points apiece for the Thunder, who had won three in a row and 12 of 14 overall entering Wednesday. Serge Ibaka came up with 15 points and 13 boards in the loss.

The Thunder were within nine, 61-52, at halftime but scored only a dozen points in the third quarter as Denver opened up a whopping 28-point lead, 92-64, heading to the fourth.

In the third quarter, the Nuggets scored the first seven points to grab a 16-point advantage on Billups' layup two minutes in.

Anthony then stroked a three-pointer to answer a long distance make from Durant, beginning a stretch of 14 straight points for the hosts that made it an 84-57 game.

A 14-2 Denver run to start the final period put the game completely out of reach for Oklahoma City, which found itself down 40, 106-66, after Arron Afflalo threw in a reverse layup three minutes in.

The Nuggets were up 32-25 after 12 minutes and held a nine-point edge entering the break.

It was only the second time in 34 games that Durant hadn't scored at least 25...Russell Westbrook was 3-of-11 shooting for 11 points with six assists for the Thunder...Anthony added eight rebounds and five assists to an 11-of-19 shooting night...The Oklahoma City franchise has dropped six straight in Denver, which is a stout 26-5 at home this season...The Thunder dropped to 17-13 on the road...Denver shot 50.6 percent from the floor compared with Oklahoma City's subpar 32.5-percent showing.

Lebron, Cavs Dominate Nets 111-92

2010-03-04T04:07:32Z

Bill Kostroun - AP

6 days ago: Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James smiles during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the New Jersey Nets, Wednesday, March 3, 2010, in East Rutherford, N.J. James led all scorers with 26 points as they defeated the Nets 111-92. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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LeBron James totaled 26 points and 14 assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers over the New Jersey Nets, 111-92, at the IZOD Center.

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - LeBron James totaled 26 points and 14 assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers over the New Jersey Nets, 111-92, at the IZOD Center.

J.J. Hickson added 20 points and 13 rebounds while Mo Williams put up 16 points and six assists for the Cavaliers, who have won five straight games. Antawn Jamison chipped in 19 points and nine boards.

Brook Lopez had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Terrence Williams scored a career-best 21 for New Jersey (6-54), which has dropped six of seven and is trying desperately to avoid finishing with the worst record in NBA history, set by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers (9-73). This was the Nets' eighth straight loss to the Cavaliers, including four this season.

Cleveland shot 61.5 percent in the first quarter to lead the Nets 35-15. New Jersey went just 5-of-21 and turned the ball over six times, leading to seven points for the Cavs.

A pair of free throws from Lopez had the Nets within 10-9 with 7:51 left in the opening quarter, but the Cavs finished the period on a dominating 25-6 spurt. It featured several baskets from in close, including an alley-oop jam from Jamario Moon off a feed from James.

The Cavaliers held a sizeable lead throughout the second quarter and went into halftime with a 59-42 cushion. James had 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting at the break.

Cleveland's lead never dipped below 12 in the third, and James' driving layup boosted the margin to 83-61 with under three minutes left. It was 86-68 moving to the fourth, and the closest New Jersey got was 94-83 on a three-pointer from Williams with 6:36 remaining. The Cavs went on an ensuing 14-3 spurt.

The Cavaliers played without guard Daniel Gibson. He and singer Keyshia Cole announced the birth of their son Tuesday night...This matchup pitted the team with the best and worst records in the NBA...Cleveland extended its league- best road record to 22-10...The Nets last beat the Cavaliers on March 12, 2008...Coming into the game, Lopez was the only player in the NBA to average at least 19.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game...Lopez recorded his 19th 20-point, 10-rebound double-double of the season...Cleveland next plays on Friday at home against Detroit...New Jersey's next contest is on Friday at home against Orlando.