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SHOOTING STUDS
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Joe Johnson, Hawks
111-99 loss at Bulls
40 pts, 16-25 FG, 4-4 3-pt FG, 4-4 FT
Ray Allen, Sonics
113-104 win vs. Nets
35 pts, 13-20 FG, 4-8 3-pt FG
Qyntel Woods, Knicks
91-76 loss at Sixers
24 pts, 8-11 FG, 3-3 3-pt FG
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STAT SHEET STUFFER
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Tim Duncan approached the stat sheet on Saturday night the same way Seinfeld's George Costanza treated his wallet -- by trying to fit as much as humanly possible into it. Duncan scored 28 points and secured 16 rebounds in San Antonio's 102-88 win over the Wolves. Those numbers become even gaudier when you consider he was matched up against 2004 NBA MVP Kevin Garnett. Duncan completed his line with two blocks, one steal and an assist -- sort of the Constanza wallet equivalent to four ATM receipts, a two-dollar bill and a H&H Bagels card.
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RICK KAMLA'S FANTASY TAKE
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"Just in time for the new week, the fantasy world welcomed back Manu Ginobili, Vince Carter, and Luke Ridnour -- to name a few. All played well on Saturday and all appear to be safe plays this week."
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SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
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Shaun Livingston added instant offense off the bench Saturday -- just add playing time. Livingston jumpstarted the Clippers' O as he scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and dished out six assists. He helped out with the D too as he grabbed two boards and crooked two steals in just 20 minutes as L.A. beat Denver for the second straight night to claim their fifth straight win.
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GAME OF THE NIGHT
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The West Coast has not been good to the Nets. New Jersey started off its four-game road swing with three straight losses to the Jazz, Clippers and Blazers. As New Jersey limped into Saturday's matchup in Seattle, the Sonics were looking to Connect Four. The night seemed to be going as easy as Candy Land for Seattle as they jumped out to 72-57 lead with 5:52 to go in the third quarter. But the Nets' Battle Ship wasn't sunk yet. Vince Carter scored 10 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Nets came within one, 93-92 with 5:10 to go. It was Ray Allen's turn to roll the dice and he scored 11 of his 35 points in the final five minutes to lift the Sonics to a 113-104 home victory. Consequently the Nets did not pass go and did not collect $200.
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QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
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"I see the difference in our team. The speed, the quickness, the guys in attack mode. All of those things are things I like to see on our team. I liked to see the guys being aggressive and getting to the free-throw line. I really like the Ricky Davis- Kevin Garnett combo out there."
-- Minnesota head coach Dwane Casey on the newfound dynamic his team has displayed since trading for Ricky Davis on Thursday. With a 102-88 loss to the Spurs, the Timberwolves are now 1-1 with Davis.
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STORYLINES OF THE NIGHT
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 1. No A.I., No Problem
Allen Iverson sat out Saturday's game vs. the Knicks with a sprained left ankle he sustained by stepping on Dwight Howard's foot late in Thursday's game against the Magic. The Sixers hardly skipped a beat filling in for their star's -- and his 33.6 points per game's -- absence. Philadelphia's supporting cast stepped into the spotlight. Chris Webber had 21 points and 10 rebounds. John Salmons contributed 18 points, and season highs in rebounds (nine) and assists (seven). Andre Iguodala scored 16 and Samuel Dalembert snagged 15 rebounds while blocking five shots as the Sixers rolled 91-76. "You have to adjust your game without a guy that's so good at scoring," Webber said. "The ball movement was great tonight, but it can always get better. Our team defense really did the job for us. I think we gave up 30-something points in the first half. I think we have to give our bench guys a lot of credit for the way our team played tonight."
 2. Eight Ain't Enough
Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points and Dallas downed Utah 103-89 at home to claim their eighth straight win and boost its record to 34-10, tying its record with San Antonio for tops in the Southwest Division. The Mavs are averaging 104 points during the stretch while holding the opposition to 87.1 points per contest, an average win margin of 17. "They are playing a lot like playoff basketball now because they execute," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "They know each posession what they are going to do. They know what they are doing defensively and it's a veteran team. They've got eight, nine guys that are very, very good and they know how to do things."
 3. Bobcat Boo-Boos
Take a look at the Bobcats' bench these days and its hard to determine whether or not Charlotte's game uniform has changed from a jersey and shorts to slacks and a button-down shirt. With Emeka Okafor, Gerald Wallace, Kareem Rush, Brevin Knight, Keith Bogans and Sean May all out with injuries, it comes as no surprise that the Bobcats dropped their 11th straight on Saturday. The Charlotte players who are well enough to give it a go (like Raymond Felton who scored 18 to go with a season-high 13 assists) are making their coach Bernie Bickerstaff proud. "As shorthanded as we are right now, I don't know if I can ask any more of them in this situation," Bickerstaff said.
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ROOKIE WATCH
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Checking in at 6-feet 3-inches and only 177 pounds, Monta Ellis looks more like the high school player out of Mississippi that he was last year, than the NBA rookie for Golden State that he has become. Good thing his game is much bigger than his stature. Ellis had the best night of his young career on Saturday, posting season-highs in points (14), rebounds (5), steals (2), minutes (27) and even blocked a shot in the Warriors win over Portland.
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COOL/CLUTCH PERFORMANCE
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Ben Gordon has made his reputation in this league as somewhat of a procrastinator. That is to say, he saves most of his work until the last minutes of the fourth quarter. Gordon scored 10 of his 23 points in the final 2:28 to hold off Atlanta 111-99 at home, as Chicago won its fourth straight.
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D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
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Florida forward Dwayne Jones had a meaty double-double on Saturday as he grabbed 18 rebounds and scored 16 points to ignite the Flame in their 102-93 road win in Tulsa. Jones, whose rights were just traded from the Wolves to the Celtics on Thursday, added a block and an assist to boot.
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SCOREBOARD: Jan. 28, 2006 |
AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE
Earl Watson hits a three from 30 feet to end the third:
NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad
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