By Michael Levine

Jan. 9, 2007: SCOREBOARD | PHOTO GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Dirk Nowitzki had 38 points in the Mavs' impressive win in Utah. Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE/Getty
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"The biggest revenge ... when you leave a team is to win the games every time you play against them. That's my focus."
-- Indiana's Al Harrington, who scored 14 of his game-high 18 points after halftime as his Pacers pulled away from the Hawks, 91-72. Harrington spent two seasons with Atlanta before returning to the Pacers this past offseason.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Tuesday's top play: Kobe Bryant spins for a wicked one-handed flush.
  • Haier Play of the Day
  • Dunk of the Night
  • Assist of the Night
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  • Block of the Night
  • Steal of the Night
  • NBA TV Top 10
    • RICK KAMLA'S FANTASY TAKE
    "Drew Gooden has been ballin' and has established himself as a consistent fantasy performer. His 21-point, 11-rebound effort in the Cavs' win at ARCO was third his straight 20-10 game. He's also grabbed 10-plus boards in six of seven games. Count on him for the rest of Cleveland's seven-game road trip and beyond."
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Tayshaun Prince, Pistons
    98-89 win at 76ers
    33 pts, 13-18 FG, 5-6 3-pt FG

    Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
    108-105 win at Jazz
    38 pts, 12-18 FG, 13-15 FT

    Steve Nash, Suns
    113-102 win vs. Sonics
    27 pts, 11-15 FG, 5-7 3-pt FG
    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    What would Nick Collison have to do to get the Sonics a road win? The 6-foot-9 forward notched career highs of 29 points and 21 rebounds and tacked on four assists, three steals and a block, but Seattle dropped its 12th straight road decision, 113-102 in Phoenix. The Suns, winners of seven straight overall, got 29 points and 15 rebounds from Shawn Marion and 27 points and 11 assists from Steve Nash.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    T.J. Ford, Raptors
    101-86 loss at Nets
    0-8 FG, 0 pts

    Andre Miller, 76ers
    98-89 loss vs. Pistons
    3-11 FG, 6 pts

    Marvin Williams & Josh Childress, Hawks
    91-72 loss at Pacers
    6-23 FG, 13 pts
    THE WORST IN FIRST
    A Raptors-Nets "showdown" is the hoops equivalent of a battle for Miss Congeniality, with the winner crowned as the leader of the NBA's weakest division. Vince Carter scored 32 against his former team and Jason Kidd added 10 with 14 assists as New Jersey triumphed, 101-86, at home. Its 15-19 first-place record is not only unimpressive but historical. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time before this season a division leader was four games below .500 was 1975-76, when 38-44 Milwaukee finished atop the Midwest. This year's last-place Bucks, and every other Central Division team, would be No. 1 in the Atlantic.
  • Video: NBA TV's Bill Raftery takes a closer look at the Atlantic
    • THE RUN-AND-GUN GRIZZLIES?
    Interim head coach Tony Barone is ushering in a new era in Memphis, and it's been fun to watch. The Grizzlies' 46 third-quarter points set a franchise record, more than doubled the visiting Lakers' 22-point output, and led to a 128-118 win Tuesday. Mike Miller and Pau Gasol scored 25 apiece as two of the seven players who reached double digits. It was the fourth time in Barone's six games on the sideline that Memphis tallied at least 110 points, a feat it accomplished only three times in its first 30 games this season and four times all of last season under Mike Fratello. Defense has fallen by the wayside as the Grizz are allowing 117.7 points per game en route to a 3-3 mark under Barone's reign.
    ROOKIE WATCH
    LaMarcus Aldridge had a breakout offensive game Tuesday, but that wasn't enough to stop the Spurs' dominance of his Blazers. The No. 2 pick hit 6-of-8 shots on his way to a season-high 17 points and added six rebounds in 23 minutes, but San Antonio won its seventh straight and 14th in 15 tries against Portland, 98-84 in the Alamo City. Fellow rookie Brandon Roy added 10 points and five boards.
    SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
    With Chauncey Billups missing his fourth straight game with a tweaked calf, reserve Ronald Murray stepped into the starting lineup for the sixth time this season and did his best impression of the Pistons' star point guard. Flip tallied 12 points and a career-high 12 assists, five of which led to Richard Hamilton buckets. Rip needed 10 points to reach 10,000 for his career and finished with 22 in a 98-89 win in Philly.
    D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
    Toronto Raptor P.J. Tucker was assigned to a 14ers squad that had won three straight games, but the change hasn't caused them to miss a beat. Tucker had his best D-League performance with 15 points as Colorado improved to 3-0 with him in the fold with their sixth straight 'W', a 95-90 win over Austin. Louis Amundson contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Rick Rickert added 14 and 10 in support.