Jannero Pargo, Hornets
96-77 win at Hawks
24 pts, 10-15 FG, 4-5 3-pt FG

Chris Bosh, Raptors
90-77 win at Bucks
30 pts, 11-16 FG, 8-8 FT

Allen Iverson, Nuggets
92-83 loss vs. Spurs
33 pts, 15-25 FG, 3-3 FT

Since Jermaine O'Neal called the Pacers a "very average team" after a loss in Dallas last week, Indiana has responded with three straight wins, the most recent of which came Wednesday, 97-84 over the Celtics. O'Neal had a big night to lead the effort. He pumped in 17 of his 23 points in the second half as the Pacers broke open a game that had been tied at the break. He also added 15 rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

Joe Johnson, Hawks
96-77 loss vs. Hornets
6-24 FG, 1-5 3-pt FG, 13 pts

Randy Foye, Timberwolves
92-91 loss at Clippers
1-10 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG, 5 pts

Steve Blake, Bucks
90-77 loss vs. Raptors
3-14 FG, 1-8 3-pt FG, 10 pts

Before Wednesday's matchup in Houston, Tracy McGrady had the misfortune of sitting out as his Rockets squad dropped three straight to the Lakers, who were led in each game by torrid scoring from Kobe Bryant; he averaged 39.7 points in the three wins and had a 53-point performance against Houston earlier this season. Since returning from a seven-game absence (back spasms), McGrady is scoring 30.3 in eight outings. The stage was set for an offensive showdown. Unfortunately, for those expecting fireworks, McGrady was limited to eight points on 25 percent shooting, but he delivered 12 assists as the Rockets rolled to a 102-77 victory. Bryant was kept in check, but faired marginally better. He finished with 20 points. Fans did witness some history, though. In addition to his 19 rebounds, Dikembe Mutombo blocked five shots and moved past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second place on the all-time list.

Allen Iverson finally had the opportunity to play with one of his high-powered running mates, as J.R. Smith returned from his 10-game suspension and took the court against the Spurs on Wednesday. Since joining the Nuggets shortly after Smith was disciplined by the league, Iverson has struggled with inconsistency, averaging just 26 points in nine games with Denver. Before Smith was banished, he was scoring 16.7 points and providing the Nuggets with another viable offensive option behind Carmelo Anthony (who will return in four games). While Smith struggled to only 12 points in his return, his presence freed Iverson and allowed him to score a game-high 33 points. But it wasn't enough to stop San Antonio, which dominated the second half in a 92-83 win. "I think it's going to be a process," Nuggets coach George Karl said, "until next week where players regain their familiarity by playing in games."

Washington's Caron Butler and Chicago's Ben Gordon were teammates at the University of Connecticut in the early part of the decade. Butler was an NBA-bound sophomore in 2002 when Gordon was still cutting his teeth in his freshman season under Huskies coach Jim Calhoun. The old friends met again Wednesday in D.C., where Butler got the best of Gordon in a 113-103 Wizards win, the 18th straight game they have reached the 100-point plateau. The Bulls were the last team to hold Washington below the century mark, but Butler made up for a relatively dormant Gilbert Arenas by notching 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Gordon had a pretty nice game, too. He had 25 points and hit five 3-balls in support of Kirk Hinrich's 33-point, six-longball night.

In November, Dwight Howard seemed to make a fairly regular habit of scoring 20 points and grabbing 20 rebounds on the same night. He did so three times in five games, and twice in a row, in the season's first month. But then, something strange happened. Howard failed to accomplish the feat in 24 consecutive contests dating back to Nov. 20, leading the nation's hoop heads to wonder, "What's wrong with Dwight Howard?" Perhaps hearing the cries of disappointed fans everywhere, Howard decided the pick up his game in Oakland on Wednesday by dropping a career-high 30 points and 25 boards in a 91-76 victory over the Warriors. In doing so, he became the first player to tally 30 and 25 in the same game since Lorenzen Wright went for 33 and 26 in November 2001. Maybe now all those naysayers will get off Howard's back.

For the second time this season, the lottery-loving Bobcats dealt the perennially playoff-bound Pistons a loss. On Wednesday night, Charlotte's most recent lottery pick, Adam Morrison, supplied 16 points in support of past top-of-the-draft selections Raymond Felton (18 points, seven assists), Sean May (14 points, eight rebounds) and Emeka Okafor (10 points, 10 rebounds).

After missing the previous 11 games with a back injury, Quentin Richardson returned to action Wednesday and gave the Knicks an offensive spark off the pine in their 106-99 win over the Sixers. He finished with 19 points and nearly burned down Madison Square Garden with a red-hot 7-of-12 shooting night, which included five makes on eight attempts from 3-point range.

With the Clippers down one in the final half-minute of the fourth quarter, Corey Maggette stepped to the charity stripe and sank both free throws to give his team the lead. After the Wolves went back on top with 25 seconds remaining, Maggette hit a corner jumper with 4.8 showing on the clock, giving him 21 points and L.A. a 92-91 win after Kevin Garnett misfired at the buzzer.