Vince Carter, Nets
105-95 win vs. Pacers
31 pts, 11-26 FG, 5-8 3-pt FG

Chris Bosh, Raptors
104-86 win at 76ers
27 pts, 11-14 FG, 1-1 3-pt FG, 4-4 FT

Brian Cook, Lakers
124-118 win vs. Heat
25 pts, 10-16 FG, 4-6 3-pt FG

Josh Smith, playing in just his second game after missing the previous eight (hernia), put together one of the best outings of his career Monday, helping the Hawks to a victory over the Celtics. Smith scored 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, blocked a season-high seven shots, had a career-high five steals and grabbed four rebounds. It nearly went for naught, however, as Atlanta lost a 14-point lead before bouncing back.

Rasheed Wallace, Pistons
94-90 loss vs. Timberwolves
1-11 FG, 1-3 3-pt FG, 3 pts

Adam Morrison, Bobcats
99-91 loss vs. Bucks
5-17 FG, 0-5 3-pt FG, 11 pts

Rajon Rondo, Celtics
100-96 loss at Hawks
3-11 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG, 9 pts

The early start time* didn't seem to bother Gilbert Arenas much. The MVP chants that flowed from the Wizards faithful appeared to get to him more. Arenas did little to discourage the cheers, however, burying a 3-pointer at the buzzer that gave Washington a 114-111 victory over Utah on Monday. "MVP? That trophy is given out at the end of the year,'' he said. "This is (37) games into the season so you can't do too much about it." The game-winning trifecta gave him 51 points for the afternoon and tied the Verizon Center record set by Michael Jordan on Dec. 29, 2001. Agent Zero finished the game in dazzling style, scoring 12 points in the final 2:09 to top 50 for the third time this year and join His Airness in the record books. "I'm going to break all the records that's here,'' Arenas said. "I'm glad it was an older Michael than a younger Michael because if it was a younger Michael it would have been up there.''
* The game tipped at 1 p.m. ET in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Every now and again, the Suns put together one of those performances that makes you scratch your head and wonder when, not if, their high-powered offense will reach 200 points in a game. Monday's 137-122 win in Memphis was one of those games. Phoenix got off to a fast start, scoring a season-high 76 points in the first half, but didn't do much on the defensive end; it let the Grizzlies score 72, combining for the highest score before intermission this season. Amaré Stoudemire turned it on in the third quarter and dropped 16 of his season-best 42 points in the period as the Suns outscored the Grizzlies by 10 and put themselves in position to roll to their 10th straight victory, and second double-digit run of the season. Raja Bell tied his season-high with seven 3-pointers on his way to 25 points, while Shawn Marion added his 16th double-double of the season. The 137 points fell one shy of the most ever allowed by the Grizzlies (the Sonics scored 138 on April 3, 1998).

In just their second game together, Earl Boykins and Andrew Bogut appear to be in sync with one another. Boykins scored 30 points and led the Bucks, who continue to play without four starters (Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Charlie Villanueva and Bobby Simmons), to a 99-91 victory in Charlotte, snapping a five-game skid. He slashed his way into the lane all game and allowed Bogut the room to roam the middle uninhibited. The second-year center scored a career-high 27 points and had 11 boards. "He's easy to read,'' Bogut said of the 5-foot-5 Boykins. "Guys think he's little so he's not going to get into the lane, but he gets in the lane and he'll kick it out if he's doubled. It's pretty easy basketball after that."

The third annual NBA Development League Martin Luther King Jr. Showcase got underway Monday with four games, all of which took place at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls, S.D. In addition to Monday's contests, there will be four on Tuesday and four more on Wednesday, giving all 12 D-League teams a chance to play in front of NBA general managers and scouts. Monday's action was highlighted by a 23-point, eight-rebound, four-block effort from Pistons 2005 second-round pick Amir Johnson, now playing with the host Sioux Falls Skyforce, in an easy 101-81 victory over the Austin Toros. In other showcase action, the Idaho Stampede, the Los Angeles D-Fenders and the Dakota Wizards all picked up wins. Watch the remainder of the event on NBA TV.

Pressed into the starting lineup due to Ben Wallace's sore back, No. 4 pick Tyrus Thomas made a strong contribution in the Bulls' 99-87 win over the Spurs. Thomas played a little over 22 minutes and chipped in eight points, eight rebounds and turned aside a season-high five shots, helping out a defensive effort that limited San Antonio to just 39.5 percent shooting from the field.

The Warriors' Mike Dunleavy has been living in Don Nelson's doghouse since opening night when the coach called his forward's play a "disaster." But with his father manning the opposing sidelines, Dunleavy turned it around with 18 points and 13 boards in a win over the Clippers. "I wish he had tried to impress me that much the first 40 games,'' Nelson joked afterward.

Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said Jamal Crawford's return to the bench was motivated by a desire to get more defense into his starting lineup, but it ended up causing some late fireworks on the other end. Crawford erupted for eight points in the final 1:07 of the game and put New York ahead on a floater with 18 seconds remaining, giving his team a 102-97 win over the Kings.