By Chris Rosenbluth

March 10, 2007: SCOREBOARD | PHOTO GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Mehmet Okur had 29 points and hit five 3-pointers as Utah won its sixth straight. M. Majchrzak/NBAE/Getty
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"She sits there, every time I come. She's been there for eight years. This is my eighth season. She's always there."
-- New York's Steve Francis, after his game-winning 3-pointer was rewarded with a courtside hug from Grandma. His hoop gave the Knicks a 90-89 win in D.C. and an eighth-place tie in the East.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
If you have Josh Smith on your roster, you've got to love what he's doing in Joe Johnson's absence. One night after hitting a game-winner, Smith went off for a career-high 32 points on lights-out shooting in a win over the Wolves. He added six boards and a pair of blocks. Expect the Hawks to keep leaning on Smith until Johnson is back to 100 percent -- if that happens this season.
SHOOTING STUDS
Josh Smith, Hawks
99-93 win vs. Timberwolves
32 pts, 12-15 FG, 2-2 3-pt FG

Ruben Patterson, Bucks
94-92 loss vs. Cavaliers
24 pts, 10-13 FG, 4-4 FT

Mehmet Okur, Jazz
96-86 win vs. Hornets
29 pts, 9-15 FG, 5-7 3-pt FG, 6-8 FT
STAT SHEET STUFFER
LeBron James once again had his full array of skills on display. He scored his 16th point of the fourth quarter on a layup that capped a 12-point comeback, tying the score with 43.1 seconds left. On the Cavs' next possession, he found Anderson Varejao for a bucket that provided the final margin in a 94-92 victory in Milwaukee. James totaled 32 points, the 10th straight time he's had at least 29, eight boards and nine dimes.
SHOOTING DUDS
Michael Finley, Spurs
93-77 win vs. Nets
2-12 FG, 0-4 3-pt FG, 9 pts

Maurice Williams, Bucks
94-92 loss vs. Cavaliers
3-15 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG, 6 pts

Matt Carroll, Bobcats
115-107 loss vs. Grizzlies
4-11 FG, 0-4 3-pt FG, 10 pts
SPURS TAKE 12 IN FAMILIAR FASHION
When the Spurs' recent run of success began almost a month ago, they got 19 points from Tony Parker and stifling defense in a win over the Nets. On Saturday, as San Antonio extended its winning streak to 12 games, it was more of the same in the Lone Star State. Parker again scored 19 points, but it was the Spurs' dominant defense that carried them to a 93-77 victory. After limiting New Jersey to 33 points in the first half, San Antonio -- just as it did to open the streak -- held New Jersey to 44 after the break. "We still have some things to work on," said Tim Duncan, who had 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting and added 13 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots. "We're starting to get a consistency level that we need and that we want."
TWO STREAKS GOING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
As it stands right now, the 76ers are headed home after the regular-season finale and the Pacers are headed for a first-round playoff series. So why would Indy fans gladly trade places with the Philly faithful? Look no further than a pair of streaks journeying markedly different courses. The Sixers' 100-96 win over the Pacers on Saturday extended their winning streak to a season-high seven games and, at the same time, stretched Indiana's losing streak to eight in a row, its longest run of futility in 18 years. Andre Iguodala scored 25 points for Philly, and the Pacers were without All-Star Jermaine O'Neal, who will likely miss two more games with a sprained knee.
ROOKIE WATCH
At the start of their final collegiate seasons, it is fair to say that Rudy Gay was a more highly touted prospect than Adam Morrison. By draft day, however, Morrison's play at Gonzaga earned him the draft's third overall pick, while Gay fell to No. 8 on the board after a ho-hum sophomore year at UConn. On Saturday, though, Gay clearly got the better of his draft classmate. While Morrison managed just three points in 15 minutes, Gay racked up 16 points and 10 rebounds to help the Grizzlies snap a six-game slide with a 115-107 victory in Charlotte. Gay's numbers came in support of a dominant 31-point, 15-rebound effort from Pau Gasol.
D-LEAGUE STARS OF THE NIGHT
Steven Smith kept his team in the game early, and Majic Dorsey did his damage down the stretch. Both players helped lift the Anaheim Arsenal to a 132-126 overtime win over the Bakersfield Jam on Saturday night. Smith scored 14 of his game-high 32 points in the first quarter. He also contributed eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Dorsey, on the other hand, had just seven points at halftime; but he got hot in the second half to finish with 28 on 12-of-22 shooting and delivered nine assists. Bakersfield's Mateen Cleaves sent the game to OT with a late basket and had 23 points and 15 assists in the losing effort.