Yao Ming, Rockets
103-92 win vs. Magic
37 pts, 14-22 FG, 9-11 FT

Mike Bibby, Kings
113-101 loss vs. Nuggets
34 pts, 12-20 FG, 5-9 3-pt FG

Richard Hamilton, Pistons
98-80 win at Clippers
23 pts, 10-12 FG, 1-1 3-pt FG

Yao Ming's return to Houston's starting lineup and subsequent re-emergence dramatically changes Tracy McGrady's role. T-Mac adjusted nicely Sunday, supporting Yao's 37 points with 19 of his own and adding 10 assists, three rebounds and two steals in the Rockets' wire-to-wire 103-92 victory over the visiting Magic. In his last four games with Yao, McGrady is averaging 26 points and seven assists.

Paul Pierce, Celtics
94-78 loss vs. Bulls
2-14 FG, 0-2 3-pt FG, 8 pts

Earl Watson, Sonics
120-119 OT loss at Raptors
3-15 FG, 0-5 3-pt FG, 8 pts

Troy Murphy, Pacers
99-88 loss at Cavaliers
2-11 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG, 7 pts

The Mavericks ran their winning streak to 17 in style. Behind 24 points from Josh Howard and 19 more from Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas led by as many as 38 in matching the seventh-longest winning streak in NBA history, also tied earlier this season by Phoenix. The Mavericks are 52-9 and have a chance at 70 wins. The longest (33 games) and third-longest (19) runs in history are held by the Lakers, which makes the 108-72 shellacking all the more embarassing. The 36-point Sunday defeat was the Lakers' worst home loss since they moved to Los Angeles in 1960, and gave L.A. six straight losses for the second time this year.

For one night at least, the Nuggets' high-scoring duo became a trio. Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points and Allen Iverson added 24, seven assists and four steals, but it was second-year Lithuanian-born Linas Kleiza who was the X-factor in a 113-101 road win over the Kings. The 6-foot-8 forward had already established a new career high by halftime and finished with 24 points on 8-for-11 shooting as Denver earned its first victory in Sacramento since Jan. 7, 1997, snapping what had been an NBA-long 20-game slide there. The seventh-place Nuggets also opened a little breathing room between themselves, the No. 8 Clippers, No. 9 Warriors and No. 10 Kings.

With some of the NBA's best players putting on a show around him, top pick Andrea Bargnani avoided just standing and watching and made himself part of the action. Bargnani hit a 3-pointer and converted on the ensuing free throw for a rare four-point play that gave Toronto a two-point lead with 9.3 seconds left in regulation, and scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. T.J. Ford (25 points, 13 assists) and Chris Bosh (27 points, 10 rebounds) picked up where the rookie left off in OT, and the Raptors held off Seattle for a 120-119 home win.

Jason Maxiell, and not Antonio McDyess, was inserted into the starting lineup in place of Rasheed Wallace, who was serving his one-game suspension for picking up his 16th technical foul of the season. Flip Saunders' decision worked out well for Detroit. McDyess played 24 minutes off the bench, shot 6-of-9 from the field for 17 points and added six rebounds and two blocks as one of just eight active Pistons in a 98-80 matinee win over the Clippers. The issue could arise again as Wallace will be suspended for every second T he picks up the rest of the way.

Dwyane Wade's season-threatening shoulder injury forced Shaquille O'Neal back into the limelight, but it also necessitates another Miami player to step up and take the big shots in close games. On Sunday, that player was Udonis Haslem. After Gilbert Arenas tied the contest with three free throws with 3.1 seconds left, the Heat ran an inbounds play for Haslem and he delivered a running 10-foot jumper that splashed through with 0.3 on the clock. The basket made Haslem the eighth Miami player to reach double figures in scoring, secured a 106-104 victory, and moved the Heat to within one game of the visiting Wizards in the suddenly hotly-contested Southeast Division.

Video: Haier Play of the Day | Haslem discusses the big shot

Sometimes a well-balanced effort can outweigh a scoring explosion. Tony Bland poured in 37 points on 15-of-25 shooting and added 10 rebounds and seven assists for Albuquerque, but NBA veteran Randy Livingston racked up 16 points, 11 rebounds and 19 assists to carry Idaho to a 91-87 road victory. The Stampede have now won six straight games and 10 of 11 to claim first place in the Western Division.