By Chris Rosenbluth

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

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Richard Jefferson had a season-high 35 points as the Nets defeated the Wizards. Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty
  • Check out a highlight video of RJ's big night in D.C.
    • QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
    "I don't cook, so I wanted one myself. We certainly didn't mean any disrespect."
    -- Chicago's Chris Duhon, after his team dealt New York its most lopsided loss of the season, 98-69. The Knicks took issue with the Bulls trying to hit the 100-point plateau, a mark which would have entitled all fans at the United Center to a free Big Mac.
    THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
    Tuesday's top play: Jermaine O'Neal throws down a one-handed slam.
  • 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
    • NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
    It's a little late in the year to make major adjustments to your squad, but it's never too late to start taking notes for next season. With Boston seriously banged up, we're all getting a good look at Gerald Green. On Tuesday, in a loss to Atlanta, he scored a career-best 33 points, knocked down four 3-pointers and added four boards and three dimes. Green could be a nice pickup in 2007-08.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Richard Jefferson, Nets
    96-92 win at Wizards
    35 pts, 13-19 FG, 2-5 3-pt FG

    Gerald Wallace, Bobcats
    92-82 win vs. Heat
    24 pts, 8-11 FG, 1-2 3-pt FG, 7-8 FT

    Tyronn Lue, Hawks
    104-96 win vs. Celtics
    26 pts, 10-16 FG, 2-4 3-pt FG, 4-4 FT
    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    Brad Miller's 2006-07 season, in many ways a microcosm of his team's, has not gone according to plan. But the Kings' center came to life Tuesday against the Grizzlies. He recorded his first triple-double of the campaign with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in a 112-100 win. He had two steals and a block, as well. Despite the effort, though, he is all but assured of finishing the year with statistical averages below his career totals.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Danny Granger, Pacers
    90-86 loss at 76ers
    2-17 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG, 5 pts

    Cuttino Mobley, Clippers
    103-100 loss at Hornets
    4-15 FG, 0-5 3-pt FG, 1-2 FT, 9 pts

    DeShawn Stevenson, Wizards
    96-92 loss vs. Nets
    3-13 FG, 1-3 3-pt FG, 0-1 FT, 7 pts
    WADE STARTS, SHAQ MOURNS, HEAT LOSE
    The good news for the Miami Heat is that Dwyane Wade, two days after coming off the bench in his first game back from a separated shoulder, returned to the starting lineup. That's pretty much it on the positivity front. With Shaquille O'Neal attending his grandfather's funeral and Gary Payton sidelined 2-3 weeks with a torn calf, Miami was dealt its second straight loss by the Bobcats, 92-82. The Heat never got going and trailed by as many as 24 points, forcing Wade to the bench after just 22 minutes of action. The loss dropped Miami three games behind Toronto for home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
    WHEN A LOSS IS JUST AS GOOD AS A WIN
    Antawn Jamison was once just a cog in a formidable Wizards trio. However, after Caron Butler broke his hand and Gilbert Arenas blew out his knee, Jamison is the lone star left illuminating Washington's playoff horizon. On Tuesday, Jamison registered 26 points and 11 rebounds, but Jason Kidd's lone field goal, a tip-in off Richard Jefferson's missed layup with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, gave the Nets their last lead in an eventual 96-92 win. Despite the Wizards' fifth loss in a row, they still managed to clinch their third straight playoff berth thanks to a Pacers loss in Philadelphia. They now sit in sixth place in the East, two games ahead of New Jersey and three ahead of Orlando.
    COOL/CLUTCH PERFORMANCE
    The Hornets' David West suffered a couple of defensive lapses at the end of regulation that allowed Elton Brand to twice tie the score for the Clippers and force overtime. But West shook those off in the bonus period and scored six straight points to help New Orleans/Oklahoma City pick up a 103-100 win and pull within ½ game of the Clippers for ninth place, and one game of the Warriors for eighth, in the Western Conference. West scored a season-high 33 points, a much-needed sum considering Brand finished with 37 and 10 rebounds. The race is heating up.
    D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
    In a matchup of teams on the outside of the D-League playoff picture, the Tulsa 66ers led the Austin Toros by as many as 25 points and never trailed, rolling to a 97-76 win Tuesday. Jeff Varem was all over the court for Tulsa. He scored 12 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, part of a 27-9 66ers run that virtually eliminated any hope Austin had of mounting a comeback charge. Varem added 12 rebounds, five assists and six steals. Tulsa's defensive effort held Austin to its lowest scoring output of the season; the Toros shot just 33.3 percent from the field, as well.