By Michael Levine

April 14, 2007: SCOREBOARD | PHOTO GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Steve Nash had 18 assists to get the Suns closer to the West's No. 2 spot with a 126-98 triumph in Utah on Saturday night. Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE/Getty
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"We will make the playoffs. We've played in big stages before in our lives. Everybody on this team has been in some sort of playoff-atmosphere type game. We have veterans on the team that can tell us about it."
-- Orlando's Jameer Nelson after a 104-87 win in Philadelphia gave the eighth-seeded Magic a two-game lead over the Pacers.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Saturday's top play: Amare Stoudemire's one-handed follow jam.
  • 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
    You might look at Jarrett Jack's 25 points Saturday against Seattle and realize that neither Brandon Roy nor Zach Randolph were in the Portland lineup. Jack's numbers, though, could be up next year despite a possible drop in shot attempts because of his efficiency. He has shot .452 from the floor and .872 from the charity stripe for 12 points per game in his sophomore season.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Dwight Howard, Magic
    104-87 win at 76ers
    35 pts, 14-15 FG, 7-10 FT

    Chucky Atkins, Grizzlies
    133-118 win vs. Nuggets
    28 pts, 9-14 FG, 4-6 3-pt FG, 6-6 FT

    David West, Hornets
    123-112 loss at Rockets
    33 pts, 14-19 FG, 4-5 FT
    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    Chris Paul did his best to keep the Hornets in the playoff hunt, posting 20 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds Saturday. But Tracy McGrady had his own well-rounded effort to deal them a devastating loss. T-Mac scored 25 points on 11-for-18 shooting and added 10 assists, seven boards and three steals to help Houston close in on first-round home-court advantage over the Jazz with a 123-112 home win.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Marvin Williams, Hawks
    110-76 loss at Cavaliers
    3-15 FG, 8 pts

    Joe Smith, 76ers
    104-87 loss vs. Magic
    2-11 FG, 7 pts

    Deron Williams & Derek Fisher, Jazz
    126-98 loss vs. Suns
    3-18 FG, 1-5 3-pt FG, 13 pts
    ROOKIE WATCH
    Saturday was a good day to be an undrafted rookie. Memphis' Tarence Kinsey scored 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting to help snap Denver's eight-game winning streak, 133-118 at home. Meanwhile, Walter Herrmann poured in a season-high 30 points on 6-for-8 trey shooting and added nine rebounds as Charlotte trounced Milwaukee. Who needs the draft, anyway?
    SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
    Cleveland already led the visiting Hawks by 11 points after one quarter. Anderson Varejao's nine second-quarter points helped the Cavs blow the game wide open. Donyell Marshall, Daniel Gibson and "Andy" each had 10 points off the bench, and Cleveland's backups outscored their Atlanta counterparts 36-13 in a 110-76 win that pulled the Cavs even with Chicago at 48-32.
    D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
    The D-League's first-round playoff matchups are already set, but that didn't make the final night of the regular season meaningless. Scooter McFadgon shot 15-of-24 from the field and 12-for-12 from the line for his second straight 40-plus-point effort. Despite the Jam's 130-112 rout of the 14ers, Colorado is headed to the postseason, and Bakersfield is headed home.