By Michael Levine

April 22, 2007: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS PHOTO GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Leandro Barbosa scored 26 points off the bench in Phoenix's Game 1 win. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"Kobe ran out of gas in the fourth quarter."

-- Phil Jackson, who fell to 14-2 in playoff openers with the Lakers' 95-87 loss in Phoenix. Kobe Bryant scored 28 points on 11-for-17 shooting in the first half and scored 11 on 4-for-16 after intermission. Bryant had four of L.A.'s 10 fourth-quarter points.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Sunday's top play: A falling Leandro Barbosa finds Amare Stoudemire for a jam.
  • Haier Play of the Day
  • Dunk of the Night
  • NBA TV Top 10
    • NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
    With the Rockets favored in the West's 4-5 series and already up 1-0, you might have limited time to get Utah's big three into your Drive to Finals lineup. Look for Mehmet Okur to bounce back from a rough Game 1 (six points, 2-14 FG), or go with Deron Williams or Carlos Boozer, Jon Loomer's expert pick, on Monday.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Larry Hughes, Cavaliers
    97-82 win vs. Wizards
    27 pts, 9-17 FG, 8-8 FT

    Baron Davis, Warriors
    97-85 win at Mavericks
    33 pts, 11-20 FG, 4-7 3-pt FG, 7-8 FT

    Allen Iverson & Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
    95-89 win at Spurs
    61 pts, 21-40 FG, 16-16 FT

    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    When LeBron James went down in a heap after landing awkwardly and twisting his ankle on a third-quarter drive, the city of Cleveland held its collective breath. But the King hung tough to finish the Cavs' 97-82 Game 1 win over the visiting Wizards with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. "I had no intention of not coming back," he said. "First game of the playoffs, we've got to set a tone. If I was able to limp on it, I was going to be in there."
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
    97-85 loss vs. Warriors
    4-16 FG, 0-2 3-pt FG, 14 pts

    Manu Ginobili, Spurs
    95-89 loss vs. Nuggets
    4-15 FG, 1-5 3-pt FG, 9 pts

    DeShawn Stevenson, Wizards
    97-82 loss at Cavaliers
    3-12 FG, 9 pts

    SMALL BALL WORKS IN BIG D
    Don Nelson chose to leave Andris Biedrins on the bench, forcing Avery Johnson to start Devean George over Erick Dampier, a somewhat surprising change. But it was one of the smallest men on the court who had the biggest impact - inside as well as outside. Baron Davis had 11 of his career-high-tying 14 rebounds by halftime, scored 26 of his 33 points after intermission, and added eight assists as Golden State pulled out a shocking 97-85 Game 1 win over the top-seeded Mavericks on Sunday.
    NUGGETS STEAL GAME 1... AGAIN
    In his Denver postseason debut, Allen Iverson got off to a slow start, shooting 0-for-6 in the first quarter. But A.I. made 11-of-16 thereafter, finishing with a game-high 31 points. Carmelo Anthony added 30 of his own and the No. 7 Nuggets stifled the Spurs' big three to steal Game 1 in San Antonio for the second time in three years with a 95-89 victory. In 2005, they also won by six points in the Alamo City in Game 1 before losing four straight to be eliminated from contention. But with Iverson now in the fold, Denver won't repeat that fate. Right?