Ben Gordon, Bulls
107-89 win vs. Heat
27 pts, 11-19 FG, 5-8 3-pt FG

Anthony Parker, Raptors
89-83 win vs. Nets
26 pts, 8-13 FG, 3-4 3-pt FG

Leandro Barbosa, Suns
126-98 win vs. Lakers
26 pts, 11-18 FG, 4-8 3-pt FG

During the regular season, Steve Nash made it clear that his desire to win a NBA championship far surpassed his urge to obtain a third consecutive MVP award. Nash displayed that philosophy on Tuesday, when he took his already amazing game to another level, notching 16 points, 14 assists and five rebounds in only three quarters of play to propel the Suns to a 126-98 Game 2 blowout of the Lakers.

Richard Jefferson, Nets
89-83 loss at Raptors
4-16 FG, 1-3 3-pt FG, 13 pts

Jason Williams, Heat
107-89 loss at Bulls
1-7 FG, 1-5 3-pt FG, 4 pts

Kobe Bryant, Lakers
126-98 loss at Suns
5-13 FG, 1-4 3-pt FG, 15 pts

After dropping Game 1 to New Jersey at home on Saturday, Toronto's Chris Bosh had a clear answer to the Raptors' opening-game difficulties. "(The Nets) were definitely more poised than we were," Bosh said. "They came out a lot more calm." While Toronto did not play the cleanest game on Tuesday, when it came down to crunch time, the young Raptors displayed veteran maturity. T.J. Ford drilled four clutch free throws in the final 40 seconds as Toronto mananged to pull out an 89-83 Game 2 home win over New Jersey. Anthony Parker sank three shots from the charity stipe in the final seven ticks as he finished with 26 points and eight assists. Bosh tallied 25 points and 13 rebounds. "We definitely turned a corner as a team tonight because we gutted it out, especially when things weren't going well,'' Parker said. On the other hand, the Nets were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Richard Jefferson missed a jumper with 19.9 left and Bostjan Nachbar was unable to drop an open trey with 9.9 remaining.

Following the Bulls' Game 1 victory over the Heat, Luol Deng was aware that he would see different looks from Miami as a result of his 33-point opening-night performance. Although the Heat made an effort to contain Deng, the result was the same. Deng poured in 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to power Chicago past Miami, 107-89, on Tuesday, giving the Bulls a 2-0 series lead. Since 1996, only four teams have come back from a 2-0 deficit. Despite the overwhelming odds, the Heat may be a little more comfortable in this situation than they will let on. Miami managed to come back from that hole in last season's Finals against the Mavericks and it just so happens that the last time the Bulls had a 2-0 series advantage, in 2005, they dropped the series to the Wizards. "We've been here before, you know what I'm saying," Alonzo Mourning said. "I have the utmost confidence in my teammates and this team that we can pick ourselves back up and get back on track.''

While it was clear to nearly everyone that the Suns played just about the best brand offensive basketball in the regular season, no one thought that Phoenix's attack would elevate come playoff time. The Suns shot 54 percent from the field, in a game where most of their starters played only three quarters, and dismantled the Lakers, 126-98, on Tuesday. Leandro Barbosa scored 26 and Amare Stoudemire tallied 20 and nine boards. Steve Nash had 11 assists by halftime, with no turnovers, for a Phoenix team that committed only one in the entire half. The Suns also sharpened their defensive scheme, holding Kobe Bryant to two points in the second half, and a 5-of-13 effort from the floor.

Tuesday night, several NBA rookies continued to learn that points don't come quite as easy in the postseason. Andrea Bargnani, who averaged 11.6 points per game in the regular season, followed up his three-point opening-game performance with an 0-of-4 night from the field for another three-point game. Tyrus Thomas followed suit as he matched his Game 1 point total, in Game 2, with a two-point night. Although Bargnani's Raptors edged the Nets and Thomas' Bulls cruised past the Heat, despite their poor performances, each will need to step up his game in order to assure that their squads sustain postseason success.