By Chris Rosenbluth

April 25, 2007: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS PHOTO GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Spurs fans weren't clowning around on Wednesday. Tim Duncan celebrated his 31st birthday with a victory over the Nuggets in Game 2. D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"We shouldn't point fingers at anyone. We're all at fault. It's all of our fault. If you want to blame somebody, you've got to blame the people at the top."
-- Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird, after Rick Carlisle was relieved of his head coaching duties, despite compiling a 181-147 record in four seasons with Indiana.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Wednesday's top play: Horry chases down Iverson and blocks the shot.
  • Haier Play of the Day
  • Dunk of the Night
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  • Block of the Night
  • NBA TV Top 10
    • NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
    If you're looking for a maverick Drive to the Finals selection, turn elsewhere. You're not getting one here. Not with the Lakers on the brink of an insurmountable hole. Not with Kobe Bryant coming off a 15-point, 5-for-13 performance in Game 2. I must say that I agree with the experts. So take Kobe and watch him toss up shot after shot. Something tells me he'll make a few along the way.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Drew Gooden, Cavaliers
    109-102 win vs. Wizards
    24 pts, 10-13 FG, 4-5 FT

    Antawn Jamison, Wizards
    109-102 loss at Cavaliers
    31 pts, 12-24 FG, 3-8 3-pt FG

    Jason Terry, Mavericks
    112-99 win vs. Warriors
    28 pts, 12-23 FG, 3-3 FT
    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    Proving that he doesn't just accumulate statistics against weaker front-court opponents, Marcus Camby put up a big line against one of the Association's preeminent defensive units. The Camby Man only scored eight points on 4-of-11 shooting, but he ripped 18 rebounds, blocked three shots and added a pair of steals in a Game 2 loss to the Spurs. But as good as he was, Denver will need him to be even better in Game 3.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Al Harrington, Warriors
    112-99 loss at Mavericks
    1-8 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG, 5 pts

    J.R. Smith, Nuggets
    97-89 loss at Spurs
    0-4 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG, 2 pts

    J. Hayes & D. Stevenson, Wizards
    109-102 loss at Cavaliers
    5-25 FG, 1-8 3-pt FG, 13 pts
    THAT'S MORE LIKE IT
    It took the Mavs all of Game 1 and eight minutes of Game 2 to realize they were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and the Warriors needed a win on the last day of the regular season just to crack the Western Conference's eight-team field. Following a disappointing loss to open the series, Dallas trailed by eight points early in the first quarter before turning it on and playing like the team that tied for the sixth-best record in NBA history. Dirk Nowitzki scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half as the Mavs built a 20-point lead en route to a 112-99 win. Jason Terry led Dallas with 28 points, and Josh Howard had 22 and 11 rebounds.
    BACK IN THE SADDLE ... BARELY
    The Spurs dodged a bullet Wednesday. After coming out flat in a Game 1 loss to Denver, San Antonio looked poised to right its veteran playoff ship in convincing fashion, racing out to a 17-point fourth-quarter lead. But Allen Iverson wouldn't let his team go down without a fight. Iverson went for eight points in the period and hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers as the Nuggets trimmed the deficit to three with 45.9 seconds to play. But Tim Duncan banked a jumper to extend the lead back to five, and the comeback hit the skids as Denver's shots started to rim out and the Spurs started hitting their free throws on their way to a 97-89 win. Duncan finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five blocks.
    GOODEN'S PLENTY FOR THE CAVS
    In Game 2 of their first-round series with the Wizards, LeBron James did for the Cavaliers exactly what he is expected to do -- 13 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, eight rebounds, seven assists and two blocked shots. But Drew Gooden more than doubled his season averages and pretty much carried Cleveland for the first three frames. Gooden finished with 24 points (all but two came in the game's first 36 minutes) and 14 boards. Without his efforts, it may have been a bit tougher for the Cavs to withstand a late Washington run. As it was, however, they hung on for a 109-102 win and a 2-0 lead heading to the nation's capital.