Kenyon Martin, Nuggets
122-109 win at Mavericks
18 pts, 8-12 FG

Allen Iverson, Nuggets
122-109 win at Mavericks
35 pts, 12-19 FG, 11-13 FT

Daequan Cook, Heat
112-106 loss at Blazers
20 pts, 9-11 FG, 2-2 3-pt FG

Marko Jaric did everything possible to lead the Timberwolves back from a 13-point deficit to their third win of the year. Jaric scored 18 points off the bench to go with nine assists, eight rebounds and three steals. The six-year man from Serbia then hits the go-ahead basket with 2.2 seconds left on the clock, only to have Joe Johnson stick the game-winner in his face on the other end -- a bitter ending to a bitter fight.

Dwayne Wade, Heat
112-106 loss at Blazers
21 pts, 9-26 FG

Corey Brewer, Timberwolves
90-89 loss at Hawks
6 pts, 3-15 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG

Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
122-109 loss at Mavericks
23 pts, 9-30 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG, 5-9 FT

While the entire country watched the Nuggets handle the Mavericks and the Blazers outlast the Heat, a select few caught the maturation process in Atlanta during the night’s only other game. The highlights will show the apparent game-winning lay-up by Marko Jaric and the actual game winner Joe Johnson hoisted over Jaric and Sebastian Telfair, but it doesn’t nearly tell the story. Instead, look at Josh Smith and Marvin Williams scoring 28 and 20 points and Al Horford grabbing 15 rebounds. Hawks fans haven’t had much to cheer about recently, but that could all be changing as this frontcourt grows up together.

Are we sure Allen Iverson is really 32 years old? Iverson put up 51 points, playing the entire game, in a disappointing loss to the Lakers on Wednesday night, but who, honestly, thought his body could do it again the next night? Well, he didn’t quite put up the same numbers, but they were just as impressive. 35 points. 43 minutes. Couple that with 12 assists and six steals, and Iverson did his best to show up pre-game commentator, Charles Barkley, who said he did nothing but score. The Nuggets put up more points against the Mavericks than any other team this year, 122, on their way to their 12th victory of the season thanks to Iverson seeing the floor, making shots and getting to the line. We're pretty sure he is 32, but there is one thing we know for sure: he can still play.

Shaquille O’Neal scored just eight points, Dwyane Wade was just 9-of-26 shooting from the field and Pat Reilly looked like he was wondering where his World Championship team had gone. And yet, midway through the fourth quarter, the Heat rallied to cut the Trail Blazers lead to as little as one. Down the stretch, Miami was in it late thanks to the inspired play of Daequan Cook, they just ran out of time. As their star struggled to find his stroke, the rookie went 9-of-11 shooting on his way to a career-high 20 points. As his role on the one-time champs is still being defined, Cook continues to look stronger.

Jerry Stackhouse and Allen Iverson know each other’s game. As teammates in Philadelphia in their younger years they had trouble sharing the rock. Older –- err, more mature –- now, they have both come to accept new roles on new teams. A.I. is flourishing as the high-profile Robin to Carmelo Anthony’s Batman, while Stack has shown the ability to fit into a system as sixth man in Dallas. Coming off the bench tonight, Stackhouse was second on the Mavericks in scoring with 23 points, also adding seven rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes of action.

Andre Barrett was selected first overall in last year’s D-League and, after spending time around the NBA with five different teams, the four-year veteran out of Seton Hall University is back with the Bakersfield Jam. Though the Jam lost on Thursday night to the Iowa Energy, 121-113, Barrett showed off the flashy skills that guarantee he’ll be back in the NBA at some point. After a season debut on Sunday of 20 points and 17 points in a win over the Los Angeles D-Fenders, Barrett proved that was no fluke with 32 points, eight assists and five rebounds.