By Mike Weilamann

December 7, 2007: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Steve Nash delivered a season-high 19 assists in the Suns' 122-107 win over the Wizards. Nash has four games in a row with at least 15 dimes.
Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty Images
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"The first 10 to 13 minutes of every game, we are terrible. We are awful. It's almost a joke. Being a starter, I'm as responsible as anybody. It's frustrating because after that we play even or better than our opponent. The fact that we even have nine wins right now is amazing to me.''

-- Nets forward Richard Jefferson after watching his team fall behind early and eventually out in a 96-89 loss to the Rockets on Friday.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Friday's top play: Tayshaun Prince with the hammer slam against the Bulls.
  • Haier Play of the Day
  • Dunk of the Night
  • Block of the Night
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  • Assist of the Night
  • Steal of the Night
  • NBA TV Top 10
    • NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
    The Clippers’ Chris Kaman certainly fits the profile of a sell why the getting’s good candidate. But owners who have hung on to the big man are being handsomely rewarded. Kaman produced another outstanding line on Friday with 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in his team’s win over the Kings. Over his last four games entering Friday’s contest, Kaman racked up 19 blocks, which is an average of almost five per game. Fantasy Index.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Michael Redd, Bucks
    104-98 loss at Sonics
    41 pts, 12-24 FG, 4-8 3-pt FG

    Manu Ginobili, Spurs
    104-98 win vs. Jazz
    37 pts, 9-21 FG, 17-19 FT

    Chris Paul, Hornets
    118-116 win vs. Grizzlies
    43 pts, 15-27 FG, 5-5 3-pt FG, 8-9 FT
    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    All right let’s state the obvious: Chris Paul is good, certainly good enough for a Hornets victory over the Grizzlies in OT on Friday. CP3 poured in a career-high 43 points on 15-of-27 shooting to go along with nine assists, five rebounds and four steals. His driving layup with 1.8 seconds left in OT was the game-winner. The Hornets won their 12th straight overtime game, a streak dating to the 2005-06 season.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Hedo Turkoglu, Magic
    115-109 loss vs. Pacers
    11 pts, 3-15 FG, 1-7 3-pt FG

    Ray Allen, Celtics
    112-84 win vs. Raptors
    13 pts, 4-11 FG, 0-5 3-pt FG

    John Salmons, Kings
    97-87 loss vs. Clippers
    10 pts, 4-13 FG, 1-2 3-pt FG
    FLASHBACK WITH THROWBACKS DURING HERITAGE WEEK
    Everyone loves throwback jerseys. The NBA is going old school with Heritage Week. The Pistons and Bulls kicked things off Friday by wearing retro uniforms. Also donning them this week will be the Boston Celtics (1956-57 Road), Chicago Bulls (1995-96 Second Road), Detroit Pistons (1957-58 Home), Golden State Warriors (1974-75 Road), Houston Rockets (1994-95 Home), Los Angeles Lakers (1987-88 Home), Miami Heat (1988-89 Home), New York Knicks (1972-73 Home), and Philadelphia 76ers (1982-83 Home). The Pistons looked anything but vintage in a 98-91 loss to the Bulls. Chauncey Billups did his best, scoring the first 12 points for Detroit in the final quarter. But the night belonged to Big Ben Wallace, who had 10 points and 13 rebounds as Chicago improved to 5-1 in the regular season against Detroit since he joined the team last season.
    BUTTER OR PARQUET, CELTICS ON A ROLL AT HOME
    Speaking of old school, how 'bout those Celtics Beantown? Is that Garnett, Pierce or Allen? Or is it Bird, McHale or Parrish? Boston fans once again are enjoying watching their hometown team. And why not? Boston improved to a perfect 10-0 on the season at the other Garden with an easy 112-84 win over the Raptors on Friday. At 16-2, Boston is off to the NBA's best start and its best home mark since opening 12-0 during the 1984-85 season. That same year the C's went 35-6 at the old Boston Garden during the regular season before eventually losing the NBA Finals to the Lakers. Time will tell if Kevin Garnett and Co. attempt a similar run but they’re looking good thus far. Garnett led Boston with 23 points on Friday. With apologies to Dave Loggins , the C’s already have their fans singing “Please Come to Boston for the springtime.” The Spurs are a league-best 12-0 this season.
    ROOKIE WATCH
    Seeing surely is believing here at the Rookie Watch. And as most have already deduced, Kevin Durant isn’t your average rookie. Durant was at it again on Friday, matching his career-best 35 points in leading the Sonics to an impressive home win over the Bucks. Durant hit 9 of 20 shots and was 15 of 16 at the free-throw line. The rook was pivotal down the stretch, scoring 19 in the fourth quarter, including a key 3-pointer with 8:09 remaining that gave Seattle an 82-79 lead it would not relinquish. It was Durant's second 30-point game during the homestand. He scored 35 against Indiana on Nov. 30.
    SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
    The Sixers haven’t had a lot to cheer about this season. Philly fans give your team some love after Friday’s win over the equally-struggling Knicks at Wachovia Center. Louis Williams scored 15 off the bench for the Sixers, who are gunning for their first two-game win streak this season against these same Knicks Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks expanded his lineup on Friday, using a rotation in the fourth quarter that did not include Andre Iguodala or Andre Miller. Instead it was Williams, along with Thaddeus Young, who were called upon to expand a single-digit lead.
    D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
    Newly-assigned Morris Almond posted 28 points for the Utah Flash in their 116-100 victory over the Los Angeles D-Fenders Friday. The game had a real NBA feel as Flash teammate Kyrylo Fesenko added 22 points and eight rebounds in the victory. Almond and Fesenko arrived from the Utah Jazz on Thursday. Almond was a first-round selection by the Jazz in the 2007 NBA Draft. Forward Brandon Wallace and guard Gabe Pruitt, both on assignment from the Celtics, also reside on the Flash roster. On the other side, former Laker Coby Karl posted 17 points in the loss for Los Angeles.