By Andrew Medeiros

December 30, 2007: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Who wears short-shorts? Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher did in the first half against Boston. The team switched to regular shorts after the half, only to fall further behind. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
“There's nothing I can do. I can't sub myself into the game. I'm not going to go to him crying and whining about playing and starting and all that stuff. It definitely bugs me. I think I'm a starter in this league, but I guess not on this team.”

-- Knicks center, Eddy Curry, after being benched for New York’s loss to the Bulls on Sunday.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Sunday's top play: Travis Outlaw lands the hammer slam.
  • 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
    It looks like Murphy’s Law can even get to the Knicks. Just when you thought things were as bad as they could be, Jamal Crawford goes down with a hand injury. Insert Nate Robinson. Charlie Zegers predicted Robinson would respond with both Knicks starters sidelined. In his first start of the season, Robinson scored 19 points to go with five dimes. Check out the Fantasy Index.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Shawn Marion, Suns
    117-102 win at Kings
    25 pts, 10-16 FG, 5-6 3-pt FG

    Ben Gordon, Bulls
    100-83 win at Knicks
    25 pts, 11-15 FG, 3-6 3-pt FG

    Michael Finley, Spurs
    111-87 win vs. Grizzlies
    22 pts, 8-12 FG, 5-7 3-pt FG

    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    Tim Duncan had the advantage all night against the Memphis big men and the Spurs took advantage of it on the way to a 111-87 win over the Grizzlies. Consistently, Duncan was able to get the ball deep, scoring 24 points on 10-of-20 shooting. He also consistently crashed the boards, grabbing 17 total rebounds – five on the offensive end. The Big Fundamental rounded out his big night with seven assists, three blocks and one steal.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Allen Iverson, Nuggets
    105-95 loss vs. Warriors
    13 pts, 2-12 FG, 0-0 3-pt FG

    Brad Miller, Kings
    117-102 loss vs. Suns
    9 pts, 4-16 FG, 1-7 3-pt FG

    Kobe Bryant, Lakers
    110-91 loss vs. Celtics
    22 pts, 6-25 FG, 0-6 3-pt FG

    SWITCHING IT UP
    The Knicks and Bulls have struggled this season and the coaches are trying out new lineups. In Chicago, interim coach Jim Boylan asked Ben Gordon if he would come off the bench. Gordon didn’t like the idea and has scored 31 points and 25 points since the move. “I told him if that's what he thinks will work, then I was for it,” Gordon said. Isiah Thomas can expect Stephon Marbury back after the New Year, but Jamal Crawford hurt his hand in practice. Thomas has also brought an end to the Eddy Curry-Zach Randolph tag team. On Wednesday Curry started, but scored two points. Randolph stepped into the lineup on Sunday for a double-double. Curry didn’t appreciate the change: “I'm definitely not embracing it but what can I do?” The verdict is out for both teams.
    PORTLAND’S DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
    After a Dec. 2 loss at San Antonio, it looked like the Trail Blazers would be playing out the string, waiting for first-overall selection Greg Oden to join the team next season. After winning just five games in the season’s first 17, Portland has now rattled off 13 straight with a win over the Sixers. Going into the streak, the Blazers were seven games out of first place, but now have moved into a tie for first with Denver’s loss. Brandon Roy has shown why he is the team’s leader, averaging 22 points, six assists and five rebounds in December on his way to consecutive Player of the Week awards. Roy is also helping the veterans: “I always tell Travis [Outlaw] at the beginning of the fourth quarter that it's a new game: 'Come out and do what you do,'” Roy said.
    SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
    Linas Kleiza is becoming the player the Nuggets thought they were getting on draft day three years ago, rewarding the team for picking up his option. Kleiza struggled as a rookie and developed into a solid 3-point shooter in his sophomore campaign, but it all seems to be coming together this season. On Sunday Kleiza contributed 15 points, six rebounds and three assists, in just 24 minutes off the bench.
    LOCKDOWN OF THE NIGHT
    Don Nelson didn’t like his team’s defense against the Nuggets on Friday. Allen Iverson went off for 39 points and Carmelo Anthony followed suit with 30. Nelson switched up his D in the rematch, putting his two best defenders on the scorers -- Baron Davis on Iverson and Stephen Jackson on Anthony. Iverson was held to just 13 points on 2-of-12 shooting, while Anthony scored 26. Most importantly, the Warriors won.
    D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
    Ramon Sessions, on assignment from the Milwaukee Bucks, tried his best to get his teammates involved in the 66ers 103-98 loss at home against the Toros on Sunday. Tulsa’s leading scorer on the season dished out 18 assists on the night to go with his own 16 points. Sessions made sure college teammate Nick Fazekas was involved in the offense throughout as Fazekas led the team in scoring with 31 points.