By Andrew Medeiros

February 1, 2008: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Dwyane Wade tries to gain control of a loose ball before it becomes out of reach. Miami’s loss to New Jersey on Friday put the Heat behind Minnesota for last place. Issac Baldizon/NBAE/Getty Images
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
Shaquille O'Neal “As the general of this squad, I wouldn't deserve to be an All-Star. And if they gave me the spot, I wouldn't take it, because I don't want to be given anything.”
-- Heat center Shaquille O’Neal after Heat coach Pat Riley said O’Neal should be added to the All-Star roster.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Friday's top play: Brandan Wright runs the floor for the jam.
  • 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
    Chris Webber When Chris Webber re-signed with the Warriors this week, it was thought that he might be in the lineup for Friday’s meeting with the Bobcats. Webber said he needed more practice time to get into the flow with his new teammates, and may not play until Thursday. He said it was the style of play that attracted him to Golden State. We’ll see if his knees can take the pounding up and down the court, but if he can, that production will have to come from somewhere. We’re looking at you, Al Harrington. Check out NBA.com's Fantasy Index.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Carl Landry Carl Landry, Rockets
    106-103 win at Pacers
    22 pts, 9-11 FG

    Kobe Bryant, Lakers
    121-101 win at Raptors
    46 pts, 19-28 FG, 4-8 3-pt FG, 4-4 FT

    Sasha Vujacic, Lakers
    121-101 win at Raptors
    22 pts, 9-11 FG
    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    Chris Paul Chris Paul celebrated his first All-Star selection on Thursday night against the Kings on Friday. Unfortunately, many of his teammates forgot to come out for the party. CP3 put up just 15 points,
    but chipped in 19 assists – two off of his career high set earlier in the season – to go with five rebounds. Paul also extended his NBA-leading string of games with at least one steal to 48.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Jamal Crawford Jamal Crawford, Knicks
    94-88 loss at Blazers
    13 pts, 6-27 FG, 1-11 3-pt FG

    Carlos Boozer, Jazz
    96-87 win at Wizards
    4 pts, 1-9 FG

    DeShawn Stevenson, Wizards
    96-87 loss vs. Jazz
    5 pts, 1-9 FG, 0-7 3-pt FG
    MOVING DAY IN L.A.
    Pau Gasol Kobe Bryant talked about the immense versatility and high basketball IQ of new teammate Pau Gasol on Friday, then went out and showed the 7-foot Spaniard exactly what he brings to the table. With his 89th career 40-point game, Bryant moved into third place behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. The Lakers gave up Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton to bring in the former-All Star. Couple the absence of those players with injuries to Andrew Bynum (left knee), Luke Walton (hip) and Trevor Ariza (broken foot) and the Lakers were left with just four available reserves. None of that seemed to matter. Los Angeles enjoyed a 37-18 edge from the razor-thin bench and shot 55 percent from the floor on the way to a 121-101 road win. Bryant’s 46 points will make the headlines, but Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic all scored in double figures. Maybe a shorter bench is just the way to get big numbers from Kobe and shots for teammates in the same game.
    THE REUNION
    Zach Randolph Friday night was more like a class reunion in the NBA. All around the association, players were facing old teams and rejoining old friends. Fresh off his first practice with new teammates, Chris Webber surprised Warriors’ analyst Jim Barnett with a big hug while the broadcaster was on the air during pregame warm ups. Staying in Golden State, Jason Richardson visited his old team for the first time since being traded in a draft-day deal for forward Brandan Wright. Richardson has played well for Charlotte, averaging 20 points and nearly 42 percent from 3-point range, but the Bobcats are on pace for their fourth losing season in as many years since the franchise’s inception. Richardson struggled on Friday, scoring 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting, as the Warriors ran the Bobcats out of the gym, 127-96. Zach Randolph was also saddled with the loss when facing off with the Blazers, but played a better personal game, scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, but disappearing down the stretch and into overtime.
    ROOKIE WATCH
    Carl Landry Carl Landry led the Rockets to a road win over the Pacers on Friday. Landry, the little-used rookie out of Purdue that the Rockets acquired in a draft-day deal for a second round pick, has played in just 13 games this season. But when Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady faded down the stretch, combining for just eight points in the fourth quarter, he stepped up. Landry scored 13 of his career-high 22 points in the fourth quarter as Houston squeaked by Indiana, 106-103.
    SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
    Sasha Vujacic With Kobe scoring 46 and Pau Gasol on his way, Sasha Vujacic stuck his head up on Friday and said, “Hey, don’t forget about me.” The 23-year-old Yugoslavian looked like he couldn’t miss against the Raptors. Bryant put in 12 points while the Lakers broke away in the fourth quarter, but Vujacic matched the superstar’s total down the stretch, tying his career high with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor and 4-of-5 shooting from the 3-point line.
    D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
    Lance Allred The Stampede don’t have that one player who will beat you, which means they also don’t have that one player you can shut down. After a 5-5 start, the Stampede have rolled through the D-League with a record-tying 15-game winning streak. One reason would be big man Lance Allred, who scored 19 in Friday's win. The center out of Weber State also seems to have the attitude and work ethic to make it in the NBA. He’s just waiting for his chance.