Pau Gasol, Lakers
117-92 win at Timberwolves
19 pts, 9-11 FG

Amare Stoudemire, Suns
120-118 loss at Warriors
29 pts, 10-14 FG, 9-12 FT

Manu Ginobili, Spurs
112-105 win at Cavaliers
46 pts, 15-20 FG, 8-11 3-pt FG, 8-9 FT

Dwight Howard always puts up monster numbers. Even so, his statline on Wednesday makes you want to double check the math. Howard extended his league lead in double-doubles to 46 with 23 points and 24 rebounds – the fifth time he’s topped 20 points and 20 boards on the season. Just to round it out, the 7-footer handed out three assists, blocked two shots and added one steal.

Jacque Vaughn, Spurs
112-105 win at Cavaliers
2 pts, 1-8 FG

Shawne Williams, Pacers
96-80 loss at Pistons
7 pts, 1-10 FG, 1-2 3-pt FG

Devean George, Mavericks
96-76 win vs. Blazers
0 pts, 0-11 FG, 0-4 3-pt FG, 0-2 FT

Jason Kidd is going to be traded. The Dallas Mavericks are not interested in trading half their roster for Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd has been traded for Devin Harris. Devean George is blocking the trade. Your guess is as good as mine as to what happens next. Jason Kidd brought some semblance of respectability to the swamps of Jersey in 2001, but in what is, or might not be, the first game of the post-Kidd era, the shine seems to have worn off. The big-money wingmen were rendered ineffective without Kidd to get them the ball. Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter are averaging 23 and 20 points a piece, but only combined for only 30 in Wednesday’s loss. The Nets also couldn’t stop Raptors point guard Jose Calderon, who scored 22 points and dished out 12 assists. Marcus Williams, a far cry from even Devin Harris, managed just 11 points, five assists and two rebounds. We’ll have to see if the Devin Harris era is as fruitful as Kidd’s.

In a night of ridiculous individual performances, two of the greatest were posted in a game that already had enough buzz around it. After losing to the Spurs in the NBA Finals last season, LeBron James has been vocal about his desire to be surrounded by more talent. Meanwhile, with the rest of the upper echelon in the Western Conference stocking up, the Spurs made their understated move for depth by adding guard Damon Stoudamire. With Tony Parker sitting out the second rematch, Manu Ginobili stepped into the starting lineup and filled the void, needing just 20 shots for 46 points – thanks to a career-high eight three-pointers and a perfect-shooting 18-point fourth quarter. LeBron proved the need for more talent, matching Ginobili’s fourth quarter production on the way to 39 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Larry Hughes backed him up with 26 points, but no other Cavalier scored more than nine points in the loss.

The veteran Pistons are one of the few teams that will freely rest their starters and see their reserves extend the lead. Rookie Rodney Stuckey is seeing more minutes than expected this year with Lindsey Hunter on the shelf and is earning his time. The guard out of Eastern Washington has scored in double figures six times in the last seven games, including 12 points and five assists in Wednesday’s win.

Leandro Barbosa can be thankful that Manu Ginobli put in his 46 from the starting lineup, because it would’ve been a shame to pass up Barbosa’s line. The guard put up 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting in 34 minutes off the bench for the Suns. I’ll forgive him, this time, for kicking his leg and trying to draw the foul rather than concentrate on what would’ve been the game-winner.

With the spotlight all to himself in the D-League’s only game of the night, Elton Brown shined to help lead the Colorado 14ers to a 101-98 win over the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. Brown topped his season averages (20 and 11) with 24 points and 16 rebounds, for his D-League leading 21st double-double. Brown also scored seven of his points while holding off a fourth quarter rally.