Vladimir Radmanovic, Lakers
106-95 win at Jazz
13 pts, 5-6 FG, 3-4 3-pt FG

James Posey, Celtics
94-90 win at Mavericks
12 pts, 4-5 FG, 1-1 3-pt FG, 3-3 FT

Deron Williams, Jazz
106-95 loss vs. Lakers
26 pts, 9-16 FG, 4-6 3-pt FG, 4-5 FT

Although there were just three games Thursday, there still were a handful of players who had better numbers than those posted by the metronomic Tim Duncan, who collected 22 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots in a 102-80 victory at Chicago that snapped San Antonio's four-game losing streak. But consider the headline of this box, then consider this highly telling stat: Since entering the NBA in 1997, Duncan has never lost five consecutive games. Never.

Kyle Korver, Jazz
106-95 loss vs. Lakers
0 pts, 0-5 FG, 0-2 3-pt FG

Jason Terry/Jason Kidd, Mavericks
94-90 loss vs. Celtics
combined 5 pts, 2-16 FG, 1-6 3-pt FG

Rajon Rondo/Sam Cassell, Celtics
94-90 win at Mavericks
combined 2 pts, 1-16 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG

The in-game entertainment at the American Airlines Center produces its fair share of laughs, but what's happening on the court is no joke. With their 94-90 home loss to Boston, the Dallas Mavericks (44-25) fell to seventh place in the Western Conference and are tied in the loss column with eighth-place Golden State (42-25). The Mavericks swung the huge deal for Jason Kidd with the idea of winning the title. But since acquiring the All-Star point guard, Dallas is just 9-7, and the breakdown is extremely telling. The Mavericks are 9-0 against teams below .500 and 0-7 against teams above .500. With nine of its remaining 13 games against winning teams, Dallas cannot be overly concerned with winning a championship. Right now, the Mavericks should be concentrating on simply reaching the postseason. "I understand the sense of urgency," coach Avery Johnson told Mavs.com. "We all know where we are."

Six days ago, the Los Angeles Lakers embarked on a road trip against four of the Western Conference's top teams - New Orleans, Houston, Dallas and Utah. Things did not begin well as Pau Gasol sprained his ankle less than three minutes into a loss to the Hornets and the Lakers became consecutive victim No. 22 of the Rockets. With games against the league's two best home teams looming, the idea of a winless trek was a distinct possibility. But the Lakers regrouped, building a 25-point lead before holding on to beat the Mavericks on Tuesday and using the same formula to end the Jazz's franchise record-tying home winning streak on Thursday. Leading the way in both games was - who else? - Kobe Bryant, who continues to stake his claim for Most Valuable Player. Still on top in the West, the Lakers are headed home for what should be an easy one.

Still on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, the Chicago Bulls faced a tough task Thursday in the defending champion San Antonio Spurs - which was made even tougher by the absence of starting point guard Kirk Hinrich, who was averaging 6.0 assists in March but was out with a sprained ankle. With Chris Duhon still in coach Jim Boylan's doghouse, the playmaking was left to combo guards Ben Gordon and Larry Hughes and predictably suffered. In a 102-80 home loss, the Bulls managed just nine assists on 28 baskets and shot 37 percent, falling two games out of the final postseason spot.

When the Celtics signed swingman James Posey in the offseason, it didn't exactly blow up the basketball blogosphere. But Posey was a key element of Miami's championship team two years ago and may be tracking another ring with Boston. In a 94-90 win at Dallas, Posey had 12 points and four rebounds. He played the entire fourth quarter and scored eight points, making a three-point play and 3-pointer and sinking two clutch free throws with 14 seconds to go. The win enabled Boston to sweep the "Texas Triangle," becoming the first team to win all three games in the Lone Star State on the same trip since Sacramento in November 2001.

Less than two weeks ago, the Austin Toros were sitting pretty at 25-11 following a win in the first of four straight games at Albuquerque. However, the Toros lost the next three meetings with the Thunderbirds, and the slide continued Sunday with a loss at Rio Grande Valley. On Thursday, Marcus Williams decided to do something about it. Williams scored 13 of his 25 points in the third quarter, when the Toros (26-15) broke open a close game and romped to a 110-75 win, setting a season high for victory margin. Williams is 11th in the D-League in scoring at 19.2 points per game and 10th in shooting percentage at .535.