Allen Iverson, Nuggets
109-100 win at Raptors
36 pts, 11-16 FG, 5-8 3-pt FG

Monta Ellis, Warriors
115-111 win at Lakers
31 pts, 12-22 FG, 7-7 FT

Kobe Bryant, Lakers
115-111 loss vs. Warriors
36 pts, 13-30 FG, 7-7 FT

We must remember Carmelo Anthony’s extraordinary performance when he led Syracuse to a national title in 2003. We also must reflect on the number of times Allen Iverson has guided his teams to the playoffs in the final stages of a season. There is no question that this dynamic duo will be the difference for the Nuggets in the last month. The pair combined for 69 points, nine rebounds and eight assists Sunday to lead Denver past Toronto.

Jason Kidd, Mavericks
88-81 loss vs. Spurs
7 pts, 3-10 FG, 1-5 3-pt FG

Tony Parker, Spurs
88-81 win at Mavericks
13 pts, 4-21 FG, 0-2 3-pt FG

Sasha Vujacic, Lakers
115-111 loss vs. Warriors
1 pt, 0-5 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG

Disregard the final score. Ignore their seed if the playoffs began today. Forget about how much time it will take for Jason Kidd to completely coexist with his teammates. All focus must be put on Dirk Nowitzki, who injured the lower part of his left leg during Dallas’ defeat on Sunday to San Antonio. American Airlines Center was like a lecture hall filled with nervous students about to take a final exam. It was silent, tense and confounded. Dirk hurt his leg when he landed awkwardly after blocking Ime Udoka’s shot with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter. Dallas’ medical staff will further evaluate the leg on Monday to determine how much time the German forward will miss. The absence of the All-Star left the Mavericks without an answer for the rest of the game as Manu Ginobili finished with 26 points to carry the Spurs to their third straight triumph.

They’ve been planning a celebration from the Capitol to the White House. They’ve desired to chant his name around the Washington Monument. Wizards fans have long-awaited the return of Gilbert Arenas, who has missed most of the season with a knee injury. They may have to be patient a little longer after doctors decided not to clear "Agent Zero" for Sunday’s game against the Pistons. It remains a mystery when exactly he will return to the lineup. Nonetheless, it seems like forever since Washington’s tenacious trio of Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison played together. You can be sure, however, that when they reunite, the Wizards will be a hazard for the rest of the Eastern Conference. Butler, who recently returned from a hip injury, and Jamison combined for 41 points and 17 boards to catapult D.C. past Detroit.

Most players will just simply back down to Kobe Bryant when he takes over late in games. Not Stephen Jackson, however. The two dueled in the final minute Sunday by each hitting a pair of treys, but it was Captain Jack’s buckets that proved to be more consequential as the Warriors, who led by as many as 26 in the first half, upheld the Lakers. Jackson finished with 31 points, buried six 3-pointers and drained all nine of his free throw attempts. In a possible first-round playoff preview, these two teams will have a rematch in Oakland on Monday.

If you don’t look at the teams but observe the statistics inside a box score and see that one player shot and made the same number of free throws the entire other team attempted, you can probably assume which squad won. Mathematics have a frequent habit of explaining a story. Manu Ginobili, who recorded 26 points, nailed all 11 of his foul shot attempts – which marked the same number of free throws the Mavericks took for the game. The Spurs shot 23-of-24 from the charity stripe in the victory on Sunday, while the Mavericks were 9-of-11.

It’s only fitting that the two schools Sean Banks and Jelani McCoy attended in college are No. 1 seeds and Sweet 16 qualifiers in this year’s NCAA Tournament. The D-Fenders’ colossal combination were at their best on Sunday as they led L.A. to a triumph over Albuquerque. Banks, who played for the Memphis Tigers, racked up 27 points and 10 rebounds, while McCoy, who starred for the UCLA Bruins, posted 22 and 14. Alando Tucker, meanwhile, whose Wisconsin Badgers also remain in the madness, scored 26 for the T-Birds.