Lamar Odom, Lakers
112-108 win vs. Mavericks
31 pts, 12-14 FG

Ricky Davis, Heat
109-95 loss at Wizards
33 pts, 11-16 FG, 9-12 3-pt FG

Chris Paul, Hornets
118-110 win vs. Knicks
33 pts, 10-19 FG, 12-13 FT

Besides breaking the single-season NBA hair product record for most gel used, Andris Biedrins has had another marvelous year on the court. His 21-point, 17-rebound, two-block and one-steal performance on Friday helped the Warriors pull within a half-game of the idle Nuggets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Golden State, furthermore, denied Utah and Houston from securing postseason berths.

Mike Miller, Grizzlies
117-86 loss vs. Warriors
5 pts, 1-6 FG. 1-4 3-pt FG

Kevin Durant, Sonics
79-66 loss vs. Rockets
4 pts, 2-17 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG

Randy Foye, Timberwolves
117-88 loss at Suns
9 pts, 4-16 FG, 1-3 3-pt FG

Clinching a playoff berth in the NBA is like prom night for high school students. It’s the first event before graduation that signifies triumph. It’s as rewarding as passing the written driver’s test -- not exactly earning a license, but the first step toward it. Many teams on Friday got to experience the euphoria of securing a playoff spot -- including the Hornets and Lakers in the West and the Wizards, Sixers and Raptors (despite a loss) in the East. For each team, moreover, earning a postseason berth has different significance. First off, the Hornets will be in the playoffs for the first time since joining the Western Conference, while the 76ers celebrate their first postseason berth since 2005. For the Wizards, on the other hand, it’s the first time they have merited four straight playoff appearances since a string of five from 1984-88. Meanwhile, for the Raptors, it’s their first back-to-back playoff initiation since 2002. Finally, the Lakers, who were led by Lamar Odom’s season-best 31 points, gained a ticket to the playoffs for an NBA-best 55th time.

Why does it always feel like the Jazz are invisible in the supreme Western Conference? Why does it seem like the Jazz never receive the respect they deserve? The Jazz have as much rhythm as Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) on guitar and are as comfortable on their home floor as my neighbor’s golden retriever in his backyard. They have the highest shooting percentage in the league (50 percent) and are an astounding NBA-best 35-4 at their building after trouncing the defending champion Spurs on Friday in a rematch of last season’s West Finals. In addition to moving one win closer to notching its second consecutive playoff berth, Utah snapped San Antonio’s eight-game winning streak and limited the Spurs to a franchise-tying low 64 points. Mehmet Okur, one of Chris Bubeck’s expected difference-makers the rest of the way, posted game highs with 17 points and 16 rebounds. The Jazz will attempt to gain a ticket to the postseason when they clash with the West-leading Hornets in New Orleans on Tuesday night.

Go ahead on the NBA.com homepage and cast your vote on the latest poll. Which player who recently returned after an extended absence, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol or Gilbert Arenas, will have the biggest impact on their team’s title run? Slide your eyes to the right to learn more about Gilbert’s all-around performance, but keep it locked in this box for Dirk and Pau. Each had extraordinary efforts in L.A.’s triumph over Dallas as Gasol scored 25 and converted on a go-ahead three-point play with 40.8 seconds remaining, while Nowitzki recorded 27 points.

After his surprise return on Wednesday after missing most of the season with a knee injury, Gilbert Arenas has rejuvenated the nation’s capital. Fans are celebrating from The White House to the Washington Monument. With Antawn Jamison (shoulder) and DeShawn Stevenson (ankle) sidelined on Friday, “Agent Zero” put up a much-needed balanced effort with 13 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the Wizards’ triumph over the Heat. Washington, as a result, clinched its fourth consecutive playoff berth. Miami, in the defeat, hit a club-record 19 treys.

As a proud New Jersey resident, I enjoy following the career of Dahntay Jones. The former Steinert High School McDonald’s All-American relished in one of his finest performances of his D-League career on Friday. Jones, who transferred from Rutgers to Duke before being drafted 20th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Celtics, racked up 32 points and eight rebounds to carry the Mad Ants to victory over the Skyforce. Sioux Falls, which previously won five straight, fell a half-game behind rival Dakota for the top spot in the Central Division.