T.J. Ford, Raptors
108-94 win vs. Magic
21 pts, 7-11 FG, 6-6 FT

DeShawn Stevenson, Wizards
108-72 win vs. Cavaliers
19 pts, 5-9 FG, 5-7 3-pt FG, 4-4 FT

Rafer Alston, Rockets
94-92 win at Jazz
18 pts, 8-14 FG, 4-8 3-pt FG

The Magic's first playoff loss can be attributed to a number of things - going on the road, Dwight Howard's foul trouble, poor guard play. But don't blame Hedo Turkoglu, who was all over the box score. The Most Improved Player candidate scored an efficient 26 points, making 7-of-12 shots and 12-of-13 free throws. He added seven rebounds, three assists, a block and his second technical foul of the series, showing the fire the rest of his team needed.

Mehmet Okur, Jazz
94-92 loss vs. Rockets
12 pts, 3-13 FG, 4-7 FT

Jameer Nelson, Magic
108-94 loss at Raptors
6 pts, 2-8 FG, 0-2 3-pt FG

Daniel Gibson, Cavaliers
108-72 loss at Wizards
4 pts, 2-6 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG

After losing the first two games in Cleveland, Washington coach Eddie Jordan needed to make some changes. So he decided to move Gilbert Arenas into the starting lineup for Game 3 at the Verizon Center. The move had little impact, as Arenas - still recuperating from knee surgery that cost him 66 games this season and a wrist ailment - scored just two points in 10 minutes before limping to the locker room with three minutes left in the second quarter. He was diagnosed with a bone bruise and is day-to-day.

Arenas' absence did not hurt the Wizards, who were plus-15 with him off the floor in the first half and poured it on without him in the second half en route to a 108-72 triumph that got them back in the series. In fact, you can make the argument that it is the presence of Arenas that has hurt the Wizards. Since he returned earlier this month, Washington was just 3-4 when the two-time All-Star guard took the floor, including losses in Games 1 and 2. Arenas was sidelined for so long that the Wizards learned to play without him as players such as DeShawn Stevenson, Roger Mason Jr. and rookie Nick Young flourished with increased playing time. Given how well the Wizards have played without Arenas, Jordan should consider making him inactive for Game 4 on Sunday.

Only three teams in NBA history have come back to win a series after losing the first two games at home. In trying to become the fourth, the Houston Rockets knew that they would have to win at least two games in Utah, where the Jazz had dropped just four games this season. But for the first time in a long time, a team led by Tracy McGrady showed some grit as the Rockets escaped Thursday with a 94-92 win, staying alive in their first-round series and setting up a Game 4 on Saturday that Utah now needs as badly as Houston does.

McGrady, who had been 0-of-7 in the fourth quarter of the first two games, came alive with seven points in the final period. He got some help from the return of Rafer Alston (20 points, five assists) and Luis Scola (16 points, 11 rebounds). But the biggest lift came from Carl Landry. The rookie lost a tooth earlier this season when he took a shot from teammate Dikembe Mutombo in practice and had the replacement knocked out when he was hit in the mouth by Utah's Carlos Boozer chasing a rebound in the second quarter. Landry returned to contribute seven points, 11 rebounds and a season-saving block and rebounds on a potential go-ahead layup by Deron Williams. As a result, the Rockets are still breathing, even if it is with a lisp.

We'll be the first to admit that we were not as impressed as our colleagues with Raptors rookie Jamario Moon. However, we were impressed Thursday. After starting 75 games during the regular season, Moon was moved to the bench for Toronto's first two playoff games, collecting just three points and six rebounds in a pair of losses in Orlando. With Toronto's season on the line, Moon moved back into his customary spot in the starting lineup - replacing 7-footer Rasho Nesterovic - and responded with 11 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in a 108-94 home victory.

There has been a season-long debate in Toronto about whether T.J. Ford or Jose Calderon is better suited as the team's point guard for the long term. But no one was arguing Thursday; they were too busy celebrating. In a 108-94 home win over Orlando in Game 3, Ford started and had a fine game, leading Toronto in scoring (see Shooting Studs). Calderon came off the bench to contribute 18 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. The Spaniard drained four 3-pointers as the Raptors got back in their first-round series, setting up a pivotal Game 4 on Saturday.

The Idaho Stampede set a record with a 17-game winning streak during the season en route to a 36-14 mark, the best in D-League history. But that didn't matter Thursday, when they faced elimination in the D-League Finals presented by Delta. Cory Violette saved their season by scoring 19 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 21 seconds left in a 90-89 home victory over the Austin Toros. Violette added seven rebounds and three assists in Idaho's first win in four meetings with Austin this season, which set up Game 3 in Boise on Friday night for the D-League championship.