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SHOOTING STUDS
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Vladimir Radmanovic, Sonics
120-116 loss at Knicks
30 pts, 10-12 FG, 8-10 3-pt FG, 2-2 FT
Dwyane Wade, Heat
118-89 win at Blazers
31 pts, 13-17 FG, 5-6 FT
Earl Watson, Nuggets
92-90 win at Rockets
20 pts, 7-8 FG, 6-7 3-pt FG
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STAT SHEET STUFFER
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After compiling a triple-double in his last game, New Jersey's Jason Kidd continued to pile up numbers on Sunday. He scored 22, doled out 15 assists, grabbed six rebounds and came up with a steal in a 105-104 victory at Toronto.
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RICK KAMLA'S FANTASY TAKE
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"Rookie Danny Granger has been a definite stud of late, dropping two steals and two blocks on the Kings. Over the last five games, he has 12 steals and four blocks, so pick him up."
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D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
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Rawle Marshall, assigned to the D-League by the Dallas Mavericks, continued to light up the
league on Sunday. The 6-7 swingman entered the day averaging 20.3 points, and tallied 23 points and eight rebounds in Fort Worth's 91-83 win over Albuquerque.
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GAME OF THE NIGHT
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Vince Carter returning to Toronto to face his former team makes plenty of headlines on its own. But the boos he received
early served as just an appetizer compared to those he garnered after his final act. Carter, in his first full season with
the Nets, turned in a stellar fourth-quarter effort to carry the Nets to their 10th straight victory. The Raptors held an eight-point
lead with two minutes to play before Vince and the Nets took over. Carter closed the gap to 101-100 with 24 seconds
left and added a basket with 7.2 left to bring N.J. within 104-102, but he wasn't done yet. After Jose Calderon
hit 1-of-2 free throws for a two-point Toronto lead, Carter sank a 3-pointer with 0.1 ticks left for a 105-104 victory. He finished with 24 fourth-quarter points and 42 overall in the game. Carter's superb effort made up for the departure of Richard Jefferson, who left the game after two minutes with back spasms and did not return. "Coach (Lawrence Frank) told me if he missed one free throw to go for the tie, and I said, 'Coach, I'm going for the win,'" said Carter, who was booed throughout the game. "I was either going to be a hero for the team or miss the shot."
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QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
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"It was terrible man. They did what ever they wanted to. It was crazy. Dwyane Wade was just doing what he
wanted to do. Our guards have got to learn how to move their feet and stop the penetration."
- Portland's Ruben Patterson on Heat guards Dwyane Wade and Jason Williams, who combined for 51 points in Miami's 118-89 win in Portland.
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STORYLINES OF THE NIGHT
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  1. Battle of Attrition in Houston
Despite the absence of centers Yao Ming and Marcus Camby with injuries Sunday, the matchup between the Nuggets and Rockets still had plenty of star power with Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Houston's Tracy McGrady. But McGrady didn't last long as back spasms forced him to be taken off the court on a stretcher just before halftime. Denver star Kenyon Martin was also forced to leave with back spasms after playing just nine minutes. 'Melo was the last star standing and finished off the Rockets on a jumper with a second to play, giving the Nuggets a 92-90 win at Houston. Earl Watson and Earl Boykins picked up the slack for Denver, combining for 37 points.
 2. Young Guns Carry Knicks
The Knicks are looking younger and younger by the day and it continued to pay off on Sunday. Rookies Nate Robinson and David Lee started and Channing Frye contributed off the bench as New York picked up its third straight win, downing the Sonics, 120-116. Robinson scored 17 points, Frye netted 15 and Lee scored nine, including the go-ahead bucket with 21 seconds to play. The three accounted
for 41 points, while veterans Quentin Richardson, Antonio Davis, Malik Rose and Jerome James (35 seasons of experience
among them) combined for just five points - all by Richardson.
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ROOKIE WATCH
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With Rafer Alston returning to the Houston lineup, Luther Head's minutes were destined to be cut despite his strong play in Alston' absence. But Tracy McGrady went down with back spasms Sunday and the rookie guard was called upon again. He stepped right in and tallied 16 points, five assists and three steals off the bench in a 92-90 loss to Denver.
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COOL/CLUTCH PERFORMANCE
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Vince Carter kept answering for the Nets down the stretch against the Raptors on Sunday. Playing against his former teammates, Carter tallied eight of his 24 fourth-quarter points in the final 24 seconds, including the game-winner with 0.1 seconds remaining in a 105-104 victory. |
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SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
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New York's Maurice Taylor turned in his best effort of the season by far Sunday, racking up 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the floor in Sunday's
120-116 win over the Sonics. He also pulled down six rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench.
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SCOREBOARD: Jan. 8, 2006 |
AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE
Carter stuns Raptors
