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STAT SHEET STUFFER
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Gerald Wallace played big in Charlotte's 111-106 double-OT win over Houston. The forward scored 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting and threw in 14 rebounds, four blocks and three steals.
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RICK KAMLA'S FANTASY TAKE
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"We have an injury book on Chris Paul, and it's a very good read. After missing his first game at any level, Paul returned with 13-3-5-0-2 against the Pistons. Freaks, he was supposed to miss at least two weeks with torn ligaments in his right thumb. Unreal."
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GAME OF THE NIGHT
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The Nuggets and Suns gave us a candidate for Game of the Year in Denver. Behind Carmelo Anthony's 43 points, the Nuggets came out on top 139-137 in triple overtime, but it was the image of Anthony hitting a game-winning shot with 2.9 seconds left with cotton stuffed up his nose that made this marathon seem like an old-school prizefight going the distance. Midway through the third OT, Anthony scored underneath but paid a price. He got caught up with Shawn Marion on the play and on the way down ran into the knee of teammate Eduardo Najera. Despite the bloody nose, 'Melo didn't miss a beat and led Denver to its first three-OT victory in more than 10 years. Conversely, it's the Suns second three-OT defeat in eight days.
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QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
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"My teammates started getting on me at the end. They kept telling me, 'Three more rebounds, two more rebounds, one more rebound.' Man, those were the toughest two rebounds I ever had to get."
-- Memphis' Mike Miller, who recorded his first triple-double (21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) in a 99-85 victory over Sacramento.
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STORYLINES OF THE NIGHT
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 1. Spurs End Nets' Streak
New Jersey brought a 10-game winning streak into Tuesday night, but many a streak has been grounded to a halt in San Antonio the last few years. The Spurs lost just three regular-season home games a year ago and were 16-1 at SBC Center so far in 2005-06. Make that 17-1 as Tim Duncan's 27 points and 12 rebounds fueled a 96-91 Spurs triumph.
 2. Double-OT Dandy in Charlotte
Two overtimes usually is good for Game of the Night status. Nevertheless, the Bobcats came away with an exciting 111-106 victory over the Rockets behind 15 points and 18 assists from Brevin Knight as well as 20-plus point efforts up front from Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor and Primoz Brezec.
 3. Another One for the Books
One night after Kobe Bryant conjures up memories of Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James matches Oscar Robertson. While Kobe matched Wilt's 1964 feat of scoring 45 or more in four straight games, LeBron on Tuesday became the first player since the Big O in 1966 to notch 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists in seven straight games. Only thing is, LeBron's 36-7-7 wasn't enough, as Cleveland fell 92-84 to New York.
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ROOKIE WATCH
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Hakim Warrick made his biggest Grizzlies contribution yet, posting season highs of 16 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes of Memphis' win over the Kings. Also noteworthy: Chris Paul's unexpected return (see Fantasy Take).
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COOL/CLUTCH PERFORMANCE
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Carmelo Anthony and Earl Boykins capped a big night by teaming up for the game-winning bucket in Denver's triple-OT triumph over Phoenix. With the clock ticking down, Boykins found Anthony, who sank a tough fadeaway jumper from the right side with 2.9 seconds left. |
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SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
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A good argument can be made for Mike Miller's triple-double, but we go back to Denver and give Earl Boykins the spotlight. The league's smallest player played a big part in the Nuggets' thrilling win, finishing with a career-high 33 points to go with eight assists.
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SCOREBOARD: Jan. 10, 2006 |
AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE
Carmelo hits the triple-OT game-winner
Don't look now, but the Knicks have yet to lose in 2006. New York improved to 4-0 in January after 