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SHOOTING STUDS
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Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
107-101 win vs. Raptors
37 pts, 13-16 FG, 10-12 FT
Tracy McGrady, Rockets
97-80 win at Bucks
41 pts, 17-32 FG, 4-4 FT
Raef LaFrentz & Ricky Davis, Celtics
91-78 win vs. Hornets
50 pts, 19-28 FG, 6-9 3-pt FG, 6-7 FT
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STAT SHEET STUFFER
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Jason Kidd's 17-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist effort was his third triple-double this season and the 70th of his illustrious career. But Kidd didn't quite do it all, shooting 3-of-15 from the floor in an 89-78 loss in Utah.
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RICK KAMLA'S FANTASY TAKE
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"The fantasy world has been waiting on Al Jefferson all season, but don't forget about Kendrick Perkins, who had five blocks Monday. He has 11 denials in his last six games and qualifies at forward and center."
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GAME OF THE NIGHT
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Things looked lost for the Clippers when they were trailing the Warriors by 19 late in the third quarter. But L.A. slowly climbed back into it; the deficit was 10 heading to the fourth period, five with six minutes remaining, and finally back to zero with 3:39 left. After Jason Richardson, who finished with 30 points, put Golden State back on top with a three-point play with 1:25 left, Sam Cassell scored the last four points from the free-throw line for a dramatic 96-93 win. Workhorse Elton Brand finished with 28 and nine boards. "We came back from the dead on this one," coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. said. "It was halfway in the can for us and to come back on the road like that, I told our guys, 'We'll look back on this win somewhere along the way and say that was huge.'"
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QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
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"I don't know what's wrong with this team. You think about it all day. Do we want to find a way? Do we want to win games? Do we want to be considered a team that could make the playoffs? I don't care what anybody feels about being traded. In awhile, (management is) not going to have a choice. It's a situation where we are not getting the job done."
-- Indiana big man Jermaine O'Neal on the Pacers' recent struggles after a 104-94 loss, their third straight, in Atlanta on Monday.
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STORYLINES OF THE NIGHT
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 1. T-Mac's Back-to-Back
Everybody knows that Tracy McGrady is one of the most explosive scorers in the NBA, but Monday was special even for him. With the Rockets up just one early in the fourth quarter, McGrady went on a personal 14-0 run and scored 18 points in a 19-0 Houston run that locked up a 97-80 win in Milwaukee. McGrady finished with 41 points after popping for 43 on Sunday in Detroit. "Some of those shots he made took the air out of us," said Bucks guard Maurice Williams. "(He was) just putting daggers into us repeatedly."
 2. Sharing a Home-and-Home
It looked like the Warriors had the game in the bag and would avenge Sunday's loss to the Clippers. But a big-time second-half Los Angeles comeback led to a 96-93 Monday win and a home-and-home sweep. The victory marks the seventh straight time that Clippers skipper Mike Dunleavy Sr. has gotten the better of the Warriors and son Mike Jr. In another family affair, Jarron Collins and the Jazz topped brother Jason's Nets, 89-78 in Utah.
3. Canadian Bakin'
A night after being burned by Kobe Bryant, whose 81 points marked the second-highest total in NBA history, the Raptors visited the Nuggets and were fried again. Carmelo Anthony was the one cooking Monday, hitting 13-of-16 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the charity stripe for 37 points in a 107-101 Denver win.
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ROOKIE WATCH
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Called up from Albuquerque of the D-League this past Wednesday, Chuck Hayes has had an instant impact with the Rockets. After posting a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds in Friday's win, Hayes made 3-of-4 shots for seven points to go with 12 boards in just 20 minutes in Houston's 97-80 Monday win in Milwaukee.
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COOL/CLUTCH PERFORMANCE
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Sam Cassell and rookie Daniel Ewing were instrumental in the Clippers' big comeback win Monday. Cassell scored 13 of his 24 while Ewing had all 10 of his points in the final frame as L.A. outscored Golden State 30-17 for a 96-93 road win.
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SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
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Some players thrive in reserve roles, and it looks like Tyronn Lue might be one of them. Lue is averaging 12 points on 48 percent shooting in games as a reserve compared to 6.5 points on 38 percent shooting in games he has started. Monday, Lue returned after missing four games with back spasms to tally 15 points and seven assists in Atlanta's 104-94 win over the Pacers. Fellow reserve Marvin Williams hit all five of his shot attempts for 13 points.
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SCOREBOARD: Jan. 23, 2006 |
AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE
Kirilenko hits the nifty shot off the glass as he's fouled:
