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STAT SHEET STUFFER
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If the Steve Francis trade signifies the Magic's commitment to building around Dwight Howard, the 2004 No. 1 pick showed Friday that he is ready for the responsibility. Howard scored 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting, ripped 16 rebounds, delivered two assists and blocked a shot in Orlando's 102-89 victory over the Sonics. Howard's effort helped halt the Magic's eight-game skid.
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RICK KAMLA'S FANTASY TAKE
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Call him Mr. February. After playing just 16 minutes in the entire month of January, Ryan Gomes has stepped into the starting lineup and produced double figures in five straight games. His 13-point, 17-rebound performance Friday was his second straight double-double.
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D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
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Will Bynum continued to play well for Roanoke on Friday. Bynum scored 26 points and handed out eight assists as the Dazzle edged the Thunderbirds, 104-98, in overtime. Bynum's current teammate, and former college foe, Anthony Grundy, chipped in 24 and seven. The pair used to battle in the ACC; Bynum is a former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket and Grundy is an N.C. State alum.
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GAME OF THE NIGHT
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It took an extra frame and a superhuman effort from Joe Johnson, but the Hawks still managed to topple the Pacers for the third time this season. Indiana had won six of its last seven at home entering play Friday and looked poised to make it 7-of-8, holding a four-point lead with 1:31 to play in regulation. Atlanta pulled within two with 31 ticks left, but missed a chance to tie when Josh Childress' layup was blocked by Jeff Foster. The usually automatic Peja Stojakovic then split a pair of free throws, giving the Hawks another opportunity, which Johnson took advantage of by hitting a three from the wing as time expired to send it to OT. In the bonus frame, the Pacers, trailing by one in the final seconds, missed a 3-pointer and pair of layups. Atlanta went on to ice the 117-112 win from the charity stripe. Johnson matched a career-high with 40 points, while shooting 16-of-24, including 5-of-5 from deep, and delivering 13 dimes. The win gave the Hawks their first road sweep of Indiana since 1998-99.
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QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
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"Four, five, six, seven seed, who knows who's going to play each other? It doesn't matter who we play, we're not worried about that right now. We're just trying to come together as a group. Last year we didn't have home-court advantage, and we pulled out a win."
-- Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas, after his squad defeated the Cavs, 102-94. Washington and Cleveland are currently battling for the Eastern Conference's fourth seed -- and the home-court advantage it brings in the opening round of the playoffs.
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STORYLINES OF THE NIGHT
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 1. No T-Mac? No Problem
Tracy McGrady has missed his share of games due to injury this season, and the Rockets have paid the price, losing all 13 games the All-Star swingman had missed this season. Before Friday, that is. T-Mac sat out Friday's matchup with the Warriors due to a death in his family and the Rockets finally responded in his absence. Fellow All-Star Yao Ming had a monster night with 22 points and 21 rebounds. Juwan Howard also helped pick up the slack with 22 points and eight rebounds of his own. Four others scored in double figures for Houston, which is surging of late, having won 9-of-10.
  2. Franchise Fallout
After winning the 2006 Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk at this year's All-Star weekend, Nate Robinson was flying high ... in more ways than one. But the Knicks' acquisition of Steve Francis may force the enigmatic Robinson out of Larry Brown's rotation for an extended period of time. Francis' arrival on Broadway gives New York four guards ( Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson) who all demand significant minutes. Of course, Knicks fans have a right to question how many of those minutes will be productive. Friday's loss to the Nets was New York's 18th in its last 20 outings. While Francis scored 16 in his debut, the other three guards combined for only 10 and Robinson was placed on the inactive list.
  3. Tinseltown Tussle
If L.A. hoops fans needed proof that the much improved Clippers mean business this season, look no further than Friday's impressive 102-83 waxing of the intra-arena rival Lakers. It didn't seem to matter that the Lakers began the day red hot, having won four of their last six, or that the Clippers were lagging of late, losers of five in a row. Kobe Bryant's 39 points also seemed less than significant, at least when compared to Elton Brand's 24 second-half points and monster five-cat line. Brand scored 32 points, ripped 11 rebounds, blocked four shots, handed out three assists and collected one steal as the Red and Blue cruised to victory over the Purple and Gold. Veteran Cuttino Mobley contributed 22 points, while newly acquired Vladimir Radmanovic added 19 and seven rebounds.
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COOL/CLUTCH PERFORMANCE
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Carmelo Anthony -- perhaps angered by his All-Star snub -- continued his assault on the league Friday, scoring 30 points and draining 4-of-7 from downtown as Denver edged Minnesota in overtime, 102-101. After the Nuggets let a 10-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate to force the bonus frame, the Wolves scored six points in 13 seconds to take a two-point advantage with 6.5 to play in OT. But Anthony -- as he has done since his NCAA championship days at Syracuse -- came through in the clutch, burying a turnaround
three from the left corner with Trenton Hassell in his mug and 3.4 ticks showing on the clock to give Denver the dramatic victory.
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ROOKIE WATCH
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If Martell Webster's demotion to the D-League last month represented the low point of his inaugural campaign, his performance against Boston on Friday certainly marked the peak. Webster -- who was recalled on Feb. 4 -- tallied a season-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting. He also drilled four trifectas and grabbed eight rebounds. Unfortunately, the Blazers fell at home, 102-96. Here's to similar performances and better outcomes for the 19-year-old.
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SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
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Kyle Korver notched a career night as the Sixers defeated the Bucks for the first time this season. Philly's third-year forward popped off the pine and shot 10-of-17 from the floor, and 4-of-7 from 3-point land, to net a career-best 31 points (17 in the fourth quarter) as the Sixers held off Milwaukee for a 116-111 road victory. With the win, Philly avenged three previous losses and leapfrogged the Bucks in the Eastern Conference standings.
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SCOREBOARD: Feb. 24, 2006 |
AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE
'Melo hits the game-winning three with a man in his face:
NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad
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