PLAY OF THE DAY

SHOOTING STUDS

Paul Pierce, Celtics
112-111 win at Lakers
39 pts, 12-20 FG,
1-2 3-pt. FG, 14-21 FT

Yao Ming, Rockets
89-84 win at Magic
29 pts, 7-12 FG, 15-19 FT

Kobe Bryant, Lakers
112-111 loss vs. Celtics
40 pts, 11-23 FG, 3-8 3-pt FG, 15-17 FT

SHOOTING DUDS

Stephen Jackson, Pacers
101-91 win at New Jersey
3-11 FG, 0-4 3-pt FG, 12 pts

Sasha Pavlovic, Cavs
90-78 loss at Pistons
1-6 FG, 0-2 3-pt FG, 2 pts

Marc Jackson, Hornets
88-75 win at Blazers
2-10 FG, 4 pts

STAT SHEET STUFFER

New Jersey's Jason Kidd is still one of the most versatile players in the game. Despite a 101-91 home loss that snapped the Nets' four-game winning streak, Kidd was a jack-of-all-trades, logging 19 points, 12 assists, eight rebounds and two steals. Without an injured Vince Carter for most of the contest, Kidd stepped up his scoring, hitting 3-of-5 from downtown. Kidd has recorded a double-double in 3-of-4 games since the All-Star break, and ranks first in the NBA in triple-doubles.

RICK KAMLA'S FANTASY TAKE

"Dive for the mouse to pick up Marcus Banks, who got his first start as a Wolf and played great. He had 13 points, eight assists, and three steals in 33 minutes, and the Wolves won. Look for more lines like that as long as Dwane Casey keeps starting him."

D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT

Ime Udoka has anchored Fort Worth this year, starting all 34 games and averaging 17 points a game. On Sunday, he was at it again, scoring 20 points, handing out seven assists, grabbing six boards and nabbing four steals in a 92-82 road victory over Florida. Udoka also has his team in sole possession of first place by 1.5 games after winning two consecutive contests over the Flame. Coming into Thursday's game with Florida, the teams were tied for first, but Udoka sparked his team to a 19-point victory on Thursday as well as the 10-point triumph on Sunday.

LOCKDOWN OF THE NIGHT

The 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, Ben Wallace, cements the Piston defense. On Sunday, Detroit held Cleveland to only 33 first-half points in a 92-82 home win over the Cavaliers. Wallace limited Cleveland's inside threat Zydunas Ilgauskas to 5-of-13 shooting in 30 minutes, also forcing him into committing two turnovers. Besides his individual work, Wallace also played great defense demonstrated by him grabbing 19 rebounds, swiping four steals, and rejecting five shots. Said his coach Flip Saunders about Wallace's efforts, "They might as well take the Defensive Player of the Year trophy and send it. When you look at all the things he's doing as far as defensive rebounding, blocking shots, steals - he's been phenomenal." .

GAME OF THE NIGHT

In a nostalgic throwback to the historic Boston-Los Angeles rivalry of the 1980s, the Celtics and Lakers geared it back up for another barnburner on Sunday. Dueling in a dramatic play with Hollywood serving as a backdrop, leave it up to two stars such as Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant to provide the sizzling introduction, rising action and denouement instrumental for good theater. In a back-and-forth game where Bryant exploded for 40 points, it was Pierce's 39 points plus the superior supporting cast that clinched the 112-111 road victory for Boston. In the last 11 games, Pierce has averaged 33.5 ppg., tops in the NBA over the last month. As good as Pierce was, Delonte West was critical in directing the flow and tempo, adding 19 points, 10 assists, and two steals. But after West fouled out, rookie Ryan Gomes (see storyline #1) was crucial in his supporting role, converting on a putback with 56.7 seconds left that pushed Boston's lead to four. After a couple of free throws by Bryant, a free throw by the Celtics' rookie Orien Greene put them up one. Los Angleles' Lamar Odom came the other way to make a three-point play the old fashioned way, after converting on the free throw. With the game tied at 111, Pierce was fouled by Bryant on his jumper with 3.7 seconds remaining. Pierce, who shot 12-for-20 from the field, hit one of two to put Boston up one with 1.7 seconds left. This set the stage for Bryant, who narrowly missed his turnaround at the buzzer, and ending the Lakers' chances for a Hollywood ending.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

"It's really hard to take. When she (my fiancee) hurts, I hurt. I've just been trying to help her get through it. You only have one mom. I'm just trying to stay strong and help my girl, but it helps to be able to focus on basketball and concentrate on that."

-- Rockets' All-Star Tracy McGrady, after missing Friday's game victory in Golden State due to the death of his fiancee's mother. T-Mac came back Sunday with 19 points and nine boards to lead Houston to an 89-84 road victory over the Magic.

STORYLINES OF THE NIGHT

1. Celts Receive Gift From Providence
Rookie Ryan Gomes may be the latest gem stolen out of the second round of the draft. The 50th overall pick out of nearby Providence College may have been the very providence that Boston needed. On Sunday, Gomes scored a season-high 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting, while snatching a game-high 12 rebounds in the Celtics 112-111 road victory over the Lakers. Gomes' tip-in with less than a minute remaining extended Boston's lead to four as they marched to 3-1 on their four-game road win. Since inserting Gomes into the lineup seven games ago, the Celtics have gone 5-2, with Gomes posting a double-double in the last three games. He has averaged 12.6 ppg. since entering the starting rotation. The absence of young bigs Al Jefferson (sprained right ankle) and Kendrick Perkins (dislocated left shoulder) was responsible for presenting an opportunity for Gomes to make an impact. Nevertheless, it seems as if Gomes' arrival into the lineup has been just the fortuitous piece that Boston needed to awaken the slumbering Boston Garden leprechauns, and the serendipitous spark that could ignite Gomes' career.

2. Indiana Invades Swampland
As the focus for teams turns to playoff positioning and seeding, every game becomes more important, especially against foes in the same conference. When the Pacers entered New Jersey on Sunday, it might have provided a sneak peak into a first-round playoff matchup. The Pacers, who are seeded sixth, came in having lost their last game in overtime to Atlanta and having dropped six consecutive on the road. New Jersey, which is currently seeded third, had won 15-of-16 at home and four in-a-row overall. Proving the rule of "any given Sunday" and that statistics do lie, Indiana defeated the Nets 101-91. Indiana's Fred Jones led the way with 22 off the bench, posting 11 of those 22 points in the fourth quarter to seal the win for the Pacers. Peja Stojakovic also scored 22 points, including 4-for-5 from 3-point land, while Anthony Johnson added 13 points and 10 assists. Rookie Danny Granger also added 13 points, teaming with Johnson to drain key shots down the stretch. Cynics that will claim that Indiana won because New Jersey's Vince Carter left early (injured hamstring), will have to consider that Pacers were missing Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley.

3. Lone Wolf
When Minnesota superstar Kevin Garnett was ejected early on Sunday, a few Wolves stepped up to fill his shoes. Said Minnsota coach Dwane Casey, "When Kevin went out, the team pulled together. Our young guys did well. It was almost like the youngsters wanting to do well for their big brother." But no Wolf shined brighter than swingman Ricky Davis. Davis exploded, scoring 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter to seal the 105-99 home victory over the Grizzlies. Davis slashed to rim with reckless abandon, going to the line 20 times, and converting on 15 shots. Memphis coach Mike Fratello remarked, "Ricky felt, I'm sure, that with Kevin out, he had to take more responsibility on his shoulders. We didn't guard him; we just fouled him. We put him on the line 20 times." With the Wolves four games behind the division lead and the eighth and final playoff spot, they are going to need more nights like this out of Davis to secure a spot in the playoffs.

ROOKIE WATCH

Facing one of the toughest defenses in the NBA in Memphis', and having your leading scorer ejected may deter some rookies, but Minnesota rookie Rashad McCants was undaunted on Sunday. After star forward Kevin Garnett was ejected on Sunday, the Timberwolves received a superb spark from McCants, who scored 12 points off the bench on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor. McCants also rained in 2-of-3 3-bombs, displaying the type of range that could make him a valuable offensive weapon. Defensively, McCants also made his presence felt, compiling both two steals and two blocks. The Wolves coach Dwane Casey commented, "Rashad did a very good job for us, running the break, shooting the three, spotting up. I've said this for a couple weeks - he's really improving."

SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT

Fred "Indiana" Jones wasted no time in playing the hero on Sunday for the Pacers. Having lost six consecutive road games, including an OT loss to Atlanta on Friday, the last destination the Pacers wanted to travel into was the temple of doom that was New Jersey. The Nets had won 15-of-16 at home before Sunday night. But enter Jones, who scored 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including a 2-of-4 raiding from behind the arc. Jones led a fourth quarter crusade where he scored a quarter-high 11 points to lead his team in crunchtime. The Pacers, which also received seven rebounds from Jones, hope that he can continue to provide his heroics off the bench come playoff-time.