Denver 117, New York 110

It seems a bit daft to suggest that the Denver Nuggets need to be more careful with their scoring star, seeing as how he just dropped 32 on the Knicks, but I wonder if this wouldn't be a good time to give Carmelo Anthony the every-other-game treatment. At least for the next week or two.

Nagging elbow injuries just don't go away, and with the team's stated goal (after trading for Chauncey Billups) having a little to do with playing into June, a three-game sit and a compression sleeve might not be enough.

Still, it was enough on Sunday. The Nuggets trampled the Knicks in New York, as ‘Melo shot 13-19, while pulling in nine boards, dishing four assists, and turning the ball over just once in 35 minutes. The Knicks allowed Denver to shoot 57 percent and make 6-14 (43 percent) from behind the arc. New York attempted some pressure D on the Nugs at time, which obviously didn't work, while trying to out-shoot the Nuggets at home.

Of course, the Knicks are trying to out-shoot teams with Wilson Chander (17 points on 19 shots), so you can imagine how that went.

Dallas 98, Los Angeles Clippers 76

With Dirk Nowitzki suspended for pushing someone, Josh Howard (who hasn't pushed someone since Christmas) took over for the Mavericks, scoring 29 points while adding nine rebounds and seven assists.

Jason Terry moved into the starting lineup with iffy results (12 points on 17 shots), Baron Davis (10 points on 13 shots) continued to party like it was 2005, and the Clippers really missed Zach Randolph (out with a dodgy left knee) on the glass, where they were out-rebounded 53-38.

Cleveland 93, Miami 86

I realize he's a rookie, and I realize he probably has some large quote from some Tony Robbins book on the ready in case we continue to question him, but Heat coach Erik Spoelstra really hasn't looked like a guy you can lean on this year, and it's a bit shocking that (even considering this team's talent) Miami is even at 16-13.

Chris Quinn didn't see a minute while Mario Chalmers and Marcus Banks (combined, 2-11 shooting from the floor, 3-5 from the line) clanged away, and the Heat never got on track in the loss. It was a competitive game, but you had the feeling Cleveland would have to fritter the contest away if Miami was to win. If you're a Heat fan, that's not a good feeling.

33 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two turnovers and a block for LeBron James, slightly better than Dwyane Wade's 29, eight assists, four rebounds, two steals and zero turnovers. Wade might have had a block in the fourth quarter of this one, but James wrapped around for a gorgeous reverse as the Cavs pulled away. 

New Orleans 105, Indiana 103

The Pacers made Chris Paul a passer for the first chunk of this game, and the ploy worked. Indiana was up seven points at the half, Paul's Hornets were acting as they usually do offensively, and you were left wondering what it would take to get Paul to start putting up 38 a game in order to get the rest of "them" to pay attention.

Of course, he didn't put up 38. He didn't need to, he scored just enough, the Hornets won, and Chris Paul is smarter than all of us.

11 points in the last 3:36 for CP3, after a worrying initial 44:24, he finished with 19 overall, and the Pacers have to be the best 10-20 team I've ever seen.

Boston 108, Sacramento 63

This was a painful, painful burn that usually gets coaches fired.

Unfortunately for Kings GM Geoff Petrie, he already tried the "firing" bit, and now he has to sit back and contemplate the fact that his Kings are essentially 45 points + Kevin Martin removed from the best team in the NBA.

Sacramento shot 27.9 percent, they were out-rebounded by 22, and only John Salmons (who shot 2-9) scored in double-figures for the Kings, finishing with 11. Both teams reminded of 90s-era Bulls teams, the 1996-97 version for Boston, and the 1999-version for Sacramento, and it was painful to watch.

Los Angeles Lakers 130, Golden State 113

This contest should have been entertaining, but it was just as painful to watch at times.

The Warriors are way too short to compete at this level, and they compound this failing by throwing out pathetic spurts of effort that barely make it from possession to possession. Throw in Don Nelson's behind-the-scenes machinations, and what was once a lovely thing to behold even in defeat has become a crew that nearly comes close to Isiah-era Knicks in terms of sheer disgust.

Kobe Bryant (31 points on just 15 shots, four steals) and Pau Gasol (13 points, nine rebounds, seven assists in 30 minutes) make it worth your time, though. Always. Andrew Bynum had a double-double, and Derek Fisher had one of his Sunday specials with 19 points on just 12 shots.

Fancy a chat? Does 3, Eastern, work?

Related: Behind the boxscore