With Derrick Rose, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and the ‘other’ member of Miami’s star-studded cast, Chris Bosh, the series between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat is without a doubt a must-see, and there’s a good chance we’ll be seeing this matchup at this stage on a regular basis over the next several seasons.

However, the Western Conference finals has its own star power, and it was on full display in Game 1 on Tuesday night, as the Dallas Mavericks outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-112.

It could well have been called the Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant show, as the stars for both teams were at their most explosive. Durant, the NBA’s scoring champion each of the last two seasons, followed up his 39-point effort in Game 7 of the conference semifinals against Memphis with his third 40-point performance of the postseason in the opener against Dallas. Durant hit 10 of 18 shots from the field, including two of five 3-pointers, and was almost perfect from the free-throw line, going 18 of 19 from the stripe on the way to a 40-point, eight-rebound night.

However, as unstoppable as Durant was, it wasn’t enough, as his best wasn’t enough to overcome Nowitzki’s best. Nowitzki put his team on his back and was absolutely amazing, leading the way with an astounding 48 points, hitting 12 of 15 shots and an even more incredible 24 of 24 free throws.

If Game 1 is any indication, tonight’s showdown in Dallas will be one that will have viewers glued to the action from start to finish, which we can’t say for last night’s Game 2 between Miami and Chicago, which saw an absolutely atrocious offensive display from both sides in the fourth quarter.

There are few gimmes in sports betting, but if I were putting any money down on the second episode of the Dirk and Durant Show, I’d be all over the over, because I don’t see either team playing too much defense, and I don’t see either superstar slowing down.

But will the Thunder be able to go back to Oklahoma City with the series knotted at 1? The answer might not lie in whether or not they slow down Nowitzki, but if Russell Westbrook can bounce back from a poor showing in Game 1. He did score 20 points, but he was only 3 of 15 from the field, and the assist machine had only three on the night.

If he can bring his best tonight, the Thunder will be in it to the end, but whatever the case, you can certainly expect big numbers on the scoreboard on both sides in Big D tonight.

Cleveland, the league’s only 50-win team so far, has already clinched a playoff spot, and appear to have the number one overall seed in the East locked up for the second consecutive year.

The Nets, on the other hand, are on the verge of losing their 60th game of the season.

Take that, Cavs!

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-15, Last Week: 2)

The Cavs have won three straight, and have survived minor injury scares to both LeBron James and Antawn Jamison in the past week.

They’re way ahead of the pack out East, and anything short of an appearance in the Finals would be even more disappointing than last season.

2. Orlando Magic (47-21, Last Week: 3)

Orlando was rolling before losing at home to Charlotte Sunday.

Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson were dreadful that night, combining for just seven points on awful 3-17 shooting, including 1-9 from three-point range.

3. Dallas Mavericks (45-22, Last Week: 1)

The Mavs’ streak was stopped in shocking fashion Saturday night, with a 128-94 drubbing at home at the hands of the Knicks.

Dallas was outscored in each quarter that night, including 70-46 in the second half.

4. Los Angeles Lakers (49-18, Last Week: 5)

The defending champs have won three straight, but it hasn’t been easy.

They beat Toronto by two, Phoenix by six, and Golden State by three.

5. Denver Nuggets (45-22, Last Week: 4)

The Nuggets just had their six-game winning streak snapped by blowing a game in Houston Monday night by a score of 125-123.

It was the first time all season that Denver had lost a game in which they scored at least 110 points.

6. Milwaukee Bucks (36-29, Last Week: 11)

Those crazy Bucks are rolling, and have won six straight as of Tuesday.

They’re spry, young, and energetic, and could spell deep trouble for the aging Boston Celtics should they meet in the first round of the playoffs.

7. Oklahoma City Thunder (41-24, Last Week: 10)

Speaking of hot teams, OKC is just about as hot as anybody right now, having notched wins in each of their last five games.

Second-year guard Russell Westbrook is becoming a triple-double threat each and every night, and is averaging 19 points, nine assists, and six rebounds during the streak.

8. Atlanta Hawks (42-23, Last Week: 9)

Atlanta just keeps chugging along under the radar, and sits a half-game ahead of Boston for the third spot in the East.

That will be a very important race down the stretch, as whomever wins the third seed gets to avoid a potential matchup with Cleveland until the Eastern Conference Finals.

9. Charlotte Bobcats (34-31, Last Week: 16)

On the outside looking in a week ago, the Bobcats have rallied to win six in a row and have vaulted up to sixth in the East.

They’re scrappy enough to earn the label of “A team nobody wants to play come playoff time.”

10. Utah Jazz (43-24, Last Week: 6)

The Jazz, despite consecutive losses to perhaps the two hottest teams in the league (Milwaukee and OKC), are still right in the mix for the coveted second or third seed in the West.

Carlos Boozer has been having a great season, and it’ll be interesting to see what happens to Utah if he ends up leaving as a free agent this summer.

Luckily for them, it certainly doesn’t hurt that they hold the Knicks’ upcoming lottery pick.

11. Phoenix Suns (41-26, Last Week:

After losing a tough one at home to the Lakers, the Suns were able to rebound and easily beat the slumping Hornets Sunday.

Amar’e Stoudemire has upped his game in a major way since the trade deadline, and is averaging 31 points and 11 rebounds per game over the last five.

12. San Antonio Spurs (39-25, Last Week: 12)

Surprisingly, the Spurs haven’t missed a beat without Tony Parker, as George Hill has stepped right into the starting point guard duties and has helped them to three straight wins.

He should get some dark-horse consideration for the Most Improved Player Award as his numbers continue to rise.

13. Portland Trail Blazers (41-28, Last Week: 14)

Like the Spurs, the Blazers are playing their best basketball of the season at the right time.

With the way Nate McMillan has been able to keep his team in the playoff picture despite a vast array of injuries all season long, he should be the favorite for Coach of the Year.

14. Boston Celtics (42-24, Last Week: 7)

The C’s have lost three of five, with the three losses coming against teams in the playoff hunt and the two wins coming over doormats.

They’ll certainly be tested in the next week, as four of their next five are against Houston, Dallas, Utah, and Denver.

15. Miami Heat (35-32, Last Week: 13)

The inconsistent Heat currently hold a tenuous three-game lead over the ninth place Bulls.

The next two weeks will be crucial, as they’ll face Charlotte, Chicago, and Milwaukee as they all battle for playoff spots.

16. Houston Rockets (34-31, Last Week: 18)

Calling the Rockets’ playoff chances anything other than “slim” at this point would be a stretch, but they’ve been playing some good basketball lately and have won three straight games.

Luis Scola has been a man possessed in the last week, averaging 27 points and 13 rebounds per game.

They’re currently five games behind the eight-place Blazers.

17. Memphis Grizzlies (35-32, Last Week: 17)

Memphis is tied with Houston for ninth in the West, and the playoffs seem almost out of reach.

However, this season has been an enormously surprising success no matter what happens down the stretch, and Lionel Hollins is another solid Coach of the Year candidate.

18. Toronto Raptors (32-33, Last Week: 15)

19. Chicago Bulls (31-34, Last Week: 20)

I’d put these two teams closer to the bottom if they weren’t “fighting it out” for the final playoff spot in the East.

The Raptors have lost five in a row, and the Bulls have dropped seven straight.

It’s almost as if they’re trying to get the NBA to change its playoff structure in order to allow the 16 best records to qualify.

Good luck to whichever team snags that playoff spot, as they’ll be rewarded by a prompt four-game sweep at the hands of LeBron’s Cavaliers.

20. New Orleans Hornets (33-35, Last Week: 19)

Rookie point guard Darren Collison continues his amazing play with Chris Paul watching from the bench.

He’s averaging 14 points and 13 assists in his last five games, including a nice 20-assist effort in a win over the Warriors last week.

21. New York Knicks (24-43, Last Week: 21)

The “Still waiting for 2010″‘s have looked great in their last two games, both wins.

They avenged a 50-point loss to Dallas earlier in the season by halting the Mavs’ 13-game winning streak in dominating fashion Saturday night.

Second-year forward Bill Walker has emerged as a solid, if still inconsistent, player since being acquired from Boston at the deadline.

22. Detroit Pistons (23-44, Last Week: 22)

The Pistons play the Cavs twice and the Pacers twice in their next four games.

…and that’s just about everything interesting I have here.

23. Sacramento Kings (23-44, Last Week: 25)

Remember when the Kings got off to that solid start in November and December?

They won 14 games over the course of those two months, but have won just nine in the two-plus months since.

24. Philadelphia 76ers (23-44, Last Week: 23)

Philly has lost five straight, and is 1-9 in the last 10 games.

They face the Nets Wednesday in what could shape up to be the worst basketball game ever played.

25. Golden State Warriors (18-48, Last Week: 28)

To their credit, you can’t accuse the Warriors of tanking down the stretch.

They’ve lost three of their last four games, but none of the losses have been by more than five points.

26. Indiana Pacers (21-45, Last Week: 27)

Despite having lost six of seven, the Pacers actually jumped a spot this week, by virtue of everybody else playing so horribly.

They’ll get the chance to play “spoiler” in the next week or so, with games against Charlotte, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City.

27. Los Angeles Clippers (25-43, Last Week: 24)

Interim head coach Kim Hughes has directed his Clippers to a 4-14 record since taking over, including eight straight losses.

They’ve been getting absolutely whipped during the streak, which makes you wonder if they’re tanking, or if they’re actually just that horrible.

28. Washington Wizards (21-44, Last Week: 26)

Speaking of horrible, the Wiz have also lost eight in a row.

However, they actually might have an excuse. Their schedule during the current skid: at Milwaukee, vs. Milwaukee, at Boston, vs. Houston, vs. Atlanta, at Detroit, vs. Orlando, at Utah.

Next four games: at Denver, at Portland, at LA Lakers, vs. Charlotte.

Yikes.

29. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-53, Last Week: 29)

Minny’s ineptitude this season has been completely overshadowed by that of the Nets.

What happens if they land the first pick? Is John Wall good enough to give up on Jonny Flynn/Ricky Rubio, or will they have to take Evan Turner?

95. New Jersey Nets (7-59, Last Week: 30)

Why are the Nets 95th, you ask?

Because they’re probably worse than each of the 65 teams in the NCAA tourney, that’s why.

For everything NBA and fantasy basketball-related, head over to NBA Soup .

We’re coming down to the wire in fantasy basketball, so if you’re dealing with injuries or inconsistency on your roster, it may be time to look in a different direction.

Read on for a few waiver wire gems that could seriously help your fantasy squad in the final weeks:

Jrue Holiday, PG, Philadelphia 76ers (2% owned in Yahoo! leagues)

Holiday’s production has been on the rise since Allen Iverson left, and is averaging 14 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds in the last five games.

His numbers are solid across the board, and he can also provide a boost in the three-point and free throw shooting departments.

If you’re in desperate need of some guard help, Holiday may be worth a look.

Courtney Lee, SG, New Jersey Nets (18%)

The Nets are horrible, but Lee has been anything but that recently.

After going through a disappointing season for the most part, he’s averaging 19 points in his last five, but has also been a bit inconsistent.

Snag him if you need scoring help, but do so with caution.

Quentin Richardson, SG/SF, Miami Heat (4%)

Richardson, like Lee, has been fairly inconsistent with his scoring, but when he’s on, he’s on.

He’s 18-43 from deep in his last five games, a stellar percentage that could prove to be a valuable asset down the stretch if you need help in that area.

He’s typically good for at least a pair of threes per game.

Drew Gooden, PF, Los Angeles Clippers (24%)

Gooden occupied this space a couple of weeks ago, but he’s still widely available in most leagues.

He’s averaging 14 points and eight rebounds per game in March, and can be a solid boost to any frontline lacking in rebounding, especially.

His Clippers may be losing, but he can help you win.

JaVale McGee, C, Washington Wizards (4%)

McGee’s numbers for the season aren’t great, but he’s stepped up his rebounding and shot blocking since the trade deadline.

He’s near the top of the league in blocks since then, and could be a nice pickup if you’re really scrapping for help.

While the teams try to sort themselves out for playoff positioning, players (and coaches) will also be jockeying for postseason honors.

So, with the final stretch almost upon us, which players are distancing themselves as the main contenders for major awards?

Most Valuable Player

1. LeBron James (CLE)

With Kobe Bryant battling an array of injuries, LeBron James has taken over as the absolute frontrunner to win his second-consecutive MVP.

James is averaging 29.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game for a Cavaliers team distancing itself from the pack in the East.

The King, still just 25 years old, has become the league’s best all-around player, dazzling fans on a nightly basis with his strength, athleticism, court vision, and highlight reel plays.

2. Kobe Bryant (LAL)

In my opinion, Kobe was on his way to winning this award until Cleveland took off.

3. Carmelo Anthony (DEN)

The NBA’s co-leader in scoring, while having missed time recently due to injury, has helped the Nuggets prove that last season’s success was no fluke.

4. Dirk Nowitzki (DAL)

The Mavs are struggling, but Dirk has continued his under-the-radar stellar season.

5. Chris Bosh (TOR)

The Raptors are rapidly rising in the standings, led by a career season from Bosh (averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds).

Rookie of the Year

1. Tyreke Evans (SAC)

Evans ranks 13th in the league in scoring (20.7ppg), and, although the Kings have faltered since the return of Kevin Martin, is still the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year.

He’s been battling injuries lately, but they haven’t been enough to adversely affect his performance on the floor.

His scoring knack has translated to the NBA almost seamlessly, and while he may not be a true point guard, his numbers reflect great all-around talent.

2. Brandon Jennings (MIL)

Jennings stormed onto the scene during the NBA’s first half, but his shooting has tailed off since then.

3. Stephen Curry (GS)

Curry’s numbers took off in January, and hasn’t let all the losing affect his positive attitude.

4. Jonny Flynn (MIN)

Flynn has been a solid scoring option for the T’Wolves all year long, but has struggled a bit in the role of a true point guard.

5. Omri Casspi (SAC)

Casspi has been a big hit as a rookie, and has been a great boost of energy all season long.

Coach of the Year

1. Lionel Hollins (MEM)

Hollins has helped bring the Grizzlies from the cellar of the West up towards the brink of playoff contention.

While he’s been helped by the play of one of the league’s most improved frontcourts, his efforts cannot be overlooked.

Should they make the playoffs, the Grizzlies would be one of the most surprising “Cinderella” teams in history.

2. Mike Woodson (ATL)

He’s taken them from the lottery to two consecutive playoff appearances, and this year he has the Hawks breaking into the upper echelon of teams in the East.

3. Rick Adelman (HOU)

The 2009-10 installment of the Houston Rockets may be Rick Adelman’s finest coaching job just yet.

4. Nate McMillan (POR)/Scott Brooks (OKC)

Despite an injury of his own, McMillan has kept the injury-riddled Blazers relevant out West.

The Thunder have already surpassed last season’s win total, and have perhaps the brightest future of any team in the league.

5. Larry Brown (CHA)

The Bobcats are in position to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Sixth Man of the Year

1. Jamal Crawford (ATL)

As mentioned above, the Hawks are legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference for the first time in years.

Crawford has been a major part of that, averaging almost 18 points per game coming off the bench.

He’s always been able to put the ball in the basket, but, for the first time in his career, he’s doing it for a playoff team.

2. Carl Landry (HOU)

Landry, in his third season, is having the best year of his career, and has teamed with Aaron Brooks to form one of the league’s more underrated high-low combinations.

3. Lamar Odom (LAL)

Odom is averaging 9.7 rebounds per game in just over 31 minutes per game this season.

4. JR Smith (DEN)

Smith is a dynamic scorer off the bench, and is averaging about 15 points per game in about 27 minutes per.

5. Jason Terry (DAL)

Terry has had a solid season, but if he remains in Dallas’ starting lineup, he won’t be eligible for this award at the end of the year.

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Dwight Howard (ORL)

Howard is once again leading the league in rebounding (13.3) and blocked shots (2.73).

Still just 24 years old, this is an award Howard could conceivably win every season for several years.

2. Gerald Wallace (CHA)

Wallace, just 6-7, is averaging 11 rebounds per game (7th in the NBA), 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.

3. Marcus Camby (LAC)

The Cambyman is still doing it at 35 years old, averaging 12 boards and two blocks per game.

4. Josh Smith (ATL)

Smith finally appears to be on his way to harnessing all that talent, and is having his best season yet.

5. Joakim Noah (CHI)

Like Smith, Noah is having the best year of his career, and is averaging 12 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.

Most Improved Player

1. Aaron Brooks (HOU)

No player has enjoyed a bigger leap in his scoring numbers than Brooks this season for the Rockets.

He’s become their leading scorer averaging 19.3 points per game this season, up from 11 last year.

Much of the improvement can be attributed to playing time, as he’s averaging almost 11 more minutes per game this season than last season.

2. Josh Smith (ATL)

Smith’s game and has taken a huge leap this season, and, in my opinion, he is the biggest All-Star snub.

3. Joakim Noah (CHI)

Noah worked hard during the offseason to improve on both ends of the court, and the effort is showing with his production.

Speaking of hard work, need a break from studying for your paralegal certification exam? Read on!

4. Kevin Durant (OKC)/Monta Ellis (GS)

Durant has progressed quickly from his rookie season, and he’s starting to look as dominant in the NBA as he did in college. Scary.

Ellis, after a tumultuous year last year, is quietly sixth in the league in scoring at 26.5 points per game.

His assists are also up to 5.4 per game from 3.7 last year.

5. Marc Gasol (MEM)

Marc Gasol has helped to make the Pau Gasol trade from a couple years ago look much better than it did initially.

He currently ranks third in the league in field goal percentage for the surprising Grizzlies.

All-NBA First Team

C: Dwight Howard (ORL)

F: Carmelo Anthony (DEN)

F: LeBron James (CLE)

G: Kobe Bryant (LAL)

G: Dwyane Wade (MIA)

All-NBA Second Team

C: Brook Lopez (NJ)

F: Chris Bosh (TOR)

F: Dirk Nowitzki (DAL)

G: Joe Johnson (ATL)

G: Steve Nash (PHX)

This article is also featured at NBA Soup.

There were quite a few studs operating on all cylinders, so read on to see what rookies stepped up, and who else is worth noting in another exciting night of NBA action:

New Jersey Nets @ Toronto Raptors

The Nets aren’t anything to talk about (just four wins on the season), but Kris Humphries continues to impress with solid minutes off the bench. He dropped in a double-double last night, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 boards.

Sonny Weems notched his own double-double for Toronto, scoring 14 points and snatching 11 boards, while both Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani poured in 20 points.

L.A. Clippers @ Atlanta Hawks

Marcus Camby missed out on a double-double by four points, but was a beast on the boards, grabbing 20, while also managing to dish out six assists.

Craig Smith continued to have a positive impact off the bench, scoring 13 points.

Joe Johnson was the star for the Hawks (per usual), on his way to 34 points while Al Horford, Josh Smith, and Marvin Williams all registered double-double’s.

Chicago Bulls @ Philadelphia 76ers

Derrick Rose dropped 30 points and nine assists on the 76ers in an overtime loss, while Luol Deng recorded a nice double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Elton Brand looked to be regaining form, as he scored 26 points for the 76ers, while also grabbing nine rebounds and blocking three shots. Andre Iguodala added a terrific line of 25 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds.

Washington Wizards @ New York Knicks

David Lee posted the only double-double effort of the night, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 boards, while Nate Robinson (who was named the new starting point guard for the Knick’s next game) came off the bench and poured in a game-high 23 points and eight assists.

Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics

Dwyane Wade had a big, efficient game for the Heat, scoring 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting, while also dishing out 13 assists in a 107-102 loss.

On the other side, Rajon Rondo had a stellar game of his own, scoring 22 points and dishing out 14 assists, while also grabbing six boards.

Ray Allen contributed 23 points and seven boards, while Eddie House was hot off the bench with 16 points.

Oklahoma City Thunder @ New Orleans Hornets

Kevin Durant dropped in his usual (although still elite) 30 points, while Russell Westbrook added 26 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds in a 103-99 win for the Thunder.

Darren Collison had a bit of a down game, but still flirted with his third straight double-double, scoring nine points and dishing out nine dimes. Fellow rookie Marcus Thornton scored 22 points and added six assists.

Golden State Warriors @ Dallas Mavericks

Monta Ellis had one of his better games of the season (which is saying a lot), as he scored 46 points, while making 17-of-23 shots.

Corey Maggette was the only other started in double figures in scoring for the Warriors, as he contributed 20 points.

Jason Kidd couldn’t find his shooting stroke, although he was able to dish out an impressive 16 assists, while Jason Terry added 21 points and six assists in a rare starting appearance.

Portland Trail Blazers @ Utah Jazz

LaMarcus Aldridge turned in a solid double-double for the Blazers, as he scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Martell Webster hit three three’s and notched 20 points in a 118-105 loss to the Jazz.

Deron Williams added his own double-double for Utah, scoring 13 points and handing out 13 dimes, while Andrei Kirilenko added a nice line of 22 points, eight assists, and six rebounds.

Mehmet Okur led all scorers with 28 points, while also grabbing eight boards.

San Antonio Spurs @ Sacramento Kings

Tim Duncan recorded a nice double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, while Manu Ginobli, George Hill, and rookie DeJuan Blair all scored at least 20 points in a Spurs 115-113 win.

Despite the loss, Tyreke Evans owned this game, scoring 32 points, dishing out eight assists, and grabbing seven boards.

Charlotte Bobcats @ L.A. Lakers

Stephen Jackson paced the Bobcats with 30 points in a close contests against the Lakers, while Lamar Odom came off the bench to give the Lakers a boost, dropping in 19 points and seven rebounds.

Andrew Bynum helped pick-up the slack with 17 points and 14 rebounds, as star Kobe Bryant went 2-for-12 and scored just five points on the night.

Phoenix Suns @ Denver Nuggets

The Suns came away with a big win, 109-97, behind Jason Richardon’s 20 points, as well as two nice double-double efforts by likely culprits, Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire.

Nene Hilario was the star for the Nuggets, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine boards, while J.R. Smith added a punch off the bench with 15 points.

For more NBA and fantasy basketball advice, go here.

There are several great match-ups worthy of a viewing this week, so let’s delve into what I believe to be the five most intriguing games coming up.

Memphis Grizzlies at Cleveland Cavaliers, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7pm ET

So, what’s Memphis’ reward for taking down Kobe Bryant and the Lakers Monday night?

A visit to Cleveland to face LeBron and his Cavs on Tuesday, of course!

The Grizz were able to snap a brief two-game skid by beating Los Angeles 95-93 on Monday, with 22 points and 17 rebounds from All-Star Zach Randolph.

Cleveland, on the other hand, has won eight straight, and sits alone in first place in the Eastern Conference.

James is making a strong bid to win his second consecutive MVP award, and is averaging 29.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and eight assists per game.

James could be matched up for much of the night with Rudy Gay, one of the more underrated players in the league.

Gay has good size at 6’8″ with long arms, and, although much thinner than James, should be able to put up a good fight against the King.

Atlanta Hawks at Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 8pm ET

Given the struggles of the Celtics, the Hawks could be Cleveland’s top competition right now out east.

They’ve finally managed to put all that young talent to use this season, and are 30-16 coming into this game.

Jamal Crawford is the likely front runner for Sixth Man of the Year, and Josh Smith,   finally putting everything together, is having a career year.

The Thunder have already surpassed last season’s win total, and it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if they were even able to double it.

Kevin Durant appears to have made “the leap” to superstardom, as he erupted in January to average 32.1 points and eight rebounds for the month.

Durant is a lankier version of the aforementioned Rudy Gay; a player that can create his own shot and score from literally anywhere on the floor.

Considering the youth that will be running the floor tonight in Oklahoma City, these two surprise teams should be able to get up-and-down to make for an extremely entertaining ballgame.

Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 9pm ET

Just last Wednesday, Utah stormed into Portland and took down the Blazers 106-95.

The Trail Blazers have gotten a modest two-game winning streak going, as they look to continue on without Brandon Roy, who is battling hamstring problems.

They needed 52 points from Andre Miller to defeat the Mavericks Saturday night, but got much more of a well-rounded team effort in Monday’s thrashing of the Bobcats.

Without Roy and both usual centers, the Blazers need to count on LaMarcus Aldridge to take on more of the scoring load, which is something he hasn’t been used to yet during his brief NBA career.

The Jazz will come into this game one game removed from beating Dallas at home, 104-92, behind a strong fourth quarter effort.

Utah outscored Dallas 27-16 in that final frame, and were able to force several turnovers down the stretch that led to easy buckets on the offensive end.

They’re currently riding a six-game winning streak, and could be without Carlos Boozer for the third straight game.

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers, Friday, Feb. 5, 10:30pm ET (ESPN)

This will be the second meeting of the season for the Nuggets and Lakers, last season’s participants in the Western Conference Finals.

The first meeting was a dominating 105-79 win for the Nuggets, who held the Lakers to just eight points in the third quarter that night.

The Nuggets have been on a hot streak lately without star Carmelo Anthony, who has missed the last five games with an ankle injury.

It hasn’t yet been determined if he’ll be ready to play Friday.

The Lakers have been up and down of late, with Sunday’s big 90-89 win in Boston being followed by Monday’s loss in Memphis.

The Lakers are going to need more out of Andrew Bynum in order to contend with the strong front line of the Nuggets.

Bynum was essentially MIA against the Grizzlies, posting just five points in 26 minutes of action.

These are undoubtedly the top two teams in the Western Conference, which should make for an ultra-competitive, playoff-type game Friday night.

Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2:30pm ET (ABC)

Just last Thursday night, the Magic defeated the Celtics in Orlando 96-94 on a driving layup by Rashard Lewis with little time remaining.

The Magic finally appear to have hit their stride by winning three in a row and look to start building on last season’s success.

They made several significant changes to the roster in the offseason, and have struggled to integrate those players and duplicate their success from a season ago when they reached the NBA Finals.

The Celtics were perhaps able to snap out of their mini-tailspin with their 99-88 win in Washington Monday.

In order to truly contend, Boston is going to need to get more out of Ray Allen.

Allen’s well-documented struggles have coincided with the Celtics’, and there have even been rumors that Boston wouldn’t be opposed to trading Allen before the Feb. 18 trade deadline.

Kevin Garnett and the Celtics will certainly be hungry for some revenge.

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The Cavs are riding an eight-game winning streak, and now hold a solid 5.5-game lead over second place Orlando.

Out West, the Lakers and Nuggets have both found their rhythm, and continue to battle it out for the coveted top spot.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (38-11, Last Week: 1)

LeBron James had 23 points Sunday night against the Clippers…in the first quarter.

The King finished with 32 and 11 assists in cruising to a 114-89 win, Cleveland’s eighth consecutive victory.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (37-11, Last Week: 3)

Thanks to a hobbled Kobe Bryant’s late-game heroics yet again, the Lakers were able to steal huge a game from the Celtics Sunday in Boston.

The defending champs have now won four straight, and look to finish their season-long eight-game road trip with a W in Memphis on Monday night.

3. Denver Nuggets (30-14, Last Week: 2)

It’s been No Melo-No Problem for the Nuggets lately, as they continued their dominant stretch by taking down the Spurs rather easily in San Antonio Sunday afternoon.

They’ve improved to 9-1 in their last 10 games, and could get Anthony back as early as Monday for the matchup with Sacramento.

4. Atlanta Hawks (30-16, Last Week: 4)

Atlanta just completed its first regular season sweep of the Celtics since the 1998-99 season.

Jamal Crawford, averaging 17.7 points per game off the bench, has been the acquisition of the season, and appears to be the front runner for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

5. Orlando Magic (32-16, Last Week: 7)

The Magic have looked much better lately, having won three straight games.

Two of those wins came at the hands of the Celtics and Hawks, and are the kinds of games Orlando is going to need to start winning down the stretch.

6. Utah Jazz (28-18, Last Week:

The Jazz have been quietly rolling along, and now sit in fourth place in the Western Conference.

They’ll face three tough tests at home this week, with games against the Mavericks, Trail Blazers, and Nuggets.

7. Dallas Mavericks (30-17, Last Week: 6)

Dallas has been playing up-and-down basketball lately, as they continue to struggle in their home games.

The Mavs are just 14-8 at home, but 16-9 on the road this season.

8. Boston Celtics (29-16, Last Week: 5)

Boston has fallen all the way to fourth place in the East, just 4.5 games ahead of the surging Raptors.

Remember back at the beginning of the season when Boston was dominating teams, looking almost unbeatable?

They’ve fallen a long way since.

9. Toronto Raptors (26-22, Last Week: 19)

Chris Bosh is having the best season of his career, and it couldn’t be coming at a better time.

He’s playing for a max contract this summer, and his averages of 24-11 certainly make him look like a franchise cornerstone.

Oh, and the Raptors are playing their best basketball of the season.

10. Portland Trail Blazers (28-21, Last Week: 10)

Portland is one of a slew of teams fighting it out near the bottom of the Western playoff picture.

They got a major boost from Andre Miller’s 52-point explosion in defeating the Mavericks in Dallas Saturday night.

How low on the list of “players you’d think would score 50 points in a game” was Andre Miller? He may not have even been in my top 50.

11. Charlotte Bobcats (24-22, Last Week: 12)

Gerald Wallace was named to his first All-Star team last week, and he couldn’t be more deserving.

Wallace has been instrumental in Charlotte’s surge in the standings this season, and is averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds per game.

12. San Antonio Spurs (27-19, Last Week: 11)

The Spurs are struggling a bit, and there’s no guarantee the four-time champs will even make the playoffs with all the teams fighting for spots.

The Richard Jefferson acquisition has been somewhat irrelevant, as Jefferson is averaging just 12 points in 31 minutes per game this season.

13. New Orleans Hornets (26-21, Last Week: 13)

Bad news for New Orleans, as Chris Paul is now expected to miss 1-2 months following arthroscopic knee surgery.

Lots of the burden will now fall on rookie point guard Darren Collison to try and pick up the slack.

He got off to a good start Sunday, dishing out a Paul-like 18 assists in the Hornets’ OT win at Memphis.

14. Memphis Grizzlies (25-21, Last Week: 9)

The Grizz have lost two in a row, but it’s not time to panic.

It’s not going to get any easier for them, though. Their next five games: vs. Lakers, at Cavaliers, vs. Rockets, at Timberwolves, vs. Hawks.

15. Phoenix Suns (28-21, Last Week: 15)

With trade rumors swirling, Amar’e Stoudemire turned in his best effort of the season in Sunday’s OT win at Houston with 36 points and 11 rebounds.

It’ll be very interesting to see what kind of value teams will be willing to give up for Stoudemire, especially considering there’s no guarantee he’ll return as a free agent this summer.

16. Chicago Bulls (23-22, Last Week: 17)

The Bulls’ current five-game winning streak is about as impressive as it gets.

They’ve beaten Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans, all on the road.

Derrick Rose has been leading the charge, and he finished January with averages of 23 points and 6.4 assists per game.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (26-21, Last Week: 16)

Kevin Durant erupted for 45 points and 11 rebounds in a win over the Warriors Sunday evening.

The 21-year-old is now second in the league in scoring (29.6 ppg), just one-tenth of a point behind Carmelo Anthony.

18. Houston Rockets (25-22, Last Week: 18)

The Rockets have fallen to 11th in the West after losing at home to Phoenix Sunday.

Daryl Morey will soon have to make his toughest decision as Rockets’ GM: to trade T-Mac, or not to trade T-Mac?

19. Miami Heat (24-23, Last Week: 14)

Miami has now been passed by both Charlotte and Chicago and sits in eighth place out East.

Unless the roster changes, I’m not sure how eager Dwyane Wade will be to stay with the Heat this summer.

20. Milwaukee Bucks (20-25, Last Week: 22)

The Bucks are hanging around, just outside the current playoff picture.

With Toronto, Charlotte, and Chicago all surging, Miami may be the only team Milwaukee has a legitimate chance of catching.

21. Los Angeles Clippers (20-27, Last Week: 20)

The Clips have lost four in a row, and their slim playoff hopes may have gone down the drain.

They actually lost back-to-back games to the Nets and T’Wolves.

Ugh.

22. New York Knicks (18-29, Last Week: 21)

David Lee is another member of the 2010 free agent class, and could be a huge under-the-radar steal for some lucky team.

Lee has been on fire, and is averaging 19.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game this season.

23. Washington Wizards (16-30, Last Week: 28)

The Wizards claim that Antawn Jamison is the only “untouchable” player on their roster, despite several different trade rumors involving his name.

If he will be traded, his 21-point 23-rebound effort Saturday against New York won’t hurt his value.

24. Sacramento Kings (16-30, Last Week: 23)

The Kings have tanked since Kevin Martin came back, and he would seem like a player certainly capable of being dealt before the Feb. 18 deadline.

Martin is averaging 22 points per game, and is shooting a stellar 40 percent from beyond-the-arc.

25. Philadelphia 76ers (16-31, Last Week: 25)

Another player on the trading block, Andre Iguodala, certainly didn’t help his stock with his January performance.

Iggy averaged just over 13 points per game for the month, while shooting a hair over 40 percent from the field.

26. Indiana Pacers (16-32, Last Week: 24)

Danny Granger, after winning last season’s Most Improved Player award, is having a down year.

Granger is averaging 22.4 points (down from 25.8 last season), while shooting just 40 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range.

27. Detroit Pistons (15-31, Last Week: 26)

The Pistons have dropped five straight, and just the Nets are saving them from being the Eastern Conference’s worst team.

Looks like spending $80 million on perimeter players wasn’t Joe Dumars’ greatest idea ever.

28. Golden State Warriors (13-33, Last Week: 27)

Stephen Curry just finished a great January, during which he averaged 19 points while shooting a ridiculous 49 percent from beyond-the-arc.

While he likely won’t win, he should get strong consideration for Rookie of the Year should his performance continue to improve.

29. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-38, Last Week: 29)

The T’Wolves have actually won two games in a row, and are closing in on the Warriors for 14th in the conference!

Kevin Love has quietly turned into a solid player down low, and is averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds per game this season in 29 games so far.

30. New Jersey Nets (4-42, Last Week: 30)

Second-year big man Brook Lopez is going for 19 points and nine rebounds per game, and could be battling it out with players like Aaron Brooks for the Most Improved Player award.

The Nets were also able to snap an 11-game losing streak with a big win over the Clippers last week, as they continue their quest to not be the worst team of all-time.

Fun.

He's still among the elite.

Let’s go back two-and-a-half years to April 2007.

To the objection of many (myself included), Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki appeared to be a mortal lock to win the MVP award.

(Steve Nash had the better season, and actually deserved the award more than he did in the previous two seasons that he had actually won it, but back to the relevant story.)

That season, Dirk averaged 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

While these are stellar numbers, Nowitzki had better numbers during each of the two seasons prior.

Nowitzki essentially won the award by default, as he was the best player on the best team.

The Mavericks had just finished the regular season 67-15 as they headed into a first-round playoff series with the Golden State Warriors.

Shockingly, the 67-win Mavs came out and were baffled by the high-energy Warriors, and lost the series decisively in six games.

Dirk’s numbers for the series: 19.7 points, 11.3 rebounds per game.

After that series ended, Nowitzki was awkwardly named the NBA’s MVP, after having been jettisoned from the playoffs in embarrassing fashion.

This entire series of events was so terrible for Nowitzki that he went on a backpacking excursion through Australia for several weeks just after the season ended, in an effort to help him get away from basketball and everything that had recently transpired.

During the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Nowitzki went out and put up the same old stellar Nowitzki numbers, but because Dallas had taken a step back, nobody really noticed.

Dirk’s credibility had taken a massive hit because of the Golden State series, and he had gained the reputation as a guy that can’t lead and carry a team by himself.

Because of his team’s feeble exit from the playoffs that year, Nowitzki’s MVP award seems hollow, as if that entire Mavericks season had never even happened.

This season, the 31-year-old Nowitzki has been better than ever, yet he’s never mentioned in the same breath as guys like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, or Dwyane Wade.

However, maybe this is all for the better.

Nowitzki has never been one for the glitz and glamour, and I’m sure he’s just fine flying with his team under the national radar.

So far this season, the Mavericks sit at 9-3, atop the Southwest Division.

Dirk Nowitzki’s numbers have been gaudy.

He’s averaging 27.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks through 12 games, including a season-high 41 points in Wednesday night’s OT victory over the Spurs.

In that game, Nowitzki put in several key baskets down the stretch, including a swooping tip-in with 14 seconds to go in regulation that put Dallas ahead by two.

In overtime, he scored five points, none bigger than a three pointer with 1:15 to go that essentially put the game out of reach for San Antonio.

In the previous game, Nowitzki scored 32, including a game-winning fadeaway jumper at the buzzer in OT that rattled all over the basket before dropping right through.

Nowitzki has been carrying the Mavericks so far, without much help from a supporting cast.

Dallas’ second-leading scorer is Jason Terry, averaging 17 a game.

Terry, a reliable three-point specialist, has struggled from distance so far, shooting a measly 32 percent from beyond the arc.

Several other key parts for Dallas, including Josh Howard, Shawn Marion, and Erick Dampier, have been battling injuries and have missed several games apiece already.

Despite all this, Dallas has the second-best record in the West so far, a half-game behind 10-3 Phoenix.

Nowitzki and his Mavericks are flying high, while still managing to fly well below the radar.

And I’m sure Nowitzki is just fine with that.

NBA Summer League action continued today, with Tyler Hansbrough and the Indiana Pacers continuing their dominance, going 3-0 after defeating the Utah Jazz.

If you’ve missed any of the action, backtrack  to catch Tuesday and Wednesday‘s top performers.

Read on to see how he and several other players did in Thursday’s games:

A.J. Price, G, Indiana Pacers

Price stepped it up in his third game, hitting 6-9 shots, including 2-3 from long range, while pouring in 14 points for the Pacers.

It’s been clear so far that Price isn’t a seasoned point guard, as his assist numbers have been low, but his ability to create for himself and shoot consistently could end up getting him a spot on the team.

Final line: 14 Pts, 4 Reb, 2 Asst

Roy Hibbert, C, Indiana Pacers

Hibbert continued his stellar play, dominating the post for the second straight game, while getting to the line and hitting 5-7 free throws.

He wasn’t going up against great competition, but Hibbert did exactly what good players should do against lesser opponents: he dominated.

Final line: 21 Pts, 8 Reb, 2 BS

Tyler Hansbrough, PF, Indiana Pacers

With his third straight game of at least 17 points, Hansbrough is starting to look the part of a 13th overall pick.

Hansbrough has shown he can shoot the ball well, and is consistently getting to the free throw line and converting on his opportunities.

He has been surprisingly average on the boards, but ironically enough, that has been his only weakness thus far.

Final line: 24 Pts, 5 Reb

Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

Stop me if I’m repeating myself, but with his third straight 20+ point game, Westbrook is putting his offensive arsenal on full display, and showing everyone again why he was selected by the Thunder last year.

Again, we know his status with the team, and he’s simply in the summer league to grow and build chemistry with the other players, but it sure doesn’t hurt to be playing at a high level.

Westbrook was also extremely active on defense, as he recorded five steals, while helping force J.R. Giddens into 6 turnovers.

Final line: 26 Pts, 5 Asst, 5 Stl, 4 TO

J.R. Giddens, G/F, Boston Celtics

Another solid effort on offense for Giddens, however, his defense and offensive awareness has at times looked spotty.

He shot the ball well and filled up the stat sheet, but seems to be lacking a killer instinct, as he was clearly the most talented player on his team, yet he never felt the urge to take over the game.

Still, he’s beginning to show that his talents aren’t simply zoned-in on scoring, as he can help out all over the court.

Final line: 16 Pts, 3 Reb, 3 Asst, 3 Stl, 6 TO

Chris Lofton, G, Boston Celtics

Lofton has his first big game of the summer league, as he hit 4-5 long range shots, enroute to a solid 15-point game.

Just as in college, Lofton can struggle to get open looks, as he usually depends on several screens or set plays.

Lofton is a lights-out shooter, but with less than ideal size and a fairly one-dimensional game, he’ll need to learn to help his team in other areas besides shooting in order to earn an invite to training camp.

Final line: 15 Pts, 2 Reb

Terrence Williams, G/F, New Jersey Nets

Finally, some light at the end of the tunnel.

After two horrendous efforts and a measly 10 combined points in his first two outings, Williams put together a sound all-around game, while finishing the game with the second most points on his team.

Williams is active on the boards and has gotten more aggressive offensively, but clearly still has a ways to go to earn serious playing time with New Jersey.

Final line: 16 Pts, 7 Reb, 4 Asst, 2 Stl, 5 TO

Dionte Christmas, SG, Philadelphia 76ers

After being rather quiet in the first two games, Christmas opened up some presents and broke out in game three, going 4-6 from downtown, and dropping in a team-high 18 points.

Christmas has good range on his shot and is solid at getting to the line, but needs to be more aggressive on both ends of the court.

Final line: 18 Pts, 2 Reb

Maurice Ager, SG, Orlando Magic

In his first major action of the summer, Ager chipped in a stellar performance, going 6-12 from the field, while connecting on 8-9 free throws.

Ager is an athletic wing with an outstanding ability to get to the rim, and due to his aggressiveness, he also gets to the line consistently.

He’s also improving as a defender, as he helped hold Chris Douglas-Roberts, one of the stars from the previous two games, to just five points.

Final line: 21 Pts, 2 Reb

Kasib Powell, F, Orlando Magic

Powell made the most of his minutes in game three, as he launched five three-pointers, hitting four, and ended the game with 19 points.

He played decent defense and stayed out of foul trouble, but outside of his offensive outburst, he didn’t stick out much.

Final line: 19 Pts, 3 Reb

Ryan Anderson, F, Orlando Magic

Anderson continued his run of summer league dominance to three straight games of 20 or more points, as he dropped in 21 points on 8-15 shooting.

He has done a fantastic job offensively, as he’s shown he can hit shots inside and out, while also displaying his above-average athleticism.

He still needs to watch the personal fouls, but as it stands, there aren’t many flaws to his overall game.

Final line: 21 Pts, 7 Reb, 3 Asst

Check back late on Thursday night for updates as the NBA Summer League in Orlando comes to a close.

While Tyler Hansbrough (above) dropped in his second straight solid performance, there were several other players who delivered notable efforts in the second set of games.

Read on to see who is making it happen in this year’s first batch of summer league games.

Stud of the Day: Ryan Anderson, F, Orlando Magic

Anderson followed up his solid 21-point debut as a member of the Magic with a 33-point and 14-rebound ourt-burst in his second summer league game.

Anderson was on fire, connecting on 11-15 from the field, as well as 9-9 from the charity stripe.

While he struggled defensively, fielding 6 personal fouls, Anderson proved once again that he’s an offensive threat.

Final line: 33 Pts, 14 Reb, 4 TO, 6 PF

Coby Karl, G, Boston Celtics

Karl, an underrated athlete, excels with the ball in his hands, where he can create for himself and others.

With a solid shooting night from the field (5-9), Karl put together a fine offensive performance and ended the game with 18 points, five rebounds, and two assists.

He’s a long-shot to make the Celtics’ final roster, but games like this certainly don’t hurt.

Final line: 18 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Asst, 4 TO, 3 Stl

J.R. Giddens, G/F, Boston Celtics

Giddens went 8-16 from the field with 37 minutes on the court, as he ended the game with a solid line of 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

With solid versatility and athleticism, Giddens is a safe bet to make the Celtics roster again, provided he turns in a few more solid outings like this.

Final line: 17 Pts, 6 Reb, 4 Asst, 2 TO

Chris Douglas-Roberts, G/F, New Jersey Nets

Douglas-Roberts turned in his second-straight solid outing, as he poured in 27 points on 8-14 shooting from the field, as well as going 11-13 from the foul line.

The Nets clearly have a knack for finding athletic wing players who know how to score, and Douglas-Roberts is obviously one of them.

He didn’t have any shots behind the three-point line, but that can be looked at as a huge positive. No three’s, and he still scored 27 points? Yeah, that’s solid.

Final line: 27 Pts, 3 Reb, 1 Asst, 1 Stl

Dud of the Day: Terrence Williams, G/F, New Jersey Nets

Williams delivered his second consecutive dud, as he was woeful from the field again, going only 3-11, and only managing 8 points.

It’s much better than his measly two points on Monday, but Williams isn’t exactly showing he deserves playing time, much less a roster spot.

He’ll have to pick it up in the next couple of games to leave a good impression on the Nets’ front office.

Final line: 8 Pts, 6 Reb, 2 Asst, 4 TO, 1 Stl

Jrue Holiday, G, Philadelphia 76ers

Holiday delivered another performance that falls quite short of his high expectations.

With only 7 points in 24 minutes of action, you can write it down: two straight games of nothing for the lottery pick out of UCLA.

Final line: 7 Pts, 4 Reb, 3 Asst, 2 TO

Russell Westbrook, G, Oklahoma City Thunder

Westbrook continued his stellar play with his second straight 22-point outing, as he re-discovered his shooting touch, while also doing a better job of finding his teammates.

Really no surprise here, as Westbrook was progressing nicely during the 2008-2009 season, but still worth nothing.

Final line: 22 Pts, 8 Asst, 3 Stl, 5 TO

James Harden, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder

After starting the summer league with a solid 17-point outing on Monday, Harden upped the ante and chipped in with another decent performance: 19 points on 6-13 shooting.

Harden had a little more trouble from behind the arch than he did in his first game (2-6 on Tuesday), but was still effective offensively, and did a good job of filling out the stat sheet the rest of the way, as well.

Final line: 19 Pts, 5 Reb, 3 Asst, 1 Stl

Roy Hibbert, C, Indiana Pacers

After putting forth a mediocre effort in his first game of the summer league, Hibbert broke out with a dominant effort on Tuesday.

He was extremely effective inside, going 7-8, and also getting to the line at will, going a solid 10-16.

Hibbert displayed some fine offensive skills, and was once again solid on the defensive end.

Final line: 24 Pts, 8 Reb, 3 Asst, 4 TO, 2 Stl

Tyler Hansbrough, PF, Indiana Pacers

Again coming off the bench, Hansbrough put in another solid effort, going 6-10 from the field, and an impressive 9-10 at the charity stripe.

Hansbrough is still getting used to defense at the NBA level (6 fouls), and will have to work on his positioning for rebounds, but his offensive game appears to be translating well.

His shot has also looked smoother and more fluid, which has apparently surprised a lot of people. Hansbrough was actually able to step back and go 2-2 on NBA three’s.

Final line: 23 Pts, 4 Reb, 3 Asst, 4 TO