THE BUZZ
NUGGETS — UP
Previously on the outside looking in, Denver wins five straight to move into a tie for seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race.
C-WEBB ” DOWN
Chris Webber’s comeback attempt fails as the 15-year vet announces his retirement after a knee injury limited him to nine games this season.
AL THORNTON — UP
The rookie forward scores a career-high 39 points to help the Clippers end a 10-game losing streak.
GREG ODEN ” DOWN
The Trail Blazers rookie, who has missed all of the season after knee surgery, receives a reprimand for playing a pickup game at a Portland area gym.
POWER RANKINGS
Mike Jones ranks the top 10 NBA teams (last week in parentheses):
1. Celtics (1)
The PGA Tour appears as hungry as ever, posting dominating wins over Phoenix and New Orleans.
2. Hornets (2)
New Orleans posts its first 50-win season since 1997-98 and owns the top spot in the West.
3. Spurs (7)
A seven-game win streak lifts San Antonio into second place in the Western Conference.
4. Pistons (5)
Detroit boasts its defensive prowess, dominating Cleveland while limiting LeBron to a season-low 13 points.
5. Lakers (3)
Injuries lead to a 2-3 week, but Los Angeles remains within a game of first place in the West.
6. Jazz (6)
Utah wins three straight, improving to 7-3 in its last 10 and owns the second-best point differential in the West (+6.5).
7. Suns (4)
In his last five games, Amare Stoudemire has averaged 31.6 points and 9.2 rebounds.
8. Magic (9)
Orlando suffers losses to Washington and Atlanta, teams that at the time ranked sixth and eighth, respectively, in the East.
9. Nuggets (—)
Denver moves into playoff contention thanks to a five-game winning streak.
10. Rockets (7)
After winning 22 straight, Houston goes 3-4 and drops from first to sixth in the West.
MVP Race
1. LeBron James (Cleveland) ” It’s hard to deny a league-leading 30.4 points along with 8.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists.
2. Kevin Garnett (Boston) ” KG has indeed been the Big Ticket, morphing the Celtics from worst in the league to best while averaging 19.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
2. Chris Paul (New Orleans) “ CP3 paces the best team in the West, leading the league in both assists (11.4) and steals (2.7) while averaging 21.5 points a game.
ROY Race
1. Kevin Durant (Seattle) ” Durant (19.8 points, 4.2 rebounds) is having his finest month of the season, scoring 21.6 points on 52.4 percent shooting. .
2. Al Horford (Atlanta) “ Horford (9.8 points, 9.6 rebounds) has helped put the Hawks on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
3. Luis Scola (Houston) “ Scola (9.7 points, 6.1 rebounds) continues to thrive with increased playing time, averaging 12.6 points and 9.7 rebounds this month.
BY THE NUMBERS
2 50-point games this month by Kobe Bryant. He scored 52 in a March 2 win against visiting Dallas. Then he notched a season-high 53 — including nine 3-pointers — in a loss at Memphis on March 28.
0-10 The Dallas Mavericks’ record against teams with winning records since they acquired Jason Kidd.
QUOTABLE
“When the Lakers came to D.C., Phil [Jackson] canceled practice and took the team to the monuments, which some thought seemed kind of boring. [On Saturday,] I canceled practice and we went to Venice Beach. So I think I finally one-upped Phil for the first time ever, as a coach or as a teammate.”
— Wizards coach Eddie Jordan on getting his team some rest before Sunday’s game against the Lakers, who are coached by former teammate Phil Jackson (New Jersey 1979-80)
GAMES TO WATCH
Golden State at Dallas
Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ESPN
The Warriors rank eighth in the West and the Mavericks seventh. Dallas is fighting a slump that could cost it a playoff spot.
San Antonio at Utah
Friday, 8 p.m. ESPN
Tim Duncan and the West’s second-ranked Spurs challenge Carlos Boozer and the fourth-place Jazz, who are a league-best 33-4 at home.
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