• Some Country For Old Men. I have no idea which Heat scrub cranked up Shaquille O'Neal last night — Chris Quinn maybe? — but whoever it was sure had that sucker wound tight. The Big Everything had season highs of 26 points and 14 rebounds, his best game in what feels like years, as the Heat handed the Rockets their sixth straight loss, 98-91. Wade finished with a season high 31 points, too. "Guys were getting me the ball in a position where I can do something," Shaq said. "It was a good game for us, a must win." Man, if only the Heat played Yao and the Rockets every night.
• Rivalry! The Celtics and Lakers on the parquet, a full house chanting "Beat L.A.", Arnold Schwarzenegger sitting courtside ... it was just like the 80's, AP writer Jimmy Golen. Good call. Kevin Garnett scored 21 points, Paul Pierce had 20 points and nine assists and Ray Allen scored 18 points as Green defeated Purple 107-94. Boston improves to 10-1 overall and 7-0 at home. Mamba had 28 in the loss.
• Glass Tiger. Dwight Howard posted 34 points and 17 rebounds to basically single-handedly beat the Bobcats 105-92. Howard made 11 of 14 shots, while his teammates were a combined 27-for-66 from the field. Start the "M-V-P" talk up, Orlando.
• Triple-Double Your Pleasure, Triple-Double Your Fun. Baron Davis had 33 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds as Golden State beat Washington 123-115, ending the Wizs' six-game winning streak. Caron Butler finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Boom and Tuff Juice are the first pair of NBA opponents to notch triple-doubles in the same game since Orlando's Tracy McGrady and New Jersey's Jason Kidd did it in February 2003.