LA Lakers	96	Final Recap | Box score	91	Dallas Mavericks

MVP twin towers: Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol carried the Lakers throughout the contest with their interior scoring and efficient shooting. In the fourth quarter they crashed the glass to get multiple shot attempts and scores.

Defining moment: Despite a seven-point lead with under a minute left, the Lakers missed six straight free throws to give Dallas life. Matt Barnes rebounded one of the misses, got fouled and iced the game.

That was ... defense: Dirk Nowitzki missed a couple of open jumpers but Gasol played him tough and did a good job of helping in the pick-and-roll and retreating, and also contesting his shots without needing too much help.

Denver Nuggets	95	Final Recap | Box score	103	LA Clippers

MVP: Blake Griffin. An honorable mention goes out to Chris Paul for his 36-point showing, but this was Griffin's best defensive game of the year, and probably his career. The 27-12-5 line ain't bad, either.

That was ... star power: The Nuggets looked great offensively without Ty Lawson, Nene, Rudy Fernandez and Danilo Gallinari for three quarters, but when they needed buckets late they had no stars to lean on while the Clippers had two.

Defining moment: In three consecutive plays in the fourth, Griffin took a charge, scored on an and-1, then nabbed a defensive rebound and started trading elbows. At that point, the short-handed Nuggets looked helpless.

Atlanta Hawks	82	Final Recap | Box score	99	New York Knicks

MVP: Jeremy Lin. Before the game, Larry Drew said the Hawks' approach to the game would not be to stop Lin. Mission accomplished. Lin scored 17 points on 11 shots, earned nine assists, and committed just four turnovers, two-and-a-half below his per-game average as a starter. It was an impressive team performance from the Knicks and many of those impressions began with the ball in Lin's hand.

X factor: Landry Fields was a big part of the Knicks running out to a 25-point halftime lead. His 13 first-half points weren't primarily the result of spotting up, cutting, or hitting the offensive glass. Fields attacked emergency starter Willie Green off the dribble, got to the rim, and converted repeatedly. Down 25, Drew didn't have Green start the second half.

That was ... predictable: Once the Hawks extended the contract of Josh Smith, and Al Horford demonstrated he was also worthy of a long-term deal, it became obvious that, for a team unwilling and ill-equipped to pay the luxury tax, signing Joe Johnson to a max contract would make the team more money-conscious than talent-conscious with the rest of the roster. In Horford and Johnson's absence, the bargain-bin bench was unable to compete with a .500 team.

Golden State Warriors	106	Final Recap | Box score	104	Phoenix Suns

MVP: Dorell Wright kept Phoenix at bay with 10 of his 23 points in the third quarter, when the Suns made their run to get back in a game they once trailed by 21.

Defining moment: Monta Ellis squared up Grant Hill and swished a tough game-winning jumper with one second remaining. It must have been extra sweet for Ellis since Hill has limited him in previous games.

That was ... unfortunate: Stephen Curry just can't catch a break when it comes to injuries. The star guard hurt his foot once again nine minutes into this one and did not return after starting hot with nine points.

Philadelphia 76ers	87	Final Recap | Box score	93	Houston Rockets

MVP: In the losing effort, Sixers rookie Nic Vucevic was a paragon of efficiency: scoring a career-high 18 on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor to go with five offensive rebounds. We're probably going to have to learn to pronounce his name now.

Defining moment: With 1:19 remaining and the Sixers in an 86-85 hole, Philly's Thad Young backed down Kyle Lowry and was called for an offensive foul. Then, on the other end and in an equally close call, Young was called for a block of Lowry that led to an eventual three-point play and an 89-85 Houston lead. And that, as they say, was that.

X factor: Kevin Martin, in pole position for LVP honors for most of the game, finally found his shot in its final period. The other K-Mart scored 14 of his 16 in the fourth and kept Houston afloat during several Philadelphia surges.

Milwaukee Bucks	91	Final Recap | Box score	110	Chicago Bulls

MVP: Joakim Noah. Chicago's front line generally mauled the depleted Bucks, but Noah was brilliant, notching a triple-double on just six shots in 29 minutes and showing how rare his skill set really is.

Defining moment: With less than two seconds left in the third quarter and the shot clock running down, Noah splashed home a 17-footer, capping as well-rounded a performance as you'll see from a center.

That was ... workmanlike. Aside from Noah, Chicago was hardly balletic for most of the game, but the Bulls played to their strengths against a Bucks team hurting for talent and submitted an impressively balanced effort.

N.O. Hornets	89	Final Recap | Box score	84	Cleveland Cavaliers

MVP: Marco Belinelli was the most efficient player on the floor tonight. He put up 17 points on 13 shots, including a dagger 3 with a minute remaining.

LVP: In a game that was uglier than a horsefly's headshot, Daniel Gibson was Lord of the Scrubs. Boobie was 1-for-9 from the field with three turnovers in 34 minutes of action.

That was ... a rock fight: Despite shooting just 40 percent from the field, the Hornets never trailed. The teams combined to go 8-for-37 from beyond the arc. Larry Bird watched this game for three minutes and sincerely contemplated a comeback.

Sacaramento Kings	115	Final Recap | Box score	107	Washington Wizards

That was ...a fizzle: The Wizards got in all their hot shooting in the first half; 68 points through two quarters dwindled to just 39 in the second half. Meanwhile, the Kings scored 20 of their 64 points in the paint in the fourth quarter, physically taking the win.

X factor(s): Marcus Thornton and Isaiah Thomas combined for 34 second-half points (15-of-28 on FGs) for Sacramento while the Washington guards resorted to selfish basketball, coach Randy Wittman after the game suggesting that they introduce themselves to the bigs they didn't pass to.

Defining moment: When it looked like momentum was fully in the Kings' direction, Roger Mason and Jordan Crawford hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Washington a 101-100 lead. Then John Wall and Crawford missed two ill-advised jumpers, allowing the solid Chuck Hayes and the rest of the Sacramento rebounders to take over.

Boston Celtics	104	Final Recap | Box score	119	Oklahoma City

MVP: Russell Westbrook (31 points, six assists, five rebounds) ran roughshod over Boston's overmatched perimeter defenders.

X factor: Two quick fouls took Paul Pierce out of the first half. Related: Boston headed to halftime down by 23.

That was ... impressive. The Thunder ripped off 27 fast break points and pulled even with Miami for the league's best record (26-7).

Detroit Pistons	93	Final Recap | Box score	103	Toronto Raptors

MVP: Greg Monroe. He had 17 points in the fourth quarter and it was the only reason the Pistons were in this at all down the stretch. DeMar DeRozan had 23, but faded ater the first quarter. Monroe finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks.

Defining moment: The Pistons were forced to go to Hack-A-Gray against Aaron Gray to try to get back in the game, and Gray wound up with a double-double. 'Nuff said.

That was ... deceptively fun. A nice up-and-down game, both teams gave good effort and the percentages and scores weren't horrible. Monroe is a joy to watch and DeRozan had a great quarter. Good effort by two struggling teams.