San Antonio 76, Oklahoma City 78: The Thunder trailed by 17 in the first half. Durant shot 10-for-24. Russell Westbrook was a meek 4-for-17. Jeff Green was a lowly 4-for-15. As a team, they shot 35 percent. And they won? Tony Parker missed two shots in the final 10 seconds that would have sent the game to overtime and the Spurs lead over the Rockets for the No. 2 seed shrunk to 1.5 games.

Houston 95, New Orleans 84: Sans Yao and T-Mac, the Rockets exploded for 51 points in the second half to surprise the fading Hornets. Ron Artest, who we’d love to see against Kobe in a seven-game series, started 0-for-11, but finished with 18 points. Dikembe Mutombo still knows how to wag a finger at 42 – just ask Julian Wright, who was thwarted thrice on drives to the bucket. UPDATE: Houston forward Carl Landry was shot this morning. Just a flesh wound, but he’ll be out 1-2 weeks. While driving home, someone bumped his car, he got out to inspect, and someone capped him. Sort of like how Halle Berry died in The Last Boyscout.

New Jersey 96, Denver 121: That’s four losses in a row for the Nets, who have slid to 12th in the East. They’re still only two games back of the final playoff spot, though, but the longer Devin Harris is out, the more grim the postseason looks. The second “Birdman” (the original was Koko B. Ware) scored an efficient 10 points and nine rebounds in 19 minutes. Eight of his nine rebounds were offensive; the Nets collected just six offensive boards as a team.

Portland 103, Memphis 92: In case you’re not paying attention, here’s how tight the Western Conference playoff race is: Heading into last weekend, the Blazers were close to falling into the 8th playoff spot. This win vaulted them into the 5th spot. This should have been billed as Oden vs. Conley, but the big guy didn’t play. Conley had 20.

Toronto 86, Charlotte 112: If we had said to you back in November that the Raptors would be five games behind the Bobcats in the East this late in the season, what would your reaction have been? Larry Brown can move mountains? We’re still pissed we fell for the reincarnation of Jermaine O’Neal