Houston 104, Los Angeles Lakers 92: With Gasol likely out two weeks, how much value can you place on the Rockets’ 22nd straight triumph? We enjoyed watching Shane Battier force Kobe into a 11-for-33 afternoon, but we were most-surprised by Rafer Alston’s 31-point outburst and Jeff Van Gundy’s insistence that over the last two months, Mr. Playground has been the 2nd best point guard in the NBA.

Denver 168, Seattle 116: Best way to upstage the 22-game winning streak – an offensive orgy in which eight players scored in double figures, the Nuggets shot 60 percent from the field, and Marcus Camby registered a triple double. (Aside: Are these really the Nuggets “dancers?“) The ever-perceptive Chris Wilcox: “We just lost tonight. We lost by a lot.”

Cleveland 98, Charlotte 91: When Boobie Gibson returns from injury, the Cavs will have a solid 10-man rotation, and LeBron probably won’t need to be chucking 24 shots in a game, like he did in this victory. Big one for the Cavs tonight in Orlando.

Detroit 105, New Orleans 84: Proof of how crucial home court advantage will be in the postseason – the Hornets beat the Lakers and Spurs at home this week, and then got blitzed in Detroit when career-underachiever Jarvis Hayes pumped in 29 off the bench.

Sacramento 106, Toronto 100: With Chris Bosh still out, the Raptors lost their fourth in a row, and are on the verge of giving away the 5th spot in the East to the Wiz (half a game lead).