There was an abnormally large number of games on the schedule in the NBA on Sunday, with eighteen teams in action.

- Boston 124, Dallas 100

Team FIC Differential: Celtics +43.3, Mavericks -43.3

The Celtics (37-9) opened up a big lead in the first quarter and never looked back against the Mavericks (25-19) on Sunday afternoon. Ray Allen led with 23 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, Rajon Rondo posted 13 points and 14 dimes, and Kevin Garnett added 23 points in the win. Boston shot 53% from the floor, while holding Dallas to just 42% on the afternoon. Jason Terry scored 27 points off the bench, Dirk Nowitzki tallied 18 points and 7 rebounds, and Josh Howard contributed 18 points and 5 boards in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Rajon Rondo, Boston ? 26.3

Ray Allen, Boston ? 24.9

Jason Terry, Dallas ? 16.8

Jason Kidd, Dallas ? 10.8

- L.A. Lakers 99, San Antonio 85

Team FIC Differential: Lakers +22.5, Spurs -22.5

The Lakers (35-8) outscored the Spurs (29-14) by fourteen points over the second and third quarters to take a decision advantage at the STAPLES Center. Kobe Bryant had a game-high 22 points, Andrew Bynum tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza turned in 17 points off the bench. Los Angeles limited San Antonio to just 37% shooting. Tony Parker led with 19 points and 6 assists, Tim Duncan posted 15 points and 8 rebounds, and Manu Ginobili added 9 points and 8 boards in defeat.

Game FIC Scores

Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles ? 16.8

Pau Gasol, Los Angeles ? 14.6

Tim Duncan, San Antonio ? 10.4

Tony Parker, San Antonio ? 10.3

- Phoenix 104, Atlanta 99

Team FIC Differential: Suns +10.7, Hawks ? 10.7

The Suns (24-18) used a strong second half to defeat the Hawks (26-17) at Philips Arena. Amare Stoudemire had 23 points and 5 rebounds, Steve Nash posted 14 points and 13 assists, and Shaquille O?Neal contributed 19 points and 11 boards. Phoenix hit 55% of their shots, but turned the ball over nineteen times. Josh Smith led with 19 points and 12 rebounds, Joe Johnson tallied 15 points, 13 assists and 5 boards, and Ronald Murray netted 16 points off the bench for the Hawks.

Game FIC Scores

Steve Nash, Phoenix ? 15.6

Joe Johnson, Atlanta ? 15.3

Shaquille O?Neal, Phoenix ? 14.0

Josh Smith, Atlanta ? 11.5

- Toronto 113, Sacramento 97

Team FIC Differential: Raptors +40, Kings -40

The Raptors (18-28) dominated the third quarter in their win over the Kings (10-35) at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday night. Chris Bosh starred with 31 points and 8 rebounds, Jose Calderon tallied 16 points and 8 assists, and Jermaine O?Neal added 11 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes of action. Toronto hit 52% of their shots and outrebounded Sacramento by eleven. John Salmons led with 21 points and 7 rebounds, Francisco Garcia scored 18 points off the bench, and Jason Thompson contributed 12 points and 6 boards in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Jose Calderon, Toronto ? 16.9

Anthony Parker, Toronto ? 16.8

Francisco Garcia, Sacramento ? 14.8

John Salmons, Sacramento ? 11.9

- Houston 108, Detroit 105

Team FIC Differential: Rockets -5, Pistons +5

The Pistons (24-19) failed to capitalize on a few scoring opportunities during their final possession as they fell to the Rockets (28-17) at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Ron Artest had 24 points and 9 rebounds, Rafer Alston posted 14 points and 10 assists, and Tracy McGrady added 15 points, 4 boards and 4 assists in the win. Detroit shot 56% and turned the ball over just five times, but Houston was much better from the foul line. Richard Hamilton had 27 points and 5 assists off the bench, Rasheed Wallace tallied 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Allen Iverson turned in 17 points and 8 assists on 5-for-10 shooting.

Game FIC Scores

Rasheed Wallace, Detroit ? 18.3

Ron Artest, Houston ? 17.4

Rafer Alston, Houston ? 16.8

Allen Iverson, Detroit ? 14.3

- Indiana 98, Charlotte 93

Team FIC Differential: Pacers +7.6, Bobcats -7.6

The Pacers (17-27) outlasted the Bobcats (18-26) at Conseco Fieldhouse on Sunday night. Danny Granger starred with 27 points and 6 rebounds, T.J. Ford tallied 13 points and 7 assists, and Troy Murphy added 11 points and 14 boards in the win. Both teams shot 43% from the floor, but Indiana outrebounded Charlotte by fifteen. Boris Diaw had 18 points and 6 rebounds, Raja Bell scored 18 points as well, and Raymond Felton contributed 9 points, 12 assists and 5 boards in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Raymond Felton, Charlotte ? 15.6

Danny Granger, Indiana ? 14.0

Troy Murphy, Indiana ? 13.5

Boris Diaw, Charlotte ? 12.0

- Minnesota 109, Chicago 108 (OT)

Team FIC Differential: Timberwolves -8.3, Bulls +8.3

Randy Foye made a driving layup with under a minute remaining in overtime to push the Timberwolves (15-27) past the Bulls (18-27) at the Target Center. Al Jefferson exploded for 39 points and 9 rebounds, Kevin Love posted 19 points and 15 boards off the bench, and Foye added just 9 points and 6 assists on 2-for-11 shooting. Minnesota outrebounded Chicago by three, while shooting 45%. Ben Gordon led with 23 points, Derrick Rose tallied 18 points and 7 assists, and Luol Deng added 22 points and 8 rebounds for the reeling Bulls.

Game FIC Scores

Joakim Noah, Chicago ? 23.0

Kevin Love, Minnesota ? 20.0

Al Jefferson, Minnesota ? 19.8

Luol Deng, Chicago ? 18.8

- Denver 117, Utah 97

Team FIC Differential: Nuggets +31.2, Jazz -31.2

The Nuggets (29-15) grabbed an early lead and never let go against the Jazz (25-20) at the Pepsi Center on Sunday night. Nene led with 28 points and 9 rebounds, J.R. Smith tallied 22 points and 6 assists, and Linas Kleiza turned in 18 points and 9 boards in the win. Denver limited Utah to 40% shooting and forced twenty turnovers. Ronnie Brewer scored a team-high 16 points, Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap had 12 points and 10 rebounds each, and Deron Williams added 15 points and 10 assists in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Nene, Denver ? 27.9

J.R. Smith, Denver ? 15.8

Paul Millsap, Utah ? 13.8

Mehmet Okur, Utah ? 12.0

- Golden State 107, L.A. Clippers 92

Team FIC Differential: Warriors +21.3, Clippers -21.3

The Warriors (14-31) led for a majority of the game as they cruised to their fourteenth win over the season against the Clippers (10-33). Corey Maggette had a team-high 20 points, Andris Biedrins posted 12 points and 14 rebounds, and Kelenna Azubuike contributed 16 points, 9 boards and 6 assists. Golden State held Los Angeles to 37% shooting at ORACLE Arena. Eric Gordon had 21 points and 5 assists, DeAndre Jordon dominated the paint with 8 points and 20 rebounds, and Al Thornton chipped in 17 points and 7 boards for the Clips, who were again without Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Zach Randolph and Marcus Camby.

Game FIC Scores

Andris Biedrins, Golden State ? 18.5

Kelenna Azubuike, Golden State ? 18.5

DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles ? 15.6

Steve Novak, Los Angeles ? 12.3

? RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their ?Reina Value.?
Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

Minnesota owner Glen Taylor revealed on Saturday that he gave Kevin McHale a raise well above his salary as vice president of basketball operations to coach the team.

Taylor is reportedly fine with McHale sticking on the sidelines past this season as well, although it'll be up to the coach.

"We thought these guys could play competitively against most teams," Taylor said. "For some reason or another, it has just taken longer to get this going than we anticipated. It might have something to do with Kevin's coaching. But, just a lot of good things are happening right now."

Minnesota's public relations department has mounted a campaign to get Al Jefferson into next month's NBA All-Star Game.

The Wolves have sent packages to each of the other fourteen Western Conference coaches who will vote on reserves for the game.

Included in the package was a foldout map featuring some of Jefferson's notable performances and a head-to-head comparison with some other All-Star caliber players.

Each coach also received a GPS device with a highlight video of Jefferson, who said he's grateful for the help.

"It means a lot," Jefferson said. "Hopefully, it will convince these coaches to get me in."

Instead of Larry Hughes, the New Jersey Nets have a preference to trade for Mike Miller of the Wolves, according to an NBA general manager familiar with the discussions.

Miller makes $9 million this season and $9.7 million the next. The best offer the Nets can make is a deal involving a player with a one-year contract, such as Stromile Swift, just to help the Wolves get Miller, their second-highest-paid player, off the cap next season.

Timberwolves' coach Kevin McHale believes that rookie forward Kevin Love is so far advanced that it's 'ridiculous.'

"He's so far advanced for a 20-year-old, it's ridiculous," McHale said of Love.

Love is averaging 11.4 points and 10.6 rebounds in January.

"It's just confidence and finding myself out there," Love said when asked what had triggered his recent uptick in production. ". . . Working hard in practice and getting in the weight room. That confidence really helps me."

Rashad McCants has remained on the bench in four of Minnesota's last five games, but is trying not to complain about the lack of playing time.

"I'm a professional," McCants said Thursday. "I've just got to come to work every day and prepare. Whether I play or not, I just always have to be ready."

McCants was the team's leading scorer last season, so the transition has been tough.

"Of course, it's frustrating," McCants said. "But to be successful, you've got to go through some ups and downs. You've got to lose some to win some. Right now, all the frustration and not playing is really just fueling me to get better."

McCants' name has come up in trade rumors with the NBA's deadline nearing.

"It's not about if I want to," he said. "It's just about positioning and where I am in a contract year. No one says they want to be traded or they're on the block. Whatever happens happens. I know it's going to be what's best for the team and for me and my family."

The Wolves picked Mario Chalmers for the Heat in a pre-arranged deal in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft that came 10 minutes too early, before the Memphis Grizzlies telephoned near the end of the draft's first round and unexpectedly agreed to complete a blockbuster eight-player deal that swapped O.J. Mayo for Kevin Love.

Big-man prospects Darrell Arthur, Donte Greene, and Kostas Koufos had just disappeared from the draft board when the Wolves contemplated selecting Chalmers for themselves and deferred because they already presumably had combo guards Mayo, Randy Foye, and Marko Jaric on their roster and intended to re-sign free agent Sebastian Telfair.

"At that point, I just said I don't want to take a guy we'll have to cut because of numbers," said Wolves' Coach Kevin McHale, then the team's vice president of basketball operations. "Right after we said we'd do the deal with Miami, Memphis called, and we said to each other, 'Well, we would have taken Chalmers.' We were just so loaded up at that combo spot, and then 10 minutes later we weren't."