NBA Roundup: Down Goes James!

Notes on Wednesday's games in the National Basketball Association ...

• Dallas' Eastern Philosophy. Rough night for LeBron James. He scored 31 points, but was only 12-of-28 from the field, and got dumped on his head by Dallas' Josh Howard while going for a loose ball (he stayed in the game though). When it was over, the Mavericks were 56-11 overall after a 98-90 win over the Cavaliers, proving that no team from the East is equal to the task of stopping them. Dirk Nowitzki didn't have his greatest night either, scoring 23 points, but it didn't matter. James started off the game 1-of-9 from the floor.

• Agent Zero = Wacky Fun. After Gilbert Arenas banked home the game-winning shot at the buzzer in Seattle, he took off his jersey, laid it on the floor and smoothed it out for reasons known only to himself. He had just scored 42 points in the Wizards' 108-106 win over the Sonics, and Agent Zero is always more fun than when he is nowhere to be found following a game in which he doesn't play well. Oh, and GA's shoes last night were pink-tinted, with black and white graffiti designs. Thanks and please drive safely.

• Take Your Time, Dwyane. Miami's strategy is obvious from here on out: Keep Dwyane Wade on the bench. The Heat improved to 11-3 without Wade after a 91-83 win over the Hawks, as Jason Williams had 21 points and eight assists for Miami, which has won 10 of its past 11.

• Hart Condition. The Clippers move a nose ahead of the Warriors, and down the stretch they come! Jason Hart scored the winning basket with three seconds left as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Bucks 104-103. LA is now a half-game ahead of Golden State for the eighth and final playoff berth in the West.