NBA Roundup: OK, Your Stylish Dunks Don't Earn You Extra Points Anymore

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

• The Hobbit Returns. "So, how did it go in Vegas? What did you do?" "Oh, a little shopping. You know. Saw a couple of shows." "Oh yeah? Which ones?" "Um, Wayne Newton. And, ah, those magicians with the tigers." "Did you do anything else?" (Awkward silence. Holds up new shirt). Hey, Tuesday morning was like a brand new NBA season had started, wasn't it? Steve Nash returned, restoring order to the Phoenix Suns. Allen Iverson is back with the Nuggets. Look, there's Michael Redd! Elton Brand! And Agent Zero! (Actually, Gilbert Arenas had only been absent emotionally). So where to start? Nash had 13 points and 12 assists in his first game back from a shoulder injury, and Shawn Marion had 31 points to lead the Suns to a 115-90 win over the Clippers.

• Home Again Home Again, Jigiddy Jig The Spurs haven't had a home game in more than three weeks? Really? Well, they won in San Antonio on Tuesday, 95-80 over Denver, led by Tony Parker's 17 points. Allen Iverson was back in uniform for the Nuggets after missing 10 games with a sprained ankle. He was 3-of-11 from the field. Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 15 points and Nene had 13. Usually we wouldn't mention a 13-point performance, but come on ... it's Nene!

• Mr. Fifty Saves The Universe. Yep, Agent Zero is back, as his 38 points led the Wizards to a 112-100 win over the Timberwolves. But he has a rival in the nickname department, as teammate DeShawn Stevenson dubbed himself Mr. Fifty, for being one of only three Wizards players to be shooting 50 percent or better from the field (Arenas is at 42 percent). Stevenson scored a season-high 23 points (9-for-11 shooting) and then decreed that only teammates Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas — the only other ones shooting 50 percent or better — were allowed to talk to him.

• Seeing Redd. Michael Redd returned for the Bucks (17 points in "limited minutes"), but it wasn't enough to prevent the Pistons from taking an 84-83 win Tuesday. Milwaukee's Mo Williams missed a layup just before the final horn. Chauncey Billups led the Pistons with 19 points.