NBA Roundup: Who Can Stop The Mavericks?

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

• Fast Times In Big D. Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban is too busy these days feuding with Google and CNet to get around to posting about his team on his blog, and that's probably a good thing for Mavs' fans. After an 0-4 start, Dallas is basking in the relative inattentiveness of its owner to the tune of seven straight wins, the latest a 107-80 victory over the Wizards. Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points to lead the wild horsies.

• Mobley In The Middle. All one has to do is look at the sidelines to see which team is still in charge in LA. Lakers? Jack Nicholson and Denzel Washington. Clippers? Frankie Muniz. In the first meeting of the season between the two teams, their tie for first in the Pacific Division was broken by the Lakers' 105-101 win; Kobe Bryant scored 40 points.

• Tooth Or Consequences. Allen Iverson was at the dentist (true story), so Detroit took advantage of his abscess/absence to claim a 97-87 win over the 76ers on Tuesday. It was Rasheed Wallace time! (21 points, 11 rebounds).

• And That's Gooden Uff For Me. Drew Gooden scored a season-high 22 points and had 15 rebounds, as the Cavaliers almost squandered a 20-point lead, finally prevailing overte Grizzlies 97-94.

• Top Of The World, Ma! . OK, why are the Nuggets now winning? We want the answers on our desk by tomorrow morning.