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InsideHoops.com / NBA News

NBA Players of the Week are Toronto's Vince Carter in the East and the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal in the West. Carter averaged 32.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists, as the Raptors went 2-1. O'Neal averaged 24.3 points, 17.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks as the Lakers went 4-0.

Wednesday on ESPN: Dallas at Indiana (8 p.m. EST), followed by Sacramento at Lakers (10:30 p.m. EST).

The Kings (51-19) have a half-game lead on the Pacers (50-19) in the race for the league's top record and home-court advantage throughout. Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal are two of only five players in the NBA averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, joining Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Zach Randolph.

Thursday on NBA TV: Detroit at San Antonio (8:30 p.m.. EST). By virtue of holding five of their last seven opponents under 70 points, the Pistons have moved ahead of the Spurs in lowest points allowed per game (84.6 to 85.1). Detroit has won eight straight games.

Friday on ESPN: Dallas at Miami (8 p.m. EST), followed by Minnesota at Lakers (10:30 p.m. EST). The Heat has won five straight and eight of 10 to move into sixth place in the East.

Sunday on ABC: Dallas at Orlando (1:30 p.m. EST).

Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of what can only be described as one of the weirdest games in NBA history between the Sixers and Nets, a contest that began on Nov. 8, 1978, and continued on March 23, 1979, with three players appearing in the box score for both teams.

Tonight on NBA TV: Dallas at Philadelphia (7 p.m. EST). The Mavericks have won four of the last five, including a series sweep in 2002-03, which was their first against Philly since the 1996-97 season. The Sixers have dropped four straight and is currently out of the playoff picture.

Chicago has never won at Conseco Fieldhouse (0-8). The Pacers have lost consecutive games for just the third time this season and are coming off a stretch of three losses in four games for only the second time.

If New York wins tonight against Atlanta, it will mark the Knicks' first sweep of the Hawks since 1974-75.

Denver has dropped seven of 10 to fall a half-game behind Utah for the final playoff spot in the West, in a tie with Portland. The Nuggets own tiebreakers against the Jazz and Trail Blazers, having won the season series against both.

ABOUT SUNDAY'S GAMES

Dirk Nowitzki's 15-foot jumper with 27 seconds left gave the Mavericks the lead for good in a 101-98 victory over the Nets ... Jason Richardson scored 28 points in Golden State's fourth straight win, a 96-85 triumph over the Clippers ... Kevin Garnett collected 20 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists as the Timberwolves cruised to a 98-77 victory over Denver ... Chauncey Billups led six players in double figures with 18 points as the Pistons routed the Cavaliers 96-76 for their eighth straight win ... Vince Carter scored eight of his 42 points in overtime to lift the Raptors to a 121-120 victory over the Hornets. New Orleans set franchise records by going 46-of-60 from the free throw line -- both NBA season highs ... Vlade Divac scored 17 points as the Kings overcame the loss of Brad Miller, who was limited to 18 minutes due to bursitis in his right elbow, and rallied for a 100-95 victory over Houston Rockets.

Transactions: Golden State signed J.R. Bremer to a second 10-day contract ... Washington activated Larry Hughes and placed Lonny Baxter (right knee tendinitis) on the injured list.