The Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki, left, drives by Houston Rockets defender Juwan Howard during overtime, Dec. 2, 2004, in Dallas. Nowitzki scored 53 points, the most ever by a Dallas player and tops in the NBA this season in the 113-106 Mavericks win.
Russia Selects' Dmitry Megalinsky (3) brings down Team WHL's Eric Fehr (16) in front of Selects goaltender Andrei Kuznetsov during the ADT Canada Russia Challenge in Lethbridge, Alberta, Dec. 2, 2004.
Zach Lund from the U.S. during the Skeleton World Cup competition in Altenberg, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004.
Illinois' Dee Brown, right, drives around Wake Forest's Chris Paul during first half action at Assembly Hall in Chamapaign, Ill., Dec. 1, 2004. No. 5 Illinois certainly made a case for the top ranking, turning No. 1 Wake Forest into a nonconference patsy with a 91-73 rout that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated.
Phoenix Suns' Amare Stoudemire, center, slips between Cleveland Cavaliers' Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) and Drew Gooden for two points during the second quarter, Dec. 1, 2004 at America West Arena in Phoenix. The Suns won 120-101.
Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire (32) celebrates his fast break slam dunk against the Utah Jazz with teammate Quentin Richardson during the fourth quarter, Nov. 30, 2004, in Salt Lake City. Stoudemire scored 29 points for the game high. Richardson finished with 18. The Suns beat the Jazz, 115-102.
Kentucky's Kelenna Azubuike hooks Tennessee Tech's Milone Clark as he drives to the basket during the second half of their game, Nov. 30, 2004, in Lexington, Ky. Azubuike ended a season-long shooting slump, scoring 21 points as No. 8 Kentucky squashed Tennessee Tech 92-63.
Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver is mobbed by fans after he leaped into the seats after catching a touchdown pass in the third quarter against the St. Louis Rams, Nov. 29, 2004, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers went on to win 45-17.
The Los Angeles Clippers' Elton Brand, right, goes up for a shot as Cleveland Cavaliers' Zydrunas Ilgaukas, left, defends and Clippers' Chris Wilcox looks on in the second half in Los Angeles, Nov. 29, 2004. The Clippers won 94-82.
Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, left, tries to drag down Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter in the fourth quarter, Nov. 28, 2004, in Denver. The Raiders won 25-24.
The Miami Heat's Dwayne Wade drives between Boston Celtics players Al Jefferson (8) and Ricky Davis (12) for two of his 25 points, Nov. 28, 2004, in Miami. The Heat won 106-104.
The Cincinnati Bengals' Rudi Johnson runs the ball during the second half against the Cleveland Browns, Nov. 28, 2004, in Cincinnati. Johnson ran for 202 yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals' 58-48 win.
Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis, left, drives as Indiana Pacers center David Harrison tries to draw a charge and Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley, upper right, looks on in the first half, Nov. 28, 2004, at Key Arena in Seattle. The Sonics beat the Pacers 103-95.
Tiger Woods watches his tee-shot from the 12th tee box during the final round of the Skins Game, Nov. 28, 2004, at the Trilogy Golf Club in La Quinta, Calif. Defending champion Fred Couples won the Skins Game after a four-hole playoff with Woods to win a total of 11 skins and $640,000.
The Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander is brought down by a wall of Buffalo Bills defenders during the first half in Seattle, Nov. 28, 2004. Alexander, the NFL's leading rusher, was held to 39 yards in 13 carries in the 38-9 win for the Bills.
Nathalie Dechy of France returns a shot to Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova during their Fed Cup match in Moscow, Nov. 27, 2004.
Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart throws during the first half in Los Angeles, Nov. 27, 2004. Leinart passed for a career-high 400 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns, leading the top-ranked Trojans to a 41-10 victory over Notre Dame.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James hits a 16-foot fadeaway jumper for his 2,000th career point, despite the defense of the Chicago Bulls' Adrian Griffin in the third quarter, Nov. 27, 2004 in Cleveland. James scored 26 points to become the youngest player in NBA history to reach 2,000 in a career, leading the Cavs to a 96-74 victory over the Bulls. James will be 20 next month.
Louisville's Eric Shelton knocks the helmet off Cincinnati defender JaJuan Hall (38) as he tackles Shelton after a 54-yard gain in the second half of Louisville's 70-7 win, Nov. 27, 2004, in Louisville, Ky. Cincinnati's Daven Holly follows the play.
Michigan State's Maurice Ager, top, and Nicholls State's Jason Wilkins fight for the ball in the first half, Nov. 27, 2004, in East Lansing, Mich. Ager led Michigan State with 19 points in a 102-52 win.