ESPN writer David Thorpe thinks that a key to Denver’s first round playoff series against Golden State is Warriors’ coach Mark Jackson pushing the right emotional buttons. Is he right, or is there another reason why the Nuggets are down 3-1 to the Warriors? Click here for the full article

MVP. 11-time All-Star. NBA champion. Finals MVP. Now, Dirk Nowitzki has another milestone to add to his growing list of accolades. Nowitzki scored his 25,000th career point on Sunday, during the Dallas Mavericks' 107-89 win over the New Orleans Hornets. He is the 17th player in NBA history to reach the milestone, and the 21st when the NBA and ABA are combined. Nowitzki had 24,990 career points before the game, and his 19 against the Hornets put his career total at 25,009. Nowitzki's unique skillset has made the German forward one of the most dominant players in the NBA over his 15-year career, and almost certainly a future Hall of Famer. As a seven-footer with a center's post moves and the shooting stroke of a guard, Nowitzki has caused matchup problems for opponents since making his NBA debut in 1999.

Celtics guard Jason Terry decided he need to get the record straight after Lebron James embarssed the JET. LeBron James said it made him happy he dunked on Jason Terry because of the way he runs his mouth. Well, apparently the dunk isn't shutting Jet up. He wants another piece of the Heat and LeBron. Terry was on WEEI and sounded off on the reaction to the dunk and how he thinks Boston has a great chance against Miami. "I've dunked on so many guys in this league, and the way social media is today, it's just unbelievable," Terry said. "I did get a kick out of the one when I was in the coffin and the pallbearers were KG and Paul Pierce. It's all in fun and it's all in the spirit of the sport." Terry made it very clear though: He hates the Heat. He has a history against them and he is not a fan. "It's not even LeBron personally. It's just the Heat," Terry said. "Is it the red and black? Maybe. I hate that color. I just don't like them. I don't know." There's a history, though, between Terry and LeBron, with Terry's Mavericks topping the Heat in six games in 2011. And Terry, as he tends to do, ran his mouth a little about that. "He picked his poison. They put him on me to shut me down in the 2011 Finals, and he couldn't get the job done," Terry said. "Hopefully he gets another chance this year in the Eastern Conference finals or wherever we match up. I'm telling you right now, I love us, I love the way we're built. We miss Rondo, we miss Sullinger, but with this team we have, we have a chance."

Dirk Nowitzki has to get some bonus points for keeping this on lockdown. The short version of the Kikuyu wedding, that is meant to announce to the community that the daughter is engaged, provided relatives from both sides with an opportunity to get to know each other and conclude ruracio (dowry payments) discussions. When a couple goes through the ruracio phase, their wedding is officially recognized by customary laws. There was plenty of fun and and plenty to eat and drink. The bride, Jessica was wearing a traditional Kikuyu garment and Dirk was in a dark brown traditional outfit with orange hues. Jessica was also presented with a kiondo by elederly kikuyu women. She had to demonstrate how she would go to the market and shop for her husband. Later the couple together with the guests danced to mugithi tunes. Jessica is born of a Kenyan mother and a Swedish father who both live in Sweden. Her two brothers, Martin and Marcus Olsson play professional football in the English Premier League. She is the associate director of the Goss-Michael Foundation art gallery based in Dallas, Texas.

The L.A Clippers and Lamar Odom are back again. Back in 1996 the Clippers selected a skinny Odom with the fourth overall pick out of the Rhode Island Rams. 12 years later, the two have hooked up again in effort to bring an NBA Championship to streets of Los Angeles. "I feel like I'm 19 again," said Odom, who will turn 33 shortly after next season begins. "Hopefully I can turn the clock back on the court as well, do whatever I can to help the team win games and erase that last season I had. I wasn't myself. I feel like I can help just by being myself. You all know what type of person I am and what I can bring to a ballclub. The same thing I did when I was winning championships is what I'm going to be doing for the Clippers now."

The King wants his ring...and it looks like it took a bitter sweet series against Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks for LeBron James to final understand what it takes win a NBA Championship. National Basketball Association MVP James said he was determined to make up for last year's six-game loss in the Finals to the Dallas Mavericks. "Last year, I didn't make enough game‑changing plays, and that's what I kind of pride myself on," he said. "I didn't do that last year in the Finals. "I'm just trying to make game‑changing plays, and whatever it takes for our team to win, just trying to step up in key moments and be there for my teammates."

Now that Canada Basketball got their news out the way, its now time for the speculation of where Steve Nash will end-up playing for. Mavericks, Dirk & Nashsty one more time, that would be fun. Maybe Jason Kidd will stick around.

From NBA Champions to a 4-0 first round NBA Playoffs series sweep at the hands of the more youthful Oklahoma City Thunder. The Dallas Mavericks and owner Mark Cuban have big decisions to make in the off-season. The Mavericks need a youth injection. Nowitzki's 21.6 points per game represented his lowest output since 2000. His 45.7% shooting was his lowest since his rookie season in 1999. What about Jason Terry and Jason Kidd. Vince Carter.

Remember Vince Carter? Remember the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest? Remember Air Canada? No take a look at this? From between the legs dunks to this? We can picture the headlines, Vince Carter decides to call it a _ _ _ _ _ _ _?

On Jan. 1, Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in a win over Washington. Of the 212 games this season at the end of Wednesday night, that was the only triple-double recorded. There are a host of reasons that could explain the aberration (since 1999-2000, the league has averaged one triple-double every 36 games), from short training camps to frequent back-to-back games to simple statistical variation. But for Jason Kidd, the modern master of the triple-double, missing time to a back injury cannot help. Since his days starring at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, Calif. (where he averaged 25 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and seven steals his senior season), Kidd has had an innate ability to fill up a box score.