SI.com - Fast Breaks: Scalabrine steps up for Nets

SI.com's Marty Burns looks at the best and worst of the NBA Playoffs each night.

Brian Scalabrine, New Jersey Nets
Go ahead, call him Carrot Top. But the Pistons sure weren't laughing as he came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points to prop up the Nets in a 127-120 triple-OT classic. Pressed into service because of foul trouble, the seldom-used 6-foot-9 reserve hit six-of-seven shots (including four-of-four from downtown) while gamely defending the post. He also hit two clutch 3-pointers in bonus time, the latter to give New Jersey a 122-118 lead with 41 seconds left. Richard Jefferson (31 points) also came up big for the Nets, but given the circumstances Scalabrine was supreme.

Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings
For a guy who finished fourth in MVP voting, he sure was quiet. Mired in a shooting slump, he had just 12 points (on 5-of-14 shooting) to go with two rebounds and one assist in 44 minutes as the Kings went down meekly in Minnesota, 86-74, to fall behind 3-2 in their series. Stojakovic was 0-for-4 in the second half, and missed all three of his 3-point attempts on the night. Defensively, he let T'wolves forward Latrell Sprewell (34 points, seven rebounds, six assists) run wild. With Chris Webber and Doug Christie hobbling, Sacramento needed more from Stojakovic.

Three's Company
Following the lead of Tim Duncan and Derek Fisher, Pistons guard Chauncey Billups added his own Game 5 miracle shot. Trailing 88-85 after Kerry Kittles hit a foul shot with 2.9 seconds left, Billups took an inbounds pass, dribbled past midcourt and banked in a 40-footer at the horn to forge an 88-88 tie and send the crowd at The Palace into a frenzy. Billups (31 points) later had another chance to be the hero, but his game-tying 3-point attempt with 12 seconds left in triple OT was off the mark. The Nets went on to ice the game at the foul line.

To live and die in L.A.
It's gut-check time for the Spurs. Down 3-2 to the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, Tim Duncan & Co. must find a way to win Saturday night's Game 6 (10:30 p.m. EST/TNT) in L.A. or their reign as NBA champs is over. Can San Antonio recover from Derek Fisher's incredible buzzer-beater in Game 5? Or will Kobe and Shaq finish them off in front of the home crowd? In the opener, the Pacers look to get back on track after two straight losses when they play host to the scrappy Heat in Game 5 (8 p.m./TNT) from Indianapolis.

Photo Credits: Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images; David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images; Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images; AP


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