The Blazers started three rookies on Tuesday night for the first time since 1971 and still managed to beat the Boston Celtics 91-86.

Sidney Wicks, Larry Steele, and Bill Smith started for Portland in '71, and it was Greg Oden, Nicolas Batum, and Rudy Fernandez, who started in place of Brandon Roy.

The Blazers handed the Celtics their third loss in four games on Tuesday night, but even more surprising was their scoring with six men on the court.

With 10.3 seconds left in the second quarter, the Blazers took to the floor and scored with six men on the court. The refs didn't catch it until after Travis Outlaw scored. The basket was counted.

Needless to say, Celtics coach Doc Rivers was upset.                                      

"We even called the league about it and they didn't know what to do," he said.

A still frustrated Rivers took a comment sheet from NBA Official Mike Callahan and dropped it into a reporters hand while Ray Allen was conducting an interview.

"Here's another brilliant quote," a visibly upset Rivers said before leaving the Celtics locker room.

Callahan said the following:

"If we would have caught the six men on the court before the made goal then there would have been no score. We would have called a technical foul on Portland and stopped play. After the technical foul shot (by Boston), Portland would have inbounded the ball as they were in possession before the stoppage."

The Blazers, without star Brandon Roy, handed the Celtics their third loss in four games on Tuesday night.

- Atlanta 110, Indiana 104

Team FIC Differential: Hawks +13.2, Pacers -13.2

The Hawks (21-10) held off the Pacers (10-21) in the fourth quarter to move more than ten games over .500. Joe Johnson had 27 points and 7 rebounds; Josh Smith posted 24 points and 6 boards; and Al Horford turned in 12 points and 14 rebounds. Atlanta outrebounded Indiana by seven and limited the home team to 42% shooting. Danny Granger led with 25 points and 7 rebounds; Troy Murphy tallied 10 points and 14 boards; and Jarrett Jack scored 22 points in defeat.

Game FIC Scores

Joe Johnson, Atlanta ? 17.3

Jeff Foster, Indiana ? 17.3

Al Horford, Atlanta ? 16.0

Troy Murphy, Indiana ? 15.5

- New York 93, Charlotte 89

Team FIC Differential: Knicks +2.7, Bobcats -2.7

The Knicks (12-18) jumped out to an 11-point lead in the first quarter and withstood a late charge to defeat the Bobcats (11-21). Wilson Chandler led with 19 points and 7 rebounds; Chris Duhon tallied 15 points and 8 boards; and David Lee contributed 13 points and 16 rebounds in the win. Both teams shot 42%, but New York grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. Gerald Wallace starred with 21 points and 6 rebounds; Raymond Felton posted 12 points, 8 boards, and 8 assists; and Emeka Okafor added 13 points and 15 rebounds.

Game FIC Scores

Chris Duhon, New York ? 17.5

David Lee, New York ? 17.3

Raymond Felton, Charlotte ? 14.3

Emeka Okafor, Charlotte ? 12.9

- Miami 104, Cleveland 95

Team FIC Differential: Cavaliers +20.4, Heat -20.4

The Heat (17-13) jumped out to a 16-point lead after two quarters and handed the Cavaliers (26-5) a rare loss. Dwyane Wade had 21 points and 12 assists; Shawn Marion posted 14 points and 11 rebounds; and Mario Chalmers added 21 points and 8 dimes in the win. Miami outrebounded Cleveland by nine and went 11-for-18 from three-point line. LeBron James led with 38 points and 7 assists on his 24th birthday; Delonte West scored 20 points; and Maurice Williams turned in 10 points and 5 dimes in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Mario Chalmers, Miami ? 27.0

LeBron James, Cleveland ? 19.3

Dwyane Wade, Miami ? 15.5

Delonte West, Cleveland ? 11.6

- New Orleans 97, Washington 85

Team FIC Differential: Hornets +26.8, Wizards -26.8

The two teams were tied at halftime, but the Hornets (19-9) used a strong second half to knock off the Wizards (6-24). Chris Paul had a triple-double with 15 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds; Rasual Butler scored 21 points; and David West turned in 20 points and 6 boards. Both teams shot 45% from the field, but New Orleans outrebounded Washington by three and shot 21-for-26 from the free throw line. Antawn Jamison led with 22 points and 12 rebounds; Mike James posted 16 points and 7 assists; and Andray Blatche added 11 points and 4 boards for the Wizards.

Game FIC Scores

Chris Paul, New Orleans ? 24.9

Rasual Butler, New Orleans ? 12.5

Antawn Jamison, Washington ? 11.0

Mike James, Washington ? 9.5

- Phoenix 101, Memphis 89

Team FIC Differential: Suns +18.2, Grizzlies -18.2

The Suns (18-12) outscored the Grizzlies (10-22) by 20 points in the fourth quarter to record a comeback victory. Leandro Barbosa had 28 points and 4 assists; Shaquille O?Neal posted 24 points and 12 rebounds; and Louis Amundson contributed 10 points and 9 boards. Phoenix limited Memphis to 39% shooting and outrebounded the home team by eighteen. Marc Gasol had 16 points and 11 rebounds; Hakim Warrick scored 25 points; and Rudy Gay contributed 14 points and 5 boards in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Shaquille O?Neal, Phoenix ? 20.5

Grant Hill, Phoenix ? 18.4

Hakim Warrick, Memphis ? 17.3

Marc Gasol, Memphis ? 16.5

- Dallas 107, Minnesota 100

Team FIC Differential: Mavericks +22.1, Timberwolves -22.1

The Mavericks (19-12) used a 34-16 run over the final twelve minutes to beat the Timberwolves (6-25). Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points and 13 rebounds; Jason Kidd posted 14 points, 16 assists, and 7 boards; and Jason Terry scored 29 points off the bench. Minnesota shot 49%, but turned the ball over four more times than Dallas. Al Jefferson led with 21 points and 9 rebounds; Sebastian tallied 14 points, 5 boards, and 4 assists; and Ryan Gomes scored 19 points for the struggling Wolves.

Game FIC Scores

Jason Kidd, Dallas ? 30.0

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas ? 20.5

Sebastian Telfair, Minnesota ? 12.3

Al Jefferson, Minnesota ? 11.6

- Milwaukee 100, San Antonio 98

Team FIC Differential: Bucks +10.7, Spurs -10.7

The Bucks (15-17) recorded a huge upset over the Spurs (20-11) on Tuesday night thanks to double-doubles from Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut. Luke Ridnour had 21 points and 5 assists; Bogut tallied 20 points and 13 rebounds; and Redd turned in 24 points and 10 boards. Milwaukee shot 52% from the field and outrebounded San Antonio by thirteen. Tim Duncan led with 21 points and 6 rebounds; Michael Finley scored 20 points; and Tony Parker tallied 19 points and 5 assists in defeat.

Game FIC Scores

Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee ? 24.0

Michael Redd, Milwaukee ? 20.0

Michael Finley, San Antonio ? 17.8

Tony Parker, San Antonio ? 17.5

- Portland 91, Boston 86

Team FIC Differential: Blazers +15, Celtics -15

The Blazers (20-12) used a strong second half to hand the Celtics (28-5) their third loss in four games. Steve Blake scored a team-high 21 points, LaMarcus Aldridge posted 20 points and 7 rebounds, and Greg Oden added 13 points and 11 boards. Portland outrebounded Boston by fifteen and limited the defending champions to 40% shooting. Paul Pierce had 28 points, Kevin Garnett tallied 17 points and 8 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo contributed 13 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds for the Celtics.

Game FIC Scores

Rajon Rondo, Boston ? 15.3

Paul Pierce, Boston ? 15.1

Greg Oden, Portland ? 14.1

Steve Blake, Portland ? 13.8

- Sacramento 92, L.A. Clippers 90

Team FIC Differential: Kings +0.5, Clippers -0.5

Brad Miller hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to give the Kings (8-24) a thrilling win over the Clippers (8-22). Kevin Martin had 20 points and 5 rebounds; Brad Miller tallied 15 points and 13 boards; and rookie Jason Thompson added 10 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. Both teams shot under 40%, but Sacramento outrebounded Los Angeles by six. Eric Gordon scored a game-high 24 points; Marcus Camby posted 15 points and 24 rebounds; and Baron Davis turned in 11 points, 5 boards, and 4 assists on 3-for-17 shooting.

Game FIC Scores

Marcus Camby, Los Angeles ? 28.1

Paul Davis, Los Angeles ? 14.5

Brad Miller, Sacramento ? 13.5

Mikki Moore, Sacramento ? 9.8

? RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their ?Reina Value.?
Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

Blazers' rookie center Greg Oden reportedly keeps to himself, especially on the team's flights.

Oden, according to team sources, is known to disappear to the back of the plane, close the door, and spend the flight by himself while his teammates socialize up front.

Blazers' reserve Ike Diogu is playing behind several of the team's cornerstones but is trying his best to remain professional.

"It's a pretty tough situation to be in, especially when the people in front of you are kind of like the foundation of the future for the organization of the Blazers," Diogu said. "But, that's just a part of the business side of it.  I think you have to just remain a professional.  Everybody wants to play, but unfortunately, there's just not enough time for everybody to go around.  I still haven't lost confidence in my game, and I'm just waiting for my opportunity."

While Diogu is remaining professional, sources close to the situation insist either Diogu or Channing Frye could be had for the right price.

The Orlando Magic?s Dwight Howard will defend his crown in the 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk competition to be held on NBA All-Star Saturday Night Feb. 14, at US Airways Center (8 p.m. ET on TNT) in Phoenix. Howard will compete against the Memphis Grizzlies' Rudy Gay, who participated in last year?s contest, and the New York Knicks? Nate Robinson, winner of the 2006 contest in Houston.  

For the first time, fans will select the fourth participant, exclusively through an online vote on NBA.com, from a list of three rookies: the Milwaukee Bucks? Joe Alexander, the Portland Trail Blazers? Rudy Fernandez, or the Oklahoma City Thunder?s Russell Westbrook.

Kevin Pritchard was recently asked what the biggest change he has seen in the NBA over the past year.

"We?re a league of mimics. We see what?s working, and we try to mimic it. You see Boston with their great defense, and then everybody wants to be a great defensive team. I come from a background where defense is very important. Right now every team is trying to figure out how they can put the best defensive players out there. I think that?s important.

"It?s amazing because for us in the West, I don?t feel like it?s changed at all. You?re going to have to get in the high 40s to get in the playoffs. You can?t just win fifty percent of your games and expect to make it to the playoffs. Now the East, maybe you can, but not in the West. There are too many good teams. So in that instance, I don?t think anything has changed. You?ve got to be an upper-echelon team to get into the playoffs. And again, that?s our goal, so we know we?re going to have to get up there."

Pritchard was also asked about future free agent classes.

"What I don?t want to do is limit any of our thinking. Are we interested in definite players in 2010? Who knows? A lot has to be done between now and then. What I do know is that I really like our team. I like our youth. You project out some of our guys like Nicolas, Bayless, Sergio, Rudy, Oden. What are they going to be in two or three years? They?re just cutting their teeth right now. I believe we have a chance to be pretty good for a long time. And that?s what we wanted. We want to have a chance to have a crack at the big games, the big playoff games down the line in two, three, four, five years. An elongated success. Hopefully, we can do that."

The defending-champion Celtics continued their assault on history Tuesday night with their 19th straight victory, setting a new NBA history for the best start to a season in the process.

- Cleveland 99, Houston 90

Team FIC Differential: Cavaliers +16, Rockets -16

The Cavaliers (24-4) stayed perfect at home with an impressive win over the Rockets (19-10) on Tuesday evening. LeBron James had 27 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, Mo Williams scored 23 points, and Daniel Gibson added 11 points and 6 boards off the bench. Cleveland outrebounded Houston by nine and made 88% of their foul shots. Rafer Alston led the Rockets with 20 points, Luis Scola tallied 11 points and 8 rebounds, and Yao Ming contributed 19 points and 5 boards in limited time due to foul trouble.

Game FIC Scores

Mo Williams, Cleveland ? 16.4

Rafer Alston, Houston ? 15.8

LeBron James, Cleveland ? 15.1

Aaron Brooks, Houston ? 10.6

- New Jersey 108, Indiana 107

Team FIC Differential: Nets -8.5, Pacers +8.5

Danny Granger hit a jumper with 10 seconds left, but Devin Harris countered with a shot of his own to give the Nets (14-14) a buzzer-beating victory over the Pacers (10-18). Vince Carter had 38 points and 8 rebounds, Keyon Dooling posted 11 points off the bench, and Harris turned in 28 points, 11 assists and 5 boards. New Jersey attacked the basket, attempting twenty more free throws than Indiana. Danny Granger returned from a viral infection with 26 points, rookie Brandon Rush had 22 points and 8 rebounds, and Jeff Foster contributed 12 points and 14 boards in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Devin Harris, New Jersey ? 26.5

Vince Carter, New Jersey ? 22.9

Brandon Rush, Indiana ? 20.8

Jeff Foster, Indiana ? 17.2

- Charlotte 80, Washington 72

Team FIC Differential: Bobcats +23.5, Wizards -23.5

The Bobcats (10-19) used a strong second half to defeat the Wizards (4-22) at Time Warner Cable Arena. Emeka Okafor starred with 29 points and 18 rebounds, Gerald Wallace tallied 16 points and 8 boards, and Raja Bell poured in 11 points for the home team. Charlotte outrebounded Washington by eleven, and limited them to 31% shooting. Caron Butler had 31 points and 6 rebounds and Antawn Jamison posted 14 points and 6 boards for the Wizards, who have lost seven consecutive games.

Game FIC Scores

Emeka Okafor, Charlotte ? 33.4

Caron Butler, Washington ? 20.5

Gerald Wallace, Charlotte ? 12.2

DeShawn Stevenson, Washington ? 3.5

- Atlanta 99, Oklahoma City 88

Team FIC Differential: Hawks +25.2, Thunder -25.2

The Hawks (18-10) used a dominant fourth quarter to put away the Thunder (3-26) at Philips Arena on Tuesday night. Joe Johnson had a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, Marvin Williams posted 21 points and 7 boards, and Mike Bibby added 14 points, 7 rebounds and 6 dimes in the win. Oklahoma City outrebounded Atlanta by twelve, but shot just 37% on the night. Kevin Durant had 28 points and 6 rebounds, Jeff Green turned in 18 points and 14 boards, and Chris Wilcox added 19 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

Game FIC Scores

Joe Johnson, Atlanta ? 20.8

Mike Bibby, Atlanta ? 18.9

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City ? 17.9

Jeff Green, Oklahoma City ? 14.8

- Boston 110, Philadelphia 91

Team FIC Differential: Celtics +24.2, 76ers -24.2

The Celtics (27-2) won their nineteenth straight game on Tuesday night, setting an NBA record for the best start to the season with their victory over the 76ers (12-16). Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo both had 18 points, Ray Allen posted 16 points and 6 rebounds, and Paul Pierce added 10 points and 7 assists. Boston went 7-for-14 from three-point land, while Philadelphia missed all eleven off their attempts from long-range. Louis Williams posted 16 points and 8 assists, Andre Miller had 14 points, 8 dimes and 5 rebounds, and Samuel Dalembert contributed 8 points, 13 boards and 3 blocks in defeat.

Game FIC Scores

Leon Powe, Boston ? 16.8

Ray Allen, Boston ? 16.5

Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia ? 15.0

Marreese Speights, Philadelphia ? 13.6

- Miami 96, Golden State 88

Team FIC Differential: Heat +22.5, Warriors -22.5

The Heat (15-12) used a decisive run in the second quarter to down the Warriors (8-22) at American Airlines Arena. Dwyane Wade starred with 32 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, Daequan Cook scored 20 points off the bench, and Shawn Marion added 9 points and 16 boards in the win. Miami shot 51%, while limiting Golden State to just 37% from the field. C.J. Watson led with 18 points, Kelenna Azubuike tallied 16 points and 9 rebounds, and Anthony Randolph contributed 10 points and 6 boards for the Warriors.

Game FIC Scores

Dwyane Wade, Miami ? 26.3

Shawn Marion, Miami ? 15.0

Andris Biedrins, Golden State ? 11.3

Brandan Wright, Golden State ? 9.8

- L.A. Lakers 100, New Orleans 87

Team FIC Differential: Lakers +10, Hornets -10

The Lakers (23-5) looked strong against the formidable Hornets (16-8) at New Orleans Arena on Tuesday. Kobe Bryant had 26 points and 6 rebounds, Pau Gasol turned in 20 points and 7 boards, and Andrew Bynum added 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Los Angeles attempted ten more foul shots than New Orleans, and outscored the home team by fifteen in the second period. Chris Paul had 17 points, 10 assists and 6 steals, Tyson Chandler tallied 9 points and 10 boards, and David West added 13 points, 6 boards and 5 dimes in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Chris Paul, New Orleans ? 18.5

Pau Gasol, Los Angeles ? 16.6

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles ? 14.4

Rasual Butler, New Orleans ? 11.0

- Detroit 104, Chicago 98

Team FIC Differential: Pistons +14, Bulls -14

The Pistons (15-11) withstood a late rally by the Bulls (13-15) to move back to four games over .500. Rodney Stuckey exploded for 40 points, Tayshaun Prince had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, and Antonio McDyess added 10 points and 11 boards. Chicago shot 47%, but turned the ball over sixteen times. Ben Gordon had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, Tyrus Thomas posted 16 points and 12 boards, and Andres Nocini contributed 18 points and 8 rebounds for the Bulls.

Game FIC Scores

Rodney Stuckey, Detroit ? 23.6

Tyrus Thomas, Chicago ? 20.5

Tayshaun Prince, Detroit ? 18.0

Andres Nocioni, Chicago ? 13.0

- Milwaukee 94, Utah 86

Team FIC Differential: Bucks +18.3, Jazz -18.3

The Bucks (14-16) outscored the Jazz (17-13) in three of the game?s four quarters on Tuesday night at Bradley Center. Michael Redd starred with 27 points and 6 rebounds, Luke Ridnour had 11 points and 11 assists, and Luc Mbah a Moute contributed 10 points and 9 boards. Both teams shot under 40%, but Utah turned the ball over 23 times. Deron Williams led with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, Andrei Kirilenko posted 22 points and 11 boards, and Paul Millsap turned in 11 points and 9 rebounds in defeat.

Game FIC Scores

Luke Ridnour, Milwaukee ? 16.8

Paul Millsap, Utah ? 11.3

Michael Redd, Milwaukee ? 10.9

Andrei Kirilenko, Utah ? 10.9

- Dallas 100, Memphis 82

Team FIC Differential: Mavericks +42.3, Grizzles -42.3

The Mavericks (16-11) book-ended the game with strong efforts in the first and fourth quarter to defeat the Grizzles (9-19) handily at American Airlines Center. Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points and 8 rebounds, Jason Terry posted 17 points and 5 assists, and Erick Dampier added 13 points and 9 boards for the Mavs. Dallas shot 50% and outrebounded Memphis by eleven. Hakim Warrick scored a team-high 17 points, Rudy Gay tallied 16 points and 9 rebounds, and Kyle Lowry added 15 points and 4 assists for the Griz.

Game FIC Scores

Erick Dampier, Dallas ? 19.5

Jason Kidd, Dallas ? 15.3

Kyle Lowry, Memphis ? 12.5

Hakim Warrick, Memphis ? 10.3

- San Antonio 99, Minnesota 93

Team FIC Differential: Spurs +24.2, Timberwolves -24.2

The Spurs (18-10) withstood a furious rally by the Timberwolves (4-23) in the fourth quarter to avoid a sizable upset. Tony Parker starred with 36 points and 8 assists, Tim Duncan posted 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Michael Finley turned in 13 points and 6 boards in the victory. San Antonio shot 48% and turned the ball over just eight times. Randy Foye excelled with 26 points and 16 rebounds, Al Jefferson tallied 28 points and 6 boards, and Sebastian Telfair added 16 points on the strength of 10-for-12 shooting from the foul line.

Game FIC Scores

Tony Parker, San Antonio ? 26.5

Tim Duncan, San Antonio ? 21.1

Randy Foye, Minnesota ? 18.9

Al Jefferson, Minnesota ? 16.5

- Portland 101, Denver 92

Team FIC Differential: Blazers +15.1, Nuggets -15.1

The Blazers (18-11) used an eight-point edge in the fourth quarter to defeat the Nuggets (18-11) on Tuesday night. LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and 8 rebounds, Joe Przybilla posted 10 points and 19 boards, and Brandon Roy turned in 19 points and 6 assists. Portland outrebounded Denver by five and limited the visiting them to 42% shooting. Linas Kleiza scored a team-high 20 points, Nene tallied 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Chauncey Billups scored 17 points in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Nene, Denver ? 23.0

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland ? 18.9

Joe Przybilla, Portland ? 17.0

Linas Kleiza, Denver ? 13.8

? RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their ?Reina Value.?
Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

Blazers forward Channing Frye his seen his playing time reduce, the rotation adjusted and a host of new teammates surpass him.

"I try not to dwell on it," Frye said. "I try not to bring any of my teammates down or anything about the situation. But it's like, you know, it's rough. It's one of those things where it's, I don't want to say impossible, but it's kind of tough to just go in there and try to be productive in those minutes. And you feel like your leash gets shorter and shorter."

Portland has been playing great basketball, thanks to strong play from Joel Przybilla, LaMarcus Aldridge and rookie Greg Oden in the paint.

"Everybody understands my situation with the team. And if L.A. wasn't playing great, or if Joel wasn't playing great, or Greg, I'd be in a totally different situation," Frye said. "It's a sucky situation, but I can't let this hurt my confidence."

Portland guard Brandon Roy admitted recently that his confidence level is at all-time high after torching the Suns for 52 points on Thursday night.

The effort capped of the best five-game scoring stretch in the team's history.

"My confidence level is at an all-time high," Roy said. "Even when I made big shots (earlier in my career), my confidence wasn't as high as it is now. That's the biggest difference. It's the mentality between the old Brandon and the new Brandon. It's just more comfortable, more confident, and it's showing more in scoring and in that swagger and attitude."