Inspired Performances

There were 13 games on the NBA's docket yesterday (Jan. 17, 2010) and a remarkable number of stellar performances from players all across the league -- led by Los Angeles Clippers rookie Blake Griffin, who had a career-high 47 points and 14 rebounds against the Indiana Pacers. Yesterday, of course, was a national holiday commemorating the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., who championed equality and civil rights in the United States. The NBA stars, it seemed, celebrated Dr. King's legacy with their inpired performances. A total of 12 players scored 25 points or more while two registered triple-doubles.

Here are the players and their outstanding lines yesterday:

Blake Griffin, 47 pts., 14 rebs., 3 asts., 1 blk. (LAC def. IND, 114-107)

Amar'e Stoudemire, 41 pts., 6 rebs., 1 blk. (NYK lost to PHO, 121-129)

LaMarcus Aldridge, 37 pts., 12 rebs., 2 stls., 2 blks. (POR def. MIN, 113-102)

Joe Johnson, 36 pts., 5 rebs., 6 asts. (ATL def. SAC, 100-98)

Kevin Martin, 36 pts., 4 asts. (HOU def. MIL, 93-84)

Dwight Howard, 33 pts., 13 rebs., 3 asts. (ORL lost to BOS, 106-109)

Dirk Nowitzki, 32 pts., 5 rebs., 5 asts. (DAL lost to DET, 89-103)

Russell Westbrook, 32 pts., 5 rebs., 12 asts., 2 stls. (OKC lost to LAL, 94-101)

Vince Carter, 29 pts., 12 rebs., 4 asts., *reached 20,000 career pts. (PHO def. NYK, 129-121)

Deron Williams, 28 pts., 11 asts., 2 stls. (UTA lost to WAS, 101-108)

Monta Ellis, 26 pts., 9 asts., 5 rebs., 3 stls. (GS def. NJN, 109-100)

Boris Diaw, 25 pts., 11 rebs., 11 asts. (CHA lost to PHI, 92-96)

Derrick Rose, 22 pts., 10 rebs., 12 asts. *his first career triple-double (CHI def. MEM, 96-84)