Inside the Detroit locker room, there were answers to the question that has befuddled the NBA for nearly two months now.

With Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol returning from injuries and the Washington Wizards owning one of the league’s worst road records, it seemed like an easy win was in store for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Andrei Kirilenko scored 20 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves routed the slumping Phoenix Suns 117-86 on Friday night to snap a nine-game road losing streak.

Mr. Palmer gained fame as a sports telecaster, but his most consequential role was in helping to change basketball in a fundamental way by being the first to shoot a jump shot.

Carmelo Anthony, in just his second game back from knee troubles, played 43 minutes to help defeat the Raptors and secure the Knicks’ third consecutive season in the playoffs.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 points, Shawn Marion had a double-double in his return from a calf injury and the Mavericks spoiled Jason Terry’s return to Dallas with a 104-94 victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday night.

Tony Parker had 22 points in his return from an eight-game absence, Tim Duncan added 19 points and 16 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs escaped with a 104-97 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz on Friday night.

LeBron James scored 29 points, Dwyane Wade added 19 and the Miami Heat extended their winning streak to 25 games by pulling away in the second half and beating the Pistons on Friday.

It’s becoming almost commonplace now, this trend of the Miami Heat getting off to slow starts and having to dig their way back from double-digit deficits.

When the New York Knicks signed Kenyon Martin last month, they hoped the veteran big man might help them with a playoff push.

Robin Lopez had 23 points, including a key putback and a pair of free throws in the final 1:11, and the New Orleans Hornets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 90-83 on Friday night.

James Harden scored 20 points, Chandler Parsons and Omer Asik added 13 points apiece and the Houston Rockets routed the cold-shooting Cleveland Cavaliers 116-78 on Friday night.

Wesley Matthews scored 28 points to lead three Trail Blazers with at least 20 points and Portland beat the Atlanta Hawks 104-93 Friday night for their second road win in as many nights.

Kevin Durant scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Russell Westbrook had 19 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Orlando Magic 97-89 on Friday night.

Tyler Hansbrough had 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Indiana Pacers to their third straight win, 102-78 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.

Ray Williams, a former Knicks and Nets player who died Friday, partnered with Micheal Ray Richardson in a backcourt that reached the playoffs but dissolved because of excessive partying.

Former Knicks and Nets guard Ray Williams died on Friday after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 58. Williams, from Mount Vernon, was the 10th pick of the 1977 NBA draft and was a former teammate of Knicks coach Mike Woodson.

Mike Woodson’s original plan, which now sounds like an empty promise, was to play Carmelo Anthony 32 minutes. The coach missed the mark by 11. Anthony will have the offseason to rest his battered and bruised body, because it appears Woodson is going to squeeze every ounce out of his All-Star forward between now and until the end of the season, whether that’s late April or mid-June.

TORONTO â?? What a difference a knee drain makes.
Friday night’s official clinching of a playoff berth was a small step for the Knicks’ lofty goals, but the win was a giant step for Carmelo Anthony and new starting center Kenyon Martin in their respective comebacks.
In a marathon-like 43…

TORONTO â?? The Knicks drafted Ray Williams with the 10th pick in the 1977 draft as Walt Frazier’s successor.
As terrific a talent Williams was, it never worked out that way. Frazier, now an MSG Network analyst, regrets never having a chance to tutor the Mount Vernon product and make…

TORONTO â?? Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Friday it was time to establish a set starting lineup and rotation as the playoffs inch closer with 15 games left after last night’s win over the Raptors.
Woodson said he cannot expect any of his injured big men other than Tyson Chandler…

Carmelo Anthony showed that having his right knee drained was the best thing he could have done, and Kenyon Martin continues to prove that signing him was one of the best things the Knicks could have done.