Dirk Nowitzki is still nailing crazy game-winners

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

YES-WITZKI! This is one of the coolest things I’ve seen this year in the NBA. Tie game in L.A, the Mavericks set up Dirk Nowitzki on the right side and you know he’s going to drop a stepback on poor Julius Randle. He does, he nails it and as he’s backing up, a Kobe Bryant in street clothes gives him a pat and a nod of respect. Dirk reciprocates. I’m going to miss these dudes when they’re gone. (Mavs win, by the way.)

OH, BLAKE: Remember yesterday how ESPN reported that Blake Griffin broke his hand in a “team-related activity”? That team-related activity was punching the equipment manager in the face, twice. Griffin and the equipment guy, Matias Testi, are actually good friends and were at dinner in Toronto when Griffin allegedly punched him during an argument, then followed him outside and punched him again. Now Griffin is out 4-6 weeks. The incident could cost L.A. seeding, which ... if the Clips lose in the first round, this party might be over. It may also cost Griffin an All-Star bid. Nice work, buddy.

OH, LANCE: Lance Stephenson proves he has at least one shred of self-awareness by acknowledging that when the broken hand news came out, everyone assumed it was Lance that Blake punched.

THE BUZZKILLS: Paul Flannery is out in Oakland. He reports from the Warriors’ beatdown of the Spurs, where Golden State showed everyone who’s in control.

SCORES GALORE ...

LAC 91, IND 89
PHX 103, PHI 113
MIA 102, BKN 98
OKC 128, NYK 122 (OT)
WAS 89, TOR 106
ORL 100, MIL 107
SAC 97, POR 112
DAL 92, LAL 90

THE CHASE: The Raptors are on pace to have their best regular season ever, at 30-15. And they are only two games behind Cleveland for the No. 1 seed. They’ve also opened up a 2.5-game gap over No. 3 Atlanta and a 5.5-game gap over No. 5 Boston. The next 20 or so games will tell us a ton about this Toronto team. I’m optimistic.

BLAZIN’: Portland leaps into a tie with Sacramento for the No. 8 seed in the West, with Utah a half-game back. This looks like a three-team race (no offense to Denver) and Houston looks increasingly safe in No. 7. Houston could actually quite easily leap up to No. 5 if Memphis and/or Dallas falter.

THE SUNS! They got swept by the Sixers this season. What an amazing disaster that’s become.

THE STORY BEHIND THE ZINGER: Lee Jenkins with a predictably Lee Jenkins profile and history of Kristaps Porzingis. The stuff about Kristaps’ time in Spain and the work his brother and dad put in ... it’s all really impressive and frankly scary.

SPEAKING OF WHICH ... Unicorn sighting!

INDEED: DeMarcus Cousins is dominating just about everyone in January. Until Tuesday vs. Portland. That ... was not a dominant performance. And while we’re here: Boogie wants to ban fan voting for All-Star spots.

THE 1995 DREAM: Excellent Martin Rickman oral history of Hakeem’s epic 1995 playoff run. Via REDEF.

TRENDSETTER: Giannis Antetokounmpo conducted his entire media availability with his brother Thanasis participating via Facetime.

LESSON LEARNED: D-Leaguer Erick Green didn’t answer his phone twice due to not recognizing the number. It turned out to be the Utah Jazz, who were trying to give him a 10-day contract.

SPEAKING OF THE JAZZ ... Zach Lowe on the problems with and future of the Jazz. Injuries, man. Injuries. I’m intrigued by a Jeff Teague deal, though.

ROUNDBALL ROCK: Shout out to the Sixers for siding with Neil deGrasse Tyson in his “the world is not flat” feud with B.o.B.

ANOTHER ONE: Klutch Sports, the agency of LeBron’s friend Rich Paul, bags John Wall.

A BUCK 35: Patrick Sauer catches up with West Virginian Danny Heater, who hung 135 points on a rival high school ... 30 years before the three-point line was installed.

DAILY BOBAN: Boban Marjanovic holding a gallon of sweet tea that looks like a 1-liter bottle in his hands.

TONIGHT: A very nice ESPN doubleheader with Rockets-Spurs followed by Mavericks-Warriors. Hawks-Clippers should be competitive, too.

Happy Wednesday. See you next time.