HOT | NOT

HOT: OKC? O.K., SEE

Oklahoma City (47--16) downed Boston 91--79 on Sunday, its fifth straight W and eighth in the last nine. What makes the Thunder roll? Scoring, as in an NBA-best 107.0 ppg. Said OKC center (and former Celtic) Kendrick Perkins of the offense, "This is what I like being a part of."

NOT: KEEPERS OUT

Tim Howard will miss at least four weeks with two broken vertebrae while his club, Everton, is skidding and the U.S. has World Cup qualifiers on March 22 and 26. On the women's side, Hope Solo (above) will be out for at least three months with a busted left wrist.

HOT: LATE SHOW

L.A. has won five of its last six to climb above .500 and put itself in position for the West's last playoff spot. Kobe Bryant, who three weeks ago guaranteed the Lakers would make the playoffs, is doing his part: Since Valentine's Day he has averaged 32.2 ppg, tops in the NBA.

NOT: ANGELS BEDEVILED

Is it only spring training? Yup. Is the Angels' pitching a mess? Yup. Through 129.2 innings, the staff has MLB's worst ERA (7.63). Anaheim, 3--10 through Sunday, has offensive woes as well. Albert Pujols, coming off knee surgery, has needed a "courtesy" runner on the base paths all spring.

HOT: OWLS TAKE FLIGHT

Khalif Wyatt's 30 points helped Temple (23--8) quash No. 21 VCU's hopes of a conference title on Sunday, when the Owls beat the Rams 84--76 for their seventh straight win. Wyatt, whose 19.8 ppg is best in the A-10, now has four Big 5 player of the week honors this year.

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H. RUMPH JR/AP (WYATT)

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RICK SCUTERI/USA TODAY SPORTS (PUJOLS)

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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (BRYANT)

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KOSTAS LYMPEROPOULOS/CAL SPORT MEDIA (SOLO)

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BILL WAUGH/REUTERS (PERKINS)