Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Duncan hosts Garnett Monday night; Agent Zero may return this week; Marion out again; Ilgauskas is back; Alston steps up for Houston; Suns' Hill is gone again; Hayes treys it up for Pistons; and more...

BEST OF BIG 
This season Orlando's Dwight Howard has emerged as one of the NBA's next great big-men. But for him to really earn it, he's going to have to win an MVP award. And he's going to have to outplay the two best veteran Bigs in the leauge: The Big Ticket, and The Big Fundamental.

The Big Ticket, of course, is Kevin Garnett, and the Big Fundamental is none other than Tim Duncan. Both former NBA MVPs, the dominant duo have to be seen as favorites to meet in the NBA Finals this year, and for a simple reason: NBA history says they will. For the past nine years, every team to win the Finals has featured a dominant low-post player. Duncan himself has anchored four of those titles, Shaquille O'Neal another four, and Ben Wallace was in the middle for the title-winning Pistons in 2004. And with Garnett's Celtics leading the Eastern conference and Duncan's Spurs only two games behind the West lead, they're both on their way.

Duncan and Garnett are also the last two dominant post players to win the NBA's MVP award (with Dallas 7-footer Dirk Nowitzki more of a perimeter player). As The Big Fundamental's Spurs host the Big Ticket's Celtics in San Antonio on Monday night, is a Finals preview in the offing?

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GILBERT A GO? 
The Associated Press reports that Wizards' star guard Gilbert Arenas will get an MRI on his surgically-repaired on Tuesday, and if it shows no cause for concern, he will play soon, presumably Wednesday at Orlando. INTEL: Agent Zero has been out since Nov.21 and has spent the past three-and-a-half months rehabbing from surgery. When he returns, expect him to take at least a few games to get back to his old high-scoring self. He was hitting just 39 percent from the field before the injury, so it could take some time for him to regain his stroke. When he does return, expect Antonio Daniels and Nick Young to lose significant playing time.

SHAWN GONE AGAIN 
Sunday saw superstar forward Shawn Marion miss his second straight contest due to a sore back. For now he appears day-to-day after aggravating an earlier tweak. INTEL: Don't expect the Heat to rush Marion back. With the team already shutting Dwyane Wade down, it's clear they are playing for next season and it's arguable that Marion is just as valuable to them as Wade. Marion must be doing some soul-searching after begging out of arguably the NBA's top franchise and landing in the league's worst team. With him out, Alexander Johnson will likely start but look for Earl Barron to get a long look by the Heat.

BIG IGGY IS BACK 
After missing seven games due to a sore disc in his back, Cavaliers' center Zydrunas Ilgauskas returned Sunday and started for the Cavs, posting a solid 16 points and nine boards in Cleveland's 98-91 win over the Bobcats. INTEL: This is bit of a surprise, considering Ilgauskas was expected out a little longer. Big Iggy is a top-10 NBA center when he's healthy, and the Cavs can really use him down the stretch. Now that he's back in the lineup, Anderson Varejao returns to a reserve role. He played just 16 minutes Sunday.

RAFER RAMPS IT UP 
On Sunday Rockets' point guard Rafer Alston dropped a career-high 31 points (including eight three-pointers) to lead Houston to its 22nd straight victory. INTEL: The speed veteran playmaker has emerged over the past month as a solid second or third scoring option behind Tracy McGrady, who was keyed on by the Lakers in the 104-92 win. Poor shooting and a questionable attitude have dogged Alston in the past, but he is averaging almost 19 points per game in March.

GORDAN FILLS IN FOR HILL 
Veteran star swingman Grant Hill played just 12 minutes Saturday night against the Kings because of a sore wrist. He is considered day-to-day. INTEL: Now 35 and as injury-prone as any superstar in recent memory, Hill was probably bound to come down with some sort of problem. Expect the Suns to be cautious with him as long as they're still strongly in the playoff picture. On Saturday newly-acquired Gordan Giricek filled in and scored a season-high 23 points in 33 minutes. He is not a great bet to continue that, but he is nevertheless an underrated talent who can contribute in Phoenix's wide-open system.

HAYES TREYS IT UP 
With 29 points in 25 minutes Sunday, Pistons' small forward Jarvis Hayes established a season-high and helped Detroit to a 105-84 thumping of New Orleans. Twenty-one of his points came on a career-high seven three-pointers. INTEL: Hayes has always had top-tier scoring ability, and he has emerged this season as a key member of the Pistons' rejuvenated bench. He is probably good enough to start on most teams, but he is likely to stay stuck as the seventh or eighth man in Detroit's rotation. His excellence (and that of others) in a reserve role has meant a slightly diminished role this season for Tayshaun Prince.

KAPONO GETS THE CALL 
Playing 30 minutes on Sunday, Raptors' small forward Jason Kapono scored 26 points off the bench on 12-of-19 shooting from the floor in Toronto's 106-100 loss to Sacramento. INTEL: Kapono is known more than anything for his ability to hit the three, but he nailed just 2-of-6 from the arc in this effort. He was expected to claim Toronto's starting small forward job this season, but the more-athletic Jamario Moon and Carlos Delfino ended up ahead of him in the Raptors' rotation. Kapono might lead the league in threes if he were a regular starter, but he's not enough of a defender to win head coach Sam Mitchell's nod.

ANOTHER SALMONS SETBACK 
Continuing his up-and-down season, Kings' swingman John Salmons sat out Sunday's game against the Raptors because of a sprained ankle. He appears to be day-to-day. INTEL: What a season. In December Salmons averaged 18 points and five boards per game and appeared ready for a breakout season. Then he lost his starting job and hit a terrible slump in February, and now this. As long as Ron Artest, Beno Udrih, and Kevin Martin are healthy, expect Salmons to be stuck in a reserve role for the Kings.

CHRIS CAN'T MISS: WILCOX HOT 
Continuing his trend of late-season surges, Sonics' big-man Chris Wilcox posted 17 points, 12 boards, and two steals, and three blocks Sunday in Seattle's 168-116 loss to Denver. INTEL: This production came in just 24 minutes, mostly because the Sonics gave up a mind-blowing 168 points and went with their reserves later in the game. Wilcox has a tendency to get hot after the All-Star Break, and in March he's averaging almost 17 points per game. He also brings solid rebounding numbers and an excellent field-goal percentage, so he might be worth a pick-up down the stretch in most fantasy formats.

SASHA STILL THE STARTER 
In his third game back from a lengthy absence caused by a foot injury, on Sunday Aleksandar Pavlovic started again for the Cavs and scored 11 points in 21 minutes of Cleveland's 98-91 win over the Bobcats. INTEL: Sasha has started all three games since his return, and posted an impressive 24 points Mar.13 against the Wizards in his second contest back. With Wally Szczerbiak and Devin Brown both in the fold for Cleveland, head coach Mike Brown has the luxury of going with the hot hand at shooting guard. But it's notable that Brown has stayed loyal to Pavlovic, who isn't likely to get monster minutes but should still be somewhat productive.