Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

With playoffs on the line, Carter faces the Cavs; LeBron out Wednesday?; Bobs' Wallace to shut it down?; Shaq sits with a sore hip; D-League MVP shines; Udrih returns; and more...

VINSANITY TEST 
Some say the mark of a great player is whether he can take over when it matters most. Others say greatness is the ability to play through nagging injuries and adversity. Either way, Nets' swingman Vince Carter has a lot of opportunity--and a lot to prove--on Wednesday night.

That's because the high-scoring, high-flying Vinsanity faces his biggest test of the season Wednesday in Cleveland. With his Nets 3.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and five games left in their schedule, Carter will be looked to as his team's leader in their crucial game against the Cavaliers.

Making his task even more challenging is that Carter has been slowed recently by a sore ankle, one that kept him out of Jersey's Apr.4 game in Detroit. But like it or not, Carter will be expected to produce. With a salary over $13 Million he is the Nets' go-to guy, and he has certainly come through for them in the past. With his team's playoff hopes on the line, can Vince play like Vinsanity once again?

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BOBS' WALLACE SHUTTING IT DOWN? 
The Associated Press reports Bobcats' star forward Gerald Wallace is likely to sit out the rest of the season because of a groin injury. INTEL: Not a shocker, considering the Bobcats are out of the playoff hunt. Wallace remains one of the NBA's most talented players, but also one of its more injury-prone. If he does sit out, he will have played only 62 game this season; in seven NBA seasons he has played 70 games just twice, and never more than 72. With him gone, expect Matt Carroll, Jared Dudley, Earl Boykins, and Jermareo Davidson to pick up more minutes.

LEBRON 'BACK-ING' OUT? 
On Tuesday Cavaliers' superstar small forward LeBron James sat out his second straight of practice because of a sore back, according to the Associated Press, which also reports head coach Mike Brown claims James might miss Wednesday's game against the Nets. INTEL: Obviously the Cavs are not going to be careless with their meal ticket, especially with a playoff berth already locked up. James is a true competitor and obviously will want to suit up, but it would be unrealistic to expect him to play major minutes Wednesday. With that in mind, keep an eye on Delonte West, Devin Brown, and Wally Szczerbiak. All three might become go-to scorers if James sits.

SHAQ SITS WITH SORE HIP 
A sore right hip kept Suns' center Shaquille O'Neal out of Phoenix's lineup Tuesday against the Grizzlies. The Associated Press reports he hopes to play Wednesday versus the Spurs. INTEL: Sixth man Boris Diaw stepped into the starting five for the Suns, and had predictably disappointing results (12 points, four assists, and three boards in 28 minutes). Diaw has been a bust for the Suns this season, and Phoenix can only hope for a fast return of The Big Cactus, who has been playing solid ball lately.

BOSTON'S BIG THREE REST EARLY 
The Celtics' Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen were limited to (respectively) 20, 21, and 22 minutes of action Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Celts still won, 107-104 in overtime. INTEL: As expected, Garnett, Pierce, and Allen will be similarly rested until the playoffs. Key reserve forwards Leon Powe (14 points, four rebounds in 28 minutes) and James Posey (16 points, nine boards, two steals in 35) stepped up, as did shooting guard Tony Allen (17 points, three assists in 31 minutes). Look for the latter three, as well as Eddie House and Glen Davis, to see regular burn until the postseason.

BIG BRAD DONE FOR SEASON 
Confirming several recent rumors, the Associated Press reports Kings' center Brad Miller will miss Sacramento's final four games this season because of a stress fracture in his left leg and a right elbow bone chip. INTEL: Look for rookie pivot Spencer Hawes to get the starts the rest of the way. Hawes has posted some solid numbers recently filling in for Big Brad, and has the look of a future top-10 NBA center.

UDRIH RETURNS FOR KINGS 
After sitting out for 10 of the past 11 games because of a back strain, Kings' point guard Beno Udrih was back in action Tuesday for Sacto. He came off the bench to play 23 minutes and contribute 10 points and three assists to their 140-132 loss to the Warriors. INTEL: This is a promising sign for Udrih, who was looking great before the injury. It's not so promising for journeyman Anthony Johnson, who started the game but saw just 14 minutes of action. Francisco Garcia, however, played a strong 35 minutes and chipped in an impressive 31 points and four steals.

JERMAINE STILL GETTING LITTLE BURN 
On Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks in a must-win game, Pacers' star big-man Jermaine O'Neal played just 19 minutes, posting a meager 10 points and four rebounds. He did, however, have four blocks in Indy's 112-98 win. INTEL: Despite his team's tenuous playoff position, star big-man Jermaine O'Neal continues to see little playing time for the Indiana Pacers since returning from his 33-game layoff to heal up a bone bruise in his knee. O'Neal hasn't surpassed the 20-minute mark in any of the five games since his return, suggesting the team isn't going to risk his health. Jeff Foster and Troy Murphy continue to start up front for Indy, but they are seeing inconsistent court-time since O'Neal has been back.

CHANDLER BACKS UP LEE 
Continuing his strong recent stretch of games, on Tuesday Knicks' rookie Wilson Chandler put up 19 points, nine boards, and three blocked shots against the Pistons in New York's 98-94 upset win. It was the eighth outing in Chandler's past twelve that he has scored in double-figures. INTEL: Chandler also got the start at power forward in place of David Lee, who sat out with back spasms. Regardless of whether he continues to start, Chandler remains a very intriguing prospect going forward. He has the frame of a power forward and the skills of a guard, a rare combination that could mean a regular job for him next season.

SESSIONS STAYS ON POINT 
With usual starting point guard Maurice Williams on the shelf Tuesday with an abdomen problem (his second straight missed game), rookie Ramon Sessions posted another impressive outing, with 13 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and three steals in the Bucks' 107-104 loss to the Celtics. He started and played 37 minutes. INTEL: Sessions appears to have supplanted Royal Ivey as the top backup to Williams, mostly thanks to some superb recent performances. Sessions averaged a healthy 7.6 helpers per game over 24 D-League outings for the Tulsa 66ers, and may emerge next season as a top NBA backup point guard. With the Bucks out of the playoff hunt and Williams still hurting, Sessions could conceivably start the final five games of Milwaukee's season.

PIETRUS RETURNS FOR STATE 
After missing nine straight games to groin and hamstring problems, Warriors' forward Mickael Pietrus returned to action Tuesday in Golden State's 140-132 win over the Kings. He played 13 minutes off the pine and chipped in 10 points, two blocks, and two boards. INTEL: The entire starting five for the Warriors played exceptionally well on Tuesday, so it's not looking hugely likely that Pietrus will reclaim his job as the team's starting power forward. When added to the fact the team is fighting for its playoff life and has seriously shortened its bench, Pietrus may not play a major role the rest of the regular sked.

STACKHOUSE SET TO PRACTICE? 
The Dallas Morning News is reporting that veteran swingman Jerry Stackhouse may return to practice on Friday. The 33-year-old has missed five straight games because of a strained right groin. INTEL: We'll see if Stackhouse will have his starting job back when he returns. The Mavs have been playing fairly well with him out and now that Dirk Nowitzki is back in the lineup, the starting five may stay the same, with Jason Terry holding firm at shooting guard. That said, Terry has been in and out of the starting lineup all season long, so Stackhouse may yet reclaim his starting gig.

D-LEAGUE MVP POWELL HELPS HEAT 
After being recently named the MVP of this seasons' NBA Development League and being recalled by the Heat for the team's final five contests, Kasib Powell scored a career-high 18 points Tuesday versus the Bulls to lead Miami to a 95-88 win. INTEL: Powell played 37 minutes off the bench in the victory, which eliminated Chicago from the playoffs. He also added six boards and three assists. The 27-year-old swingman has had cups o' coffee with several NBA squads and posted an impressive 22.2 points, 6.0 boards, and 1.4 steals per game for the D-League's Sioux Falls SkyForce. He may eventually be a lot like Charlotte's Matt Carroll, who won the D-League MVP in 2005 with Roanoke.