Thursday Night LITES ...

THURSDAY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS … The top performers from Thursday’s D-League games:

- Kaniel Dickens led the way for Colorado with 18 points, while Eddie Gill chipped in on the balance attack with 17 points and 12 assists and John Thomas rounded out the night with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the 14ers.

- Tulsa’s Mike Hall scored 33 points for the 66ers in the loss.

- Tony Gipson scored 29 points for Dakota as Carlos Powell finished with 25 points and Rod Benson scored 12 while collecting 16 rebounds for the Wizards

- Iowa’s Adam Haluska scored a game-high 38 points for the Energy and Courtney Sims contributed with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to Dakota.

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS … A look at D-League Alumni in last night’s NBA games:

Nine players with D-League experience competed in three NBA games Thursday night, three as starters. Here are the highlights:

- Los Angeles’ Nick Fazekas scored 18 points in 25 minutes and Josh Powell grabbed 13 points for the Clippers in 23 minutes.

- Mikki Moore scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds in 29 minutes for the Sacramento Kings.

D-LEAGUE PLAYOFFS 101: The 2008 D-League Playoffs will begin shortly after the regular season concludes on April 12 and will consist of three rounds. The first two rounds are single elimination, while the Finals will be a best-of-three series. The three division winners, as well as three wild card teams, will qualify for the 2008 D-League Playoffs. Tie breakers are, in order, head-to-head record, winning percentage against teams over .500, and point differential. The two division winners with the best records will receive byes in the first round.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: If the D-League playoffs started today, the following teams would complete the field:

1. x- Los Angeles D-Fenders
2. Austin Toros
3. Sioux Falls Skyforce
4. x- Idaho Stampede
5. Dakota Wizards
6. Tulsa 66ers
x – clinched playoff spot