* The Wizards mounted a ferocious 25-6 rally last night in Boston, storming back from a 77-63 lead with 6:22 to play. Caron Butler led the charge with 11 points during that 6-plus minute span, and seven within the final 40 seconds to send the Celtics on their first two-game slump of the year.

* Peter May suggests that the C’s puzzle is woefully incomplete without Rajon Rondo. “Watching Tony Allen or Eddie House trying to run an offense is like waiting for a turnover to happen. It’s not in their DNA. It is in Rondo’s. And he is a certifiable beast on defense as well as an excellent rebounder.”

* The TD Banknorth Garden thumped with “MVP” chants when KG went to the line around the three and a half minute mark with the Celtics up by nine. Asked later about the chant, Garnett responded, “MVP? A chant? Not even on my mind now. I just have my mind on this team and trying to get it back on track, to be honest with you.”

* While Boston failed to answer questions as to how they rebound from a loss, the Trail Blazers looked like men possessed against the Nets after falling to CB4’s Raptors on Sunday night. “‘They’re that much better,’ said Richard Jefferson. All the time? ‘Over the last 20 or so games.’”

* John Salmons broke a 120-120 tie with a running 8-footer that sent the Mavericks home and Arco Arena into absolute glee. It also sent Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof dancing in celebration onto the court.

* Kevin Martin didn’t feel ready to start last night against the Mavericks. “I told coach (Reggie Theus), ‘I can only give you 28 minutes a night right now,’ ” Martin said. “He said, ‘as long as it’s good.’ … I don’t think it’s the right time yet (to start), even for me personally. I feel like it’s training camp Day No. 3, and I’ve still got to get back in the flow on the court, get my timing down and get my wind back, so I’m definitely not ready to play starter minutes right now and I don’t need to.” In just 28 minutes, Martin went 14-16 from the field for 39 points. Theus called Martin’s performance “borderline unbelievable.”

* Nate McMillan changed the focus of his offensive attack after becoming “too predictable” on Sunday. “Meanwhile, the Blazers were clicking on offense, as McMillan put an emphasis on ball movement after he felt the team became “too predictable” by using pick-and-rolls almost exclusively against Toronto,” writes Jason Quick of the Oregonian. “So instead of having Aldridge set high picks, he put his second-year big man down low and made the Blazers work the ball around the perimeter until Aldridge created space.”

* The initial speculation on the Zach Randolph trade rumors were that if he were going to Milwaukee, it would be in exchange for Michael Redd. Not the case. Peter Vescey writes that the Bucks “summarily rejected the Knicks’ proposal of Randolph and Renaldo Balkman for Charlie Villanueva, Bobby Simmons and Dan Gadzuric; two part-time outside shooters (31 and 30 percent from 3-point range, respectively) seeing inconsistent minutes and an athletic third-string center.”

* After hearing that Andrew Bynum would miss 8 weeks with a knee injury, Kobe plastered the Sonics for 48 points, enough for both he and Bynum. “When you take 44 shots in a ball game, you’re going to get back in rhythm some time,” said Phil Jackson. “It’s like taking a lot of golf strokes — you’re going to hit a few of them good, right?”

* P.J. Carlesimo used five different Sonics to try to contain Mamba. “The efficient Kobe is the one you don’t want to play,” said P.J. “The one who is scoring a lot of points at a real high percentage and living on the free-throw line and getting assists on top of that, you don’t want to deal with that guy.”

* Gerald Wallace thrashed through the Nuggets last night for 40 points, 8 boards and 5 assists. “We’re having the chance to watch a superstar form before our very eyes,” said Sam Vincent. “I don’t want him to hear that, and think he’s a superstar now. But the way he’s getting to the rim and rebounding … “