• Another day, another performance closer to the norm for Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics). Pierce scored 24 points on Monday in a 97-88 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder — a second-straight strong performance after a three-game, 8-for-34 slump last week. He shot a much more efficient 8 of 15 (2 of 4 threes) in 38 minutes on Monday, with five rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block (full stats here). Pierce carried the Celtics at times (six straight points in the last two minutes of the first half; four more points in the first minute of the second half), but Boston lost its fifth game in a row.

• Josh Selby (Memphis Grizzlies) scored five points on five shots (1 of 3 threes) on Monday as the Grizzlies took down the Chicago Bulls, 102-86. Selby played 11 minutes at backup point guard and had a steal and two assists to three turnovers (full stats here).

For what it’s worth, Scott Schroeder (NBC Sports contributor, D-League blogger) and Doug Gottlieb (radio host, ESPN analyst/personality) commented on Twitter that the D-League might be in Selby’s future.

• Nick Collison (Oklahoma City Thunder) scored six points with six rebounds (four on the offensive end) in 19 minutes as the Thunder defeated the Boston Celtics, 97-88, on Monday. Collison also had five fouls and two turnovers (full stats here).

• Cole Aldrich (Oklahoma City Thunder) did not play (coach’s decision) on Monday against the Boston Celtics.

• Drew Gooden (Milwaukee Bucks) played just four minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday as starting center Andrew Bogut returned from concussion-like symptoms and played 41 minutes. Gooden had two points, two rebounds and one charge (turnover, foul) as he spelled Bogut in the second quarter (full stats here).

Other notes

• Brady Morningstar (NBA D-League – Tulsa 66ers) might not have been able to watch Kansas-Baylor at Allen Fieldhouse with Jayhawk teammate Tyrel Reed, but he put on an impressive show of his own on Monday night in Tulsa. A day after scoring 19 points and going 4 for 4 on three-pointers, Morningstar one-upped himself and scored 21 points on 7 for 8 shooting (again 4 for 4 from three; 3 for 3 from the free-throw line). Morningstar also grabbed six rebounds and two steals, but his team lost, 110-103, in overtime (full stats here).

Reeeaaaally pixelated highlights of the game below (Morningstar at :12 , :35, :56)

• John Reid of the Times-Picayune tweeted that Xavier Henry (New Orleans Hornets) is still a week away from seeing his first minutes in a Hornets uniform. Henry has been sidelined since injuring his ankle during practice with the Memphis Grizzlies in mid-December.

Jayhawks in upcoming NBA games

Tuesday, Jan. 17

• 6 p.m., Brandon Rush and the Golden State Warriors vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers

• 6:30 p.m., NBATV, Mario Chalmers and the Miami Heat vs. the San Antonio Spurs

• 7 p.m., Markieff Morris and the Phoenix Suns vs. the Chicago Bulls

• 7 p.m., Drew Gooden and the Milwaukee Bucks vs. the Denver Nuggets

Wednesday, Jan. 18

• 6 p.m., Nick Collison, Cole Aldrich and the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the Washington Wizards

• 6:30 p.m., Paul PIerce and the Boston Celtics vs. the Toronto Raptors

• 6:30 p.m., Brandon Rush and the Golden State Warriors vs. the New Jersey Nets

• 6:30 p.m., Markieff Morris and the Phoenix Suns vs. the New York Knicks

• 7 p.m., Josh Selby and the Memphis Grizzlies vs. the New Orleans Hornets