bjtheman1
Bench Warmer
Howard powers Magic to 101-95 win over Cavs
ORLANDO, Florida (AP)—Dwight Howard(notes) had 22 points and 16 rebounds in a bruising battle with Shaquille O’Neal(notes) as the Orlando Magic beat Cleveland 101-95 on Sunday to hand the Cavaliers their first three-game losing streak in two years.
Cleveland’s skid comes on the heels of a 13-game win streak.
Howard was 8-for-13 shooting and added four blocks, and Vince Carter(notes) had eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Magic beat Cleveland for the first time this season.
O’Neal made his first eight shots and finished with 20 points, and LeBron James(notes) had 33 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who were eliminated by Orlando in last year’s Eastern Conference finals.
Nuggets 114, Celtics 105
At Denver, J.R. Smith(notes) scored 16 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as Denver recovered to beat Boston after blowing an early 20-point lead.
Chauncey Billups(notes) had 26 points and Carmelo Anthony(notes) added 23 for the Nuggets, who avoided back-to-back losses for the first time since late December with the victory over the NBA’s top road team.
Ray Allen(notes) had 25 points and Kevin Garnett(notes), Rajon Rondo(notes) and Marquis Daniels(notes) added 15 points apiece for the Celtics, who lost for the first time in their last four road games. They remain an NBA-best 20-10 away from home.
Thunder 109, Timberwolves 107
At Minneapolis, Kevin Durant(notes) scored 32 points to extend his streak of games with at least 25 points to 28 as Oklahoma City edged Minnesota for its ninth straight win.
Russell Westbrook(notes) had a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, and Jeff Green(notes) added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Thunder.
Jonny Flynn(notes) and Kevin Love(notes) each had 19 points for the Timberwolves, who have dropped five in a row.
Durant scoring streak surpasses Allen Iverson’s(notes) 27-game streak in 2001. It’s the longest since Michael Jordan had 40 straight games of 25 or more points in the 1986-87 season.
Jazz 93, Trail Blazers 89, OT
At Portland, Oregon, Carlos Boozer(notes) scored on an offensive putback at the end of regulation to force overtime, then gave Utah its first lead since the opening minutes as the Jazz rallied from down 25 in the third quarter to stun Portland.
Boozer had 22 points and a career-high 23 rebounds for the Jazz, who trailed 64-39 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter. They outscored the Blazers 44-19 over the final 19 minutes to send it to overtime.
Brandon Roy(notes) led Portland with 23 points and Marcus Camby(notes) had 18 rebounds.
Deron Williams(notes) added 18 points and 12 assists for the Jazz.
Pistons 109, Spurs 101, OT
At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Richard Hamilton(notes) scored 27 points and Rodney Stuckey(notes) added 20 and Detroit held on for the win after trailing to start overtime.
Manu Ginobili’s(notes) layup tied the game at 93-93 with 27.5 seconds left, and the Pistons missed two game-winning shots at the end of regulation.
Tim Duncan(notes) had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs.
Grizzlies 104, Nets 94
At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Rudy Gay(notes) scored 29 points as Memphis added another exclamation point to a frustrating season for New Jersey, rallying from an 18-point first-half deficit for the win.
O.J. Mayo(notes) scored 10 of his 24 points in a 17-point run that bridged the third and fourth quarters and put the Grizzlies ahead for good, adding to the woes of the Nets (5-51).
Zach Randolph(notes) added 18 points and 10 rebounds and Marc Gasol(notes) tallied 14 of his 16 points in the second half for Memphis.
Brook Lopez(notes) had 26 points to lead the Nets, who led 36-20 after their highest-scoring first quarter of the season.
Warriors 108, Hawks 104
At Oakland, California, Stephen Curry(notes) scored 32 points and made the go-ahead free throw in the final minute after a technical foul on Jamal Crawford(notes) to help Golden State edge Atlanta.
Monta Ellis(notes) scored 26 for the Warriors, who got their first win against a team with a winning record since beating Boston on Dec. 28.
Joe Johnson(notes) led Atlanta with 31 points, Al Horford(notes) added 26 and Josh Smith(notes) had 14 points and 17 rebounds. The Hawks have lost three of four.
Suns 104, Kings 88
At Phoenix, Jason Richardson(notes) scored 26 points, Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Steve Nash(notes) had 17 assists as Phoenix completed a season series sweep of Sacramento.
Newly acquired Carl Landry(notes) led Sacramento with 18 points. Beno Udrih(notes) had 17 and Donte Greene(notes) and rookie Tyreke Evans(notes) each scored 16 for the Kings.
The Kings began the season 9-8, but since then they are 9-30. They are 5-25 on the road and have lost nine straight in Phoenix.
Hornets 102, Rockets 94
At New Orleans, David West(notes) scored 27 points, including four in the final 2 minutes, to lift New Orleans to the win.
Darren Collison(notes) added 26 points for New Orleans, the fifth straight game he’s had 24 or more.
Chase Budinger(notes) scored 18 points and Aaron Brooks(notes) added 15 for Houston, which has dropped two straight.
ORLANDO, Florida (AP)—Dwight Howard(notes) had 22 points and 16 rebounds in a bruising battle with Shaquille O’Neal(notes) as the Orlando Magic beat Cleveland 101-95 on Sunday to hand the Cavaliers their first three-game losing streak in two years.
Cleveland’s skid comes on the heels of a 13-game win streak.
Howard was 8-for-13 shooting and added four blocks, and Vince Carter(notes) had eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Magic beat Cleveland for the first time this season.
O’Neal made his first eight shots and finished with 20 points, and LeBron James(notes) had 33 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who were eliminated by Orlando in last year’s Eastern Conference finals.
Nuggets 114, Celtics 105
At Denver, J.R. Smith(notes) scored 16 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as Denver recovered to beat Boston after blowing an early 20-point lead.
Chauncey Billups(notes) had 26 points and Carmelo Anthony(notes) added 23 for the Nuggets, who avoided back-to-back losses for the first time since late December with the victory over the NBA’s top road team.
Ray Allen(notes) had 25 points and Kevin Garnett(notes), Rajon Rondo(notes) and Marquis Daniels(notes) added 15 points apiece for the Celtics, who lost for the first time in their last four road games. They remain an NBA-best 20-10 away from home.
Thunder 109, Timberwolves 107
At Minneapolis, Kevin Durant(notes) scored 32 points to extend his streak of games with at least 25 points to 28 as Oklahoma City edged Minnesota for its ninth straight win.
Russell Westbrook(notes) had a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, and Jeff Green(notes) added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Thunder.
Jonny Flynn(notes) and Kevin Love(notes) each had 19 points for the Timberwolves, who have dropped five in a row.
Durant scoring streak surpasses Allen Iverson’s(notes) 27-game streak in 2001. It’s the longest since Michael Jordan had 40 straight games of 25 or more points in the 1986-87 season.
Jazz 93, Trail Blazers 89, OT
At Portland, Oregon, Carlos Boozer(notes) scored on an offensive putback at the end of regulation to force overtime, then gave Utah its first lead since the opening minutes as the Jazz rallied from down 25 in the third quarter to stun Portland.
Boozer had 22 points and a career-high 23 rebounds for the Jazz, who trailed 64-39 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter. They outscored the Blazers 44-19 over the final 19 minutes to send it to overtime.
Brandon Roy(notes) led Portland with 23 points and Marcus Camby(notes) had 18 rebounds.
Deron Williams(notes) added 18 points and 12 assists for the Jazz.
Pistons 109, Spurs 101, OT
At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Richard Hamilton(notes) scored 27 points and Rodney Stuckey(notes) added 20 and Detroit held on for the win after trailing to start overtime.
Manu Ginobili’s(notes) layup tied the game at 93-93 with 27.5 seconds left, and the Pistons missed two game-winning shots at the end of regulation.
Tim Duncan(notes) had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs.
Grizzlies 104, Nets 94
At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Rudy Gay(notes) scored 29 points as Memphis added another exclamation point to a frustrating season for New Jersey, rallying from an 18-point first-half deficit for the win.
O.J. Mayo(notes) scored 10 of his 24 points in a 17-point run that bridged the third and fourth quarters and put the Grizzlies ahead for good, adding to the woes of the Nets (5-51).
Zach Randolph(notes) added 18 points and 10 rebounds and Marc Gasol(notes) tallied 14 of his 16 points in the second half for Memphis.
Brook Lopez(notes) had 26 points to lead the Nets, who led 36-20 after their highest-scoring first quarter of the season.
Warriors 108, Hawks 104
At Oakland, California, Stephen Curry(notes) scored 32 points and made the go-ahead free throw in the final minute after a technical foul on Jamal Crawford(notes) to help Golden State edge Atlanta.
Monta Ellis(notes) scored 26 for the Warriors, who got their first win against a team with a winning record since beating Boston on Dec. 28.
Joe Johnson(notes) led Atlanta with 31 points, Al Horford(notes) added 26 and Josh Smith(notes) had 14 points and 17 rebounds. The Hawks have lost three of four.
Suns 104, Kings 88
At Phoenix, Jason Richardson(notes) scored 26 points, Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Steve Nash(notes) had 17 assists as Phoenix completed a season series sweep of Sacramento.
Newly acquired Carl Landry(notes) led Sacramento with 18 points. Beno Udrih(notes) had 17 and Donte Greene(notes) and rookie Tyreke Evans(notes) each scored 16 for the Kings.
The Kings began the season 9-8, but since then they are 9-30. They are 5-25 on the road and have lost nine straight in Phoenix.
Hornets 102, Rockets 94
At New Orleans, David West(notes) scored 27 points, including four in the final 2 minutes, to lift New Orleans to the win.
Darren Collison(notes) added 26 points for New Orleans, the fifth straight game he’s had 24 or more.
Chase Budinger(notes) scored 18 points and Aaron Brooks(notes) added 15 for Houston, which has dropped two straight.
