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Bender on a roll, Pacers defeat Jazz

Jonathan Bender scored a career-high 22 points and Erick Strickland had 19 points and 11 assists as the Indiana Pacers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 101-81 win over the Utah Jazz.

Austin Croshere scored 10 of his 14 points during a 26-6 second-quarter run on Friday night, and Ron Mercer scored 10 in his best game in over a month for the short-handed Pacers.

The Pacers turned to their seldom-used reserves with three starters out of the lineup. Ron Artest was suspended, Jamaal Tinsley was tending to personal matters and Brad Miller had a sore left foot.

76ers 90, Trail Blazers 79

In Philadelphia, Allen Iverson had 22 points and matched a season-high with nine assists, and Keith Van Horn added 20 points and nine rebounds.

The Sixers improved to 13-2 since the All-Star break and snapped Portland's three-game winning streak.

Aaron McKie had 13 points, Eric Snow scored 12 and Derrick Coleman grabbed 10 rebounds for the 76ers. Damon Stoudamire had 16 points, Rasheed Wallace scored 15 and Dale Davis had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who turned the ball over a season-high 25 times.

Hawks 107, Knicks 104

In Atlanta, Glenn Robinson had a three-point play with three seconds left, capping a frantic final minute.

With a final chance to tie, the Knicks went to Latrell Sprewell, who was immediately fouled by Robinson with 1.8 seconds left. But Sprewell missed the first free throw, then intentionally clanged the second off the rim.

Atlanta's Shareef Abdur-Rahim grabbed the rebound, and the Hawks had their third straight victory. They've won five of six overall.

Lakers 106, Timberwolves 99

In Minneapolis, Derek Fisher scored 21 points, including a clutch jump shot with 26.6 seconds left.

Kobe Bryant (30 points) and Shaquille O'Neal (26 points, 15 rebounds) did their usual thing, but Fisher helped extend the Minnesota defense and gave the Lakers hope of salvaging a season-long six-game road trip that started with ugly losses at Chicago and Detroit.

Kevin Garnett had 23 points and 17 rebounds and Troy Hudson scored 21 points for the Timberwolves, who lost their second straight at home after a 17-game winning streak.

Pistons 90, Wizards 80

In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Chauncey Billups scored 25 points and Ben Wallace had a season-high 17 points with 24 rebounds, pushing Michael Jordan further away from his hope of ending his career in the playoffs.

Jordan scored 15 for Washington, which has lost five of seven and is one game behind Milwaukee for the final playoff spot. The Wizards, 9-21 away from home, play 11 of their final 17 games on the roadors.

Hornets 87, Heat 83

In Miami, Jamal Mashburn scored 21 points and P.J. Brown added 20 as the New Orleans Hornets rallied in the second half, completing a four-game sweep of the season series.

Mashburn and Brown combined for 16 points in the fourth quarter against their former team to help the Hornets pull away.

New Orleans won for the 10th time in 12 games. The Hornets have won 10 straight against the Heat, dating back to the 2000-2001 playoffs.

Hornets guard Baron Davis, who returned this week following knee surgery, didn't dress because of what the team described as ``rehabilitative purposes.''

Rockets 121, Bulls 91

In Houston, James Posey scored 12 points in a 16-3 run to open the game and the Houston Rockets were never threatened again.

It is Houston's fourth consecutive victory, matching its longest winning streak of the season.

Posey finished with a season-high 26 points, while Steve Francis had 23, Glen Rice and Yao Ming 16 each and Cuttino Mobley 13 as the Rockets snapped a three-game losing streak to the Bulls.

Spurs 107, Clippers 96

In San Antonio, Tim Duncan had his third career triple-double with 24 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

Bruce Bowen scored 14, Speedy Claxton added 13 and Kevin Willis and Stephen Jackson had 12 each as the Spurs won their fifth in a row.

Kings 119, Raptors 84

In Sacramento, California, Chris Webber had 26 points and 10 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings never trailed.

The victory, Sacramento's eighth straight at home, came after the Kings' worst loss of the season -- a 25-point defeat Thursday night in Phoenix.

The Kings moved three-and-a-half games ahead of Portland in the Pacific Division.

Mavericks 116, Warriors 114

In Oakland, California, Eduardo Najera hit a short jumper with three seconds remaining as the Dallas Mavericks prevailed in a frantic fourth quarter.

Michael Finley scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half as the Mavericks snapped a two-game losing streak by beating Golden State for the 16th consecutive time. Steve Nash added 17 points and 12 assists.

Shawn Bradley fouled out with three minutes to play after scoring 16 points with 11 rebounds.
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