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Hornets sting LA Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers were simply worn out. The Toronto Raptors could use an excuse, too.

The Raptors set records for offensive futility again Friday night, scoring only four points in the second quarter and a franchise-low 23 in the first half of an 86-60 loss at Washington.

"No effort. We simply gave no effort," Toronto star Vince Carter said.

The revamped Lakers lost for the first time this season, 114-95 at New Orleans. Baron Davis had 23 points, 12 assists and four steals for the Hornets, dominating his one-on-one matchup with Kobe Bryant.

One night after a double-overtime victory over San Antonio that lasted more than 3 1/2 hours, the Lakers didn't have the legs to keep up with New Orleans during a 28-10 third-quarter rally that turned a one-point deficit into a 17-point lead.

"This isn't your typical back-to-back," Bryant said. "I don't think we'll be going into double-overtime, back-to-back situations too much this season."

Davis got plenty of help as the Hornets played a superb all-around game. P.J. Brown shot 7-for-7 and scored 20 points, David Wesley added 17 and George Lynch had 15 to pace six players in double figures.

Shaquille O'Neal had 21 points for the Lakers, who won their first five games. Bryant added 11, shooting 4-for-14 while hearing far fewer boos than he did the previous night in San Antonio.

New Orleans improved to 5-1, matching the best six-game start in franchise history, despite playing without Jamal Mashburn.

"Every time I got the ball I was looking to attack," Davis said.

Larry Hughes scored 16 points for the Wizards, who led 51-23 at halftime.

Washington outscored Toronto 29-4 in the second quarter, tying a franchise low for the Raptors.

The half of ineptitude came exactly one week after the Wizards held the Raptors to a franchise-low 27 first-half points in an 82-79 Raptors win at Toronto. The next day, the Raptors scored 24 in the second half against Minnesota and finished with a franchise-low total in a 73-56 loss.

The Raptors, averaging an NBA-low 73 points per game, shot 37 percent from the field and committed 22 turnovers. They lost any momentum they had from a 77-71 victory at home against Dallas Thursday.

"We just gave in mentally and didn't play the way you're supposed to play," coach Kevin O'Neill said. ``When you do that, things go downhill from there.''

The game also goes into Washington's record books. The four points are the fewest the Wizards have ever allowed in a quarter; the 23 points are the fewest they've yielded in a half; 60 are the fewest for a game.

Nets 94, Celtics 87

At Boston, Jason Collins set career highs with 19 points and 13 rebounds, leading New Jersey to a victory that made Byron Scott the winningest coach in Nets history.

Pacers 91, Cavaliers 90

At Indianapolis, Ron Artest's three-point play with 11 seconds left lifted the Pacers over LeBron James and winless Cleveland. James missed a driving layup with 5 seconds to go. He finished with 23 points, five rebounds and seven turnovers.

Knicks 114, Kings 111

At New York, Allan Houston scored 29 of his 39 points in the second half, and the Knicks came back to beat Sacramento. Peja Stojakovic scored 36 for the Kings, who have lost seven straight at Madison Square Garden.

Pistons 105, Bucks 99

In Michigan, Chauncey Billups scored 27 points, Richard Hamilton added 24 and Detroit won its fourth straight.

Timberwolves 100, Magic 71

At Orlando, Florida, Latrell Sprewell scored 22 points and Minnesota sent the Magic to their fifth straight loss -- all at home. Kevin Garnett had 21 points and 17 rebounds. Minnesota's array of zone defenses held Tracy McGrady to four points on 2-for-10 shooting.

76ers 106, Bulls 85

At Chicago, Allen Iverson had 33 points, 11 assists and eight steals, and Glenn Robinson got his first double-double with Philadelphia (21 points, 11 rebounds).

Suns 96, Grizzlies 88

At Phoenix, newly acquired Suns center Jahidi White scored 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting, most of them power dunks.
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