Nets spur Duncan to get back in form

Nets' center Jason Collins, left, battles Spurs' center Tim Duncan, bottom, and guard Bruce Bowen as they wait for a rebound during action in the first quarter of their game at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Wednesday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Tim Duncan had a season-high 31 points and 12 rebounds, and the defending champion San Antonio Spurs defeated the New Jersey Nets 85-71 Wednesday night in the first meeting between the teams since the NBA championship round.

Tony Parker added 17 points in just his second game of the season and Manu Ginobili had 12 points and eight rebounds as the Spurs won their second straight game since Duncan and Parker returned to the lineup.

Jason Kidd, who spurned a free agent offer from the Spurs in the offseason, had 14 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds for his second triple-double of the season and the 52nd of his career.

Kenyon Martin added 14 points and 10 rebounds in his first game since spraining his left ankle Oct. 31.

Bulls 89, Celtics 82

In Boston, Jalen Rose scored 20 points and Eddy Curry added 16 points and 14 rebounds as Chicago got its third road victory to match its total for all of last season.

Chicago's straight road win improved the Bulls to 3-1 on the road. The Bulls finished 3-38 away from the home in 2002-03.

Karl Malone, left, of the Lakers, battles Jerome Williams of the Raptors at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Wednesday. PHOTO: AFP

Mike James had 18 points and Paul Pierce 14 for the Celtics, who lost for the first time in three games.

Heat 88, Cavaliers 83

In Miami, Eddie Jones scored 25 points and Lamar Odom added 14 points and 10 assists, helping Miami become the final NBA team to break into the victory column.

LeBron James had 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting for Cleveland, which lost its 26th straight road game since February and failed in its bid for the franchise's first three-game winning streak since April 2002.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 20 points for the Cavaliers, and Carlos Boozer had a game-high 16 rebounds.

The Heat lost their first seven games, the franchise's worst start since going 0-17 to open its inaugural season of 1988-89. They missed their last five shots, giving the Cavaliers plenty of chances to pull off a late rally.

But James was stifled on three key possessions, committing an offensive foul with 2:08 left, having a shot blocked by Udonis Haslem with 1:30 remaining and failing to handle a quick pass from Ilgauskas with 18.5 seconds left.

Grizzlies 107, Magic 97

In Orlando, Florida, Memphis withstood a season-high 36 points from Tracy McGrady and handed Orlando its seventh consecutive loss.

Pau Gasol and James Posey had 28 and 24 points, respectively, in leading the Grizzlies to their second road win of the season.

The Grizzlies, who beat the Lakers on Monday night, used their superior front court to dominate the game and closed it out with a 15-0 run featuring two 3-pointers by Posey and one by Jay Williams.

McGrady with 6:42 remaining, giving the Magic their last lead at 89-87. It was his only basket of the fourth period, and McGrady limped off in the final seconds with a strained tendon in his right foot.

SuperSonics 104, Bucks 99

In Milwaukee, Rashard Lewis had 31 points and nine rebounds to lead Seattle.

Lewis, the league's second-leading scorer, was 12-of-19 from the field as Seattle improved to 3-0 on the road.

Vladimir Radmanovic added 22 points and eight rebounds, and Ronald Murray followed up his career-high 29-point effort Tuesday with 20 points.

Michael Redd and Toni Kukoc had 20 points apiece to lead Milwaukee.

Hornets 96, Jazz 88

In New Orleans, Baron Davis had 23 points and nine assists, and New Orleans won for the first time in three games.

David Wesley scored 17 and reserve Steve Smith added 15 points in 20 minutes, hitting all seven of his free throws.

Matt Harpring scored 20 points to lead Utah (4-4), which dropped to 0-4 on the road. Andrei Kirilenko and DeShawn Stevenson added 15 points apiece.

Davis only 7-for-20 from the field but made four 3-pointers to go with 5-of-8 free-throw shooting.

Hawks 99, Suns 94

In Phoenix, Dion Glover scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to help Atlanta to its first victory in Phoenix in nearly 12 years.

Stephen Jackson had 18, Jason Terry scored 17 and Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 16 for the Hawks, whose last road victory against the Suns came on Nov. 15, 1991. Atlanta had lost 16 of its last 22 games overall against the Suns.

Stephon Marbury and Shawn Marion scored 22 points apiece for the Suns, whose modest two-game winning streak was snapped.

Warriors 87, Pistons 85, OT

In Oakland, California, Calbert Cheaney hit two big shots in overtime while scoring a season-high 24 points for Golden State.

Cliff Robinson helped put away his former teammates, hitting a jumper with 43 seconds left and playing solid defense as the Warriors held Detroit to 2-of-8 shooting in overtime.

Golden got its fourth straight home victory over the Pistons, while Detroit lost in overtime for the first time in more than two years.

Chauncey Billups had 19 points and a season-high 12 assists for the Pistons, who lost their second game in two days following a five-game winning streak. Richard Hamilton added 17 points.

Detroit's Tayshaun Prince matched his career high with 16 points, but missed a long jumper at the buzzer.

Lakers 94, Raptors 79

In Los Angeles, Shaquille O'Neal had 23 points and 14 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers kept the Toronto Raptors winless on the road.

The Lakers got 17 points from Karl Malone and 16 points from Gary Payton to end their two-game losing streak. Toronto fell to 0-4 away from home under first-year coach Kevin O'Neill.

Kobe Bryant scored 19 points, going 8-of-10 on free throws, as one of four Lakers starters in double figures. He will leave the Lakers on Thursday to attend his first hearing before the judge that will preside over his sexual assault trial in Colorado.

Vince Carter led the Raptors with 23 points, their only starter in double figures. Guard Milt Palacio scored two points starting in place of Alvin Williams.