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Indiana Pacers drive back to victory lane

Miami Heat's Wang Zhi-zhi, left, and Lamar Odom, center, put pressure on Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James in the third quarter in Cleveland, Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

Al Harrington had 24 points and six rebounds to help the Indiana Pacers avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season with a 101-79 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

The Pacers broke the game open with a 14-2 run in the first four minutes of the second half to take a 66-46 lead Wednesday night. Reggie Miller then hit three straight 3-pointers to give Indiana a 27-point lead, turning the remaining 17 minutes into garbage time.

"He went on one of his runs with shot making," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "That was the difference in the game."

Miller scored 15 points in the quarter and was 4-for-4 from 3-point range. He finished with 18 points, including five 3-pointers.

"We kind of fell apart in the third quarter," Phoenix center Jake Voskuhl said. "They pulled ahead and that was all she wrote."

Joe Johnson had another strong game for the Suns, scoring 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting.

Cavaliers 94, Heat 93

In Cleveland, Ira Newble blocked Dwayne Wade's shot in the final second, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 30 points on 14-for-16 shooting as Cleveland matched its win total from last season.

Rookie LeBron James added 27 points -- 11 in the fourth quarter _ and Dajuan Wagner scored a huge basket with 7.9 seconds left for the Cavs, who won despite not having forward Carlos Boozer.

Eddie Jones had 16 points, and Wade and Lamar Odom had 15 each for Miami, which took a 93-92 lead on Malik Allen's running hook shot in the lane with 35 seconds left.

Magic 104, Wizards 100

In Washington, Tracy McGrady had 39 points, nine rebounds and five assists as Orlando sent Washington to its fourth straight home loss.

Larry Hughes scored 12 straight points to pull the Wizards to 96-90 with 2:59 left, but McGrady answered with six consecutive points to put the game away.

Juwan Howard scored 21 points on 10-for-15 shooting, and Rod Strickland finished with 14 points and 10 assists. Drew Gooden added 15 points and a season-high five blocks for the Magic.

Hughes, who missed Washington's previous game with right knee tendinitis, returned to the starting lineup and led the Wizards with 21 points.

Pistons 106, Celtics 103

In Boston, Chauncey Billups scored eight of his 21 points in the final five minutes as the Detroit spoiled John Carroll's debut as coach of Boston.

In his first full day on the job since Jim O'Brien's resignation, Carroll watched his team rally from a 68-54 deficit midway through the third quarter and take a 93-90 lead with 2:56 left.

The Pistons then went on a 7-0 run to take a 97-93 lead that Boston couldn't overcome.

Mike James scored on a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to cut it to 104-103 for the Celtics.

Billups followed with two free throws, while another 3-point attempt by James went off the rim at the buzzer.

Raptors 94, 76ers 84

In Toronto, Donyell Marshall had 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Raptors beat Philadelphia to end a five-game losing skid.

Allen Iverson, the NBA's leading scorer, missed his second straight game because of sprained right index finger. Philadelphia has lost four straight and six of seven, falling to 19-27.

Morris Peterson added 18 points and Vince Carter 17 for the Raptors, who had five players in double figures. Toronto's Jalen Rose had 13 assists and nine points.

Philadelphia's Glenn Robinson went 4-for-14 from the field for 16 points in 36 minutes.

Nuggets 115, Bulls 99

In Denver, Marcus Camby grabbed a career-high 24 rebounds and Carmelo Anthony added 21 points and seven rebounds to help Denver beat Chicago and snap a season-long three-game losing streak.

It was the 45th time in 48 games that Anthony has scored in double figures. Camby's rebounds were seven short of the franchise record held by Dikembe Mutombo.

Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik had guaranteed a win after Monday's loss to Minnesota.

Eddy Curry had 21 points and Jamal Crawford added 20 for the Bulls, who have lost eight of nine overall and six straight on the road.

Kings 99, Rockets 94

In Houston, Mike Bibby equaled a season high with 28 points as Sacramento rallied for a victory over Houston.

The Kings were behind 83-80 with seven minutes to play before scoring eight straight points, including a 3-pointer and a basket by Bibby for an 88-83 lead. They never trailed again.

Bobby Jackson scored 21 points for the Kings, Stojakovic added 19 and Brad Miller had 16.

A record crowd of 18,209 saw the game.

Lakers 96, Supersonics 82

In Los Angeles, Gary Payton had 24 points against his former team,and Shaquille O'Neal and Rick Fox returned to action as Los Angeles downed Seattle.

The Lakers won despite Ray Allen's third career triple-double and first this season. Allen had 22 points and season-high totals of 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

O'Neal missed 12 games because of a strained right calf, and Fox was playing for the first time since tearing a tendon in his left foot nine months ago.

O'Neal had seven points and five rebounds in 18 minutes and Fox scored two points in eight minutes.

Warriors 97, Timberwolves 90

In Oakland, California, Erick Dampier recorded his 23rd double-double with 21 points and 19 rebounds as Golden State spoiled Kevin Garnett's triple-double and snapped Minnesota's five-game winning streak.

Garnett had his second triple-double of the season with 20 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists. He also added three blocked shots and a steal.

His 10th assist came on a long pass to Latrell Sprewell for a dunk with 4:32 left.

Sprewell scored nine of his 27 points in the third quarter for the Timberwolves, who fell a half-game behind Sacramento for the best record in the Western Conference.

All five Golden State starters scored in double figures, and Brian Cardinal added 21 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
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