Donyell Marshall had a season-high 32 points and Jalen Rose had 21 as the Toronto Raptors enjoyed a rare blowout Wednesday with a 110-90 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Orlando star Tracy McGrady missed the game because of back spasms. He is listed as day-to-day for the Magic, who have lost four straight.
"I just felt too much pain," he said. "I couldn't tolerate it. The best decision was for me to sit out."
PHOTO: EPA
The Raptors went 11-for-14 from behind the 3-point arc and had their largest margin of victory this season.
"A lead like that means everything to somebody like me," Rose said. "You cherish the games where you can sit on the bench with ice on your knees in the fourth quarter."
The Raptors scored a season-high 63 points in the first half and led by 20 at halftime -- at that point the most points they've led by this season. Marshall's 3-pointer and Alvin Williams' jumper gave Toronto a 29-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Clippers 95, Celtics 86
In Boston, Quentin Richardson scored 36 points and Elton Brand had 22 points and 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, which sent the Celtics to their fifth straight loss.
Richardson scored 14 fourth-quarter points and keyed a 17-6 run over the final 7:41 when the Clippers overcame an 80-78 deficit. Richardson knocked down a career-high eight 3-pointers.
Boston has lost nine of 11 and is 0-4 under interim coach John Carroll.
Paul Pierce had 22 points and Jiri Welsch added 20 for the Celtics, who were outscored 25-12 in the fourth quarter.
Grizzlies 103, Wizards 101
In Washington, James Posey scored a season-high 31 points and Pau Gasol made two clutch baskets in the final 70 seconds as Nashville edged Washington.
With the score tied at 99, Gasol backed in on Kwame Brown to put the Grizzlies in front with 1:08 to play. After a Wizards turnover, Gasol made it a four-point lead on a 16-footer from the left wing with 26 seconds remaining.
The victory gave Memphis coach Hubie Brown his 500th pro victory -- 396 in the NBA and 104 in the ABA. The Grizzlies need one more victory to tie the franchise record of 28 set last season.
Nets 99, Heat 88
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Kenyon Martin celebrated his first All-Star selection with 24 points and 13 rebounds as New Jersey beat Miami to remain unbeaten under coach Lawrence Frank.
Jason Kidd added 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists as the Nets won their sixth straight overall and their fifth in a row since Frank replaced Byron Scott.
Scott's firing came three days after the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions were embarrassed by the Heat, dropping an 85-64 decision in Miami.
Hawks 97, Timberwolves 89
In Atlanta, Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 32 points, 14 rebounds and a key steal late in the game to lead Atlanta over Miami.
Jason Terry added 20 points, Stephen Jackson scored 17 and rookie Boris Diaw had the best game of his brief career. He tied season highs with 10 rebounds and eight assists, and was only one point off his best effort with seven.
Sam Cassell finished with 20 points and Kevin Garnett had 17 for the Timberwolves, who lost for only second time in 10 games.
Mavericks 113, Hornets 104
In New Orleans, Dirk Nowitzki's 28 points and 11 rebounds led Dallas as the Mavericks extended New Orlean's losing streak to four games.
Michael Finley scored 22 and banked in a 3-pointer from nearly 30 feet that all but put the game away, putting Dallas ahead 101-92 with about 2 1/2 minutes left. Steve Nash added 18 points and 12 assists as the Mavericks won for the 11th time in 13 games.
Darrell Armstrong led New Orleans with 27 points. He hit five 3-pointers, including two early in the fourth quarter to keep New Orleans in the game. One day after being selected to his first All-Star game, Jamaal Magloire had 23 points and 12 rebounds. Jamal Mashburn scored 19 but shot 4-of-17 in the first three quarters.
Rockets 103, Bucks 89
In Houston, Maurice Taylor scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as Houston beat Milwaukee to snap a four-game losing streak, its longest of the season.
Steve Francis, returning from a team-imposed one-game suspension, led Houston with 23 points, followed by Cuttino Mobley and Taylor with 19 each, Yao Ming with 16 and Jim Jackson with 14.
Brian Skinner led Milwaukee with 17 points. Joe Smith had 13 and Tim Thomas Michael Redd and Desmond Mason had 12 each.
Lakers 111, Cavaliers 106, OT
In Cleveland, Shaquille O'Neal returned from a one-game suspension and scored a season-high 37 points, and Gary Payton added a season-high 30 as the Los Angeles beat Cleveland to improve to 2-1 on a seven-game road trip -- the club's longest since 1992.
LeBron James scored 32 points.
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Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
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