Tony Allen led Boston's backups on a 14-point run early in the second quarter and the Celtics rolled to a 119-101 win on Monday night over Orlando after the Magic traded starting guard Cuttino Mobley.
Allen, a rookie guard, had two field goals and two steals in the surge that pushed a 32-28 lead to 46-28 with 3:14 gone in the period. The Celtics led by at least 14 points -- and as many as 27 -- the rest of the way and stopped Orlando's three-game winning streak.
At halftime, the Magic announced that Mobley and forward Michael Bradley, who is on the injured list, had been traded to the Sacramento Kings for guard Doug Christie.
The Celtics improved to 8-2 in their last 10 home games and were led by Paul Pierce with 18 points. Rookie Jameer Nelson had a career-high 19 points and Steve Francis added 18 for the Magic, who lost for the sixth straight time in Boston.
Trail Blazers 109, 76ers 100
In Philadelphia, Nick Van Exel made a team-record eight 3-pointers and scored a season-high 28 points, and Damon Stoudamire added 22 to help Portland snap a four-game losing streak with a win over the 76ers.
Zach Randolph scored 18 points and Ruben Patterson had 13 for the Trail Blazers, who won for only the second time in their last eight games. Portland made a season-high 14 3-pointers on 26 attempts, with Stoudamire adding five. Sebastian Telfair sank the other.
Van Exel scored 15 points on five 3-pointers during the third quarter when Portland took a 26-point lead.
Allen Iverson shook off a sprained right ankle to score 21 points with nine assists and nine rebounds for Philadelphia. Iverson crashed hard while driving to the basket early in the fourth and came up rubbing his left thigh. He left and watched the rest of the game from the bench.
Andre Iguodala led the Sixers with 22 points and Kenny Thomas had 16.
Lakers 105, Timberwolves 96
In Minneapolis, Kobe Bryant scored 31 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers went on a 24-7 run in the fourth quarter while he rested to rally past Minnesota.
Kevin Garnett had 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Timberwolves, who led by as many as 16 points late in the second quarter.
Chucky Atkins had 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Chris Mihm scored 14 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.
Other results: Bulls 94, Warriors 85; Jazz 97, Spurs 96
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care