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Racers cloud Phoenix's sunny outlook

Ben Wallace, right, of the Pistons, goes to the basket against Kelvin Cato of the Magic during the first half of their game in Auburn Hills, Michigan on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Jermaine O'Neal had 29 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 101-83 victory over Phoenix on Friday, only the second time this season the Suns have lost consecutive games.

Phoenix point guard Steve Nash left early in the second quarter with a bruised left thigh and did not return. Nash, who also had his nose bloodied in the first quarter, finished with 11 points in 11 minutes.

"Some people said we needed some adversity to become a good team," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Well there's some adversity for you."

Amare Stoudemire led the Suns, 124-89 winners over the Pacers on Sunday in Phoenix, with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Coming off a loss Wednesday night in Utah, Phoenix came up 10 points short of its previous season low -- 93 against Minnesota.

"We jumped out on them early instead of them jumping out on us," said Indian's Jamaal Tinsley, who had 18 points and three steals. "And we made shots so they couldn't run."

76ers 106, Raptors 96

Philadelphia, Allen Iverson scored 19 of his 32 points in the first quarter to help Philadelphia beat Toronto and snap a three-game losing streak.

Kenny Thomas added 20 points and 14 rebounds, Iverson had 10 assists and Kyle Korver scored 15 points for the Sixers. Donyell Marshall scored 20 points, and Morris Peterson and Jalen Rose each had 18 for the Raptors.

Grizzlies 109, Bobcats 89

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Pau Gasol scored 19 points, and James Posey had 17 as Memphis beat Charlotte for its 10th victory in its last 13 games.

The Grizzlies, who started the season 9-15, had six players in double figures, and everyone in uniform scored. Shane Battier had 15, Jason Williams 14 and Earl Watson and Stromile Swift 10 each. Emeka Okafor had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte.

Celtics 106, Hawks 94

In Boston, Ricky Davis came off the bench to scored 30 points, and Paul Pierce had 21 points and 15 rebounds to lift Boston past Atlanta for its seventh win in eight home games.

Gary Payton added 15 points and seven assists for Boston.

Former Celtic Antoine Walker had a double-double for the sixth straight game by halftime. He finished with 21 points on 10-of-30 shooting and had 17 rebounds. Predrag Drobnjak matched his season high with 20 points for the Hawks.

Pistons 101, Magic 94

In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Richard Hamilton scored 26 points, and Detroit held on to beat Orlando in Grant Hill's first game in Auburn Hills in nearly five years.

Hill scored 17 points, many on mid-range jumpers just like the shots he made as a Pistons star during his first six seasons in the NBA. Orlando's Steve Francis had 31 points, and rookie reserve Jameer Nelson added 17.

Spurs 98, Mavericks 95

In San Antonio, Texas, Tim Duncan scored 25 points, Manu Ginobili added 22 and San Antonio got a key offensive rebound from Devin Brown to withstand a late Dallas rally.

Ginobili hit three crucial free throws in the final 13 seconds for the Spurs, who let the freewheeling Mavericks rally from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit.

Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 36 points.

Clippers 114, Heat 112, 2OT

In Los Angeles, Corey Maggette hit an off-balance 7m shot with half a second left in the second overtime to lift the Los Angeles Clippers over Miami.

His dramatic shot from the right sideline overshadowed a 39-point, 10-rebound performance by the Heat's Shaquille O'Neal.

Elton Brand added 29 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers, and Bobby Simmons had 16 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Maggette scored 11 of his 28 points in the two overtime periods, and finished with 10 rebounds and five assists.

Kobe Bryant will miss at least five games with a severely sprained right ankle, but the Los Angeles Lakers said Friday they won't know exactly how long he'll be out for another 72 hours.

Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich said Bryant, hurt in the first quarter of Thursday night's game against Cleveland, would be placed on the injured list and replaced on the roster by rookie guard Tony Bobbitt before Saturday night's game at Golden State.

Tim Floyd was hired Friday as the men's head basketball coach at Southern California, effective April 1. Floyd will spend this year as a Trojans assistant so that he can recruit, but will not be involved in coaching the 2004-2005 squad.

Jim Saia, who was appointed USC's interim head coach when Henry Bibby was relieved of his duties as head coach on Dec. 6, will remain in that role for the remainder of this season.

"I'm very appreciative of this opportunity. This is a great time to be at USC," said Floyd. "There's a lot of excitement going on at the school, both academically and athletically.

uconn keeps Calhoun

The University of Connecticut and men's head basketball coach Jim Calhoun have agreed to terms on a new six-year contract that will run through June 30, 2010.

The new deal is effective retroactively to July 1, 2004. Upon completion of the six-year term, an additional two years will be added to the contract with compensation to be negotiated during the summer of 2009.

"I am very happy that the university is allowing me the opportunity to do what I hope to do, and that is end my career here at UConn, whenever that time may be," said Calhoun. "It especially pleases me to know that the university has now put me financially in the same class as the other outstanding men's basketball coaches in America. And, importantly, this commitment allows me and my staff to continue our pursuit of another championship with a renewed show of support."

Calhoun is currently in his 19th season at Connecticut and led the Huskies to the NCAA Division I championship in both 1999 and 2004.
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