Rookie Nenad Krstic of Serbia-Montenegro returned to the lineup after missing two game with a viral infection and scored a career-high 25 points to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 93-86 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday.
"We definitely missed his big body and what he brings," said teammate Jason Kidd. "He is a very smart player and maybe he just needed a week and a half off."
Vince Carter added 28 points and Kidd had 11 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as the Nets snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the expansion Bobcats for the third time this season.
"It's a frustrating game when you work it down to one and then you can't get a couple of shots and then it goes away again," Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said.
"We kept digging out of a hole and they kept putting us in a hole."
Gerald Wallace had 23 points to lead the Bobcats, who made the Nets sweat this one out, cutting a 13-point halftime deficit to 67-66 early in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Jason Kapono.
Pacers 106, Cavaliers 82
In Indianapolis, Stephen Jackson scored 28 points, including 11 straight late in the fourth quarter, to help Indiana defeat Clevaland in its season-high fifth straight win.
Jermaine O'Neal had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Indiana, which shot 52 percent and won for the eighth time in its last 10 games.
LeBron James scored 21 points on 9-of-25 shooting, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks for Cleveland, which lost to the Pacers for the 10th time in its last 11 games.
Raptors 106, Bucks 102
In Milwaukee, Chris Bosh had 27 points and eight rebounds to lead Toronto over Milwaukee.
Leading 98-94 with less than a minute to go, Toronto's Donyell Marshall missed a 3-pointer. But Bosh grabbed the rebound and found Morris Peterson for a dunk and a 100-94 lead.
Bosh went 8-of-14 from the field and 11-of-12 from the line. The Raptors are 13-4 when he scores at least 20 points and 10-28 when he doesn't.
Maurice Williams had 21 points for Milwaukee, while Joe Smith added 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Bulls 97, Wizards 90
In Chicago, Kirk Hinrich scored 26 points and rookie Ben Gordon added 20 to lead Chicago past Washington. Othella Harrington added 12 points and rookie Chris Duhon had 11 points and eight assists for Chicago, which moved a season-high four games over .500.
Gilbert Arenas had 36 points for Washington, giving the All-Star 30 or more points for the 12th time in 17 games.
Nuggets 97, Grizzlies 94, OT
In Memphis, Tennessee, Denver's Earl Boykins scored 19 points, including a pair of free throws with 10.1 seconds left as Denver edged Memphis.
Marcus Camby, who had 17 points and 15 rebounds, hit a pair of free throws to give Denver a 95-93 lead with 1:08 left in overtime. The Nuggets shot 34 percent, but hit 44 of 52 foul shots.
Denver tied the score at 91-all with 13.1 seconds left in regulation on Andre Miller's three-point play.
Miller added 15 for Denver, while Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin had 12 each.
Brian Cardinal scored a season-high 28 points, including 20 in the second half, while Shane Battier finished with 17 points.
Celtics 109, Jazz 102
In Salt Lake City, Antoine Walker had 24 points and 10 rebounds in his first game back with Boston as the Celtics downed Utah.
Walker was acquired from Atlanta on Thursday and quickly resumed his leadership role on offense, making 10 of 18 shots from the field.
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