NBAThe Washington Wizards took advantage of a depleted lineup to blow the game open in the first quarter and beat the Miami Heat 106-95 on Friday, ending 3 1/2 years of NBA frustration.
Never mind that the Heat didn't have Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. The Wizards were more than relieved under any circumstances to end a 16-game losing streak to their Southeast Division rivals and get their first win in the series since Michael Jordan led a 91-87 victory in Miami in April 2003.
Caron Butler scored a season-high 30 points and had nine rebounds, Gilbert Arenas had 27 points, and Antawn Jamison added 22 points and a career-high five blocked shots for the Wizards. Washington led 40-17 after a first quarter in which it shot 76 percent and held a 26-0 advantage in fast-break points.
Pacers 112, Knicks 96
In Indianapolis, Indiana, Danny Granger scored a career-high 25 points and Indiana hit a season-high 12 3-pointers.
The Pacers were 12-of-23 from long range, including three each for Granger, Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington. The second of two 3-pointers by Darrell Armstrong, the final basket of the third quarter, was the Pacers' 12th of the game from behind the arc.
Cavaliers 106, SuperSonics 84
In Cleveland, Ohio, Larry Hughes scored 25 points and LeBron James flirted with his first triple-double this season for Cleveland.
Hughes, making his second straight start after missing 10 games with a sprained ankle, went 11-of-16 from the floor.
Raptors 90, Nets 78
In Toronto, T.J. Ford had 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to lead Toronto to its second straight victory without Chris Bosh.
Ford had 10 points in the fourth quarter for the Raptors, who put six players in double figures while improving to 2-2 without their leading scorer, who has an injured left knee.
Mavericks 93, 76ers 79
In Dallas, Texas, Jason Terry scored 18 points and Dallas built a big early lead against Philadelphia, which was without Allen Iverson and Chris Webber and lost its 10th straight.
Philadelphia has lost the last five games since Iverson, the 2001 NBA MVP and the face of the franchise for 11 seasons, demanded a trade and was sent home by the 76ers while they try to fulfill his request.
Hawks 97, Grizzlies 88
In Memphis, Tennessee, Zaza Pachulia scored 22 points, Speedy Claxton added 19 points and 11 assists, and Atlanta ruined Pau Gasol's season debut by beating Memphis.
Josh Smith finished with 16 points, hitting 7-of-9 from the field, and grabbed 10 rebounds for Atlanta.
Celtics 119, Nuggets 114
In Boston, Paul Pierce scored 38 points and Tony Allen added a career-high 30 to help Boston extend its winning streak to four.
Al Jefferson had 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Wally Szczerbiak scored 16 points off the bench for the Celtics, who moved into a first-place tie with New Jersey in the lowly Atlantic Division.
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