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Bucks, new coach end Spurs run

Kobe Bryant, left, of the Los Angeles Lakers and Allen Iverson of the Denver Nuggets greet each other before the tip-off before their NBA game at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday. Denver won the game 113-86. PHOTO: AFP

Michael Redd scored 29 points to help Milwaukee beat San Antonio 101-90 on Thursday night, ending the Spurs' 13-game winning streak and giving the Bucks a needed boost in Larry Krystkowiak's NBA coaching debut.

Krystkowiak, who replaced the fired Terry Stotts, was thrown in immediately to face the NBA's hottest team. San Antonio's winning streak was tied for the third-longest in franchise history.

The Spurs, who have the league's best scoring defense, had been holding opponents to just over 42 percent from the field during their streak. Milwaukee shot 53.4 percent and got a big lift from rookie Lynn Greer, who scored all of his career-high 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Brent Barry scored 20 points to lead San Antonio.

Heat 93, Nets 86

At East Rutherford, New Jersey, a foul-plagued Shaquille O'Neal scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half Miami won its eighth straight.

Udonis Haslem added 21 points and 12 rebounds, Jason Williams had 13 points and 12 assists, and the Heat won for the 16th time in 20 games.

They are 9-2 since Dwyane Wade went down with a shoulder injury, pulling within a half-game of first-place Washington in the Southeast Division.

Jason Kidd had nine points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for New Jersey in narrowly missing his 11th triple-double of the season. Richard Jefferson had 20 points and Vince Carter added 12 on 4-of-15 shooting from the field.

Nuggets 113, Lakers 86

At Denver, Phil Jackson lost a seventh straight game for the first time in his 16-year coaching career.

Linas Kleiza scored a career-high 29 points and Carmelo Anthony had 26 as the Nuggets handed the Lakers their 13th loss in 16 games.

Allen Iverson added 14 points and 13 assists and Marcus Camby had 11 points and 14 boards for the Nuggets, who moved into a tie with the Lakers for the sixth spot in the Western Conference playoff race.

Bryant's 25 points led the free-falling Lakers, who couldn't capitalize on the return of Luke Walton and Lamar Odom despite building a double-digit lead in a mostly stellar first half.
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