Rookie Josh Boone scored a career-high 22 points on Wednesday night to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 118-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Boone came off the bench to hit 11 of 13 from the field. He also pulled down 10 rebounds in his second strong game. Boone was perfect on all 10 shots from the field in the Nets' 113-107 overtime win in Charlotte on Saturday.
Bostjan Nachbar added 20 points before fouling out with 3 minutes remaining. Richard Jefferson had 14 points, Vince Carter scored 13, and Mikki Moore and Jason Kidd each had 12 as the Nets had six players in double figures.
Jermaine O'Neal, the Pacers leading scorer, sat out the game with sprains of the left ankle and knee. Indiana could not overcome his loss, although Troy Murphy, who started in O'Neal's spot, had 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Shawne Williams led Indiana with 19 points.
Spurs 92, Hornets 88
At San Antonio, Tim Duncan scored 31 points, including his first three-pointer of the season, to help San Antonio beat New Orleans.
Brent Barry hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Spurs rally for their fifth straight victory. He finished with 15 points. Michael Finley added 13 and Manu Ginobili scored 12 for San Antonio.
Chris Paul scored 20 points to lead six Hornets in double figures. David West added 16, Jannero Pargo scored 13 and Rasual Butler had 12.
Knicks 97, Cavaliers 93
At New York, Eddy Curry scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Stephon Marbury rattled in a clinching 3-pointer with 8.5 seconds left, and New York revived its playoff hopes by beating Cleveland to snap a four-game losing streak.
Marbury and Channing Frye each finished with 16 points for the Knicks, who won for just the second time in eight games.
LeBron James scored 24 points for the Cavaliers, who had a chance to tie the game at 94, but Zydrunas Ilgauskas made only one of two free throws with 34 seconds left. The Knicks ran the shot clock down before Marbury launched a 3 from the right side that sealed the win.
Raptors 96, Heat 83
At Toronto, Chris Bosh became Toronto's career leader in double-doubles when he had 13 points and 17 rebounds in a victory that moved the Raptors ahead of Miami for third place in the Eastern Conference.
Anthony Parker added 20 points for Toronto, which had six players score in double figures.
Toronto ended a four-game losing streak to the Heat despite missing No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani (appendectomy) and Jorge Garbajosa (left ankle surgery).
If the season ended now, Toronto would get homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Celtics 105, Magic 96, 2OT
At Boston, Paul Pierce scored 32 points, Al Jefferson added 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Boston held on for a double-overtime win over Orlando.
Delonte West scored 17, and Kendrick Perkins had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who outscored Orlando 15-6 in the second overtime to finish their home stand 2-2.
Wizards 111, 76ers 108
At Washington, Caron Butler scored 21 points in his return from a knee injury, including two key free throws with 14 seconds left to help Washington hold off Philadelphia and end a three-game losing streak.
DeShawn Stevenson added a season-high 28 points for the Wizards. Philadelphia erased a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter while the Wizards went more than 5 minutes without a field goal.
Rockets 92, Clippers 87
At Los Angeles, Tracy McGrady scored 27 points and Shane Battier made a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute, leading Houston over Los Angeles.
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Bobcats 101, Hawks 87
At Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace scored 31 points and Charlotte beat Atlanta in a matchup of the two of the worst teams in the NBA.
Wallace hit 12 of 16 shots, 7 of 9 free throws and added nine rebounds to help the Bobcats snap a two-game losing streak and win their 27th game, one more than last season.
Matt Carroll added 19 points and point guards Raymond Felton and Brevin Knight combined for 19 assists for Charlotte, which beat Atlanta for the third straight time.
Josh Smith had 25 points and 15 rebounds for the bumbling Hawks, who committed 22 turnovers in losing their fifth straight game.
Mavericks 105, Bucks 103
At Dallas, Jason Terry had 27 points with a couple of key late baskets and Dallas beat Milwaukee for its 60th win even though Dirk Nowitzki played little after hurting his ankle in the first half.
SuperSonics 100, Nuggets 97
At Denver, Rashard Lewis scored 33 points -- including 13 in the fourth quarter -- and Nick Collison added 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead Seattle over Denver, which lost for the fourth time in five games.
Carmelo Anthony finished with 28 as the Nuggets, who are 0-10 at home when scoring less than 100 points.
Jazz 108, Timberwolves 102
At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Mehmet Okur added 23 points and 12 boards to help Utah beat Minnesota and clinch the Northwest Division title.
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
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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
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