Jason Richardson’s last-second basket completed a stunning Phoenix comeback as the Suns rallied from 10 points down in the final minutes to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-102 on Tuesday.
Amare Stoudemire scored a team-high 30 points for the Suns and Richardson finished with 20, including two game-tying free throws with 40 seconds left, as Phoenix snapped the Thunder’s nine-game winning streak.
Richardson’s 10-footer capped the Suns’ rally from 10 points down with only three minutes left.
“That was the play we drew up,” Phoenix forward Grant Hill told reporters. “If he had an open look he was supposed to take it. If not, then make something happen. He did, he went through his legs, crossed over and shot a floater.”
Jeff Green had the chance to win it for the Thunder, but his three-point attempt was off the mark as time expired.
Richardson added 13 rebounds for Phoenix (35-23), who won their third in a row despite missing All-Star point guard Steve Nash, out with a sore back and abdomen.
Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant had 36 points, the 29th game in a row he has scored at least 25, but it was not enough to prevent the Thunder (33-22) suffering their first loss since Jan. 27.
“This loss really hurts,” a subdued Durant said. “It’s tough, but we just have to be ready for the next game.”
Durant, who entered the night second in the league in scoring, has the longest streak of 25-point games since Michael Jordan reached the mark 40 consecutive times in the 1986-1987 season.
Russell Westbrook had 21 points and 10 assists for the Thunder, who were attempting to win 10 in a row for the first time since the franchise was based in Seattle in 1996.
The Suns moved into fifth place in the Western Conference with the victory.
CAVALIERS 105, HORNETS 95
In Cleveland, Ohio, the Cavaliers returned to winning ways after a rare three-game losing skid, beating the New Orleans Hornets 105-95 in the NBA on Tuesday.
LeBron James had 20 points and 12 assists, and Antawn Jamison scored 18 points in his first start for Cleveland, which stayed half a game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers in the fight over the NBA’s best record.
James closed out the win in the final two minutes, hitting a 3-pointer and finishing a three-point play to allow the Cavaliers to escape a huge night from New Orleans’ rookies: Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison combined for 59 points, including a franchise-record 23 from Thornton in the second quarter.
Thornton scored a career-high 37 off the bench, igniting a 40-point second quarter for the Hornets by making his first five shots and 10 of 13 in the quarter.
LAKERS 99, GRIZZLIES 98
In Memphis, Tennessee, Kobe Bryant returned from five games out with an ankle injury and hit a 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left to lift Los Angeles over Memphis.
Bryant led the Lakers with 32 points, including his team’s final nine points. His 3-pointer with 54 seconds left tied the game.
Pau Gasol added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the seventh time in their past eight road games.
The Grizzlies, who lost their fifth straight home game, were led by O.J. Mayo’s 25 points.
CELTICS 110, KNICKS 106
In Boston, Rajon Rondo scored 15 points and had 16 assists to lead Boston over New York.
Ray Allen added 24 points as the Celtics sent the Knicks to their eighth straight loss.
David Lee had 28 points and 15 rebounds for New York.
TIMBERWOLVES 91, HEAT 88
In Miami, Minnesota took advantage of Dwyane Wade’s absence for a rare road victory over Miami.
Kevin Love had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Jonny Flynn added 16 points for the Timberwolves, who snapped a six-game losing streak.
Dorell Wright had a career-high 26 points off the bench to lead the Heat, who played their third straight game without Wade, the All-Star MVP who is nursing a calf strain.
PISTONS 101, KINGS 89
In Sacramento, California, Detroit pulled away in the third quarter to defeat struggling Sacramento.
After taking a 12-point lead in halftime, Hamilton keyed a third-quarter effort that hiked the Pistons’ advantage to 30 at one point. Hamilton finished with 30 points.
Tyreke Evans had 28 points and a career-high 13 assists for the Kings, who have dropped five straight since the All-Star break.
TRAIL BLAZERS 102, NETS 93
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Portland avoided blowing a big lead for a second straight game by holding off New Jersey.
Brandon Roy scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and LaMarcus Aldridge added 27 points as the Blazers learned the lessons of squandering a 25-point lead in Sunday’s loss to Utah.
Courtney Lee and Devin Harris led the Nets with 28 points apiece.
The total matched Lee’s career high set earlier this season and was a season high for Harris.
76ERS 110, WARRIORS 102
In Oakland, California, Lou Williams scored 26 points, including a clinching 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds left, as Philadelphia downed Golden State.
Williams matched his career high with five 3-pointers and had 10 rebounds and seven assists, while Andre Iguodala added 22 points and seven assists, as the Sixers won in their first game since guard Allen Iverson took an indefinite leave of absence to be with his ill daughter.
Philadelphia led by 17 going into the fourth quarter but had to withstand a late flurry from Golden State.
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
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
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just