The Denver Nuggets welcomed coach George Karl back to the bench after cancer treatment with a 97-87 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
With Karl resuming his duties after a four-game absence due to treatment for neck and throat cancer, Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Nuggets (46-22) won their seventh game in eight.
“He told us before the game he wasn’t going to do too much,” Anthony told reporters. “It’s just good to have him on the sidelines with us. Even though he can’t say much the message is getting to us.”
Denver held a slender two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but outscored their opponents 32-24 the rest of the way, reserve J.R. Smith bagging 13 of his 17 in the last 12 minutes.
Washington forward Andray Blatche had 23 points and eight rebounds but hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter and had to leave the game.
The Wizards held a 45-39 lead at halftime before fading and losing their ninth game in a row.
The win moved Denver into sole possession of second place in the Western Conference, four games behind the Los Angeles Lakers.
“[Karl] before the game, wins are the best treatment for him,” said Nuggets forward Joey Graham said. “Hopefully we can keep this team rolling and win a championship for him and he’ll be completely healed. That’s the plan.”
CAVALIERS 113, PISTONS 101
At Auburn Hills, Michigan, LeBron James had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in his fourth triple-double of the season, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
Cleveland has won four in a row and lost only one of its last 11 games, improving to an NBA-best 53-15 win-loss record.
Richard Hamilton had 24 points and was one of six Pistons who scored in double figures.
SPURS 88, HEAT 76
At Miami, Manu Ginobili scored 22 points, George Hill had 16 and surging San Antonio wasted most of a 25-point, third-quarter lead before beating Miami.
Richard Jefferson added 15 points and Tim Duncan had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs.
Dwyane Wade scored 28 points for Miami, which lost for the first time in its last seven home games. Jermaine O’Neal added 13 points and Udonis Haslem finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who missed a chance to move past Charlotte for the No. 6 spot in the East race. Charlotte lost at Indiana.
In other games it was:
• Lakers 106, Kings 99
• Suns 152, Timberwolves 114
• Pacers 99, Bobcats 94
• Hawks 108, Nets 84
• Grizzlies 104, Bulls 97
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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